Show Time
This winter has been a real boon for comic book collectors with three one day shows in a row. I wish I could have participated all three shows but I was busy with exams. However, I did manage to squeeze…
Comic Book Daily
Discussing the minutiae of comic book collecting.
Comic Book Daily
Discussing the minutiae of comic book collecting.
Category Columns
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If This Be Ragnarok…
All good things must come to an end, and so too must this column. For almost five years I have had the privilege of using this space to discuss many aspects of an industry that I love, but now it…
Hey, Doc, Where’s the Love for ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’?
“Dear Doc Curmudgeon” is a column by Clint McElroy, made up of completely fabricated responses to mostly fabricated questions. But you knew that, due to your discerning nature and brilliant mind which would never fall for a columnist trying to butter you…
Big John Buscema…Hands Down!
As any regular readers of this column doubtlessly know, I am a huge fan of Big John Buscema. We are coming up on the 13th anniversary of his passing on January 10th, and I have been looking through some of my…
Christmas Gift Guide
It is that time of year again! The gingerbread lattes are out, the stores are playing Christmas Carols, and your local comic book shop has a myriad of gift ideas for the comic book fan on your list. 2014 has been a very solid year for comic books, so here, in no particular order, are some suggestions from yours truly.
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Draw Out the Story: Ten Secrets to Creating Your Own Comics
This book makes me angry…I’m bitter that books this great weren’t around when I was a kid. Draw Out the Story: Ten Secrets to Creating Your Own Comics by local cartoonist Brian McLachlan and released mid 2013 is a must…
Marvel 1960s Annuals: Part Two, Spider-Man
Part 2 of this series on Marvel silver age annuals continues with the Amazing Spider-Man. I thought I had better get to this group of books in a hurry before Walt shines the Undervalued Spotlight on all of these books.…
“Marvel’s Changes This Time, And We Do It In Rhyme ”
“Dear Doc Curmudgeon” is a column by Clint McElroy, made up of completely fabricated responses to mostly fabricated questions. But you knew that, due to your discerning nature and brilliant mind which would never fall for a columnist trying to butter you…
Nick Fury…to the MAX!
Being an admitted “Son of the Silver Age,” I usually have something to say about that era .Today’s column is a little different. I am going to share with you a gem from 2012 The series is a Fury Max title called “My…
Collecting Comic Places
This month saw the release of Guardians of the Galaxy #21, a much-anticipated story set in the home planet of the Venom symbiote. This story inspired me to think back on the first appearance of Venom’s home planet, which appears…
Barry Smith’s Ka-Zar
A few months back, I wrote a column called “Barry Smith, On the Road to Windsor“. I recently revisited this column and noticed that I had, except for a one word mention, given his work on Ka-Zar in Astonishing Tales #3-6…
Has Marvel and DC Ruined the Party?
Thanks to the success of comic book movies, the back issue market has been enjoying a resurgence. As a speculator, it’s been fun trying to anticipate and out maneuver all the rumors. I’ve been stocking up on certain books and…
Words For Pictures
I love me some instructional books. I’m always looking for anything that’ll help me be a better comic writer and you know I’ve learned two things in my pursuit of the perfect book: 1) There are a lot of bad…
Copra: Homage Done Right
Homage can be very tricky to pull off. In today’s rapid-fire society of internet forums homage for a work is often dismissed as disrespectful or a shadow of a far more celebrated text. Of course, nothing could be further from…
“Choose Your Next Man of Steel”
“Dear Doc Curmudgeon” is a column by Clint McElroy, made up of completely fabricated responses to mostly fabricated questions. But you knew that, due to your discerning nature and brilliant mind which would never fall for a columnist trying to butter you…
Sky Masters of the Space Force!
I came across an exceptional and rare book on eBay last week! I have been a big fan of Jack Kirby since I saw the Fantastic Four cartoon show in the 60s and then shortly after that bought FF#76 off…
Comic Promo Bags
Earlier this year I discussed the nostalgia that comes from a plain brown paper bag: in that column I mentioned having a stack of promotional shopping bags from my early days and I’ve finally scanned them. I can’t say why…
Full Moon Terror! Marvel Spotlight & Werewolf by Night
October wouldn't be complete if we didn't feature a scary Marvel super-hero in Arcs and Runs! Well yes it would, but it is Halloween and I just can't resist taking a peak at the horror genre in Marvel comics this month. The early seventies was the heyday for this genre with books like Tomb of Dracula, The Monster of Frankenstein, Man Thing, Ghost Rider, Son of Satan, and our featured character Werewolf by Night all getting a chance at their own comic series.
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Getting to Know Gotham
The tv screen is getting crowded with comic-related tv shows this season. Agents of Shield, Arrow, and the Walking Dead are already well-established shows, and The Flash just debuted this month on the CW network. I’m going to look at…
Humble Bundle
Comic book fans love giving to charity. I have not seen a single convention in recent years were there wasn’t some component that allowed fans to donate money to a good cause. However, if you add some sweet swag to…