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Wednesday Wants

Each week, Barry raises from his slumber of gin and cigarettes, dusts himself off, sees his shadow—six more weeks of winter!

Zeus Comics manager gives us his picks for this “I can’t believe it’s not Final Crisis” new comics Wednesday.  Check out Zeus Comics for more comic goodness.

SECRET WARRIORS #1
He’s back! After a long hiatus and subsequent return in Secret Invasion, Nick Fury is back to lead the next generation of heroes in a saga set to unlock the deepest secrets of the Marvel Universe. Written by Jonathan Hickman (creator of Nightly News) and Brian Michael Bendis (pick a Marvel title, he’s probably written it), with art by Stefano Caselli.

CABLE #11
Cable’s still in the future with the so-called “mutant messiah”, Bishop’s still crazy, so no news there. However, Phonogram fans take note! Jamie McKelvie kicks off his two-issue arc along with regular writer Duane Swierczynski, as Cable and his young charge take another blind step into the far-flung future, facing danger around every turn.

SECRET SIX #6
Last month’s jaw-dropping shocker of an ending left us almost speechless, so we expect writer Gail Simone to leave us in total sweaty-palmed terror by the end of this one! The Secret Six—-or what’s left of them—-are determined to complete their mission to Gotham City, but what they don’t realize is just how dangerous the city has become since a certain Dark Knight’s “departure”. All that, plus more fantastic art form Nicola Scott and an “Origins & Omens” back-up!

FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #3
Grant Morrison’s chaotically epic Crisis may be done, but for the heroes of the 31st century, the madness has just begun. As the Legionnaires attempt to recruit the last of the Green Lantern Corps, Earth falls under attack from Superboy Prime and his Legion of Super-Villains. Three Brainies are better than one, and if they can stop snapping at each other for half a panel, they may find a way to pull together their three Legions and score a victory. Written by Geoff Johns, art by George Perez and Scott Koblish.

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New York’s sales tax law worrisome to online retailers

Online retailers double take at NY sales tax law.  Why does a new law that should be good news for Amazon.com competitors have them worrying (see flood gates)?

Not all comic book shops have an online store, or even an ebay store.  Dealing with local sales tax is enough of a headache without trying to figure out tax rates for every state.  Luckily, the Supreme Court said not to worry about out of state customers for sales tax purposes (Quill Corp. v. North Dakota).  The precedent being that retailers not based in a state should have to collect sales tax in that state.  But New York’s latest tax law goes after companies like (or specifically) Amazon and Overstock who have affiliates in the state by equating them as an extension of the business itself.  Amazons reaction was to challenge it, Overstocks was to drop their affiliates.

On one hand this is good news for small shops who sell online.  For comic shops who would go broke offering the price break found on most Amazon graphic novels listings, they now have a clear advantage over Amazon by offering their goods tax free.  In fact, some groups like American Bookseller Association were please with the law singling out their toughest competitor, claiming that for too long, e-retailers skirt the law.

The bad news?  NY Courts have already dismissed Amazon’s lawsuit against the state even though they don’t have a physical presence in the state.  And while Amazon is sure to carry this all the way to the Supreme Court, this tax law could become granularized down to the county level.  And why not?  Our economy is the worst it has been in our lifetime.  Cities, counties, and states have to figure out new ways of getting tax revenue and passing laws on the last bastion of unregulated commerce is too tempting to pass up.  New York is also considering collecting taxes on digital downloads which are currently tax-exempt.  Georgia, in the midst of major budget shortfalls, is already throwing around the idea of taxing online sales. North Carolina just proposed a law to expand their sales tax code to included digital purchases as well. And the other 7,500+ tax collecting entities will want their piece of the pie as well.

Online stores which collect under 10k from NY Residents annually are except from this law.  However, the precedent this sets is worrisome to shops who already have enough burdening tax laws to contend with.  In Texas, for example, retail stores pay a property tax on any inventory that hasn’t sold.  All those back issues that comic enthusiasts love when they walk into their favorite store actually cost the store money.

