What's with All the Variant Comic Book Covers?

Call me a completest I guess, but I am a fan of variant comic book covers if they are sold at cover price.  I find myself shying away from a variant that cam out yesterday that is being pushed at $24.99.  Who the hell knows what a book will be worth less than 30 days after is is published?  I get that a book is worth what the market will bear...so in a sense we've created this monster...

Great article addressing this "problem"(?)

http://comicsbeat.com/a-growing-sense-of-concern-over-variant-covers/

Just as an example, here is the listing for Superman Unchained released tomorrow:

Superman Unchained #1 (Brett Booth & Norm Rapmund 75th Anniversary New 52 Variant Cover)

Superman Unchained #1 (Bruce Timm 75th Anniversary 1930s Variant Cover)

Superman Unchained #1 (Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund 75th Anniversary Superman Reborn Variant Cover)

Superman Unchained #1 (Dan Jurgens Variant Cover)

Superman Unchained #1 (Dave Johnson 75th Anniversary Golden Age Variant Cover)

Superman Unchained #1 (Director's Cut Edition)

Superman Unchained #1 (Jerry Ordway 75th Anniversary Modern Age Variant Cover)

Superman Unchained #1 (Jim Lee & Scott Williams Black & White Variant Cover)

Superman Unchained #1 (Jim Lee & Scott Williams Regular Cover)

Superman Unchained #1 (Jose Luis Garcia Lopez 75th Anniversary Silver Age Variant Cover)

Superman Unchained #1 (Lee Bermejo 75th Anniversary Lex Luthor Variant Cover)

Superman Unchained #1 (Neal Adams 75th Anniversary Bronze Age Variant Cover)

All but the "Regular Cover" are listed as "AR" for a price.  I tend the cringe when I see that as I can usually count on at least $7.99 a book and it only get more expensive from there.

Saga Returning in August

 

Give this comic a shot if you like Star Wars. It can be pretty graphic but the story is solid. 

Tomorrow is Comic Book Day!

Yes tomorrow thousands of comic book fans will feel like the Jerk when the new phone book arrives!  I likely have a box full of comics to get but here are my picks for tomorrow (and last week):

Detective Comics #21

Green Lantern #21

Green Lantern Ring

Injustice Gods Among Us #4

Injustice Gods Among Us #5

Wake #1

East Of West #3

Morning Glories #27

Ten Grand #1

Ten Grand #2

Age Of Ultron #9

Avengers #13

Captain America #7

Daredevil Dark Nights #1

Iron Man #11

Kick-Ass 3 #1

Thunderbolts #10

Wolverine Comic Reader #1

X-Men #1

Stan Lee Q&A - Philly Comic Con

Stan the Man!

The highlight of my Philadelphia Comic Con was the Q&A with Stan Lee.  Stan is co-created Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor, and many other Marvel characters, introducing complex characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. In addition, he headed the first major successful challenge to the industry's censorship organization, the Comics Code Authority, and forced it to reform its policies. Lee subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.

Stan's partner on stage came out first with two pointers:

1. Please be respectful.
2. Stan is deaf as can be and he would be repeating the questions after they were asked. 

The Q&A started and did not let up.  He must have answered 60 questions and looked genuinely happy doing it.

Three questions were worth remembering.  Stan let us know that Lobo was really the only DC character he thought was any good.  He wears the glasses because his wife thinks the fans expect them.  Finally, a guy asked him who his real life heroes were and he said his heroes were a bunch of guys we wouldn't know who were service men he knew.  He also though FDR was a great president and hero.  He didn't think there have been many presidents that good since.

Stan is 90.  Stan isn't going to be around much longer.  If you get a chance you must see him while you can.  If he is in Philly next year I will get his autograph...maybe more than one.  One day we won't have Stan Lee on earth and that will be a sad day.

Michael Rooker Q&A - Philly Comic Con

After walking the floor for a while on Friday I sat in line for an hour and got to listen to Merle from the Walking Dead - Michael Rooker.  He was really entertaining.  He really enjoyed that show and I learned that he is going to be in the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie.  He is also a fan on deet and according to him the Walking Dead was a bunch of folks playing in the woods.  He let us know that he was a big contributor to the way Merle died and it was important to him to do down fighting.  I was on the first row and really enjoyed it.

Philly Comic Con Cosplay

Deadpool vs. Punisher

Red Hood, Spawn, and a ninja?

This guy was committed to Spawn.  If he lifted his mask, he was disfigured under it.

Great costume...couldn't string together a sentence.

Boba Fett

Disturbing...but a nice guy

Kick Ass and some chick...

Robin!

Blue Lantern?

IDK....But cool.

Spiderman was fighting Sonic all day.  Then the scary clown walked up and everyone ran...