Random comics shop retail notes:
While working at the shop today, I sold Arana and X-23 issues to a thirteen-year-old girl. That was sort of bittersweet, as that to-the-intended-demographic transaction was almost immediately followed by an X-Fetishist telling me how freaking hot X-23 was and that I was stupid for not reading the X-Men titles because Claremont really turned it around after that “hack Grant Morrison” fucked it up. They’ll find his body1 after trash day.
This is a good week for myself, Ian, and any other Chaykin fans out there - he’s got three, count ‘em, three books coming out and I gandered at the previews provided helpfully by the fine folks at DC. City Of Tomorrow launches with a snarling first issue that reminds me in tone, if not content, of his Challengers of the Unknown series. We also get his issue of Solo, where he covers Nazi-occupied France, jazz, mad scientists, western comics, white supremacy, and fear in the space of 48 pages along with the third issue of his compelling, if not exactly pleasant, collaboration with Russ Heath, Legend.
I sold a stack of Byrne Doom Patrol issues to somebody who heard “they were really good.” I want to track down whoever is spreading this vicious rumor and introduce them to my fist repeatedly.
There was one overlong conversation concerning the sex lives of Tomax and Xamot from GI Joe. If one was hurt and the other felt the pain, per the commercial, did the same apply for pleasure? If Xamot had a hot date with, say, The Baronness, did Tomax have to stay home with a sock handy or wear a raincoat to his night classes at COBRA’s training academy?
Finally, I present a recounting my half of a conversation with a customer:
Did I read The O.M.A.C. Project? Yeah, but I didn’t dig it that much, but there’s a lot of people that liked it.Hey, if you liked DCU Countdown, you’ll totally enjoy it.
No, I didn’t like that either, but lots of people did.
No. I don’t have to like anything.
No, I’m not “wrong.” I’m just not looking for bullet lobotomies and rape in my superhero comics. I’ve got Seven Soldiers, you’ve got all the Crisis stuff. Everyone’s happy.
No, it’s fine that you like it! Lots of people like things that I don’t like and I like lots of things other people don’t like. That’s how these things are. No skin off my nose if you like anything that we sell.
How am I, exactly, insulting you?
And no, he didn’t buy the fucking book.
1I kid. Honest.
