Big Planet Comics Orbit Newsletter - February 23, 2012

February 23, 2012

Mark Long signing tomorrow Hey everyone! Due to an emergency, Nate Powell will not be able to appear at our event for The Silence of Our Friends tomorrow. However, Mark Long, the writer of The Silence of Our Friends has come into town to appear at the store for us! Mark Long will be at our Vienna store Friday, February 24th from 6-730 pm to sign and discuss the new amazing book he co-wrote, The Silence of Our Friends. Feel free to forward on our newsletter, and please send us any comments or mailing list requests to vienna@bigplanetcomics.com Thanks!   - the Big Planet Comics kids UPCOMING February 24 - Mark Long Signing Mark Long, founder of the video game company Zombie Studios, will be at our Vienna store February 24, from 6:00 to 7:30. His new book is The Silence of Our Friends, a really powerful book about the civil rights movement in Texas in the 1960s and two families, one black and one white, who become friends and get caught up in the middle of everything. Mark Long based the story on the true events that took place when he was a kid, and one of the main characters is based on his father, a TV journalist in Houston. 6-730 pm Big Planet Comics of Vienna 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com Hector Umbra HC by Uli Oesterle A strange mix of friend drama and surreal adventure, Hector Umbra has to find out what happened to his friend, Osaka Best, who vanished right in the middle of his DJ set. A trip across Munich, dealing with crazy people, hallucinations, conspiracies, raves, ex-girlfriends, comas, and possibly a few trips into the underworld. Goliath HC by Tom Gauld Goliath of Gath is a huge man, but a terrible warrior, so he keeps trying to swap patrol duty for administrative work. When he gets dragged into a plot by a conniving officer, he finds himself on the front lines of a battle against the Israelites, pretending to be a ferocious fighter. A fascinating take on the David and Goliath story. Prophet #22 by Brandon Graham and Simon Roy Prophet joins an alien caravan that travels on giant beasts in order to make it across the desert to his next goal. But soon he is caught up in alien politics he has no understanding of! Another brilliant and bizarre issue of scifi adventure! No Place Like Home #1 by Angelo Tirotto and Richard Jordan A freak hurricane has killed Dee's parents in Kansas, so she has to return home after 5 years away in Los Angeles. But is there more to their murder, and who is the crazy old man who insists that someone should tell her the truth? A compelling start with great art! Explorer: The Mystery Boxes SC by Kazu Kibuishi, Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman, Jason Caffoe, Rad Sechrist, Stuart Livingston, Johane Matte, Emily Carroll, Stephanie Ramirez A new all-ages anthology from the team behind Flight, this is short stories revolving around a theme of a mystery box in each story! Fantasy, drama, adventure, mystery, all with pretty amazing art! Butter thieves, labyrinths, and more! (all ages) Superior HC by Mark Millar, Leinil Francis Yu In a new take on the Shazam myth, a young boy is gifted with the powers to turn himself into his favorite adult with super powers - Superior! But with the heart of a child, what choices will he make as the world's only real superhero when real monsters start showing up? And what price will he pay for his powers? Big Planet Comics Podcast #34 Our podcast will be up tomorrow! Sorry for the delay. Download this week's now or subscribe on iTunes! Send us questions to podcast@bigplanetcomics.com   2/24 - Mark Long Signing The Silence of Our Friends 6-730pm 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com 3/3 - Magic Bullet Release Party & BBQ Noon-3pm 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com 3/11 - Dan Piraro Signing Bizarro 6-7pm 1520 U St NW Washington, DC 20009 202-342-1961 greg@bigplanetcomics.com   4/14 - Justin Jordan & Tradd Moore Signing The Strange Talent of Luther Strode 11am-1pm 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com Signing The Strange Talent of Luther Strode 3pm-5pm 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com   5/5 - Free Comic Book Day All stores! freecomicbookday.com   5/5 - Jeremy Whitley Signing Princeless 11am-1pm 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com   Signing Princeless 3pm-5pm 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com 5/5 - Jorge Aguirre Signing Giants Beware! 11am-1pm 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com   Signing Giants Beware! 3pm-5pm 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com 7/4 - 20% off Sale All stores! 7/28 - Matt Dembicki Signing Xoc 11am-1pm 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com Signing Xoc 3pm-5pm 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com   Afrika HC by Hermann A man tries to fight off poachers in a corrupt country. Amazing Mysteries 1 HC by Bill Everett Some of the earliest comics by Bill Everett collected! Ampeny Crucis: Vile Bodies SC by Ian Edginton and Simon Davis A British nobleman investigates occult horror after WWI! Dark Horse Presents #9 by various Just a note that this has an all-new Paul Pope story in it. Paul Pope! Is That All There Is? HC by Joost Swarte One of the greatest creators of Europe finally has a book of his comics in English! Kolor Klimax: Nordic Comics Now SC by various A massive anthology of cutting edge comics from north Europe! The Zen of Steve Jobs by Caleb Melby and JESS3 A look at Steve Jobs interactions with Zen master Kobun Otogawa.

