This past weekend Double Midnight Comics celebrated 7 wonderful years bring southern NH comic and game fans their fix. We celebrated with a in store sale and our good friend Kate labored into the wee hours of the morning making some Blackest Night themed cakes. Man, we're they sweet (pun intended!). Speaking of Blackest Night, I read a potential spoiler... if it's true, I'm going to be both excited and disappointed all at once.
I'm leaving this Tuesday for San Diego. My very first Comic-Con International. I'm really bummed that I'm not going with either of my Convention partners in crime, my brother Chris or my brother from another mother, Derek Stryder Bailey. Chris and I have been to many conventions together, from Wizard World East and Boston, my third New York Comic Con as well as various trade shows. Derek and I have been to every New York Comic Con and will when we're both old and gray (my money is on that happening to him first). I won't be hitting San Diego solo though. I'm meeting up with my college roommates little brother Jeff. Jeff is big into video games. When I was in college, Eric (his older bro) told me that Jeff would record video game music to listen to while he slept. Now that's hardcore.
I was looking at the programming for San Diego... wow. There's a lot of panels going on. Speaking of panels, I've been asked to reprise my role as a panel participant, reprising my role from the New York Comic Con. I'll be on hand with the general manager of Lone Star Comics in Texas, the guy who started Free Comic Book Day as well as having a hand in starting ComicsPRO and a guy who owns a store with Geoff Johns and is an Eisner Spirit of Retailing award winner (the Oscar of comic retailing). So their in great company!
Follow my exploits on Twitter throughout the whole show, DMComicsScott. It'll be fun, but stressful...
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Comic Store Management
After a few months, we're finally getting the hang of our new POS (Point of Service) program at the store. As you may or may not have seen, we have a better system to manage customer pulls. We enter subscriber forms each month to make sure that you are getting what you asked for. This new system shows what you are getting pulled for the week (as opposed to the old system that was for the month!) so if you have a series that been delayed, such as... hmmm.... I don't know, let's say Kick Ass, well, when it does come in, it'll be on your pull form because the computer knows that no matter how long it's been, that you've ordered it! Again, the old system would have required us to A) hold onto older forms and B) go through those forms to see if someone did check it off. And in the case of Kick Ass, well, we'd have to go back pretty far! Imagine how yellowed the paper would have been for those of you who checked off Ult. Wolverine vs. Hulk! This new system, MOBY, let's us see what's in a subscriber's folder and what's on the shelf. So if ya take something off the shelf and add it to your folder, please let us know so we can make the change. Same goes if you no longer want a book that was previously in your folder.
As of July 1st, Double Midnight Comics is 7 years old. Personally, I've met and made some very good friends through the store as I know Chris and Brett have as well. Everyday I thank God that I get to sell comics! While I love teaching as well, there is something about introducing someone to a new series or chatting about what's cool in comics. Speaking of what's cool, Wednesday Comics is my new favorite! It's such a different take on storytelling and it forces creators to be, well, creative in telling their weekly part of the story in just one, albeit oversized, page.
July 18th we're officially celebrating our 7th anniversary with some very cool specials and events! Select Marvel tradepaperbacks and hardcovers for just $7!?! Back issues on sale, give aways all day and cool (and colorful) cake(s). be sure to come down to see what we have cooked up.
Oh, and Blackest Night #1 drops on Wednesday. The 1st 200 people to pick it up will also get a FREE Black Lantern ring that actually fits adults! We have a sample at the store, some come drool in admiration!
As of July 1st, Double Midnight Comics is 7 years old. Personally, I've met and made some very good friends through the store as I know Chris and Brett have as well. Everyday I thank God that I get to sell comics! While I love teaching as well, there is something about introducing someone to a new series or chatting about what's cool in comics. Speaking of what's cool, Wednesday Comics is my new favorite! It's such a different take on storytelling and it forces creators to be, well, creative in telling their weekly part of the story in just one, albeit oversized, page.
July 18th we're officially celebrating our 7th anniversary with some very cool specials and events! Select Marvel tradepaperbacks and hardcovers for just $7!?! Back issues on sale, give aways all day and cool (and colorful) cake(s). be sure to come down to see what we have cooked up.
Oh, and Blackest Night #1 drops on Wednesday. The 1st 200 people to pick it up will also get a FREE Black Lantern ring that actually fits adults! We have a sample at the store, some come drool in admiration!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
I love comic books!
