SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

Comix Connection will be holding it's LAST SALE OF THE DECADE from Monday, December 28th through Thursday December 31st 2009!

Both stores will feature:


1) The PROGRESSIVE YELLOW DOT SALE! All back issues in the bins, plus TONS of select YELLLOW DOT-stickered merchandise will be on sale as follows:

MONDAY, DECEMBER 28th - All bin comics and YELLOW DOT stuff --> 40% OFF!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29th - All bin comics and YELLOW DOT stuff --> 50% OFF!
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30th - All bin comics and YELLOW DOT stuff --> 60% OFF!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31st - All bin comics and YELLOW DOT stuff --> 70% OFF!

2) SUPPORT the Pennsylvania Food Bank and the York Rescue Mission:

FOR EVERY CANNED FOOD ITEM YOU BRING IN TO DONATE TO THESE WORTHY CAUSES, PICK ONE BLACKEST NIGHT PROMOTIONAL RING ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Bring as many cans as you want - bring in ten cans of food, get ten rings from our supply ABSOLUTELY FREE! Help fight hunger here at home and score some cool rings while doing so!

(Some ring colors are not available or in short supply! Free rings to be chosen from the rings we have!)

3) Available on Wednesday, December 30th
ABSOLUTELY FREE --> ORIGINS OF SIEGE 32-page comic featuring an ALL-NEW prologue by Brian Michael Bendis, exclusive origin pages and more!
ABSOLUTELY FREE --> Marvel 2010 Calendar!
ABSOLUTELY FREE --> Avengers ID cards!


4) Also available on Wednesday, December 30th, BLACKEST NIGHT #6 goes on sale!

So come help us bid the "Oughts" farewell with a bang for the New Year 2010, and enter the TWENTY TEENS in style!

(All free items and sales items are in limited supply and will be given away or sold while supplies last!)

Shel Dorf, founder of the San Diego Comic-Con has passed away

I recently got this email from my old pal Charlie Roberts:

As many of you know, Shel Dorf the founder of Comic-Con International (formerly The San Diego Comic-Con), passed away on Tuesday November 3 after a lengthy illness. Shel's brother Michael Dorf has asked Shel's long time friend Michael Towry to set up the "Shel Dorf New Talent Encouragement Fund" in Shel's honor. Michael Towry, along with Richard Alf and several other young comic collectors, were part of the original convention committee and helped Shel with the first several Comic-cons. Richard Alf was Comic-con Chairman in 1971 and Michael was Comic-con Chairman in 1972. If any of you reading this ever went to the San Diego Comic-con/Comic Con International, enjoyed Shel's many columns over the years in "The Comic Buyer's Guide", read the "Steve Canyon" comic strip which Shel lettered for many years, or just plain love comics and the graphics medium this would be a great way to say "Thank You" and help a most worthwhile charity in the process.

Donations may be sent to:

Shel Dorf New Talent Encouragement Fund c/o
Michael Towry
PO Box 232497
San Diego, Ca 92193

You might also enjoy checking out Michael's excellent Shel Dorf Tribute website:

WWW.ShelDorfTribute.com

Thanks for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Charlie Roberts

Sounds like a great idea! Do what you can folks!

Baltimore Comic-Con 2009 - Day Two: The Quickening

Yikes! What a crazy day! Lots of shoppers, lots of artists and writers milling around, lots of costumed people, lots of fun:

Bill was trapped on the escalator for almost two hours until convention hall staff finally heard his pleas for help.

Where's Bill? Josh: "Bill who?"

Finally rescued by Henchman 21! Thanks, Henchman 21!

I LOVE COMICAL FUNNY BOOKS!

The unwary victim.

The anonymous threat!
Was it carried out?

Just another day at the fantastic Baltimore Comic-Con!

Well, that's it for now... we're all pretty beat and are tired of hauling 1200 pounds of comic books around two states. Tomorrow begins a two-day series of seminars at the Diamond Retailer Summit, so there may be delayed posting... we will report back soon with what we learn about upcoming projects and whatnot!

(Oh and this Wednesday, come in and check out samples of ALL THE AWESOME GREEN LANTERN RINGS! They're not for sale yet, DC Comics just sent one of each of them for us to show all of you!)

Baltimore Comic-Con 2009 - Day One

Here we go:

The Comix Connection booth at the Baltimore Comic-Con 2009! Behold the mighty comic book goodness!

