UNTIL YOUR HEART STOPS v28.7
by Brian Domingos

Don't Tell Me Nothing

April 1st, 2009

I’ve mentioned that there’s a significant lack of comic shops in the area of my home. There’s a collectibles/memorabilia store that started selling comics about a year ago but the real comic shop closed just after “Free Comicbook Day” last year. The next closest is about 45 minutes away. My Local Comic Shop is about 20 minutes from my office (which is an hour from home) so it’s not exactly convenient.

So there’s a lack.

I was in the Framingham, Ma area for work on Friday and I got off of Rt. 495 South to get some gas in Bellingham, MA. I vaguely know of the town through my day job, but I don’t think I’d ever been there before. I was following some signs, heading south on Rt. 126 – trying to meet with Rt. 495 again – and I stumbled across two distinctly different comic shops.

One of my favorite things in the world is finding and exploring new comic shops. So, even though I was eager to get home after a long day of corporate lecturing, I made quick stop.

I saw a sign for the first one in a strange looking strip mall. I could see the signs from the street and followed the dilapidated drive-way down towards the shopping complex, which was recessed behind the main drag’s businesses (a Dairy Queen and a carwash).

Rubber Chicken Comics is sandwiched in the middle there, with modern posters on the windows, looking like a long forgotten store. The space is small, with action figures (both old and new) on the right side, above the long box bins. The middle section had some display cases with figurines, DVDs and an assortment of $5 trade paperbacks (a lot of SPIDER-MAN), matched by a few $10 hardcovers. The left side is floor to ceiling racks of new comics, with a fairly good section. Since it was Friday, I had already hit the shop for my new books, so there wasn’t much there for me, but I saw a variety of books I would have been happy with. The trade paperback selection was on the small side, grouped by company and then characters – SPIDER-MAN and X-MEN being a large section, with DC forming the neighboring rack.

They had one thing I really liked – they had bagged a variety of miniseries into singular bags and marked them at a specific price. Some were discounted and others were priced at market value. My favorite Boston comic shop, Comicopia followed that practice before trade paperbacks became big business – they’d collect arcs and miniseries of different books into bundles and sell them off that way. I bought a lot of hard-to-find stories that way.

Other than that, Rubber Chicken Comics is the standard shop. It was a Friday afternoon around 4pm and I was the only one in there, so it wasn’t bad, but I can see Wednesdays getting pretty crowded. The employee was friendly and it was clear that they’d order anything I wanted form Diamond, which is always nice.

Further on down the road, I found a second shop, which I was totally not expecting. Friendly Neighborhood Comics sits at one end of a brand new shopping complex where the only other tenant is a pizza joint. It’s long and thin, with new hardwood (probably parquet) floors. It had a little WATCHMEN display near the front with manga and older books along the left side, all the way to the back of the shop. The right side has new releases in the back and as you travel back to the front of the store, you’ve got a Marvel section, then a DC section, then a genre book section, then Vertigo/Image and independents. The genre book section had a mix of science-fiction, crime and espionage novels – a real crossover vibe of topics and authors. In the middle of the shop, there were little display islands which featured popular books and grouped by title and genre. It’s a slick layout that says, “We just opened and here’s how you open a shop.” It smelled brand new (open for about two months) and was immaculate. It’s a gorgeous store and seems to be running right. In fact, it’s stocked in the same fashion I’d follow and it looks like they’ve listed to the Big Name Retailers (Rory Root, Brian Hibbs, James Sime, etc.)

If I lived in that area, I’d probably make Friendly Neighborhood Comics my main store, but Rubber Chicken Comics definitely serves a purpose. It’s the classic kind of shop that likely has a clientele that has older comics and toys and would have access to hard-to-find items. Friendly Neighborhood Comics would be the new release place.

I’m plugging these two shops, not because I got anything out of them, but because I love comic shops and I love retailers and I hope both of these stores last for the long run. I’ll definitely be checking back next time I’m in the area. I have a feeling Friendly Neighborhood Comics is going to have some sort of grand “New Comic Book Day” extravaganza. I’d check that out, where I you, and you’re in the area.

