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Pulp City Archives: Editorials & opinion from Comicopolis' own J.D. Arnold!

A League of Our Own...
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

We continue to celebrate our stunning win in this year's 'Good Times Best of' competition this week. Come on down and help us bask in the glow of sweet, sweet victory, and enjoy a few of this week's fine comic offerings.

New Mutants #1
By Wells & Neves

They're back together again! Cannonball, Dani Moonstar, Karma, Sunspot, Magma and Magik have been gathered once more, but can they stand against one of the most powerful X-Villains of all time? Legion is back, and the villain that thrust us into the Age of Apocalypse is scarier than ever. But what does he want with the New Mutants?

Power Girl #1
By Gray & Palmiotti

In her own ongoing series at last! Straight from the pages of JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA, Power Girl starts life anew by building herself a secret identity. But a major villain from her past has other plans in store for the Super Hero, and to get his way, he's holding Manhattan hostage!

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Century: 1910
By Moore & O'Neill

Alan Moore's familiar cast of Victorian literary characters enters the brave new world of the 20th century, set against a backdrop of London, 1910, twelve years after the failed Martian invasion. In the bowels of the British Museum, Carnacki the ghost-finder is plagued by visions of a shadowy occult order who are attempting to create something called a Moonchild, while on London's dockside the most notorious serial murderer of the previous century has returned to carry on his grisly trade. Working for Mycroft Holmes' British Intelligence alongside a rejuvenated Allan Quartermain, the reformed thief Anthony Raffles, and the eternal warrior Orlando, Miss Murray is drawn into a brutal opera acted out upon the waterfront by players that include the furiously angry Pirate Jenny and the charismatic butcher known as Mac the Knife. This book is the first of three deluxe, 80-page, full-color, perfect-bound graphic novellas, written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Kevin O'Neill, each a self-contained narrative that takes place in three distinct eras, building to an apocalyptic conclusion occurring in our own twenty-first century. The return of the League is not to be missed!

Best Comic Book Store in Santa Cruz! Hey! That's us!
Friday, May 1st, 2009

Well, the results are in and the winners have been announced. And this year, as the Best Comic Book Store category returns to the Good Times Best of Santa Cruz Poll, the people have spoken. You cast your votes and have declared Comicopolis the Best Comic Book Store in Santa Cruz for 2009! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It has been our pleasure to serve you these past 12 years and we look forward to feeding your comic needs for many, many years to come. And don't forget, tomorrow, May 2nd, is Free Comic Book Day (see the big banner above). Come on down for your free books and fantastic savings on everything else in the store. Hope to see you here!

Team J-Roy!
Your Humble Servants
Comicopolis

Ignition...Lift Off!
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Wow. No really, Wow! Is this a great week for comics, or what? I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is the Second Golden Age. Whether time will prove the collectibility and monetary value of today's books to stand up to those of the recognized GA is anyon'e guess, but that isn't the point. I'm talking creativity. I'm talking compelling stories, great art, and just plain fun funny books. We've seen some great books start in the past year (Kick Ass, Bad Dog, Echo, just to name a few) and we've seen some existing titles revamped and refreshed (Flash, Green Lantern, Punisher, Fantastic Four). Week after week I am pleased, and a little shocked, to see quality books filling my shelves. And this week is no exception. Below are just a few of this week's fine reads.

The 3 Geeks #3
By Rich Koslowski

In this final chapter of The 3 Geeks: Slab Madness, Keith and Jim (and their nemesis, Sky Branovan) make their final stand against the Cee-Gee-Cee cultists to free Allen from his dome of slabs - and hopefully free his very soul! Laugh along as they discover the true secrets the Cee-Gee-Cee!

