June 17th, 2018
Ryan Franks
I’ve noticed a recent trend with comic book companies where they are offering more material from writers and artists, mostly artists, from Europe. American and Japanese comics are easy to find on the book shelf and I’m always looking to expand my reading habits. There are several companies that specialize in European comics. There are […]
Read More
May 17th, 2018
Ryan Franks
In late November of 2017 C. B. Cebulski, former editor and international Talent Liaison for Marvel Comics, took the job of Editor in Chief (https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/11/17/scoop-c-b-cebulski-editor-marvel-comics/ ). Then in February of 2018 Cebulski and Marvel announced Marvel Fresh Start; a new publishing initiative to excite the readership (https://www.cbr.com/marvel-comics-2018-refresh-reboot/). Part of the Fresh Start initiative was that […]
Read More
December 7th, 2017
Ryan Franks
Last month I read an article up on io9 titled “There’s Never Going to Be a ‘Right Time’ for The Punisher TV Series” (https://io9.gizmodo.com/theres-never-going-to-be-a-right-time-for-the-punisher-1819326835) and I wanted to address some issues I had. The core idea of the article I agree with; which is that given the level of gun violence in the United States […]
Read More
September 17th, 2017
Ryan Franks
On the last weekend of July I had my busiest weekend of the year. Saturday was the annual QC Planet Con at the Holiday Inn Rock Island, simultaneously in Iowa City was Anime Iowa. I attended both conventions that weekend. First up that weekend was the QC Planet Con. I’ve been involved with the QC […]
Read More
June 27th, 2017
Ryan Franks
It’s been a slow couple of weeks in the comic book industry, but that should be about to turn around. Summer is finally upon us, so convention season will start in earnest soon. San Diego Comic Con is a little more than a month away and with it all the major comic book news. Here […]
Read More
June 3rd, 2017
Ryan Franks
Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, but various comics shops have mixed things up to get new readers into the fold. Regardless, it’s been a great idea. FCBD has its start with Joe Field, comic book retailer and columnist for the Comic Buyer’s Guide, a now defunct […]
Read More
May 10th, 2017
Ryan Franks
Going over the news coming out of the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) there was a comic coming out from DC Comics that is following a recent trend in comics that I personally find overexposed. Following DC’s new Batman event Dark Nights: Metal, DC is starting a new imprint: Dark Matter. Dark Matter appears […]
Read More
April 16th, 2017
Ryan Franks
After two weeks talking about explosions, comic books and community action, I think it’s time to get back to what this series is best at: complaining about the comic book industry. This week while going through the stack of Marvel comics at Mellow Blue Planet, I was looking at Champions #4. I was just examining […]
Read More
March 22nd, 2017
Ryan Franks
As I mentioned in my last article I headed to the new location of Tim’s Corner to check out the new digs and talk to the owner. First off I’d like to mention that the parking situation in the Hilltop District is just as hectic as it’s always been, somewhat worse given that a section […]
Read More
March 10th, 2017
Ryan Franks
It’s been a surprising week for the Quad Cities comic community. The explosions at the Vintage Rose antique shop, which blew out the windows of the store and knocked brickwork from the exterior, though luckily there weren’t any serious injuries, have dominated the local news cycle. At on Monday afternoon I received a call from […]
Read More