Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List for Teachers and Librarians

Diamond Book Distributors has launched their Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List for teachers and librarians, with a series of graphic novels distributed by DBD each aligned to a specific school year. It was created by Ellen Myrick, President of Myrick Marketing & Media.

You can bet we have many of these in stock now and if we don't have it we can get it for you.

New Comics On Sale - July 3, 2013

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HeroClix exclusives unveiled for SDCC

WizKids is going to have two HeroClix exclusive sets at Comic-Con International: one for Marvel and one for DC. Read on to find out what they are!

JUST ARRIVED - Pandemic On the Brink

Pandemic: On the Brink includes new event cards, new role cards, rules for five players, and optional game challenges to increase the difficulty of the Pandemic base game. These new challenges, which can be used individually or combined for even more difficult play, are as follows:

* The Virulent Strain challenge makes one disease become particularly deadly in unpredictable ways.
* The Mutation challenge adds a fifth (purple) disease that behaves differently than the original four.
* The Bio-Terrorist challenge pits one player against the others!

JUST ARRIVED - Pathfinder NPC Codex Box

New this week

Comic Shop Locator Profile

Check out our new COMIC SHOP LOCATOR profile and let me know what you think.
CLICK ME

HeroClix - 300 Point Modern (with the Robin Suit)

Sunday, June 30 at 2PM

Heroclix go campy with Batman '66

BAM! POW! ZOT! This 24 Ct. Gravity Feed set brings all of the action from the classic Batman TV series to your tabletop!

With 8 Common figures, 8 Rare figures, and one Chase figure, this set adds 17 figures to collect! Each Batman Classic TV Series Gravity Feed display contains 24 single-figure foil packs.

The Batman Classic TV Series 24 Ct. Gravity Feed will release on September 17th, 2013.

Warmachine & Hordes - Machinations: Entropy League - 7/1 through 7/28

Chaos and entropy spread throughout western Immoren as unexplainable and bizarre phenomena continue to plague the land. Unknown to the populace, the secret wars of the cephalyx and the newly emerged Convergence of Cyriss are the cause behind the madness. They must be stopped!

Gather your army and face your foes at the sites of these strange anomalies. Weather the storm, and prepare to bring balance back to western Immoren.

Machinations: Entropy is a casual play and hobby league that will run at Comic Store West from 7/1 to 7/28.

League nights will be Fridays from 5 to 10, but you can play any time Comic Store West is open. It's always a good idea to call ahead to ensure that table space is available.

To receive hobby points for a completed model, you must provide an initial picture of the model to show that it isn't painted already. Please post pictures to the Privateer Press forum thread (http://goo.gl/V1j4u) or to the Facebook event page (http://goo.gl/UQWBx)

Registration is $4 before July 1st and $6 any time after the start of the league.

Important Files:

Machinations Core Rules: http://goo.gl/G2M04

Entropy Rules Addendum: http://goo.gl/fwuTh

Entropy Model Cards: http://goo.gl/QpHBy

Steamroller 2013: http://goo.gl/5AvfM

Current Errata: http://goo.gl/L8c73

Organized Play Errata: http://goo.gl/ZZud7

Tales of Metropolis

MtG at SDCC

What do Magic the Gathering players have in common with toy collectors? The heartache of seeing limited-edition exclusives sold at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

On the left, the normal card; on the right, the SDCC exclusive.

According to MTV Geek, Wizards of the Coast will be offering a set of exclusive 2014 Planeswalker cards next month at SDCC. The text and effects will all be the same, but the art (as you can see) will be drastically redesigned.

The full cast of Magic 2014's planeswalkers are:

• Ajani, Caller of the Pride
• Jace, Memory Adept
• Chandra, Pyromaster
• Liliana of the Dark Realms
• Garruk, Caller of Beasts

The 2014 core set will be released July 19 (and we'll probably have some pre-release tournaments, too). San Diego Comic Con will be held on July 18 to 21.

So, if you're interested in the exclusive Planeswalkers, let us know. We can try (key word here being "try") to get some for the store. If we do, they will sold only in-store: no mail order, no online, no shipping, just pay for 'em in person and pick them up in person.

Magic - Duels of the Planeswalkers Promo

Yes, later this week we will have the M14 booster packs to be given away with this years Duels download.

Download the game for your favorite devices, bring in the coupon and get a FREE booster pack.

Limited quantities available.

The X-Box and iPad boosters will be the first we run out of so don't wait, act now.

While in the store pre-order your booster box of M14 for a huge savings!

Do you write fan fiction?