Daredevil Noir #1
By Irvine, Coker, & Freedman

"LIAR'S POKER," PART 1-The latest addition to Marvel's red-hot Noir line offers a unique spin on the Man Without Fear! Prohibition-era Hell's Kitchen is Kingpin territory, and until now, his only problem has been the masked vigilante known as Daredevil. When gangster Orville Halloran arrives on the scene, fresh from a stretch in Sing Sing and eager to stretch his wings, Hell's about to get hotter. For P.I. Foggy Nelson and his loyal assistant Matt Murdock, it all starts when a desperate woman comes to their office with an irresistible story about her and Halloran. To Foggy, she's a client -- to Murdock, she's enough to make Halloran Daredevil's next target. But Murdock is about to find out that half-truths are poison truths, and that the Kitchen is full of history that will put him on a collision course with both the old Kingpin and the man who wants to replace him.

Ignition City
By Ellis & Pagliarani

Where did the space heroes go to die? A major new series by Warren Ellis, the writer who reinvented science fiction in comics, in the alternate-world style of the award-winning Ministry Of Space and Aetheric Mechanics - a retro-punk "future of the past" where spaceships still belched smoke and arguments were still settled with laser pistols. 1956. Personal space flight is becoming illegal all over the world. Grounded space pilot Mary Raven has to journey to Earth's last spaceport, the island of Ignition City, to recover her dead father's effects - and discovers, there in the lawless interzone of the ramshackle settlement raised inside the ring of launch pads, that her father died on the wrong end of a ray-gun. She's not going to leave until she finds out who killed Rock Raven, but there's a lot of people who'd rather feed her to the recycling chipper first!

No Joke, this week's comics Rock!
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

Hello again! I won't bore you with my ramblings this week. Just a quick reminder that our Invite-Only-Super-Secret-Sale is this Friday, April 3rd, from 7:15-9:30 P.M. If you haven't received your invite yet, c'mon on down and demand one. And now, on to a preview of just a few this week's great comic picks.

Destroyer #1
By Kirkman, Walker, & Staples

For sixty years, Keen Marlowe has been a super hero, taking down bad guys, fighting the good fight. But it's is about to come crashing to an end. See, Marlowe is dying -- maybe today, maybe tomorrow, the only question is when. But Marlowe isn't about to go quietly into the night. Before he goes, he intends to leave the world a safer place for his family. And if that means hunting down -- and murdering -- every super-villain he can, so be it. They don't call him "Destroyer" for nothing.

Irredeemable #1
By Waid & Krause

A comic book industry event: a new original ongoing superhero series from Mark Waid! Irredeemable dares to ask the question: what if the world's greatest hero decided to become the world's greatest villain? A "twilight of the superheroes"-style story that examines super-villains from the writer of Kingdom Come and Empire! With a special afterword by Grant Morrison.

Seaguy: Slaves of Mickey Eye #1
By Morrision & Stewart

In Seaguy's cartoon future world, everyone is a Super Hero and no one dies. It's absolutely perfect...Or is it? In this follow-up to the cult 2004 miniseries, Seaguy resurfaces with a sinister new partner, a hatred of the sea and a rebel restlessness he can't explain. Why are Doc Hero and his ex-archenemy Silvan Niltoid, the Alien from Planet Earth, whispering strange equations? Why is Death so useless? And can that really be the ghost of Chubby Da Choona mumbling uncanny warnings and dire prophecies of ultimate catastrophe? When the grotesque powers lurking behind the corporation known as Mickey Eye and the Happy Group attempt to erase Seaguy's entire existence, can he possibly get it together in time to save a world so far gone it can't even imagine the horror lying in wait? Find out here in Morrison's own personal reframing of the Super Hero concept for the 21st century.

Countdown to the Big Secret Sale, and this week's choice comic picks
Thursday, March 26th, 2009

A reminder to all our friends: The Comicopolis Super Secret Sale will be held on Friday, April 3rd, beginning at 7:15 p.m. and ending at 9:30 p.m. Come by the shop for an invite and the Super Secret Pass Phrase you will need to gain entry. This will be our biggest sale in years with huge discounts on everything in stock, and free food and drink! It's a party, yo! See you there! And now, a sampling of some of the fine comics available for sale this week.

