Brave New Worlds started on a dare in Willow Grove Pennsylvania April\'s Fool\'s Day 1989. It was originally named the \"Comic Book Store\" until the shop moved to Jenkintown.
Brave New Worlds has been serving the greater Philadelphia area\'s comic book and toy needs for over 20 Years.
You can visit Brave New Worlds in one of 2 locations:
Willow Grove - 433 West Moreland Road Willow Grove, Pa. (215.657.8838)
Hours - Sunday 11-6, Monday-Friday 11-9, Saturday 11-7
Philadelphia - 55 N. 2nd Street Philadelphia, Pa. (215.925.6525)
Hours - Sunday 11-6, Monday-Saturday 11-8
Archive for January, 2011
New This Week: 1.19.11
COMICS COMICS COMICS! (still not the huge week that I am assuming 1/26/11 will be…) Check out this weeks shipping list!
Daredevil Guardian Devil Book Discussion WG
Brave New Worlds Willow Grove will host it’s next book discussion on Saturday, January 29 @ 7 p.m. This month’s selection will be Smith’s mainstream comic book debut, Daredevil Guardian Devil.
Smith takes a fresh approach with a character that has been around the block a bit, as Daredevil needs to protect an infant that might either be the Messiah, the Antichrist or Buddy Christ (kidding on the last one).
If you have yet to come out to one of our discussion groups, now is a great time to start. We have a great bunch of people that come out and we always have some food, and excellent conversation.
Midnight Magic @ WG
On Friday, January 28 @ 12 a.m. (technically Saturday morning), Brave New Worlds Willow Grove will be holding a prerelease event for the next Magic set, Mirrodin Besieged. For just $30, you will receive six (6) packs to build your deck, plus a foil promo card (listed below, while supplies last). Prizes will be determined on the number of participants.
If you are not a regular Red Bull user and wish to wait to play at a normal time, Brave New Worlds Willow Grove will host a prerelease event on Sunday, January 30 at Noon. $30 for six packs plus a promotional foil card (listed below, supplies last). Prizes again will be determined on the number of participants.
And on Super Bowl Sunday, February 6 at Noon, Brave New Worlds Willow Grove will host the launch party. Thirty dollars, six packs and an all-different foil promotional card (listed below, while supplies last) will be released. Prizes again will be determined on the number of participants.
This time, competitors will be assigned factions for the prerelease event and will be given the promotional card based on the faction assigned – either Hero of Bladehold or Glissa, the Traitor.
The following week’s promo will be Thopter Assembly.
What I Liked This Week
Daredevil Reborn #1 (of 4)Andy Diggle (w) Davide Gianfelice (a)
Another week another book that brought apprehension when I thought about reading it. And I am happy to report that I enjoyed this story by Andy Diggle. It makes up for the mess that was Shadowland. Talk about a no event. Granted, it did leave a whole lot on Hand ninja hanging out in NYC and working for the Kingpin (see this week’s Spider-Man), but I mean ninjas are like dogs now, they are everywhere. But I digress …
Daredevil Reborn #1 felt a little retread in that it’s not a terribly original idea. Matt Murdoch stars as a drifter (a blind one at that) where the locals “encourage” him to leave town. When the local constable shows up, they have the same reaction (ala John Rambo – oh no, good thing this book did not star Sylvester Stallone). Of course he does not leave town (where is the fun in that) and of course he finds something (oh, a mystery).
And while I may seem to be a little critical of the way the story was written, every tale needs that hook or as George Lucas calls it, macguffin. For Diggle, this one is it. And to be honest, you are reading the story not so much for the mystery, but the journey that Murdoch is on his road to salvation and being rebirth – and that is why this story stuck with me.
Plus we get to see Murdoch teach a blind kind how to flip a coin. And to be honest, I think we can all use a skill like that, even if we do have 20-20 vision.
Notable Fun Moments in Comics This Week
While none of the below titles are so awesome to be noted above, there were a couple of time during each of them that I thought, “that was cool” or “that was fun” and even on ocassion made me chuckle out loud (a nice hearty guffaw while reading a comic around people is always a conversation starter. So without further ado let’s take a look.
Red Robin #19 is a title I can never put my finger on. I always pick it up, and always walk away enjoying what I read. Fabian Nicieza and Marcus To tell a good story. This one stars Tim Drake and with a dearth of bat titles on the market can be easy to overlook, especially after the fun that is Batgirl. This month’s issue takes place in Tim’s head however and is an interesting tale watching him begin the book in a classic Batman & Robin adventure (think Adam West TV series). Check this out for a little nostalgia and stay for the rest of the story.