Full contact info below:

RUBBER CHICKEN COMICS
15-19 North Main Street
Building B Suite 8
Bellingham, Ma
(508) 966-2210
www.rubberchickencomics.com

FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD COMICS
191 Mechanic St
Bellingham, Ma
(508) 966-2275
myspace.com/friendlyneighborhoodcomic
www.FriendlyNeighborhoodComics.com

April's a five week month, so expect to have a light week or two in the future. This isn't one of them.

Upcoming…
Books and items shipping Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

JAN094403 2000 AD #1625 $4.50
JAN094404 2000 AD #1626 $4.50
FEB094275 4 GIRLFRIENDS GN VOL 01 (O/A) (A) $10.95
FEB092505 AGENTS OF ATLAS #3 DKR $2.99
FEB092485 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #590 $2.99
FEB094346 ANGEL BLOOD AND TRENCHES #2 $3.99
NOV083952 ARMY OF DARKNESS #18 $3.50
FEB092524 ASTONISHING TALES #3 $3.99
JAN092390 ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #14 $2.99
JAN090295 ASTRAL PROJECT VOL 03 (MR) $12.99

FEB090234 THE AUTHORITY #9
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99

THE AUTHORITY took a much needed change for the weird last issue. I'm enjoying it. And this has the second part of Chris Gage and Ivan Reis' “Team Achilles” story.

JAN092497 AVENGERS INVADERS #9 (OF 12) $2.99
FEB090253 BANG TANGO #3 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
DEC083754 BANZAI GIRLS ANNUAL 2009 $6.95
JAN098179 BATMAN #686 2ND PTG (NOTE PRICE) $3.99

FEB090157 BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL – MAN-BAT #1
DC Comics
$2.99

I loved Joe Harris' '90s work so I'm happy to see him work again. I think that last one of his stories I read was the B.P.R.D. Book he did with Adam Pollina? Maybe? This is with J. Calafiore and it focuses on Man-Bat in the new Bat-less era.

DEC080152 BATMAN: THE HEART OF HUSH HC
DC Comics
$19.99

I didn't like a lot of Paul Dini's DETECTIVE COMICS run but I loved his “Heart of Hush” arc. Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs had perfect art and Dini gave Hush an interesting – and believable – background. It was a blast, which I never thought I'd say about a “Hush” story again..

JAN093984 BETTY #179 (NOTE PRICE) $2.50
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FEB094083 BLACK SUMMER TP CON ED (MR) $24.99
JAN092414 BOMB QUEEN TP VOL 05 BOMBASTIC $16.99
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OCT084289 CAPTAIN ACTION COMICS #3 MYCHAELS MODERN CVR $3.99

FEB092460 CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS 70TH ANNIV SPECIAL #1
Marvel Comics
$3.99

Marcos Martin + James Robinson + Captain America = Must Read.

JAN094067 CARS ROOKIE #1 (OF 4) $2.99
DEC080035 CHRONICLES OF CONAN TP VOL 17 CREATION QUEST $17.95
FEB094306 COCKTAILS SC VOL 02 WINTER SPECIAL 2008 (A) $13.95
NOV082298 CYBLADE #4 $2.99
FEB092502 DARK REIGN FANTASTIC FOUR #2 (OF 5) DKR $2.99

JAN090258 DC/WILDSTORM: DREAMWAR TPB
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$19.99

I thought I'd like “Dreamwar” a lot more than I thought I would.

It's a mashup of the Justice League, Legion of Superheroes and the Justice Society and the Wildstorm Universe. They fight and there's this kid and Lee Garbett does the art and...

Maybe I need to reread it all at once? I just thought it had a few missteps.

