TFAW & dcbservice team up for CBLDF‏

From the Press Release:

Discount Comic Book Service and Things From Another World are proud to announce that they are joining the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund as corporate members--the first comic book retailers to do so since the CBLDF's inception in 1986. In addition to this landmark show of support, these retail powerhouses will be launching ongoing fundraising efforts by offering a series of exclusive variants, with a portion of the proceeds going to the CBLDF.

About Discount Comic Book Service:

Founded in 1999, Discount Comic Book Service is a premier retailer of all comic and comic related items, offering incredible discounts along with amazing customer service. The brick and mortar store is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana and online at www.DCBService.com. In addition, DCBS’ sister sites offer discounted trade paperbacks and hardcovers at www.InStockTrades.com and digital content at www.MyDigitalComics.com.

About the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund:

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics art form and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers. The CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education in furtherance of these goals. http://www.cbldf.org.

I’m a regular customer of dcbservice online, putting an order in every month since 2002 and I’m excited that they’ll have exclusive covers and that, as a customer, I’ll also be helping the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. They do good work and, in addition to getting their limited covers, you should become a card carrying member 

Ben Affleck as Batman

“Affleck'll crush it. He's got the chops, he's got the chin -- just needs the material. Affleck & Cavill toe to toe -- I'm in.” – Joss Whedon via Twitter 8/23/2013

The internet almost shattered in half last week with the news that Ben Affleck was cast as the new Batman for the upcoming Superman / Batman film. There was even a petition filed on the White House website asking the Obama administration to ban the casting (which is clever and borderline illegal – the White House has taken it down because it violates their terms of participation.

I’m excited that Ben Affleck has been cast for two reasons:

1) I’m a huge fan

2) Kevin Smith, his good friend, has a blog that I listen to, “Fat Man on Batman” and there’s no doubt Ben Affleck will be a guest on it.

As for whether or not the movie will be good – if it isn’t, I guarantee it won’t be because Ben Affleck is in it.

Star Wars Black 6” Figures: How Do They Stack Up?

I don’t get many Star Wars figures. I started getting them with the Vintage ones came out to celebrate the anniversary of The Empire Strikes back (triggered by my purchase of the Vintage AT-AT). I have at least one version of all the main cast but I’m not what anyone would consider a collector - unless we’re talking about R2-D2.

I’ve been collecting R2-D2 figures for over 20 years and Star Wars Black’s first Wave has R2-D2 in a size I don’t have! I don’t know if it was that R2-D2 or the fact that the 6” figures looked hyper-detailed but I ordered the first wave.

I love the new 6” figures - I might be collecting these from now on (I've already preordered Wave 2). I’ve take a few pix of the new R2-D2 and Sandtrooper figures with their 3.75” counterparts.

Kevin Maguire fired off the upcoming Justice League 3000 #1

At the end of July, I identified Justice League 3000 #1 as a book I was really looking forward to getting in October. I already ordered it from dcbservice.com. Then I found out from the good folks at thegothamrogue that Kevin Maguire was replaced by Howard Porter.

While Howard Porter is a great artist, I was looking forward to the legacy team of Keith Giffen, Kevin Maguire, and J.M. DeMatteis. They brought the action and the funny to Justice League and Formerly Known as the Justice League. I’m a huge fan of the team and would have purchased a phonebook they’d all collaborated on.

It’s reported that Justice League 3000 #1 is going for a darker tone which makes the creative team puzzling. Believe me, DC Comics, you put the best team on the book and it would have paid dividends. I’m still going to get it with Howard Porter on it (as I mentioned, it’s already ordered) but I’m only going to give it 2 issues to make an impression before I cut it from the subscription list. The industry could use a lighthearted, fun book, not another grim and gritty snoozefest.

The good news is that as soon as Maguire got on twitter to let people know he was fired, Brian Michael Bendis offered him Guardians of the Galaxy. Brian Michael Bendis is writing it, they’ve added Angela to the mix, and now I have Kevin Maguire’s art to look forward to? Guardians of the Galaxy is quickly becoming an event-title. DC’s loss is Marvel’s gain. With Guardians of the Galaxy set to explode into theatres, Guardians of the Galaxy could be a top ten book soon.

Lee Thompson Young RIP

Although I don’t go all the way back to The Famous Jett Jackson, I’m a fan of Lee Thompson Young’s. While I’m not a "Rizzoli & Isles" watcher, it’s on the list of TV shows I want to try. So I haven’t seen the first or last thing he did but I felt his impact on two of my favorite shows: Smallville and Scrubs.

On Scrubs, he played Derek Hill, the honest intern who, when pushed, tells everyone exactly what he thinks of them. Although he only appears three times, his appearances were memorable and welcome. And, thanks to the magic of reruns, I’ve probably seen his episodes at least 5 times.

On Smallville, he was Victor Stone, a.k.a. Cyborg. When I’d fled the Smallville show (every episode ended with Clark and Lana in the barn while she talked about how he was keeping secrets and they couldn’t be together), it was the introduction of heroes like Cyborg that brought me back. Justice continues to be my favorite episode where Cyborg teams with the rest of the Justice League (though they’re never called that in the episode).

I don’t know why he committed suicide and I can’t know what he was feeling. I wish he’d reached out and gotten help. I’m going to miss him whenever I see the things he’s done. Rest in peace, Lee Thompson Young.

Avengers Grab Zags Surprise

Today I spotted full boxes of Avengers Grab Zags at Toys ‘R Us. They’re blowing them out for $20 a box. It says on the box that there are 100+ toys and that the box contains 24 blind packs inside. I decided to take a chance and purchased a box.

When I got them home and opened them up, I was shocked to not only find that the checklist only had 24 toys on it but that I had all 24 of the toys. Sure, I didn’t find the ultra-rare Captain America, but I have a complete set of the Avengers Grab Zags. I don’t know if this is typical but it seems unlikely that I found the only complete set in the store.