Recently Amazon announced a new program called Kindle Worlds, in which fan fic authors can get paid for their work on licensed brands. Most of it is tv shows so far (Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, stuff like that), but now the first comicbook publisher has signed on, meaning you can get paid money for writing stories featuring characters from... Valiant.

Yes, Valiant Comics has become the first publisher to join Kindle Worlds, beating Marvel, DC and everybody else to the punch. If you write a story featuring Shadowman, Bloodshot, Quantum and Woody, Archer & Armstrong, X-O Manowar, or the Harbinger Foundation, you can earn real-world money based on your work! How crazy is that?!

Of course, to write the best stories, you've got to know the characters. And to know the characters, you've got to read the comics. We carry the entire Valiant Comics line, and have many of the back issues, too. Come in today and pick up some copies, then get those creative juices flowing and make the companies pay you for being a nerd.

New Comics On Sale - June 26, 2013

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This weekend is the supermoon

Look! Up in the sky! It's Supermoon!

Carving his name on the moon? This utterly goes against everything Superman has stood for for 75 years! I'm going to go on an angry rant on the internet!

HeroClix Free Play - Sunday, June 23 at 2PM

No judge this week, but come in a play some friendly games from 2PM on.

Magic Modern Masters Full/Sealed Booster Boxes

We now have full/sealed booster boxes of Modern Masters available for sale.

Extremely limited quantities available and our prices are still cheaper than eBay.

Magic Modern Masters Back In Stock !!

Limited quantities available.

HOT NEW MINIATURE GAME - Deep Wars

Stop in and check out the hottest new miniature game - Deepwars!

The Batman themesong, sung by actual bats

From the video's description:

"Bats produce sounds that are not audible to human ears. First these ultrasounds were digitally reduced to frequencies that are audible. Then the different batsounds were assigned different keys on a keyboard."

Well, that was certainly the weirdest thing I've heard all day!

Invincible Minimates

I tried reading Invincible when it first came out, but couldn't get into it. I picked up the trades recently on Scott's recommendation, and loved the book much more. So now I'm excited about what's listed in the newest Previews catalog:

That box set can be ordered right now, making you the proud owner of Invincible himself, his dad Omni-Man, his girlfriend Atom Eve, and his extraterrestrial friend Allen the Alien! Very cool stuff. Order it today, and we'll have it here waiting for you the day it comes out!

New Comics On Sale - June 19,2013

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Magic the Gathering - Modern Master Singles For Sale

Yes, we have a Modern Masters binder with singles for sale.
We are not taking trades yet but you can purchase singles from the binder.

A "Coexist" bumper sticker for nerds

If you're anything like me, you're probably pretty tired of the "COEXIST" religious bumper sticker - not because it's offensive, but because it's become rather ubiquitous. It was clever once, but now it seems to be everywhere.

This version though, appeals to the soft, chewy nerd inside my crunchy outer shell:

I'm guessing that's supposed to be a Batarang, then Cap's shield, Spider-Man's emblem, X-Men, the Flash, Superman and Thor. No idea who designed it, but it's nice work.

FREE RPG WEEKEND IS THIS WEEKEND

Free RPG Weekend runs all weekend.
Free adventures will be available, 1 per customer, from 4PM-9PM tonight and all day tomorrow.

Games run from 4-9PM on Saturday and 2-7PM on Sunday.
Still some game space available.

Limited quantities available.

Players get 20% OFF all RPG stuff.

JUST ARRIVED - Pathfinder - We Be Goblins Miniatures

Buy a box of goblins for $71.76 and save 10% or just pick up one for $2.99.

Magic 2014 Pre-Release / FAT Pack Event Sign-ups Available Now

The sign-up sheets for M14 Pre-Release events and FAT Pack Release Event are ready.
Sign-up early and pay now to save $5.

The Charging Dead

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Robert Kirkman's Walking Dead is getting its own pre-paid Visa cards:

There are several different styles, all with original art by Charlie Adlard. You can order them at card.com/thewalkingdead. We don't get any kind of kickback or anything - we just know how much you people love zombies.

Pacific Rim HeroClix figures unveiled!

The upcoming "giant robots vs. even-more-giant monsters" movie Pacific Rim (directed by Blade 2/Hellboy/Pan's Labyrinth honcho Guillermo del Toro) is getting HeroClix from Wizkids. Check out the 360° turnarounds of the mechanical Jaegers:

Magic Modern Masters Draft Tonight !!

Don't forget tonight is our FINAL Modern Masters draft.  There may be boosters for sale after the event begins.

Please form a single file line, to the left of the front door.  At least until the tornado comes.