There are no words to explain this. Just ... absorb...

This had my dander up for the first few hours. Joe rescued the dolly, much to my appreciation. The cost: Ten dollars and a heartfelt hug. Thanks, Joe!

Stuart Schreck of DC Comics shows us where the power lies... holy mackerel, that is the coolest thing I've seen in a very long time. THANKS, DC COMICS!

Some Dead Guy: Ten Bucks
In a GAP bag?
Same price.

Sometimes things are hazy.

Sometimes it's completely crazy.

Max and a wa(h)ll of comic books.

When the Green Flash does the paperwork, it's all a blur.

Joe and his old comic book store boss Calum Johnston of STRANGE ADVENTURES in Halifax, Nova Scotia! It was a real pleasure for me to meet Calum!

I'd just like to thank all of you who came out today! It was great seeing so many of you making the trek to Baltimore to wallow in so much comic book goodness. Very cool, y'all! Thanks to every one of you, especially Tom and Olivia (kudos for the costume Olivia, and the Green Lantern love you give, Tom), Kel (first time! WOOT!), Mark Herr (you will always be The Man), Jason for the cool postcards (I'm gonna put a couple of them up here once I scan them, but not THAT one!), Albert (good to see you dude, I can't believe your son is in his second year of college!), Steve (for bringing Master Wahl to the con in his sleek white sports car), Evilkitty36 and hubby and son (for making the trek, by the way remind me I forgot to give all three of you your Special 20% Off Baltimore Comic-Con Discount Coupons!), and anyone else I may have forgotten at this point. Thanks to all of you who wore your Comix Connection T-shirt and I really hope we remembered to give your your FREE DOLLAR! Special thanks to Mrs. Boyce for the treats, you're ACES!

I guess we'll see the rest of you tomorrow, right?

Baltimore Comic-Con: Friday Set-up

Well, it begins... Comix Connection's TENTH annual Baltimore Comic-Con! Here's some pictures from today with Joe and Josh at "load-in" for the Baltimore Comic-Con!

NINTH IN LINE! WOOOO-HOOOO! Even with Bill's usual round-the-block detour. You would think he'd know how to get to the convention center by now...

The crew, eagerly awaiting set-up!

Into the Concrete Canyon of No Return!

In the BELLY OF THE THUNDERDOMEDOMEDOMEOMEOME!

After much hard work, the booth is primed and ready to go. Who knows what delicious comic book goodies will be displayed for the multitudes tomorrow? Stop by and see! We are booth number One-Double-Oh-Seven, naturally.

What magical place is this? Baltimore truly IS full of wonders!

More tomorrow! Stop by our booth for your free dollar!

Baltimore Comic-Con: The Place To Be This Weekend

As you probably know, the TENTH Annual Baltimore Comic-Con will be held this weekend (Saturday October 10th and Sunday October 11th) at the Baltimore Convention Center, which is located between Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The guestlist is HUUUUGE this year and there are many scheduled panels and programs where you can sit in and join the discussions of various comic book related topics! There will also be a first-ever Costume Contest with a $1000 Grand Prize on Sunday!

Some tips from this longtime Baltimore Comic-Con veteran:

1) BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE AHEAD OF TIME! This will save you from waiting in very long lines to get in. Seriously BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE AHEAD OF TIME!

2) If you are coming from Pennsylvania, USE THE LIGHT RAIL! Most exits along I-83 have Maryland Light Rail stations that you park for free at, then hop the light rail train that takes you to a stop at Camden Yards which is literally right across the street from the Baltimore Convention Center! HERE'S the schedule if you're coming down I-83! A train comes along every 15 minutes, so don't sweat it if one is pulling out as you are pulling in... another will be along soon! Oh, and I'm pretty sure a ROUND-TRIP TICKET IS ONLY $3.20! So you would save the hassle of trying to find parking in Baltimore, paying $15-$20 for said parking, and having to negotiate Baltimore city traffic! Win-win-win!

3) WEAR COMFORTABLE, SOFT-SOLED SHOES! You will be doing quite a bit of standing and walking about, so bring your most supportive, comfortable shoes! And nice comfy socks. And pants. Don't forget your pants.

4) WEAR YOUR COMIX CONNECTION T-SHIRT and I will hand you ONE DOLLAR CASH AMERICAN no strings attached! A free dollar! By golly, that's what America is all about! Don't be shy, get yours!