Big Planet Comics  -  426 Maple Ave. East, Vienna, Virginia 22180  -  703.242.9412 Big Planet Comics  -  7315 Baltimore Ave., College Park, Maryland 20740  -  301.699.0498 Big Planet Comics  -  4908 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda, Maryland 20814  -  301.654.6856 Big Planet Comics  -  1520 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009  -  202.342.1961

Sent to mrhode@gmail.com — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Big Planet Comics · 426 Maple Ave. East · Vienna, VA 22180

Comic Riffs on $3.5M auction

BIG-MONEY AUCTION: Comics collection from a Depression-era Virginia boyhood fetches $3.5M
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 23 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/big-money-auction-comics-collection-from-a-depression-era-virginia-boyhood-fetches-35m/2012/02/22/gIQALXJWUR_blog.html#pagebreak

Feb 24: Mark Long substituting at Big Planet's "The Silence of Our Friends" signing

Kevin Panetta Hey, everybody! Due to an emergency, Nate Powell will not be able to appear at our event tomorrow. In his place, though, we have Mark Long, the writer of Silence of Our Friends. Hope to see you all there! ...lifted from Big Planet's Facebook feed...

Truitt on the Flash's villains

'Flash' creative team revisits the speedster's Rogues
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY February 20 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-02-20/Flash-comic-book-series-Rogues/53172076/1

PR: New stuff at Game On! Comics!