Speaking of Batgirl, issue #17 is like the previous ones, a fun time. This issues sees the return of Damian as the two team-up. As always, Bryan Miller seems to be having a blast writing these characters when they go head-to-head, and I know I enjoy reading them. This is a real heartfelt moment as Damian goes undercover and Stephanie realizes some things that probably none of us ever thought about when it comes to the new boy wonder. If anything, the last page is the best part and worth the $2.99 cover price alone.
Honorable Mention goes out to Birds of Prey #8. Part two of the Death of Oracle storyline, the Calculator is pissed and he is going to find out who Oracle is if it kills all of the Birds of Prey. Guillem March does the art on this issue, and it is superb. There’s an interesting “B” story running with the Penguin and Hawk, but the main tale is why you should pick this book up. Lots going on, just when you thnk the book is going one way, it zags. Then you go to take breath, and it zigs. Come to think of it, this book may have deserved a higher rating this week.
And last but certainly not least, Amazing Spider-Man #651 (mentioned above re: all those crazy ninjas, who I hear are getting their own reality show soon) closes the door on the opening “Big Time” arc. All is well in Peter Parker’s life. Wish we could say the same for his alter-ego who now has to take on a new Hobgoblin and the Kingpin, in the same book. Of course he gets some “help” from his new “partner” the Black Cat. I have written this before, but if you have not given Spidey a chance in awhile due to One More Day, Brand New Day or One Moment in Time (which was miserable, thank you Joe Quesada), give Big Time a shot. It’s a good read and should renew your faith in all things webhead.
Ghostbusters Wave 1 Action Figures
Ghostbusters Wave 1 Action Figures
The classic movie is still alive and well in all our hearts and what is the one thing we have all been begging for for the past 25 years? Well Ghostbusters Retro Action Figures as Mattel introduces the gang in the classic MEGO 1970s style. Standing 8” tall and include the original and four and only gang, Peter Venkman, Egon Spengler, Raymond Stanz and Winston Zeddemore.
World’s Greatest DC Heroes Retro Action Figures
The third release by Mattel of the classic DC heroes in retro 1970s molds includes Flash, Wonder Woman, Captain Cold and Cheetah!
Blackest Night Series 7 Action Figures
The latest release of the popular Blackest Night action figures will be at Brave New Worlds this Wednesday (Jan. 12) and will include Black Lantern Superman, Black Lantern Terra, Red Lantern Mera and Sinestro Corp Arkillo. Don’t delay because these never stay on the shelves long.
Featured Creator @ BNW
Vaughan is the mastermind behind the Vertigo series Y, The Last Man (probably the next awesome television or movie adaptation out there, yeah I am starting that rumor here), the Wildstorm (DC) series Ex Machina and Marvel’s Runaways. In addition, he also penned the original Vertigo graphic novel Pride of Baghdad and was a writer on a little television show called Lost, in which he was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award in 2009 (maybe you have heard of it or caught it on the tele).
He got his start in the business in 1997 at Marvel where he scripted the Ka-Zar annual before going on to write some of the big properties at both Marvel and DC including Batman and the X-Men before settling on his own creations – the aforementioned Y, The Last Man and Ex Machina.
He has been recognized several times for his abilities, receiving the coveted Eisner Award in 2008 (along with artists Pia Guerra and Jose Marzan, Jr.) for Best Series for Y, The Last Man and in 2005 as Best Writer for his work on Y, Runaways, Ex Machina and Ultimate X-Men, as well as Best New Series (along with Tony Harris) for Ex Machina.
Some of his work that we cheerfully recommend to all comers include;
Y, The Last Man
This original series ran for six years and was a breath of fresh air as Vaughan told the tale of literally the last man on Earth. A mysterious event (plague or something) hits the world and simultaneously kills every living mammal possessing a Y chromosome (and we do mean everything), except for the main character Yorick Brown and his male monkey, Ampersand (don’t ask us). This is their story, and of course you know it’s an adventure. Just think about what you would do if you were the only man left (with your male monkey of course), the fun you could/should/would have?
It’s “the best graphic novel I have ever read,” Stephen King said. (Yes, THAT Stephen King!)
Ex Machina
Another six-year run as an original series by Vaughan (maybe he likes the number six?), Ex Machina tells the story of Mitchell Hundered (aka The Great Machine). Our very own George raves non-stop about this book with all it’s political intrigue. The story chronicles the life of the world’s first and only superhero while he serves as Mayor of New York City after his actions on 9/11. The book also flashbacks through his time as The Great Machine. It’s a great ride with some amazing artwork by Tony Harris.
“Ex Machina is half X-Files, half West Wing and 100% genius,” Publishers Weekly reviewed.
Runaways
Vaughan went to Marvel with Runaways as an effort to attract young new readers and initially was planned as a six-issue mini-series. Seven years later the Runaways are still a staple at Marvel, although Vaughan moved on a few years later while the book was at the height of it’s success.