American Jesus: Book One
By Millar & Gross

From the writer of WAR HEROES, KICK ASS and the Universal hit, WANTED! It's the next MARK MILLAR graphic novel set to become a feature film! AMERICAN JESUS, VOL. 1: CHOSEN follows a twelve-year-old boy who suddenly discovers he's the returned Jesus Christ. He can turn water into wine, make the crippled walk and perhaps even raise the dead. How will he deal with the destiny to lead the world in a conflict thousands of years in the making?

INCREDIBLES FAMILY MATTERS #1 (OF 4)
By Waid & Takara

America's favorite family of superheroes finally returns, courtesy of legendary scribe Mark Waid (The Flash)! The Incredibles face terrifying new villains and friendly new neighbors, all while Mr. Incredible hides a troubling secret from his costumed clan. Ships with four connecting cover variants by acclaimed artist Michael Avon Oeming

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #31
By Duffie, Davis, & Hope

Death, destruction and betrayal! The fallout from FINAL CRISIS leaves the Justice League of America on the brink of dissolution. Black Canary faces her greatest test as she tries to hold her devastated team together. Will those who remain be enough to save the world?

The Best of the Week and, oh yeah, The Watchmen
Thursday, March 12th, 2009

I had considered, since seeing the film this past Tuesday, writing a review of this year's most aniticipated and talked about film The Watchmen. But really, what could I add that has not already been said, over and over and over...you get the point. I'll just tell you this. I liked it. I liked it a lot. I believe, given the constraints of 2-3 hour, Hollywood movie, they did the best they could have done. It was largely faithful to the source material, well acted and cast, and the small changes that were made did not impede the flow of the narrative. And the major change, the ending, was, in my estimation, an improvement. Ok, what? What did I just say? Did I say that Alan Moore is anything less than a God? Yeah, I said it. As good, heck, as great, as Watchmen is...c'mon. A giant Squid? It was just silly. The new ending? Better. Sorry, won't debate this one. It was just better. And on that note, here's this week's best.

Walking Dead #59
By Kirkman, Adlard, & Rathburn

Overwhelmed! - Ok, don't you just hate these short little descriptions Image gives us for Walking Dead these days? 'Overwhelmed!'? That's all you're gonna give us? Huh. Well, I will add that we get more zombies then we have in quite awhile with this issue. Quite a lot more!

Runaways HC - Dead Wrong
By Terry Moore & Humberto Ramos

The beginning of a whole new Runaways! Comics legend Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise, Echo) and super-star artist Humberto Ramos (X-MEN, WOLVERINE, SPIDER-MAN) run back to Los Angeles with your favorite teen heroes. But it's not the same city they left so long ago. The Runaways try to stay off the radar, but the sins of their parents won't make that possible... Collecting RUNAWAYS VOL. 3 #1-6.

Blueberry Girl
By Gaiman & Vess

This gorgeous picture book pairs best-selling author Neil Gaiman's magical words and acclaimed artist Charles Vess's lovely paintings to offer hopeful wishes for young girls of a variety of races and ages.

March Forth To Your Local Comic Shop!
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Welcome, citizens, to another installment of This Week's Best Comics. I'll keep this one short, as I've spent a good deal of my writing energy on the rant below, and a soon to be posted review of perhaps the best DC superhero comic published in the last 10 years, Green Lantern: Rebirth. Yeah, I know, I'm a few years behind the curve. Better late then never, eh? And now, here's this week's goodness.

Ultimate Wolverine Vs. Hulk #3
By Lindelof & Yu

IT'S BAAAAAACK! And it's going ALL THE WAY!
The ultimate smackdown brought to you by the Emmy award-winning co-creator of the hit show LOST, Damon Lindelof, and superstar artist Leinil Yu (Secret Invasion) makes its triumphant return!! The preliminaries are out of the way, and now it's time for the battle of the century between one hirsute X-Man and one Jade Giant. It ain't gonna end pretty.

