Big Planet Comics Orbit Newsletter - March 29, 2012

March 29, 2012

Avengers 'n' X-Men Throwdown It has begun! Avengers vs. X-Men #0 came out yesterday, and #1 one is out next week. Who doesn't love superheroes punching each other? Issue #0 was pretty great (read the review below) and we are having an early release for #1, so if you can't wait to get it you can come to any of our stores at 8 pm next TUESDAY, April 3, to buy it a day early (info also below!). Tradd Moore, artist of The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, has drawn a new poster for us for their upcoming signing, and we will have a limited edition printing of the poster for sale! That's it right over there, pretty cool, huh? Don't forget, the Big Planet Comics Podcast now has a call-in phone number, so send us some questions or comments! Call 703-539-2278! 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 April 3 - Avengers vs. X-Men #1 Early Release Party Marvel is calling it their biggest event yet, building on the last 10 years of storytelling, but really, who doesn't just want to see the superheroes throw down against each other? We will be having a special release party for Avengers vs. X-Men #1 one day early, on Tuesday April 3! So not only will you be able to buy AVX #1 a day early, but you will have access to some other specials, including limited variant covers, and other limited items, like a pin to show your allegiance to either the X-Men or the Avengers, so start thinking now about which team you support! Poor Wolverine, he's got to fight himself. 8-9 pm All 4 Big Planet Comics stores! UPCOMING April 14 - Justin Jordan & Tradd Moore Signing Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore, creators of the great new series The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, will be appearing at both our Vienna and College Park stores on April 14 to celebrate the release of the collection of the series. 11 am-1 pm Big Planet Comics of Vienna 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com 3 pm-5 pm Big Planet Comics of College Park 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com ___________________ Avengers vs. X-Men #0 (of 12) by Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron and Frank Cho It begins! Two stories kick off the next huge Marvel crossover event, both parts drawn by the amazing Frank Cho! The return of the Scarlet Witch to the superhero lifestyle, plus her confrontation with the Vision, plus Hope is training up with Cyclops for her possible future as mutant messiah! But when she develops a strange new power, we are off to the races! New Deadwardians #1 (of 8) by Dan Abnett and I.N.J. Culbard After the zombie apocalypse, the British Empire teeters on the edge of ruin. Now the aristocracy maintains its power and the empire through "the cure" - turning themselves into vampires so they can't be zombified! Now one of the last detectives is set on a new case, in which a vampire seems to have been killed in an impossible way! Great world, great new mystery and art. Cinema Panopticum SC by Thomas Ott A girl goes to a strange carnival and watches several short films of Twilight Zone-like horror! Plus Ott's amazing scratchboard art. Sharknife 2: Stage Second: Sharknife Double Z SC by Corey Lewis Years and years later, the new Sharknife is here! Ceasar is still eating fortune cookies at the Guandong restaurant to transform into Sharknife to battle all the monsters that haunt the restaurant, but now we get the secret history of how he gained his powers! And the history of his arch nemesis! Crazy kung fu action and manic artwork. Rohan at the Louvre HC by Hirohiko Araki A new book inspired by the Louvre, a young Japanese comics artist hears about the most evil painting in the world, hidden in the Louvre basement. When he grows up and becomes a famous artist, his interest in this mysterious painting is rekindled, leading down a dark horrible path! Crazy alternative art and a creepy story. Gone to Amerikay HC by Derek McCulloch and Colleen Doran A fascinating story of three different Irish immigrants, a woman in the 19th century, a songwriter in the 1960s, and a famous musician today, all coming to New York City and finding that their lives and stories intersect in strange and compelling ways. A great mix of historical research and drama, with great transitions between stories and times. Big Planet Comics Podcast #39   Kevin, Nick and Jared form a new band, and review all the new comics! Download this week's now or subscribe on iTunes! Send us questions to podcast@bigplanetcomics.com or call us at 1-703-539-2278!   4/3 - Avengers vs. X-Men #1 Early Release Party All stores! 8pm-9pm   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   Abandon The Old In Tokyo SC Good-Bye SC Push Man And Other Stories SC by Yoshihiro Tatsumi Three of Tatsumi's dark short story collections are now in softcover! Astonishing X-Men #48 by Marjorie Liu and Mike Perkins A new team as Northstar is hunted by Wolverine! Bloodstrike #26 by Tim Seeley and Francesco Gaston He's back! Sent against cybermonsters in Afghanistan. Dororo Complete SC by Osamu Tezuka A ghost and monster samurai adventure, now in one book. Legion of Monsters SC by Dennis Hopeless and Juan Doe The monsters of the Marvelverse team up with Elsa Bloodstone. Rachel Rising 1: The Shadow of Death SC by Terry Moore A new horror story by the creator of Strangers in Paradise! The Sincerest Form of Parody: The Best 1950's MAD Inspired Satirical Comics SC by everybody! Some of the best MAD style comics of the '50s!