5) Also, ask for your SPECIAL CONVENTION-GOERS 20% OFF ANY PURCHASE COUPON that is redeemable in either store for when you get back home! It's just our way of showing appreciation to those adventurous customers who travel to Baltimore to see us and the guest artists and writers and the millions of dollars worth of comic books and the four dollar pretzels! Take some of that excitement home with you and get 20% OFF your next purchase at Comix Connection!

6) This one is critical: BRING THE COMIX CONNECTION GUYS CRABCAKE SANDWICHES! You must all bring Bill, Joe and Josh hot and tasty Maryland crabcake sandwiches. Or candy apples. Either one.

7) As a courtesy to you, we invite everyone to drop their stuff off at our booth so that you don't have to lug around that 40-pound WALKING DEAD OMNIBUS that you want author Robert Kirkman to sign. We will gladly stash your stash under our tables (WITHIN REASON, FOLKS!) so that you can be free to roam the convention floor without a paper anchor.

8) Enjoy Baltimore and especially the Inner Harbor (museums! aquarium! shops! food!) which is just a few blocks away by aerial walkway. If you really want some fun, take a short trip to Fell's Point and stop in Bertha's for the mussels or Sound Garden or any number of cool shops, pubs and restaurants in that hip little neighborhood. Or pop over to Little Italy for some great Italian Cuisine... I recommend a stop at Vaccaro's Bakery for dessert treats.

9) BRING STUFF TO HAVE SIGNED! Most creators will sign stuff for free or for a small charity donation. If you want fully-rendered sketches or drawings, you may have to wait a while and of course pay for your commission. There will also be comics and stuff done by the visiting creators that you can purchase from some of the vendors, like US! Or bring a blank sketchpad like a lot of folks do and have creators do a quick sketch for you! It's easy and fun and you can build a collection of one-of-a-kind artwork!

10) Mostly BE PATIENT and enjoy yourself! You will be amongst thousands of folks just like you! There are literally hundreds of thousands of comic books to look at, and hundreds of creators to see and chat with. HAVE FUN!

TOM MAKES A GOOD POINT IN THE COMMENTS, SO I'll PUT IT UP HERE:

Definitely take the light rail if you go on Saturday. Saturday is also the running of the Baltimore Marathon, and many downtown streets will be closed on and off throughout the day, making traffic and parking even more of a nightmare.

SEE YOU THERE!

Baltimore Comic-Con Panels announced!

1:30-2:30 Comic Rewind: The '70s
The 1970s were an exciting time in comics as a team of mutants gained new life, a muck monster rose from the swamp, fish laughed, mystic defenders faced trippy threats, a hunter of men met a bat, and much more. It was a time of amazing creativity and excitement. Join creators Chris Claremont, Steve Englehart, Walter Simonson, Len Wein, and Bernie Wrightson along with moderator Mark Waid as they take a look back at the comics of the '70s.

Check out the just-released schedule of panels at the Baltimore Comic-Con HERE! Looks to be a ton of fun!

Have you seen the amazing Guest List? Highlights include: Jason Aaron, Mike Allred, Dick Ayers, Nick Cardy, Frank Cho, Chris Claremont, Evan Dorkin, Greg Horn, Adam Hughes, JG Jones, Robert Kirkman, Joe Kubert, Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, David Mack, Terry Moore, George Perez, Tim Sale, Marc Silvestri, Walter Simonson, Herb Trimpe, Mark Waid, Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson and many many more! HERE'S the complete list! It's crazy!

Oh and if you're heading to the Baltimore Comic-Con from up north here in Pennsylvania and don't feel like fighting Baltimore city traffic or trying to find an expensive parking space, try Maryland Transit's Light Rail! You just park your car at one of several lots along I-83, and for a small fee (something like $3.00 round-trip!), you can hop on the Light Rail Train, which takes you to a station RIGHT BESIDE THE CONVENTION CENTER! It's awesome! Click HERE to see where you can board the train!

And you can buy your advance tickets HERE!

Comix Connection will be set up at our usual booth as we have been for all ten years of the fabulous Baltimore Comic-Con. Stop by and get a FREE ONE DOLLAR BILL CASH AMERICAN by simply wearing your Comix Connection T-shirt! There may even be a special con-goers coupon for you to use at the stores when you get back home! Or just stop by and say "HI" to Bill and the Comix Connection Convention Monkeys. Crabcake sandwiches gladly accepted!