Amazon is fighting this and the 43 other states who collect sales tax are watching in earnest.  So is your local comic shop.

*notice the Stranger with Candy reference.

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Wednesday Wants

In Dallas, the roads are frozen over.  But because of one shop owner’s (who shall remain nameless) constant twitching over his commute to the dock workers, we all got our comics yesterday. 

Here are Barry’s picks for today.  You know they’re god ones because even after he was able to read these comic yesterday evening, he did not change his mind.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #50
Well, here we go again. Another final issue, another wave goodbye at another iteration of one of DC’s most beloved but puzzlingly lowest selling group titles. This one surely had its ups and downs, and not even the scripting skills of Jim Shooter and some truly fantastic art from Francis Manapul and John Livesay could save this baby. And while we still have several issues of Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds to look forward to, who knows what the future will bring for the heroes of the 31st century? For now, just sit back and enjoy the finale, as a Legionnaire returns, another one bites the dust, and the Legion find themselves in all-out war to save the universe!

CAPTAIN AMERICA #46
James “Bucky” Barnes is the new Captain America. Deal with it, alright? Steve Rogers is dead, and he’s never coming back! Well, not until Ed Brubaker or the next writer says so, anyway. Where were we? Yeah, so Bucky is the new Cap, and with the world in turmoil after the events of Secret Invasion, he’s really got his work cut out for him. His latest adventure sees him either fighting or teaming up with Prince Namor. Our bet’s on “both”.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #130
Okay, let’s face it—-Ultimatum is a big fat mess. Just because you could conceivably kill everyone in the Ultimate Marvel Universe and it not affect much else doesn’t mean you should. But if there’s one good thing that could come out of this nightmare of bad writing and ill-conceived death and destruction, it’s that writer Brian Michael Bendis gets to put his favorite little wallcrawler through his paces, pitting him against a threat that he can scarcely conceive let alone fight. And of course, it wouldn’t be an issue of Ultimate Spider-Man without the fantastic drawing skills of Stuart Immonen.

FINAL CRISIS #7
That last issue was quite a firecracker, so one’s mind can only brim with wonder at the sheer madness this last chapter in Grant Morrison’s epic tale of New Gods and multiversal disaster will bring. Superman has returned from his own wild adventure in the pages of Final Crisis: Superman Beyond, only to find the earth in ruins and little hope left in the fight against the Evil Gods. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that Morrison always makes good use of the brilliance of Batman to pull out a crazy scheme and save the day. So no worries, the earth will be saved! Oh, perhaps we spoke too soon. Anyway, expect surprises, shocks, and thrills as Superman and the heroes from across the multiverse unite to defeat the lingering threat of cosmic collapse!

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Mike Wieringo selling ringtones

Ringtone posts are interspersed through out the years of posts on Mike Wieringo’s website.  See here.  Something tells me Mike—rest his soul—didn’t put them there.

You know, there’s a special place in hell for people to hack sites of deceased.

screen cap

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Day one, let’s build a better comic nation

Day two?  We give up and go back to ruining it with higher distribution levels and speculative pricing.

Michael Canva offers up his sketches from our new president’s inauguration and writes about his experience.

Brian Andersen’s tireless efforts to get his indie comic book into hands of readers through write-ups, interviews, and contacting gay owned and operated comic book shops has paid off by landing a sweet spot at Newsarama.  See? They still write about comic books.

After the craziness of Spider-man/Obama media blitz (totally fueled by Marvel itself), Bon Alimagno can’t help but wonder if this industry is in it for publishing or collecting.

Web Design/Graphic Artists/free wallpapers site Smashing Magazine puts out a comic strip.  So anyone can do it!  In this issue, unemployed computer guy gets super powers and saves twitter from phishing attacks.  No seriously.

Don’t you think Scott Kurtz would write a great Doctor Who comic?

Did you know that Twitter is now bigger than Digg?  I can see it.  It’s easier to make friends for one, plus you can post something without twenty people competing over who can make the snarkiest “bury” comment.  Won’t you be my friend on twitter?