like us on Facebook | follow us on Twitter | subscribe on iTunes | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2012 Big Planet Comics, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up for our mailing list either online or at one of our stores. 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

Big Planet Comics · 426 Maple Ave. East · Vienna, VA 22180

Game On! Comic News for the Week including Avengers vs. X-Men!

Game On! Comics Weekly Digest Come  Visit Us! March 28, 2012 In this issue :: New Titles this Week :: Subscriber Bonus :: Game Nights  Dear Mike,   Welcome to Game On! Comics                 LAUNCH PARTY NEXT TUESDAY!!!       Tuesday, April 3rd, 8 to 10pm       We will officially be selling the new Avengers vs. X-Men one day early.       Everyone that attends will receive:   Free Button Free Mini Poster Opportunity to be the first to purchase Avengers vs. X-Men #1 At least (1) raffle ticket, if not more! We will be raffling off a Variant Issue and large posters.       We will also have casino tables for you to play to increase your chances of winning the raffles! Join us for FREE giveaways, games, and snacks as we welcome in the most hyped comic of the year. What side are you on?? Marvel comics made our store pick a side and we chose.........the AVENGERS! Space and comic is limited.        Thank you to everyone that has kept current with picking up your comic books.  It really helps the shop out when you are picking up your comics regularly!!!   New Comic Book titles this week 3-21-12   Best Discounts in the area--Not just a slogan, we really do have the best price discounts when you become a Game On! Comics subscriber!   Comic of the Week Avengers vs. X-Men #0    Avengers Vs. X-Men #0 hits this week, launching the official unofficial first volley in the war between marvel's two biggest superhero franchises. The Avengers and the X-Men are going to slug it out, all over Hope Summers and the Phoenix Force - which is "coming," according to teasers from late last year.    All Star Western #7 Alpha Girl #2 Angel & Faith #8 Aquaman #7 Astonishing X-Men #48 Atomic Robo Real Science Adv #1 Avengers #24.1 Avengers Vs X-Men #0 Avenging Spider-Man #5 Batman #1 4th Ptg Batman The Dark Knight #1 3rd Ptg Batman The Dark Knight #7 Blackhawks #7 Bloodstrike #26 Blue Estate #10 BPRD Hell/Earth Pickens County Horror #1 Captain America And Bucky #628 Carbon Grey Origins #2 (L) Charmed #20 Choker #6 (L) Cobra Ongoing #11 Comic Shop News #1293 Comic Shop News Spring 2012 Preview Crossed Badlands #2 Daken Dark Wolverine #23 (L) Daredevil #10 Dark Tower Gunslinger Way Station #4 Deadpool Max 2 #6 (L) Elephantmen #38 FF #16 Flash #7 Flash Gordon Zeitgeist #4 Fury Of Firestorm The Nuclear Men #7 GFT Myths & Legends #14 Ghost Rider #9 (L) GI Joe 2 Retaliation Movie Prequel #3 Green Hornet #23 Green Lantern New Guardians #7 Grimm Fairy Tales #70 Hawken #3 Hellraiser #12 I Vampire #7 Immortal Demon I/T Blood #4 (L) Infestation 2 GI Joe #2 (L) Justice League Dark #7 King Conan Phoenix On The Sword #3 Legion Secret Origin #6 (L) Magic The Gathering #3 Marvel Previews April 2012 Mighty Thor #12 Moon Knight #11 Morning Glories #17 New Avengers #23 New Deadwardians #1 Previews #283 April 2012 Savage Hawkman #7 Scalped #57 Spaceman #5 Star Trek Ongoing #7 Star Wars Dawn/Jedi Force Storm #0 2nd Pt Star Wars Dawn/Jedi Force Storm #1 2nd Pt Superman #7 Tarot Witch Of The Black Rose #73 Teen Titans #7 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #8 Transformers Robots In Disguise Ongoing #3 Twelve #11 Ultimate Comics Ultimates #8 Uncanny X-Force #23 Unwritten #35.5 Voltron #4 Voodoo #7 Walking Dead #95 Warlord Of Mars Dejah Thoris #11 Warriors Of Mars #2 X-Men Legacy #264   NEW ALL AGES AND KIDS COMIC BOOKS Dorothy Of Oz Prequel #1 Futurama Comics #60 Life With Archie #18 Roger Langridges Snarked #6 Spider-Man #24 (L)   NEW TRADEBACKS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS Annihilators Earthfall TP Deadpool TP Vol 8 Operation Annihilation Fear Itself Dracula Prem HC MMW Avengers TP Vol 4 Rachel Rising TP Vol 1 Shadow Of Death Secret Avengers Run Mission HC Ultimate Comics X-Men By Spencer HC Vol 1 Wolverine And Nick Fury: Scorpio 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 Subscriber Bonus Weekly Raffle      This week's variant issue: Batman The Dark Knight #6 value $20   For our Subscribers:   Every week we will be raffling off a variant issue.  