Runaways is about a group of teenagers who uncover a secret about their parents, that they really are evil doers called the Pride. The Runaways steal resources from their unknowing parents and learn about their inherited abilities.
It’s been called “one of the best original concepts from Marvel in 30 years.”
Other notable titles in stock by Vaughan include his run on Ultimate X-Men (#46-65, Annual 1), Wonder Woman (v2 #160-161) and a brief stint on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #6-9. All the above titles and more are available in trade paperback and hardcover deluxe editions at Brave New Worlds.
On Sale January 12 Spotlight
Amazing Spider-Man #651
Dan Slott (w) Humberto Ramos (a)
Let’s get ready to rumble. The Hobgoblin story continues, but what we are really looking forward in this one is the Spidey-Kingpin rematch. It’s the duo’s first meeting since “Back in Black.” All this plus we see Mac Gargan return, and you will never guess what costume he’s wearing now (hint – it’s not Lane or Venom, because c’mon you were you thinking it was Lane).
Batgirl #17
Bryan Q. Miller (w) Pere Perez (a)
Not sure if you have been checking this title out, but it’s very entertaining and worth $3 of your money to take a look. Miller has done a phenomenal job with Stephanie Brown’s reign as the Batgirl. This month she gets her first “official” job from Batman Inc. But wait, there’s more as Damian decides to tag along. Good times should ensue. Enjoy.
Black Panther Man Without Fear #514
David Liss (w) Francesco Francavilla (a)
This is novelist David Liss’ second installment of Black Panther The Man Without Fear, as the former King of Wakanda is now working the mean streets of Hell’s Kitchen. And when we say working, we mean “working,” turning tricks and everything. But seriously, Luke Cage guests as T’Challa takes on the mob while Vlad the Impaler takes a turn as crime lord. This is a good time to check out what Liss is doing while the Black Panther keeps Matt Murdoch’s book warm for him.
Casanova Gula #1 (of 4)
Matt Fraction (w) Fabio Moon (a)
Casanova is back, or is he? The second volume of Fraction’s time-trippy saga as E.M.P.I.R.E. and W.A.S.T.E. seek to find out not where, but when is Casanova Quinn. My guess, he’s hanging out with Jim Kirk and a couple of Orion slave girls. I’m just saying, it seems like something Casanova would do, although I am not sure how much Kirk would be willing to share. This one is being published in 4-D psychocolor. Don’t know what that is? Ask Brian, he’s our expert on 4-D, Lincoln and Frankenstein – he’s a little quirky.
Daredevil Reborn #1 (of 4)
Andy Diggle (w) Davide Gianfelice (a)
Daredevil is dead. Long live Daredevil. I mean seriously, even in comic book terms the body of Matt Murdoch can not be cold yet. Has there even been enough time for rigor mortis to set in? Is guess the demand for his return was so great that we get this issue. Or maybe he did not die in Shadowland?
Justice League Generation Lost #17
Judd Winick (w) Aaron Lopresti (a)
If you have not been paying attention, Max Lord came back during Blackest Night. His first order of business was to make everyone forget about him, except for the original members of his Justice League International group. Those members of course are going out of their minds trying to convince everyone who Max is, and trying to track him down. This week they have a new enemy to contend with – Power Girl. She is saying, Max who? Winick has really redeemed himself with this title.
Spawn #200
Todd McFarlane, Robert Kirkman (w) Tons of Different People (a)
There are milestones, and then there are MILESTONES. Spawn hitting issue 200 is a big deal. Don’t believe me? Well, whatever. It was June of 1992 when Spawn first hit bookshelves. Now it’s January 12, 2011, 17 years later and there is a new Spawn rocking the world. And of course, where there is a Spawn, there is the Clown. It’s a different book from that first issue, but there is so much history and layers to this story that now is a perfect time to come back, bite the apple and do the Spawn!
Batman Joker’s Asylum TP Volume 2
Many Cooks in the Kitchen (w/a)
So nice they decided to do it twice. The Joker is back talking about the fun days of Arkham Asylum and telling all about his buddies – Riddler, Harley Quinn, Clayface and Croc. The first one was a swell time and volume two was more of the same. It’s a different look at the Batman ‘verse, from a twisted perspective.
Siege Dark Avengers TP
Brian Michael Bendis (w) Chris Bachalo, Mike Deodato (a)
It was the best of times. The Green Goblin was running around as the Iron Patriot with the keys to the country, deemed the United States’ protector after taking out the Skrull Queen in Secret Invasion. Of course, he was psychotic, and this is his downfall, and that of his team. Good times.
New This Week: 1.12.11
Are you ready for new comics week #2 of the year 2011 C.E.!?