HeroClix Mortal Kombat Tourney - Sunday 2pm

Mortal KombatTournament

100 Point Team

One Character

Golden Age (feats can be used)

Character MUST have the Martial Artist Keyword

Each match will consist of 3 rounds, first to 2 wins takes the match.

New York Times reports Stark Industries CEO to offer 2.5 bn relief package to NYC after alien invasion

Okay, not really. That's from MediAvengers. Dubbed "Earth's Mightiest Gossip," it's a Tumblr site dedicated to fan-created newspapers and magazine articles set in the Marvel movie universe. It's a fun idea, with some impressive execution.

The Hobbit - Desolation of Smaug official poster

I love this poster!

Did you know we have a full line of The Hobbit cosplay weapons?
Stop in and check them out, they are officially licensed and are beautiful.

In honor of Game of Thrones

It's time to welcome Game of Thrones author George RR Martin to the High Council of Nerds!

(Starring Chewbacca, Frodo, Spock and Dumbledore - and a special surprise guest!)


If you need your Game of Thrones fix now that the show is done until 2014, remember that we carry the monthly Game of Thrones comic - as well as Star Wars, Star Trek and (just for the heck of it) Batman.

JUST ARRIVED - Man of Steel HeroClix

Just in time for the movie.
Singles are also available in our display case.

The Man of Steel Starter contains the 2013 HeroClix Rule Book.  Make sure you pick up a copy of this since the rules have had considerable changes this year.

Magic - Modern Masters Boosters

As of the store opening Sunday morning we still have some Modern Masters boosters.

Very limited quantities.

Have no fear more are coming in this week, plus we have the draft event this Thursday (make sure you sign up early and pay to save money).

New Comics On Sale - June 12, 2013

For those viewing from Facebook, click here.

Are you interested in Walking Dead Minimates?

Diamond Select Toys posted this video hyping their newest series of The Walking Dead Minimates:


I've been trying to talk the store into carrying more Minimates, but we can only do it if enough people want to buy them. So what do you say: if we started getting Walking Dead Minimates in, would you buy them? Let us know in the comments, and if there's enough interest, we'll be sure to remind you when a new set is available for preorder via the Previews catalog.

Magic - Modern Masters

Ok, people Magic the Gathering - Modern Masters is now available!!!!
Please form a single file line to the left of the front door. We open at 11am Friday morning.

Don't forget to sign-up for the Modern Masters Draft Event this Saturday. Early sign-up with payment saves you a few bucks.

Man of Steel earns big bucks, without selling any tickets

According to an article in The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. Man of Steel has 98 promotional partners right now - with more expected to join before the movie opens next Friday.

If you've been watching tv, you've surely seen ads featuring Superman. Not just trailers and promotional spots, but ads for other products that just happen to have Superman in them. Since I started writing this post, I've seen ones for Twizzlers, Hardee's and Dodge Ram - and that was all in one commercial break! From the article:

Along with DC Comics regular partners like Mattel, with a line that includes a variety of action figures and collectibles (priced from around $10 to over $100), a partial list of partners includes toys from Lego, JAKKS Pacific (collectable figures) and Fisher Price (Super Friends for toddlers), shoes from Converse, costumes from Rubie's, Hallmark cards, as well as apparel collections from Kinetics, Junk Food and Bioworld.

In the U.K., Chrysler is offering two new series of vehicles inspired by Man of Steel. The S-Series comes with oversized black alloy wheels, a dark steel grill and interior accents and a matte-black roof and hood.

Even Walmart and Sears are getting in on the act, which is highly unusual - retail stores going out of their way to promote a movie in theaters? Can you ever remember that happening before?

Anyway, the point is that with all these partners on board, Man of Steel is already earning $170 million before it's even opened. So what we're saying is don't be surprised when they announce a sequel is greenlit (possibly even on opening weekend).

And just because Free Comicbook Day was last month, there's nothing saying you can't bring your friends into the store after you go see the movie - we've already told you about the TPBs that seem to have inspired the movie, if you're looking for a good place to start.

HeroClix Fear Itself Month 1 Event

Limited spots are available (19 and counting).
To guarantee a spot in this event we highly recommend you come and sign up and pay prior to Sunday.

We have gotten an overwhelming response to this event and we think we may fill up before Sunday.

Percentage of female membership in superhero teams by decade

Here's something cool, related to what we were saying the other day about the X-Men having lots of women on the team:


If you want to check the math on that, we have plenty of back issues and TPBs you can buy to run your own statistical analysis. Be sure to let us know if you come up with different numbers.

(Found on the really-quite-nifty I Love Charts Tumblr.)

New Comics On Sale - June 5, 2013

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