The Bum’s Rush #37

I have to say, when we all decided to do different articles each week for the month of January, I was stoked about the idea of doing something a little different for a while. I enjoy doing “The Weigh In”, but I am really looking forward into sinking my teeth into some new stuff. This week I get to talk about comics.

Over the last few months, Paul and I have been reviewing comics that are being released the following week. So, since around the beginning of August or so I have gotten the chance to read a nice variety of comics. From the latest X-Men title to the occasional Dark Horse release, to comics that are every bit the advertisement as the ‘Big League Chew” ad on the opposite page.

Getting to read all of these different types of comics on a regular basis, I have been able to come to one pretty easy conclusion, I am an indie comics fan. With the exception of the occasional Batman or Superman comic (and a lot of that is just nostalgia), my favorites have to be the unknown “edgier” comics with the limited run and little hope of getting picked up by a major comic company. Dark Horse, a major “indie” publisher tends to put out comics that I can get into, but for my money, the best place to find some unique comics is at your local comic book store and comic convention. At the convention these guys are easy to spot. Look for the guys at the table, chatting it up with anyone that will listen, handing out flyers and trying to get their probably hand copied, stapled, words and art into the hands of anyone that will take them. The table normally doesn’t have any fancy signs, maybe just a placard with some cover art. Most of them are fans of comics in general and if you are a fan, it is a great place to meet people with the same interests. A lot of these guys appreciate anyone that shows any kind of interest in their project. So taking a few minutes to read a new comic tends to go miles.

So, unless you like traveling a few hundred miles or can’t wait for that one, maybe two conventions to come to your area, talk to your local comic shop-owner. Normally they would keep some samples of local talent around the store. If they don’t you could always ask, most store owners know who the budding comic book writers and artists are, since most of them started out as, and probably still are, customers. So even if you have a regular slate of comics that you pick up each Wednesday, why not spend a few extra dollars trying the local guy out. Just once. Who knows, you might like it

Quick Bits:

1. Joe Quesada just announced that Marvel will be doing a 7 issue series starting in May called “Marvel Civil War” and that “House of M” and “Decimation” were just lead ups to this major Marvel event. My only question is, does a “Major Marvel event” these days really include moving half the Marvel Universe to Alabama and giving them grey costumes? Luckily Mark Millar is involved so at least we know this won’t turn into an “evils of American capitalism” diatribe.
2. Kurt Busiek just signed an exclusive deal for DC comics. Rumor is that they are gonna “spice up” Superman comics by giving him a loincloth, sword, and taking away all of his powers. (I was just kidding folks, no nasty emails please).
3. The Christine Spar version of Grendel is coming to the big screen. No jokes just a little trivia for you guys out there: this was actually the first comic book I really got into reading on a regular basis, behind Superman of course.
4. This Summer, pieces of “Amazing Spider-Man” will appear in the funny pages throughout America. So now I can sit on the toilet and read Marvel comics in an appropriate place. Now they just need to come up with X-Men toilet paper and I’ll be all taken care of.