l   Every time you come to Game On! Comics and make a purchase you will get one raffle ticket.  Then every Tuesday we will raffle off that comic.   This is a free service, just another way for Game On! Comics to say "thank you" for your business.   If you are not a subscriber please ask us how to become one.  It's a free service and is as simple as just getting 1 or more comic titles per month.      Game Nights    Tuesday Nights 7pm-11pm----ON HOLD 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.    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.           Wednesday Nights 7-9pm Magic the Gathering   TONIGHT Come in tonight for casual play.   Next week we will be having a Booster Draft!!!!   Friday Nights 7-9pm Heroclix                                         The Quest for the Infinity Gauntlet continues! Buy two boosters from the venue for a sealed event, build a 300 point force for Modern Age rules. There are several sets available at the venue to choose from and all are eligible     Congrats to last weeks winners:        1st: Greyson 2nd: Benjamin Fellowship: Tom     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:       We had 4 tables last night. The winners were:   -7 Wonders: Sean   -Airlines Europe: Brian R. -Ascension Storm of Souls (played twice): Harold; and Sean -Fearsome Floors: Mathias -Lost Cities: Bill -Medici: Patrick -Power Grid (played 3 times): Paul; and Leslee (twice!) -Puerto Rico: Bill and Pat (exact tie!) -Ra: Sean -Rex: Adam                            COMIC Review Avenging Spider-Man     Wow, what a refreshing read this was!   Avenging Spider-Man is on issue #5 but each issue is kind of a stand alone.  It has the same flavor as Marvel Team Up.  Each issue has Spider-Man working with other heroes, this one has him with Captain America.   What I really like about it is it's simplicity.  It is well written by Zeb Wells and the artist is Leinil Francis Yu.   This simply is a story about Spider-Man trying to get "in" with Captain America.  The actual "bad guy" in this comic really doesn't matter.  This is more about the VERY FUNNY dialogue between Spider-Man and his friends.    The artistry is REALLY good!  But the writing is what makes this issue.  In the last few pages you really get a glimpse into the emotions of Spidey and Capt.    Enjoy this comic, admire the drawings, but allow it to show you a little about yourself in these two heroes.   I recommend this comic!      -----Louis     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.   Don't forget to go on yelp.com and write a review about us too!! 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!     Follow us on Twitter too!     Dave, J.R., and Louis Game On! Comics www.GameOnComics.com 703-242-3838 info@gameoncomics.com     Off  No coupon this week. Can only be used once per customer and can not be used in conjuction with any other discount. Offer Expires: 00/00/12

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

March 29: How Early American Comic Strips Shed Light on the Nature of the Child

Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. SE
Washington DC 20540

March 6, 2012

Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115, mkenn@loc.gov

Swann Foundation Fellow Lara Saguisag to Discuss
How Early American Comic Strips Shed Light on the Nature of the Child

Swann Foundation Fellow Lara Saguisag, in a lecture at the Library of Congress, will examine how early 20th-century comic strips that featured child protagonists revealed the nature of the child during that era.

Saguisag will present "Sketching the 'Secret Tracts' of the Child's Mind: Theorizing Childhood in Early American Fantasy Strips, 1905-1914," at noon on Thursday, March 29, in Dining Room A on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue S.E., Washington, D.C. The lecture is free and open to the public. No tickets are needed.

