Ive decided to present the Top Ten Reasons to Buy the Love and Capes Collection from IDW. They'll run, one a day, here and on Twitter. So now, I present, in countdown fashion, #10…
Diamond Previews order code SEP084142E.
If You Only Order One Love and Capes Collection This Year, Make It This One!
It's been a year in the making. Well, three years in the making, if you count when I actually started the darn thing. But thanks to Harlan Ellison, Chris Ryall and IDW, lo, there shall come a Love and Capes trade.
It's in the new Diamond catalog, order code SEP084142E. Please, put it on your pull list or order. You can use this handy order form to do it, too. And, if you need to find your local comic shop, you can use the Comic Book Shop Locator. If all else fails, feel free to order it from Amazon
Here's what some comics pros and reviewers are saying about it, if you need any more reasons to buy a copy or eight:
"LOVE & CAPES is warm, witty, clever and lighthearted without being empty-- there's real, satisfying emotion underlying the comedy. It's one of a very few comics my wife tries to steal from me so she can read it first."
KURT BUSIEK
SUPERMAN, ASTRO CITY
"Damn straight it is. And what do you mean, 'tries to'?"
ANN BUSIEK
"A surprisingly charming tale about a hardworking superhero and his girlfriend…Thomas F. Zahler’s boldly cartoony artwork recalls "The Incredibles," and so does his wry, smart dialogue. A-"
DOUGLAS WOLK
SALON.COM
"These mundane episodes in the domestic life of a superhero — some more amusing than others — exude just enough charm."
NISHA GOPALAN
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY ONLINE
"My favorite superhero book on the market today. Five Tonys."
TONY ISABELLA
TONY'S TIPS
"A book full of rare delights--bright, lively art, a fun and clever story told with perfect pacing, and a fresh look at the best (and sometimes silliest) tropes of superhero-hood. Thom Zahler's doing great work on an irreplaceable book."
GAIL SIMONE
WONDER WOMAN, BIRDS OF PREY
You're on Notice
Burn Notice returns tomorrow, and it's got a lot going for it. It's got some bang-up acting. Jeffery Donovan is great as Michael Westin. Bruce Campbell just can't get enough work as far as I'm concerned. I'm catching up on his Brisco County series on DVD and really wishing that had caught on. And the only way Gabrielle Anwar could have been hotter is if she'd perfected that Irish accent she had in the pilot.
The series is nothing but fun, and I recommend it highly.
Wheelin' and Dealin'
I just signed off on the proofs for Powerful Women #2, so it's time for some pre-San Diego specials!
Until July 20th (the day I leave for California) you can get the second sketchbook for $10.00 plus shipping. That's $5.00 off cover price. And, if you order both of them, you can save $10.00 and get the 2-pack for $20.00 plus shipping.
The newbook features Scarlett from G.I. Joe, Princess Leia, She Hulk, Jade, Halo, Poison Ivy, Princess Aura, and many, many more. Click here to be taken to the commission page, where you can order the sketchbooks. They'll ship out from San Diego after the show.
The Big Time
I'm a Trivia Question!
Over on the Comic Geek Speak podcast they do a regular "Stump the Rios" trivia question segment. They do three questions: DC, Marvel and an independent book.
On episode #458, the Indy Question is: In Thom Zahler's "Love and Capes", Amazonia writes a tell-all book. What's the title of the book?
Wow. That's just cool. I've never had anything I worked on hit big enough to qualify as a trivia question before. Thanks, guys!
Toy Boy
JK Parkin over at Newsarama asked me to write a guest blog for their "I (LOVE)" series. I was honored and thrilled to do it, although sorry that their venerable institution had fallen on such hard times that they contacted me. My article is all about my crazy love for comics toys. It includes such revelations as how my brother John is partially responsible for my obsession, how my cousin Jamie made an authentic Jason Todd figure, and how my aunts built John and me a way-awesome superhero dollhouse (er, actionfigurehouse) for Christmas one year.
Cool Night
Continuing my theme of acknowledging the good times...
My brother Mike and I went up to Baskin Robbins tonight for their 31¢ scoop night (with proceeds going to America's Firefighters). The Baskin Robbins in our area is across from the new Chick-Fil-A that will be opening soon. Here's the thing, or things: Baskin Robbins had a huge line because of their promotion. And Chick-Fil-A offers the first 100 customers free food once a week every week for a year, or something like that. So they had a DJ, a dancing guy in a cow suit dancing to the "Cha Cha Slide." It was a party all around, and a cool place to spend some time.
Then, being Wednesday, I went to Starbucks and got my free tall Pike's Place Roast. Aside from spilling some of it on said brother Mike (man, that's happening a lot) it was just a good time.
I even ran into a former co-worker from the News-Herald. Bonus fun!
Blind, But Now I See
My good friend, the very observant Jesse Jackson, has noted that the Love and Capes: Do You Want To Know a Secret trade is available for pre-order on Amazon.com. Thanks for pointing it out. The link is on the sidebars of the blog and the Love and Capes page, but here it is for those of you on the RSS feed.
Next Up: Stingray...
Behold, the power of Love and Capes.
Just a scant year and a half ago,
Explaining the reference in the comics: part of Doctor Karma's shtick is that he can't use his powers directly for his own benefit. I figured he was a powerful magic user and needed some sort of limit. Plus, it gives him a unique reason for being a hero: he actually can't be selfish with his own powers. So, when the Crusader needs something from the good doctor, the Doc asks Crusader to bring him something. Doc Karma couldn't actually teleport to England and buy his own copy.
I, of course, plan on taking full credit for this. I mean, what else could it be? Now if only they'd kept the cool UK packaging.
Not Romney nor McCain nor Hilary nor Obama...
A couple years ago I was in San Diego in search of a place to set up. Matt Haley sneaked me into the Studio Scarab area, where I had a great time hanging out with the gang. Among the gang were Gabe and Chachi Hernandez. They never miss an opportunity to make a Charles Goran joke, referencing my time on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Despite their relentless tormenting, I want to mention their new project, Joe Comics, which is up at DC's Zudacomics. It's a good book, the second best superhero comedy I can think of offhand. (The first? Well, I think you know it.) You can vote for them like I did, and the winner gets a year contract with DC to continue the comic. So, c'mon, let's get these guys sold into indentured servitude.