Category: general

April Update

captain-america-civil-warSo we had a great and busy Toronto ComiCON a few weeks back, and after some recovery time are ready to get moving on Spring. Goodbye Winter!

Batman V Superman: The Dawn of Justice has come and gone, and now we prepare for the next big comic movie of the summer: Captain America Civil War – out the first Friday in May.

Upcoming shows:

GTA COMIC CON
SUNDAY, APRIL 24th
in Oakville, ON

80s TOY EXPO (with All New Comics)
SUNDAY, MAY 1st
in Mississauga, ON

BOOKS OF NOTE – IN STOCK NOW
While we do special book orders for customers, we only order extras of a select number of titles per month.

Archie Vol. 1 (2015)
Batman: The Killing Joke (back in stock)
Batgirl Vol. 2
East of West Vol. 5
Giant Days Vol. 2
Gotham Academy Vol. 2
Hellboy in Mexico
Manhattan Projects Vol. 6
Paper Girls Vol. 1
Phonogram Vol. 3 Immaterial Girl
Rat Queens Vol. 3
Starfire Vol. 1
Tokyo Ghost Vol. 1
Walking Dead Vol. 25
Wonder Woman Earth One Vol. 1 HC

Coming Soon:
Amulet Vol. 7 (reorder)
Black Magic Vol. 1
Deadpool Vol. 1 World’s Greatest (2015)
I Hate Fairyland Vol. 1
Jem and the Holograms Vol. 2
Mary Wept at the Feet of Jesus
Star Wars: Vader Down
Wolverine Origin (reorder)
Wolverine by Claremont and Miller (reorder)
Wolverine Weapon X (reorder)
X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga (reorder)
X-Men Days of Future Past (reorder)

Toronto ComiCON was quite a smash for us with regards to sales of Pop Vinyls. We cleared out a lot of our old inventory and this will allow us to focus on new and existing stock at the upcoming events. There are simply way too many Pops Vinyls released each month for us to realistically order all of them, so we concentrate on the ones we think people will be interested in. If you want to special order any Pop! Vinyls from our inventory or from our distributor please email us at info@comicbooklounge.com

POP! VINYLS

Recently added – In Stock Already
– Harry Potter Dementor
– Game of Thrones Rhaegl 6″
– Game of Thrones Daenerys on Drogon
– Game of Thrones Night King
– Sherlock Moriarty with Crown Jewels

Confirmed for arrival next week:
– Fallout 4 John Hancock
– Star Wars Force Awakens BB-8
– GI JOE Cobra Commander
– DC Swamp Thing Glow in the Dark Px Exclusive
– Crimson Peak Mother Ghost
– Sesame Street Snuffleupagus 6″

Pending (some may be in next week’s shipment):
– All four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
– Batman ’66 Batmobile
– Ghostbusters Stay Puft Marshmallow Man
– Fallout 4 T-60 Power Armor
– Harry Potter Dobby
– Sci-Fi Iron Giant and Car
– DC New 52 Batman
– Doctor Who 9th Doctor
– Doctor Who River Song
– Monty Python and the Holy Grail Black Knight
– Star Wars Darth Vader
– Star Wars Force Awakens Rey
– Star Wars Force Awakens Kylo Ren
– Alice in Wonderland Chesire Cat

And coming later this summer:
– Marvel Captain Marvel Carol Danvers Modern Version
– Marvel Spider-Gwen
– Marvel Dr. Strange Classic Version
– DC Supergirl
– DC Power Girl
– Batman ’66 Batman w/surfboard
– Batman ’66 Joker w/surfboard

Still around! Busy month, changes and more

Thanks to everyone we saw at the Niagara Falls Comic Con on June 5-7, we got in last minute as an exhibitor. Also thanks to the fine people we saw and purchased items from us at the Toronto Comic Book Show on Sunday, June 14th. We also went to the Ancaster Collectibles show on May 30, but we’re trying to forget the downpour that ruined load in and load out for us.

We’ve been at our new delivery and pick-up system for two months now and we’ll be making some necessary changes going into July.