Game On! Comics Weekly Digest Come  Visit Us! February 22, 2012 In this issue :: New Titles this Week :: New Game :: Game Nights  Dear Mike,   Welcome to Game On! Comics Sorry there hasn't been an update for a little bit! We are coming up on our 3 month anniversary!  Thank you so much to all of you for coming in since we have been open.  We honestly appreciate your business.  CHANGE IN OUR HOURS:  Tuesday and Thursday closing at 7pm instead of 8pm SUBSCRIBERS:  Please make sure that you come in and pick up comics at least once per month.  Thanks!!!! Please tell your comic/game friends about our shop, we would appreciate their business.   Please visit our Facebook page and "Like" us!! Please tell your friends about us, we would love their business! New Comic Book titles this week 2-1-12   Best Discounts in the area   Comic of the Week Dark Knight #6      All Star Western #6 Alpha & Omega Cry Wolf (Patr. Briggs) #5 Alter Ego #107 ($6) American Vampire #24 Aquaman #6 Atomic Robo Ghost Of Station X #5 (L) Avengers Academy #26 Avengers Solo #5 (L) Batman The Dark Knight #6 Blackhawks #6 Bulletproof Coffin Disinterred #2 Captain America And Bucky #627 Chew #24 Cobra Ongoing #10 Comic Shop News #1288 Danger Girl Revolver #2 Dark Horse Presents #9 Dead Rising: Road To Fortune #4 (L) Deadpool #51 Deadpool Max 2 #5(Delayed) Dr Who Magazine #443 Dresden Files Fool Moon (Jim Butcher) #5 Fantastic Four #603 Flash #6 Fury Of Firestorm The Nuclear Men #6 GFT Alice In Wonderland #2 Godzilla Legends #4 Green Lantern New Guardians #6 I Vampire #6 Incorruptible #27 Infestation 2 Dungeons & Dragons #2 (L) Jennifer Blood (Garth Ennis) #9 Jurassic Strike Force 5 #2 Justice League Dark #6 Knights Of The Dinner Table #183 Last Zombie Neverland #1 Li'l Depressed Boy #9 Magneto Not A Hero #4 (L) Mighty Thor #11 Mondo #1 Morning Glories #16 Nazi Zombies #1 New Mutants #38 No Place Like Home #1 Prophet #22 Rasl #13 Ray #3 Red Sonja / Witchblade #1 Savage Hawkman #6 Secret Avengers #23 Sixth Gun #19 Soulfire Vol 3 #7 Spawn #216 Spider-Man #23 Star Wars Dark Times Out/Wilderness #4 Superman #6 (Delayed) Teen Titans #6 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #7 Transformers Robots In Disguise #2 Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #7 Uncanny X-Force #22 Venom #13.3 Victorian Secret Winter Wardrobe 1-Shot Voodoo #6 War Of The Independents #2 Wolverine And X-Men #6 X-Men #25 X-Men Legacy #262       NEW ALL AGES / KIDS COMIC BOOKS    Archie #630 (Archie Meets KISS Pt 4 ) Dorothy And Wizard In Oz #5       NEW TRADEBACKS AND HARDCOVERS   Chronicles Of Kull TP V5 Dead Men/Deep DC Universe Secret Origins HC Gi Joe Movie Prequel TP Iron Man 2.0 TP V2 Asymmetry MMW TP Incredible Hulk V2 DM Ed 39 Quasar Classic TP V1 Superior Prem Hc Wolverine And Captain America TP            Do you want to get the same comic titles month after month?       Do you want to get them at a discounted rate?   Then get a comic subscription box with Game On! Comics!  We will hold comics for you on a weekly basis based on the comics that you want.  The more comic titles you have the more of a discount you will get.   We have the best discounts in the Washington DC area.    Number of Regular Titles Subscribed: 10-19 Comic titles 10% off 20-39  Comic titles 15% off 40+  Comic titles 20% off All you have to do is respond to this email with the titles that you would like and we will create a box for you.      New Game Nexus Ops---        Nexus Ops is a light-medium science fiction war game. The game boasts a hexagonal board that is set up differently every time, as well as (in the Avalon Hill edition) cool "glow" miniatures and lots of combat. Players control competing futuristic corporations that battle each other for control of the moon's Rubium Ore. By winning battles and fulfilling Secret Missions, you can obtain victory points. Units are composed of various alien races and have stats similar to those used in the Axis & Allies series. Combat is also similar. Players who lose battles are compensated with Energize cards which grant them special powers later. Players can also obtain Energize cards by controlling the Monolith, a raised structure in the center of the grid. The first person to reach the required number of victory points wins the game.   COST: $60       Game Nights    Tuesday Nights 7pm-11pm We may change our D&D night to Saturday.  If you have mentioned that you are interested in playing then look to get an additional email this week.  C   Come play D&D at the store.  We are currently ready to start a new campaign for 1st level characters.  If you have never played before this is your time to start.  Because each story has limited space you must email us and let us know that you would like to join.  We will be starting with just 6 people.   WE ONLY NEED 2 more PLAYERS to start!!       Wednesday Nights 7-9pm Magic the Gathering Come in tonight for casual play.   Friday Nights 7-9pm Heroclix                                     Heroclix this Friday, February 24th, at Game On! Comic, buy two boosters from the venue (they have several different sets in stock) and build a 500 point force from the contents. Modern Age tournament!      The Quest for the Infinity Gauntlet continues!  Congrats to last weeks winners:   1st: Greyson 2nd: Giahn Fellowship: Donovan     Saturday nights 7pm-?? Board and Card Games       NoVA Jacks night from 7pm to LATE NIGHT!  We have about 20-30 people that come in to play board and card games.  You can come and bring your own game or join one of the other games.  We often preview the newest games that come out.    