It's been a crazy week at the store. We've switched to a new inventory and transaction system this past week. For the past 6+ years we've been using a program called Quickbooks POS (Point of Sale) and switching to a new program meant we had our work cut out for us. The new system is designed by a comic book retailer and after various testimonials and word of mouth we decided to make the switch (we were going to have to update the Quickbooks POS anyway). We were planing on making the switch on Weds. April 1st but for some reason Quickbooks made the decision for us. Last Saturday I got the call (I'm the default IT guy) that Quickbooks POS wasn't opening up. Saturday is the 2nd busiest (if not 1st) of the week so I had to rush down to figure it out. We didn't have much time to figure it out so I decided to go live with MOBY, our new POS system. This meant that I had to teach everyone how to process credit cards (MOBY doesn't do that so we had to get a separate system, which now allows us to accept Discover and Amex) as well as make transactions. This was all before we finally got the chance to input the inventory. Ugh.
The plus side to this new system is it allows us to track what a pull customer (aka subscriber) has in their folder, how long it's been in there as well as easy to use sales tracking. This system is amazing!
On top of the craziness of inputting our inventory we had the Boston Comic-Con to get ready for. While it didn't take the preparation on the New York Comic Con, it did entail what to bring, getting and packing a van and various other house keeping. I drove the van down Saturday morning and set the tables up. When the doors opened at 10am, the people flooded in... to look. There were various dealers set up, from Silver Age comics, to new and used toy dealers to comic store owners selling trades for dirt cheap (more on the later). We had some hot books that had moved quickly at NYCC that people at the Boston Comic-con just looked at, pointed to and kept on walking. This is the BCC's first 2 day show, hopefully the 2nd day is better.
At the past few shows we've been to I've seen more and more comic dealers selling stuff dirt cheap, trades less than 1/2 price were the thing that stuck out the most for me. There have been deals out there for retailers and these retailers are blowing them out dirt cheap. I'm a little insulted by this. I feel it lessens the value of the books, publishers set the value of the books for a reason. I brought down our overstock (books we don't have room for or already have 2 of in the back issue bins) and I was selling them for $1 each (if they aren't moving in the back issues, hopefully I can move them to someone to get some of the money back, that's the business man in me) and within an hour of the show it was suggested by one of the organizers that I sell the books for $.50. 50 cents! Back in the day shows would showcase hot books, silver age, golden age books you couldn't find at your local store. Now it seems like local shows have become dumping grounds for books no one wants. I feel guilty selling my comics for $1, but $.50? Wow.
I'm taking each show I go to and using what I see to make the Granite State Comic Con a better show. We try to get unique guests and dealers as well as cool programs and events people want to see. We want to make the 5 bucks you spend at the door the best spent $5 you've spent in a while. If you have ideas or suggestions, please email me, scott@dmcomics.com!
Stay Tuned for some other updates...
The plus side to this new system is it allows us to track what a pull customer (aka subscriber) has in their folder, how long it's been in there as well as easy to use sales tracking. This system is amazing!
On top of the craziness of inputting our inventory we had the Boston Comic-Con to get ready for. While it didn't take the preparation on the New York Comic Con, it did entail what to bring, getting and packing a van and various other house keeping. I drove the van down Saturday morning and set the tables up. When the doors opened at 10am, the people flooded in... to look. There were various dealers set up, from Silver Age comics, to new and used toy dealers to comic store owners selling trades for dirt cheap (more on the later). We had some hot books that had moved quickly at NYCC that people at the Boston Comic-con just looked at, pointed to and kept on walking. This is the BCC's first 2 day show, hopefully the 2nd day is better.
At the past few shows we've been to I've seen more and more comic dealers selling stuff dirt cheap, trades less than 1/2 price were the thing that stuck out the most for me. There have been deals out there for retailers and these retailers are blowing them out dirt cheap. I'm a little insulted by this. I feel it lessens the value of the books, publishers set the value of the books for a reason. I brought down our overstock (books we don't have room for or already have 2 of in the back issue bins) and I was selling them for $1 each (if they aren't moving in the back issues, hopefully I can move them to someone to get some of the money back, that's the business man in me) and within an hour of the show it was suggested by one of the organizers that I sell the books for $.50. 50 cents! Back in the day shows would showcase hot books, silver age, golden age books you couldn't find at your local store. Now it seems like local shows have become dumping grounds for books no one wants. I feel guilty selling my comics for $1, but $.50? Wow.
I'm taking each show I go to and using what I see to make the Granite State Comic Con a better show. We try to get unique guests and dealers as well as cool programs and events people want to see. We want to make the 5 bucks you spend at the door the best spent $5 you've spent in a while. If you have ideas or suggestions, please email me, scott@dmcomics.com!
Stay Tuned for some other updates...
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
What being a comic retailer means to me
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...
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...
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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