Have a link you would like to consider for us to consider, submit it to us via this form

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Wednesday Wants

It’s that magic day of the week.  The one Barry, our intrepid store manager calls “What’r you looking at!?”

But everyone else around town is calling it Day One.  Not because of our new President Obama (that has a nice ring to it doesn’t it) but because we’re all in Dallas and that other guy is here.  Perfect day for some Dark Avengers!

Read Barry’s weekly picks after the jump.

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Wednesday Recovery

We have reviews (special MLK edition)! 

Read them.  Comment and post about them on your blogs ...now.

Final Crisis #6 by Scott Cederlund

I Hate Gallant Girl #3 by Jamison Sacks

B.P.R.D.: THE BLACK GODDESS #1 by Johnny Bacardi

Btw, we are now a part of the Comixup news site.  Check ‘em out.  Have a link you would like to consider for us to consider, submit it to us via this form

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Friday Finally and other headlines

Someone somewhere is all a bloggery about some major studio reaching a settlement with another major studio about a movie that used to be a great comic.  I could care less.

P. Craig Russell, illustrator of Killraven, Elric, The Sandman, Coraline, has a spiffy video about graphic storytelling and sequential art on PCR TV.

Lene Taylor found the perfect combination of science and comics by Rosemary Mosco.

TED has video of Scott McCloud talking.  What on earth could he possible be talking about?  Why comics, of course!

Robot 6 got a tip about a comic pirating site.  “Argh!  We don’t have access to these comics so it’s okay, matey!”

Dr. K talks more about that racist experience from Wednesday.  Looking back, they weren’t so great about his pull service either.

Did I mention it’s FreakAngel Friday?

Favorite quote today (because there are a lot of them): “You know you’ve been writing about comics too long when you no longer even need to double check the spelling of Mr. Mxyzptlk’s name.” source

And that’s it for the week.  Follow me on twitter.  Say hi, send me links.  See you Monday!

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Comic Book Talking Points

OMG, did you see Forrest in the last issue of Manhunter!?  You go girl!

So yesterday was a light Wednesday with the exception of some big titles.  ASM was only big because of the Marvel’s promotion shenanigans, and it worked too.  Nobody is talking about what happened to so and so in Final Crisis—not even DC.  But some things happened in to blog-o-tron.

Racism turn its ugly head (or as “Legends” have it)
Someone shot Kevin an email about a recent comic book shopping experience with a potty mouthed clerk.  Don’t ask him what he thinks of Black Lightning either.

Speaking of ugly…
Check out these mugs!

Zombie comics of the dead
No this isn’t about why we need Marvel Zombies 3, its about comic strips still being published after their creators have shed this mortal coil.  I guess that’s easier than finding new talent.

More comic love from Doctor Who writers
Joe Ahearne joins Paul Cornell in the fabulous world of comics. It’s always good to hear about television/movie writers penning comic books instead of the other way around.

And that’s about it aside from bloggers everywhere posting RIP [Nerd Hero Here] notices like they’re part of the Amber Alert system.

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Robin is the new pink and other headlines

Who knew Brits could be homophobic too.  They’ve got the accent and everything.

Found Art - Seaguy 2
Some preview images by Cameron Stewart in the upcoming Seaguy 2: Slaves of Mickey Eye
And another one

Good week for Kris Straub
Starslip Crisis relaunched itself this week. Plus, Kris’ other webcomic ChainSaw Suit made it to the front page of digg.com.
Unfortunately, digg linked to the image and not the actual page.

Marvel makes local comics happy this time
The Stand: Captain Trips Premiere Hardcover will be direct market only.  That’s right, if you want your Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa fix, it’s either LCS or episodes of Big Love.

Get your free TMNT
Check out these 80’s comics of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  This is how it all began.

Stan Lee’s gay superhero
I don’t know what’s more offensive. “Lee developed the idea of a gay character from the award-winning novel Hero by Perry Moore.”  Or the headline. “First gay superhero is oooh-perman” Developed?  First?  Ya, claiming that this is the first gay superheor is like claiming Stan Lee invented bigorexia with The Hulk.

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