Last weeks winners: -7 Wonders (played 3 times, last 2 with Leaders Exp):  Andy; Aeta; and Apechow -Age of Empires:  Pat -Ascension:  Apechow -Dominion Seaside (played twice):  Aaron; and Laura -For Sale:  Osmotic Ferocity -Money:  Apechow -No Thanks (played 4 times):  Josh (twice); and Barry (twice) -Penny-Arcade: Gamers vs Evil:  Aeta -Power Grid (played 3 times):  Josh; Matt (Korea Map); and Patrick (France Map) -Puerto Rico (played 3 times):  Brian R.; Josh; and Andrew -Race for the Galaxy:  Andrew -Samurai Card Game:  Chris -Siedler Von Nurnberg:  Barry -Unexploded Cow:  Osmotic Ferocity           NEW COMIC Rex Zombie Killer   We have a few copies left available of the Preview issue of REX, ZOMBIE KILLER signed by the creator, Rob Anderson!  Get your copy by reserving the REX One Shot NOW!  Email or call to reserve your copy today!   (P)REVIEW: "Rex, Zombie Killer" One-Shot 02-14-2012 00:17:00 AM Full disclosure 1: I am not an animal person. Never have been. Not that I don't like animals, mind you, but I get too close to a furry critter and I start sneezing and worry if I can stop.Full disclosure 2: I don't like zombies. Not in the they-scare-me way, but in the roll-my-eyes-not-THAT-again kind of way. Like vampires, I just feel that, despite their inability to actually jump, zombies "jumped the shark" right about the time they started. Just not a fan.Knowing those two things, then it stands to reason that REX, ZOMBIE KILLER is not my kind of book. REX is the story of a genetically modified canine who fights zombies alongside a cat, a gorilla, and two more dogs.  While on the surface the basic premise may not be my cup of tea, I am happy to tell you that I very much enjoyed this book!REX is by Virginia's own Rob Anderson, a GAME ON! subscriber and participant in our grand opening signing. Rob is a great guy, and thanks to a former volunteer gig at a Charlottesville animal shelter, brings a special knowledge of one of the major themes in his book. No...not the zombies.Rob skips the standard contrivances of zombie tales (tails?) and hooks you with a peek at a major event in Rex's past that drives the major story premise: a group of laboratory and mistreated animals looking for a safe haven following a zombie apocalypse.Art for the story is by GRIMM FAIRY TALES veteran Dafu Yu, whose art is clean and crisp, unhindered by much of the superfluous line work that tends to follow dark horror books.  Yu doesn't try to over-anthropomorphise the characters, and his work is bright enough that he doesn't have to. The art is a very nice companion to Anderson's story, which despite the dark nature in the subject is ultimately a story of hope that Yu expresses in the characters to great effect.I will admit that I don't know enough about dogs to be able to say how well Anderson has brought breed-specific behaviors to his characters, but I am familiar enough with the basic tendencies of the various species in his story to say that he has crafted a very appealing cast of characters that exhibit themselves in the manner you would expect them to behave in such a predicament. There were several times I found myself laughing at the interactions between the lone feline, Snowball, and Kenji the gorilla.Another review gave REX the best possible tagline, and I totally agree: it's HOMEWARD BOUND meets WALKING DEAD. However, one of the reasons this book works is that yes, there is a link to both works, but REX is far more than that Hollywood-pitch style description. And, for a fifty-plus page story it reads fairly quickly and effortlessly. It's a very enjoyable journey, and without spoiling anything I will say that you will be disappointed that this is only a one-shot.That's where you come in. I am a big advocate of buying small press books as much as possible for several reasons. For one, more often than not small press books are published completely out of pocket by the creators. They make little or no money in their venture, and hope that with every book they get approval to publish will lead to more readers and an easier time getting the NEXT book out. Also, every creator in the mainstream that is considered a major player started small somewhere. John Byrne, Brian Bendis, and Mark Waid all started small and worked their way to the success and popularity they now enjoy.Give REX a try. And if you enjoy it, let folks know. I know Rob as a customer and all around good egg, but I hope to be able to call him a success at what he loves to do: creating comics.   If you contact us in the next two weeks, Rob will give you a signed copy of the preview book for the REX, ZOMBIE KILLER one-shot. I can tell you that even if I didn't know Rob, and even though I might not be a fan of the two primary themes of the book, I still would have given REX a shot and I was not at all disappointed. Hopefully I have given you enough of a taste of what to expect to make REX a success and give Rob another chance to tell us another great story...and if once you get to the last page of the REX one-shot, you'll hope as I do that it's REX #2!Click HERE for our post on a special REX, ZOMBIE KILLER offer! - J. R....»   Thank you so much for your support of our new comic and game shop.  We look forward to taking care of all of your comic and game needs.   Dave, J.R., and Louis Game On! Comics www.GameOnComics.com 703-242-3838 info@gameoncomics.com   10% Off  10% off any Graphic Novel.  Please print out this email to redeem. Can only be used once per customer and can not be used in conjuction with any other discount. Offer Expires: 2/29/12