FEB092595 DEAD OF NIGHT FEATURING WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #4 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
FEB090177 DEAD ROMEO #1 (OF 6) $2.99

FEB092520 DEADPOOL #9
Marvel Comics
$2.99

FEB092641 DEADPOOL CLASSIC, VOL. 2 TPB
Marvel Comics
$29.99

I'd say it's time for DEADPOOL fans to put up or shut up. Marvel is releasing issues -1, #2-#8, and DAREDEVIL/DEADPOOL ANNUAL 1997 of the original series by Joe Kelly and others in DEADPOOL CLASSIC, VOL. 2. Fanboys have been clamoring for years for it. And now it's here. I thought it was a fun book, but that's about it. I do hope these sell, though, because I'd kill for a Gail Simone collection or two (of DP and AGENT X).

Oh, and DEADPOOL #9 is the third part of the crossover with THUNDERBOLTS. It's been an okay arc. Not great.

FEB092593 DESTROYER #1 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
DEC084006 DF AVENGERS INVADERS #8 (OF 12) EX ALT CVR $14.99
JAN092502 DR DOOM MASTERS OF EVIL #3 (OF 4) $2.99
JAN094155 DRAGON EYE GN VOL 07 (RES) $10.99
DEC084175 DUNGEON ZENITH TP VOL 03 BACK IN STYLE $12.95
FEB094359 FALLEN ANGEL TP VOL 06 CITIES OF LIGHT AND DARK $19.99
DEC083847 FARSCAPE #4 $3.99

FEB090172 THE FLASH: REBIRTH #1 (OF 5)
DC Comics
$3.99

I'm eagerly awaiting THE FLASH: REBIRTH. I love the speedster characters – specifically what Geoff Johns has done with them. And I like that Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver have done together - “Sinestro Corps War” and “Iron Heights” - and can't wait to see how this goes. Looks like a blast.

FEB092545 FRANKLIN RICHARDS APRIL FOOLS $3.99
JAN094412 FREEDOM COLLECTIVE ONE SHOT $3.95
NOV083989 GACHA GACHA NEXT REVOLUTION GN VOL 09 (MR) $12.99
JAN094157 GAKUEN PRINCE GN VOL 01 (MR) $10.99
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FEB094331 GI JOE #4 $3.99
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JAN093923 GLAMOURPUSS #6 $3.00
JAN090296 GO GO HEAVEN VOL 07 (RES) $9.99
FEB094256 GOOD BYE HC (O/A) (MR) $19.95
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DEC080215 GREATEST HITS #6 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
JAN093999 HARKER #1 $2.99
FEB090254 HAUNTED TANK #5 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99
DEC080040 HELM TP VOL 01 $14.95
JAN094230 HO HC $19.99

FEB092516 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #12
Marvel Comics
$2.99

I'm digging the hell out of the Fraction/Larocca IRON MAN. Last issue had Henry Hellrung (the lead from Fraction's THE ORDER), which was awesome. And this looks like it's Tony Vs Namor, which is cool. And Pepper has her own Ironman suit. Awesome.

FEB094134IRREDEEMABLE #1
Boom! Studios
$3.99

I've read a preview of the first issue of Mark Waid's “superhero-gone-bad” series, IRREDEEMABLE. It's an epic. I mean, the story starts with a rogue superpower and weaves through the after-effects, in a fun and inventive way. Waid is a master of storytelling and he truly had me hooked. The pacing and layouts are skillfully specific; he figured out a way to make the obvious story interesting, by throwing curveballs with nearly every page flip. Artistically, Peter Krause does a fine job, doing a solid Barry Kitson. It's clean lines and effective figurework. It's nice to look at – and I was worried, because I only know Krause from his two-issues of the four part Starman/Capt. Marvel crossover, where he attempted Tony Harris-like layouts (and missed by a few meters). But this is strong work, and the traditional style is a nice juxtaposition to the “new era” superheroics.

FEB092422 JERSEY GODS #3 $3.50
FEB090174 JONAH HEX #42 $2.99
JAN090230 JONAH HEX BULLETS DONT LIE TP $14.99

JAN090231 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA: THY KINGDOM COME PART 1, VOL. 2 TPB
DC Comics
$14.99

It's been a long time since I've read this material. This is the pre-“Kingdom Come” sequel and the beginning of the “Gog” arc.

