Girls With Comics

Last night I got an awesome Japanese Batman shirt. I do not have a pic, but just believe me when I say the shirt kicks ass.

If you happen to live in the Baltimore area, there is a new shop in Fells Point, facing the water. The shop is Graphic Novelty, and it’s pretty cool. They have a nice selection of new comics, as well as figures, shirts, and random crap. They keep pretty late hours (they are open until 11 on Friday and Saturday), but frankly would you want to keep late hours in a place known for the bars? I frankly can’t see some random drunk asshole buying a fuckload of comics late Saturday night. However, foot traffic during the day is probably really great, and probably more so on weekends with all of the tourists.

Would I go back? Maybe. I have a LCS I buy my stuff from, and I’m not big on random comic book crap. They have NO back issues either. I realize that having GA-BA books in the store may be a bad idea (chances are, the average comic book geek can’t afford them), but really that’s all I look for when I go to other shops. All in all, I hope this place stays open.

-Lauren

“With no power, comes no responsibility.”

I wish you could have been there. I got advanced screening tickets for tonight. I didn’t know what I was getting in too since I did not read the book before hand. The story was really good. The acting was really good (even Nick Cage)! I can’t believe this is a Lions Gate film, because they have a history of really shitty films. This movie is not one of them. You will laugh (a lot). You will cry (a little). And you might even applaud (I did because I’m a nerd). I guarantee that if you like comic books, and pretty violence, you will like this movie. The movie has a mother fucking bazooka in it, and you can’t go wrong with a bazooka!

The best part? Big Daddy does have a Batman voice. But NOT the Christian Bale voice. You’ll see. Yes you fucking will.

Hit Girl is amazing and I wish I could be her.

The guy who plays Kick Ass is really hot, and I would tear that ass up. (RANDOM EDIT BUT WHAT THE FUCK THE KID IS 19 AND GOT A 43 YEAR OLD WOMAN PREGNANT AND IS ENGAGED TO HER MIND FUCKING WENT BOOM.)

I can’t wait for the sequel!

-Lauren

He is the manliest of all men. Riding that big pink seahorse, wearing those amazing orange and green outfits, and well, being able to talk to fish.

Happy April Fools.

-Lauren

If someone can locate one for me, I will bake you cookies.

Anyhow, this week I did NOT go to my LCS, despite the fact that Blackest Night #8 is out today!  I try to avoid the shop on new comic day, since it is usually impossible for me to get to the comic racks (I’m 4’11) since people literally park themselves in front of the rack, reading the new comics.

So, to all of you asshats who do that, stop it. It’s rude. You are taking up valuable space and whenever I say excuse me you look at me like I have three heads. GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY. You probably didn’t even want that comic anyhow. If you’re unsure about it, go ask your buddies or maybe the guy or gal working at the counter. Stop getting in my way.

Summer con season is quickly coming! I’ll be at Wizard World Philly this year, attempting to get William Shatner to sign a book for my dad. Bruce Campbell will also be there, and he is a sexy, sexy man!

-Lauren

A while back, say, 92 or so, DC decided to kill off Superman. I remember when this event happened. I was in elementary school, and had been visiting my local comic shop (at that point) very regularly. I didn’t care for Superman as a child, and as an adult I could still give a shit. My Dad on the other hand, loves Superman. We had heard about the possible death of the Mon of Steel a little bit before, and when we got to the comic shop, my young eyes were confused and amazed by grown men wearing black in honor of the fallen Superman.

And then, the next issue, he came back.

Recently, Captain America and Batman were both killed off. Both, have come back (or are comic back). While the idea of a comic character dying is good on paper, rarely do any of the publishers keep the guy dead. If you want to make a statement, keep the guy or girl dead. Do not bring them out from another planet or say they were stuck in time. They’re not Doctor Who. They are not some magical time lord. Just keep them dead. While I may not be thrilled with Bruce Wayne being dead (because I’m not), I would respect you much more if he would just stay dead. No, he’s coming back.

This would also be why modern comics blow loads. The only series worth a damn right now is Lenore, which is published maybe 2 times every 10 years.

-Lauren

So I finally got my copy of Jughead #200, and read it. While I really have not read an Archie comic in a while (I still really love the art), I’m starting to wonder why I stopped!  The writer, Tom Root (of Robot Chicken fame) is funny as hell. This comic is full of one liners or facial expressions that are actually, really funny.

Rex W. Lindsay is the main artist, and his art never puts a frown on my face. His cartoony, fluid lines and facial expressions really bring the 60+ year old characters to life.

Seriously, so read it. You won’t be disappointed!

-Lauren

While the story is still good, and the cross over with Red Robin is fun, I do not like this new artist. Batgirl’s lips piss me off to high heaven.

Jughead has had his 200th comic! While this boggles my mind since technically Jughead has had his own comic since 1949, what do I know. The variant cover is cool, but the regular Dan Parent cover kicks just as much ass!

I still think Avatar sucked.

Justice League: Cry For Justice ended. It was a good ending, and it was nice to see Green Arrow do his thing. I’m looking forward to reading the new Flash series.

Chris Evans as Captain America makes me happy because he’s hot. Beyond that I don’t give a damn.

-Lauren

What can I say that has not already been said. This autobiography of Marjane Satrapi’s young life in Iran is surprisingly warm and brilliant. The conflict in the novel, stemming from her being a girl in Iran, still hits close to home. There are tons of similarities between herself and any other child; She has dreams. She wants to listen to rock and roll but society doesn’t allow it. Growing up I wanted to listen to some pretty shitty music, and my parents were against it. Her family has dreams of her having a brighter, happier future in Iran, a dream that is too this day not yet realized.

What really hit home was her desire to just be a normal child. She buys bootleg heavy metal albums. She wears a denim jacket. She  does all of the things a normal kid would do in a normal rebellious situation, however unlike you and I, she could have been arrested or killed for being so out spoken. When she is sent to Austria to go to school, she is treated unfairly due to her heritage. Faced with discrimination and fake friends, she points out more than once they all take their freedom for granted. And we all do. I can not imagine being arrested simply because I wore a denim jacket.

The book is amazing. I have yet to see the movie, but I will soon. If you have not read this novel (and really, why haven’t you) pick it up today. Or tomorrow. Just get it by the end of the week. You will not be sorry.

-Lauren

Growing up I developed a deep love and adoration for Archie comics. When I was in the hospital (rather frequently), Archie and his friends always made me feel better. I adore the work of Dan Parent, Rex W. Lindsay and Bill Woggon and wanted to draw just like them. I would spend hours with a sketch book and pencils trying to copy their styles. The character I could only really draw well was Jughead, but he is my favorite so you know.

Dan Parent is easily my favorite Archie artist. I love the way he makes the characters look extra cartoony and just fun. His style is unique, its fluid, and it’s just easy on the eyes. I have a steady collection of OA by him, and I’m always more than happy to pay for them, because he really is one heckuva good artist. His work outside of Archie is pretty awesome and funny too! And, he kind of looks like David Tennant. You simply can not hate someone who kind of  looks like the Doctor. And if you do, you have no soul.

http://www.danparent.com

-Lauren