Comic covers...uh...covers?

Heres a link to some great comics covers done by various alternative artists! This Richard Sala cover is a comic we actually have in stock on our silver-age wall, so I thought it might look familiar to some of our customers!

A Guide to Obama Comics

Whether you agree with his politics or not, it's hard to dispute that the popularity of newly inaugurated President Barack Obama has touched off an unstoppable merchandising juggernaut. Thanks to the wall-to-wall coverage inspired by President Obama's appearance in a recent issue of Amazing Spider-man and a brief item in a UK paper claiming Obama collects Spider-man and Conan the Barbarian comics, Obama's merchandising muscle is being felt at your friendly neighborhood comic book shop Comix Connection.

Marvel Comics' Amazing Spider-man #583 may have been the first Barack Obama comic to receive a tremendous amount of media attention, but it wasn't his first appearance in comics, and, thanks to the sales success of its four five printings, it certainly won't be the last.

In that spirit, here's a guide to some of Barack Obama's other comic book appearances:

Savage Dragon #137 from Image Comics

Released in early September, Savage Dragon #137 was Obama's first appearance in comic books; however, this is a cover appearance only. No Obama inside! This cover was a natural tie-in, since Savage Dragon, like Barack Obama, is a Chicago-based superhero. The first printing was actually a retailer incentive variant with a relatively low print run, so it's very difficult to find. However, Image has gone back to press for three additional printings to meet demand, making subtle coloring changes with each printing. The fourth and last printing, according to creator Erik Larsen, will be in stores February 25, in conjunction with the release of another Obama appearance in Savage Dragon #145.

Presidential Material: Barack Obama from IDW Publishing

The first appearance of Barack Obama on the interior of a comic, this biography comic was released on October 8, 2008 in conjunction with a similar issue featuring John McCain's bio, and also as a flip book (one side Obama, the other side McCain). Its success inspired three printings, and publisher IDW is going back to press with a fourth printing with a photo cover of President Obama being sworn in on the Lincoln Bible. The fourth printing will be available at Comix Connection on February 4.

Obama: The Comic Book from Antarctic Press


Marketed by Antarctic Press as a bioGRAPHIC, this text-heavy illustrated biography of Obama was originally released October 29. A second inaugural edition will be available in March.

Mad Magazine #493, #495 and #498 from DC Comics

Though technically not a traditional comic book, Mad Magazine has featured several Barack Obama appearances and covers over the past year or so, the most recent of which was Mad Magazine #498, released on January 14; the cover depicts what I'd imagine is the most truthful portrayal of Obama's feelings when taking office.

Thunderbolts #128 from Marvel Comics

Though he's not on the cover of this issue, President Obama plays an integral role in the story of Thunderbolts #128. Imagine that! Thunderbolts #128 was released January 21 and is sold out. However, Marvel will be doing a second printing, and that will be available February 18.

Youngblood #8 from Image Comics

In a six page backup story by comics legend Rob Liefeld in this issue, President Barack Obama selects the next Youngblood team to protect the United States. Hasn't he already done that? This issue is due in stores on February 25.

Savage Dragon #145 from Image Comics

Savage Dragon #145 is Barack Obama's first appearance as president in Savage Dragon's universe. Smartly enough, this is also a good jumping-on point for the Savage Dragon series, as Dragon rejoins the Chicago police department after a decade as a freelance vigilante. This Obama cover is one of my favorites because it apes the color palette used by Shepard Fairey in his iconic Obama posters and also features the famous terrorist fist bump. Savage Dragon #145 is also due in stores February 25.

Wizard Magazine #210 from Wizard Entertainment

Again, not a comic, but a comics publication... President Obama appears on the cover of this special edition of Wizard #210, featuring a painting by fan favorite Alex Ross. This 96 page collectors edition also features an article on presidential appearances in comics, from Jimmy Carter in the Dark Phoenix saga to Ronald Reagan in Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns. This one also ships on February 25.

If you are interested in any of these issues, please visit your local Comix Connection branch and we can put you down on a hold list if they are still available. And if you have any Barack Obama comics to add to our list, please post them in the comments section.

ADDED 2/3/09- From an email I received:

Love how you're tracking the Obama Comics, but you guys forgot about Licensable BearTM #4. He made a brief appearance as a U.S. Senator.
Justin Heberle

Duly noted and THANKS!