JAN090206 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #25
DC Comics
$2.99

Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway wrap up their Black Adam/Isis story. Last issue's art was muddy as hell.

DEC083755 KADE RISING SUN #2 (OF 4) $3.95
JAN094158 KASUMI GN VOL 02 $10.99

FEB092424 KILLER OF DEMONS #2 (OF 3)
Image Comics
$3.99

I enjoyed the simplicity of the first issue of KILLER OF DEMONS Christopher Yost's story follows Dave, a cubical monkey who is blessed/cursed with the ability to see through a demon's human form, and is tasked by Uriel, an angel, to hunt and kill all of the demons. Of course, no one can see them but Dave, so it looks like he's a serial killer that's preying on the innocents of the city. Scott Wegener does the art and he's really excelling here. I liked his ATOMIC ROBO work, but this is a million times better. It's tight and dense and a perfect fit for Yost's script. It's a great, long, entertaining read. Highly recommended.

JAN094159 KITCHEN PRINCESS GN VOL 09 $10.99
JAN094353 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #149 $4.99
DEC084035 LEGEND OF PERCEVAN GN VOL 01 STAR INGAAR (RES) $19.95
JAN094362 LONDON HORROR COMICS #2 (OF 4) $3.99
FEB090229 LOONEY TUNES #173 $2.50
JAN090250 MAD CLASSICS #25 $4.99
FEB094214 MAN WITH NO NAME #1 LTD ED CVR $3.50
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FEB092553 MARVEL ASSISTANT SIZE SPECTACULAR #1 (OF 2) $3.99
FEB092658 MARVEL YOUR UNIVERSE #3 $5.99
JAN094120 MASQUERADE #2 $3.50
FEB094608 MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA MANGA FICTION SC $8.99

FEB090188THE MIGHTY #3
DC Comics
$2.99

Two issues into THE MIGHTY and I'm really worried that it's going to take the easy way out. I'm hope hope hoping that it doesn't, but it's got the scent of “expected” plot hammering. Peter J. Tomasi & Keith Champagne have had good scripts so far and I'm always up for more art from Peter Snejbjerg.

FEB090238 MIRRORS EDGE #6 (OF 6) $3.99
OCT073262 MOUSE GUARD HC VOL 01 LTD ED B&W $99.95
DEC083961 NEGIMA GN VOL 21 (MR) $10.99
JAN094161 NEGIMA NEO GN VOL 01 MAGISTER NEGI MAGI (MR) $10.99
FEB092503 NEW AVENGERS REUNION #2 (OF 4) DKR $3.99
JAN098176 NEW MUTANTS SAGA (BUNDLE OF 25) PI
FEB094096 NO HERO #4 (OF 7) AUXILIARY ED (MR) $3.99
SEP082254 NOBLE CAUSES #40 $3.50
FEB092556 OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #4 $3.99
FEB092403 OVERMAN TP $16.99
JAN093989 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #130 (NOTE PRICE) $3.99
JAN094162 PASTEL GN VOL 13 (RES) (MR) $10.99
DEC084021 PIANO TUNER GN VOL 02 (A) $10.95

JAN098012PREACHER # 1 SPECIAL EDITION
Vertigo/DC Comics
$1.00

PREACHER is one of the best comics ever. Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon are masters of the craft. This first issue is an utter delight. Soooooooooo good.

FEB090001 PREVIEWS #247 APRIL 2009 PI

I've already started on June, but I'm looking forward to sitting down with the PREVIEWS this weekend.