Game On! Comics | 310 Dominion Rd. NE | Vienna | VA | 22180

Cul de Sac test run in Winston-Salem Journal

Ask SAM: Straight Answers
By: JournalNow Staff | Winston-Salem Journal February 22, 2012
http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2012/feb/22/wsmain02-ask-sam-straight-answers-ar-1957387/

Just on Sundays at first, replacing the cancelled Elderberries.

WTOP: 'The Simpsons' celebrate 500th episode

A little late but...

'The Simpsons' celebrate 500th episode
Matt Roush, entertainment editor, TV Guide
WTOP Feb 19th, 2012
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=774&sid=2754143

Feb 23: Nate Powell at the Takoma Park Library, Thursday night. Tomorrow!

Hello comics readers!

Just forwarding a note to all who may be interested.  This coming Thursday noted graphic novel author/illustrator Nate Powell will be giving a solo presentation and discussion here at the Takoma Park Maryland Library (101 Philadelphia Ave, Takoma Park MD 20912) at 7:30 PM

(Actually somehow it has been advertised at both 7PM and 7:30 so he'll likely be there a little early, setting up and stalling for time a bit).

Nate's most recent book is The Silence of our Friends -- apropos of Black History month this memoir examines tensions and tentative friendships formed between two families in small town Texas during the struggle for Civil Rights.  (See the attached press release).

Nate will talk about this book and his earlier works (Swallow Me Whole, et al) as well as his process in translating a story into a visual format.  Should be interesting.   Our patron and colleague Adam Waterreus from the Politics and Prose graphic novel discussion group will also attend and you should be able to buy books on-site.

If you think you'll come and want to register, it lets us know how many people we might expect, it isn't strictly necessary,  but it helps:

http://engagedpatrons.org/Events.cfm?SiteID=3728

Hope to see you there!

------
Dave Burbank,
Library Assistant, Youth Services
Graphic Novels curator, media specialist
Takoma Park MD Library

Feb 22: Politics and Prose bookgroup on The Silence of Our Friends

From Adam of P&P:

Just wanted to send out a reminder that we'll be meeting tomorrow night at 7:30pm to discuss THE SILENCE OF OUR FRIENDS, by Mark Long, Jim Demonakos and Nate Powell.

Also, Mark Long will be at the Takoma Park Library Thursday at 7pm. He'll be discussing the book there.

Also, Mark Long, Jim Demonakos and Nate Powell CANCELLED their visit to Politics and Prose on Saturday at 1pm.

PR: Small Press Expo announces Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez as guests for SPX 2012

Small Press Expo announces Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez as guests for SPX 2012

For Immediate Release                     Contact: Warren Bernard
                                                  
                                                          E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; February 21, 2012 – The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons, welcomes acclaimed independent cartoonists Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez as guests for SPX  2012.  2012 marks the 30th anniversary of the first issue of Love and Rockets, and SPX is proud to be the only East Coast comic festival to have Jaime and Gilbert as guests for this years celebration.

In addition to celebrating the anniversary of their works, this will mark the first time in the 21st century that previously announced guests Chris Ware and Dan Clowes will be at an event with Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez.

There are four new books tentatively scheduled to be released by Fantagraphics Books by Jaime and Gilbert in 2012 prior to SPX, including Love and Rockets New Stories #5. Other books include two collections and a companion volume:

The Adventures of Venus by Gilbert Hernandez
God and Science by Jaime Hernandez
The Love and Rockets Companion by Marc Sobel & Kristy Valenti

Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez ushered in the 1980s as bold and vibrant new voices in the comics medium at a time when the comics publishing industry had all but given up on independent artists. After sending their self-published Love and Rockets #1 – an intoxicating blend of punk rock, sci-fi, B-movies, and seemingly the entire history of cartooning – to The Comics Journal, the series opened the gateway for a new generation of cartooning talent.

Although Love and Rockets has been relaunched and reformatted several times throughout its history, Los Bros have continued with the series non-stop since that first self-published issue, through the evolution of their individual artistic styles and concerns. Gilbert in particular has published prolifically with a variety of publishers, but the long-form stories of Gilbert's town of Palomar and Jaime's Locas remain among the most respected and loved independent comics. Their compelling characters have grown older with their devoted long-term readers, even as they have continued to attract new readers.

Details of events featuring Los Bros Hernandez will be released as planning is finalized. Pre-Expo interview opportunities may be available. Please contact the SPX press office at the number above.

About SPX

SPX is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit that brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators, as well as a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests.

As in previous years, profits from the SPX will go to support the the SPX Graphic Novel Gift Program, which gifts graphic novels to public and academic libraries, as well as the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), which protects the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at http://www.cbldf.org.

SPX also preserves the works of the creators in the indie comics community through the Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress, a first of its kind relationship between a festival and a major collecting institution in the United States. 

SPX 2012 will be held Saturday, September 15  and Sunday, September 16.  For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.