Saguisag will focus specifically on fantasy strips such as Winsor McCay's "Little Nemo in Slumberland" and Lyonel Feininger's "Wee Willie Winkie's World." These strips featured child characters who inhabited dream worlds and transformed their environments through their imaginations. According to Saguisag, central to these works is the idea that a child's perception and experience of the world was shaped by his/her proclivity for fantasy. This natural connection with fantasy, moreover, made the child a complex, sometimes inscrutable figure, one who was essentially different from an adult.

Comic strips that linked childhood and fantasy drew from and built on themes of late-19th and early-20th-century children's books such as Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verses" and Frank L. Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Such literature portrayed and celebrated the child as a highly imaginative being who enters and sometimes creates fantasy worlds that an adult could not readily access.

According to Saguisag, during the same period, psychologists and practitioners associated with the Child Study Movement were also intrigued by what G. Stanley Hall termed the "secret tracts" of the child's mind. Many psychologists concluded that imaginative play and reverie were healthful childhood activities and advised parents to take an active role in cultivating the child's imagination. The intersection of children's literature and psychology encountered in early American "kid strips" helped perpetuate and naturalize the image of the imaginative child.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Saguisag completed an M.A. in Children's literature at Hollins University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing at The New School. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Childhood Studies at Rutgers University-Camden, where she held a University Presidential Fellowship from 2007-2009.

This presentation is sponsored by the Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon of the Library of Congress and the Library's Prints & Photographs Division. The lecture is part of the foundation's continuing activities to support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world. The foundation strives to award one fellowship annually to assist scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon. Applications for the 2013-2014 academic year are due Feb. 15, 2013. More information about the fellowship is available through the Swann Foundation's website: www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/ or by e-mailing swann@loc.gov.

# # #

PR12-48
3/6/12
ISSN: 0731-3527

Apr 3: Frank Cho to Sign at Cards, Comics & Collectibles for Avengers vs. X-Men Release

Frank Cho to Sign at Cards, Comics & Collectibles for Avengers vs. X-Men Release Party

Press Release For Immediate Release

Frank Cho to Sign at Cards, Comics & Collectibles for Avengers vs. X-Men Release Party From the Store that Brings You the Baltimore Comic-Con... Cards, Comics & Collectibles, the official retailer and news source for the Baltimore Comic-Con, is happy to announce that superstar artist Frank Cho will be signing in-store on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 for their Avengers vs. X-Men Release Party. The store will reopen for the party at 8:00 pm and Cho will begin signing at 8:30.   Frank Cho Cho, the artist on Avengers vs. X-Men #0 (which was released this week), is best known for his creator-owned series, Liberty Meadows. His body of work also includes Marvel's New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Shanna the She-Devil, New Ultimates, and X-Men: Schism, as well as Jungle Girl for Dynamite Entertainment. In addition to signing, Cho will also bring his original art for Avengers vs. X-Men #0 for fans to see how the book came together.   Refreshment will be served and giveaways and other surprises will take place throughout the evening. Cards, Comics & Collectibles is located at 100A Chartley Drive, Reisterstown, MD. For more information, please visit cardscomicscollectibles.com or call 410-526-7410.

Truitt on 'New Deadwardians'

'New Deadwardians': Undead meets the English upper crust
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY March 28 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-03-28/The-New-Deadwardians-comic-book-series/53826286/1

Stephanie Piro profile reveals local tie

Books, Cats, and Love: The Cartooning Career of Stephanie Piro
March 27, 2012 by Roz Warren
http://womensvoicesforchange.org/books-cats-and-love-the-cartooning-career-of-stephanie-piro.htm

- it's towards the bottom of the article.

Who was that Masked Man?

Who is the Route 29 Batman? This guy.
By Michael S. Rosenwald
Washington Post's Rosenwald, MD blog (March 28 2012)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rosenwald-md/post/who-is-the-route-29-batman-this-guy/2012/03/28/gIQA8nPjgS_blog.html

Donna Lewis on Comic Strip of the Day's site

Donna Lewis and 'Reply All' is featured on the Comic Strip of the Day's site which notes that she has a Kindle book out.

Kirchner's The Bus collected again

I got a review copy of the new collection of Paul Kirchner's alt-strip The Bus, which I haven't had a chance to read yet.  But! this was one of my favorite strips when it used to appear in the Washington City Paper. Tom Spurgeon notes that you can buy it via Picturebox.  Do that now. Don't wait for my review.