FEB092473 PRIDE & PREJUDICE #1 (OF 5) $3.99
FEB090242 PROTOTYPE #1 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
JAN094065 REMNANT #4 (OF 4) $3.99
JAN090266 RESIDENT EVIL FIRE AND ICE TP (MR) $24.99
JAN093990 SABRINA VOL 2 #101 YOUNG SALEM PART 1 OF 4 $2.50
JAN094164 SAMURAI 7 GN VOL 01 (MR) $10.99
OCT080253 SANDMAN ANNIVERSARY POSTER $7.99
JAN092402 SAVAGE DRAGON #146 $3.50
JAN090287 SCALPED #27 (MR) $2.99

FEB090263 SEAGUY: THE SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE #1 (OF 3)
Vertigo/DC Comics
$3.99

I love Sea Guy. I'm fascinated by the character and his whole world. I think I need to reread the first mini series before I get into this. And really, I'd love every book to be from Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart – I'm glad they found each other.

FEB092498 SECRET WARRIORS #3 DKR $2.99
FEB094429 SHRAPNEL #4 (OF 5) BROOKS CVR A $2.99
FEB094430 SHRAPNEL #4 (OF 5) MOZSI CVR B $2.99
FEB094360 SKATE FARM GN VOL 02 (IDW) $9.99
FEB094338 STAR TREK COUNTDOWN #4 $3.99
FEB094341 STAR TREK CREW #2 $3.99
DEC080067 STAR WARS OMNIBUS EMISSARIES AND ASSASSINS $24.95
FEB094450 STILL I RISE GN $14.95
FEB090198 STRANGE ADVENTURES #2 (OF 8) $3.99
FEB094040 SUPER HUMAN RESOURCES #3 (OF 4) $3.50

JAN090195 SUPERMAN/BATMAN #57
DC Comics
$2.99

Whilce Portacio takes over the art on SUPERMAN/BATMAN for three issues. I love that guy. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning write the story.

NOV084059 SUPERMEN! FIRST WAVE OF HEROES (1939-41) OGN
Top Shelf Comix
$24.99

Greg Sadowski edits this collection of long lost Golden Age superheroes. I love this stuff. I've been waiting to get into this for a long time now.

DEC084193 TALES FROM THE CRYPT #11 $3.95
JAN090218 TEEN TITANS #69 $2.99
FEB090189 TEEN TITANS ANNUAL 2009 #1 $4.99
JAN098138 THUNDERBOLTS #129 DE LA TORRE 2ND PTG VAR $2.99
FEB094322 TRANSFORMERS BEST O/T UK CITY OF FEAR #3 $3.99
JAN094275 TRANSFORMERS MAXIMUM DINOBOTS #4 $3.99
JAN094278 TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT JAZZ $3.99
FEB090150 TRINITY #44 $2.99
NOV080090 TUROK T/C SET $14.95
JAN092446 UNIVERSAL WAR ONE REVELATIONS #1 (OF 3) (MR) $5.99
DEC088102 UNIVERSAL WAR ONE REVELATIONS #1 (OF 3) US VAR (MR) (PP #854) $5.99
FEB092565 WAR OF KINGS #2 (OF 6) $3.99
DEC083855 WARHAMMER 40K DEFENDERS OF ULTRAMAR TP $16.99
FEB092648 WHAT IF TP SECRET WARS $19.99
FEB090051 WHO WANTS TO BE A SUPERHERO THE DEFUSER $3.50
JAN090286 WITCHING HOUR TP NEW PTG (MR) $19.99
FEB092646 WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS TP WOLVERINE BY NIGHT $12.99
JAN092589 WOLVERINE HC TALES OF WEAPON X $14.99
FEB092546 WOLVERINE MAGAZINE #1 $6.99
DEC082420 WOLVERINE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 MCNIVEN CVR DM ED $99.99
DEC082419 WOLVERINE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 MILLER CVR $99.99
JAN098106 WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #3 (OF 8) 2ND PTG YOUNG VAR $3.99
FEB092589 X-MEN FIRST CLASS FINALS #3 (OF 4) $3.99
JAN094163 XXXHOLIC GN VOL 13 $10.99

---

PREVIEWS column next week – June! See you then.

 

Brian Domingos is the Editor-in-Chief at Popimage.com. Questions? Comments? Love Notes? Email him via brian@popimage.com. To submit a comic for review, please email him at the email link. We're always interested to see what people have to offer.


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