Spider-Man & The Human Torch in...Bahia De Los Muertos!
By - Beland & Doe

The Fantastic Four are going back to Puerto Rico! And this time, the Human Torch is bringing his good buddy Spider-Man along for the ride! Off the coast of Puerto Rico, the small, paradise-like island of Vieques is home to plants, animals, people, and the world's most beautiful glowing waters. But what deadly secret has turned the tranquil bay into...a giant radioactive monster?! And what unlikely ally turns out to be the only one who can help our heroes now? By Tom Beland and Juan Doe, the guys behind the madcap, heartwarming, fan-mega-favorite FANTASTIC FOUR: ¡ISLA DE LA MUERTE!

Anna Mercury TP Vol. 01-The Cutter
By Ellis & Percio

Dancing amid the spires of a city called New Ataraxia, there is a woman who can cloud men's minds, leap across buildings as if weightless, unerringly fire twin automatic pistols in the most insane conditions, and disappear in a crowded room. She fights against the political repression of an insane technocratic society, and she comes from a place that no-one in New Ataraxia has ever heard of. And she's got one hour to save the city from itself!

We. Read. Comics.
Saturday, February 28th, 2009

This entry is a part rant, part mission statement, and part callout to all the other comic shops out there. As you may, or may not, know, there are literally thousands of comic selling shops across this great land of ours. No surprise, really. Even with the shaky economy, the industry is booming. A quick gander at the lineup of comic related films coming out of Hollywood will reinforce this fact. And it is not just the films. With the deluge of great stories and amazing talent working in comics right now, I will, and have, gone on record to say that this is truly the Second Golden Age. But this is not my point of discussion today. Today we talk about the retail side of the business. ...........click here for complete article.

Comic Books: The Affordable Guilty Pleasure
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Greetings, fair citizens! Welcome back to another exciting installment of Team J-Roy's Blog-o-Rama. Once again, many great titles for reading enjoyment out this week. And all for less than half of what you would pay for a movie ticket, cd, or book. What other industry brings you dozens of new releases each week ay such an affordable price point? None, other than comics! And on that note, let's look at some of this week's fine, affordable comics.

The New Avengers #50
By Bendis, Tan, Banning & Ponsor
Celebrate this very special milestone issue as the new roster of New Avengers deal with the shocking news of the existence of the Dark Avengers the only way they can... by taking them head on. But what is waiting for them is the stuff the DARK REIGN is made of.

Incredible Hercules #126
By Pak, Van Lente, Buchemi & Miyazawa
A special DOUBLE-SIZED issue that is the perfect jumping-on point for new readers! Proudly presenting, for the first time in Marvel continuity ... the ORIGIN OF HERCULES! How did the young man who becomes the Lion of Olympus learn of his divine heritage? In what battle did he earn the title "Prince of Power?" And, most importantly, why does the goddess HERA hate him so, now that her DARK REIGN begins to fall across New Olympus? PLUS: In the aftermath of the Skrull invasion, AMADEUS CHO goes on "The Quest for Kirby!"

Unknown Soldier #5
By Dysart & Ponticelli
As memories of the past begin to invade, Moses confronts the deeper truth of the soldier lurking within him. But what do those memories have to do with another unknown soldier?

This Week's Comic-y Goodness!
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

Hi All! Been awhile, but we promise to post on a more regular basis from now on. Lots of great books making their debut in the past few weeks. Here are but a few that you should check out.

Bad Dog #1
By Joe Kelly & Diego Greco
The acclaimed writer of Deadpool returns to his dark comedy, anti-hero roots with BAD DOG, channeling a lifetime of bad behavior into two misfit bounty hunters incapable of catching a break, let alone a criminal. Lou is a werewolf who despises people so much that he refuses to shift back into human form. Wendell is a vertically-challenged, gutter-mouthed ex-preacher with a hair-trigger temper. Two glorious bastards drinking their way across the American Nightmare, hunting down the dregs of humanity...to find themselves. (That is, if by 'find themselves,' you mean drink, swear and generally make a mess of things.)

Mysterius: The Unfathomable #1
By Jeff Parker & Tom Fowler
"Will all patrons please be seated? Tonight you will witness supernatural feats that no mortal mind can comprehend! Your very senses will reel as Mysterius the Great takes the stage after years in absentia! And now please welcome his newest stalwart, the brave and beautiful assistant who will accompany our host on a journey beyond the boundaries of science and reason...the Lovely Delfi! Now, all join hands..."

The Devil's Panties
By Jennie Breeden
Compiled into one long trip of chaos are issues 1-6, an astounding 288 pages! This semi autobiographical account of one comic creators life is sure to leave readers wanting more! And don't think Jennie forgot her true fans. This pressing comes with bonus fun and games not found anywhere else. Witness Jennie's adventures working in a comic shop, goth clubbing, what it's really like at comic conventions, family holidays, fetish parties, relationships, and pirates! Did we mention that Jesus and the Devil hang out on these pages too? Sit back and take a hysterical look at life like you have only imagined, because after all, there's nothing more bizarre than reality.

X-Men Origins:Wolverine Revealed!
Sunday, December 14th, 2008

Oh My God! Check out the new X-Men Movie trailer! We can hardly wait!

May 1st, 2009!

2008 Holiday Sale!
Tuesday, December 2nd. 2008

Come on over and save at our 2008 Holiday Sale!
Sale runs from Friday, December 5th through Sunday, December 7th.

Hope to see you all here!

New Arrivals Available THURSDAY (not Wednesday)
Monday, December 1st, 2008

Attention Citizens! Due to the Thanksgiving holiday this week's new comics will be arrive on Thursday this week instead of Wednesday...

We've adjusted our hours this week as follows:
Wednesday 11am - 6pm, Thursday 10am - 7pm.

We will resume normal shopping hours next week. Thank you.

New Arrivals!
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

Greetings once again, citizens! Another fine week, with many great comics arriving for your holiday reading enjoyment. Chief amongst them is Batman #681, the final part to the riveting and ground-breaking R.I.P. storyline. Do not miss out on this pivotal and historic issue! Also new this week, finally after many weeks delay, is Buffy the Vampire Slayer #19. This issue provides a shocking end to the current Fray storyline. If you are a fan of Willow, you will not want to miss this one. And for all the zombie fans out there, come on in and pick up Walking Dead #55. I know! Two issues of the greatest comic on the planet in 3 weeks! WTF?! Issue #55 starts a brand new storyline, introduces new mysteries, and brings the tragic end to an old friend.

And just a friendly reminder, Comicopolis will be closed Thursday, November 27th for the Thanksgiving Holiday, but will reopen bright and early on Friday morning, November 28th.

Happy Holidays!
Read One!

Team J-Roy!

New Arrivals!
Friday, November 21st. 2008

Greetings Citizens! We just got in a fresh batch of Ugly Dolls & Zippo lighters...a strange but wonderful combination to be sure!

Also in, the wonderful new book "Veeps" from Top Shelf Productions ....
Over more than 200 years, the American voters have sent a platoon of rogues, cowards, drunks, featherweights, doddering geriatrics, bigots, and atrocious spellers to Washington D.C. to sit one bullet, cerebral hemorrhage, or case of pneumonia away from the highest office in the land. VEEPS tells the sordid, head-scratching, perversely-entertaining stories of these men we’ve chosen to ride shotgun in the biggest rig in democracy, without ever seriously considering the possibility that they might have to take the wheel.

"I never thought there was anything funny about our vice-presidents, until I read VEEPS, a welcome, often hilarious respite from the tedium of national politics."
~ Howard Zinn, author of "A Peoples History of the United States"