1. Daytime delivery will end after June 24.

Very few customers using the delivery service combined with low orders and cost of delivery = losses, so as of the week of July 1 we will not be doing daytime deliveries. Some clients who used to receive daytime delivery will now be getting their books in the evening, or they should make plans to pick them up from our pick-up locations during weekdays or on Saturday.

2. On August 1, the customer discount becomes qualified.

After August 1, in order to qualify for a 20% discount a customer must spend $80 or more after exchange, not including taxes. In order to justify the expenses and freebies we offer (free Previews, all comics bagged and boarded) we need to be making a minimum amount per month in orders from every customer. We’re not going to cut down the perks, but we can’t offer a price break if the customer’s orders are low.

The New Deal

We do have a large catalog of back issues, trades and graphic novels available. While we don’t have a searchable online database at present, send us an email or message and we can let you know if (a) we have it or (b) we can get it. Free delivery or pickup in the GTA!

If you would like to order your comics from the Comic Book Lounge, our customers now receive 20% off the Canadian prices (we calculate based on the exchange rate we are charged on delivery) on all new comics and graphic novel releases. Free delivery options available as well as pickup from a few locations downtown and uptown on the weekends, we work with you. You also receive Diamond Previews Magazine for free once a month.

Contact us at info@comicbooklounge.com to set up an account.

CBL Update – Victoria Day Weekend Edition

4X14uF0Please note: We are now able to process debit transactions, as well as all chip enabled and tap cards at our pick-up locations (University Avenue on weekdays, Oriole Parkway on weekends) and for evening deliveries. We now use PAYD PRO for processing card transactions.

This enables us to process debit and credit card transactions at all conventions and shows that we set up at going forward.

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Do you collect original art? We do have some galleries of original art available as well as many prints. Please visit the link in the header bar of the site.

If you’d like to visit the Gallery part of the Comic Book Lounge + Gallery in person, you’ll need to make an appointment for a Saturday visit.

We have original art available for viewing – some pieces are available for sale (although many are not), as well as many comic art prints.

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MarvelSecretWars
2880_4_012THE SECRET WARS HAVE STARTED

So as of this week two issues of Secret Wars are out, and so far I’m loving the series but that’s me. I’ve been following Hickman’s stories about the Marvel Multiverse since his days on Fantastic Four and FF, through and into the Avengers and New Avengers. There’s a lot of payoffs so far, but you don’t need to have read those comics to appreciate Secret Wars on it’s own or Esad Ribic’s stunning artwork.

The end of the first issue saw the end of the Marvel and Ultimate Universes as we know them, although some of the monthlies still have some issues to go as stories are wrapped up, and a few of the more recently launched titles (Howard the Duck, All-New Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, Daredevil, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl) are omitted from all of this. We know that some form of Marvel Universe exists after all of this is over.

If you have any interest in the series, we still have copies of #1 and #2 available.

Since there is nothing left for now except Batteworld… here is your key to understanding what Marvel is doing.

8e33ef40-ff66-40e5-9ab0-8a4349cc0806LAST DAYS are comics that feature stories about characters dealing with the events that culminate in Secret Wars #1. These titles include Loki, Magneto, Captain America and the Mighty Avengers, the Punisher, Silver Surfer as well as Ultimate End by Bendis and Bagley.

BATTLEWORLD is formed by the god of Battle World, DOCTOR DOOM, with power bestowed upon him by the Beyonders, when he Dr. Strange and the Molecule Man confronted them in issue #1.

The new BattleWorld is made up of fragments of realities and times, not different planets (as in the original SW). These domains or kingdoms report to Doom and his Sheriff Dr. Strange, and are under the control of an appointed aristocracy of “Barons”. For example, as king of the Inhumans, Black Bolt would likely be the Baron of Attilan. They are generally focused around famous events and crossovers of the past 30 years and many live up to the designation of WARZONES.

People do not cross between the kingdoms, but there are exceptions. There is a police force that oversees order between the kingdoms – they are the THORS. Every realm has a Thor, and the Thors answer directly to Doom and Strange.

This is starting to sound a lot like Game of Thrones, and to make it even more similar, there is a wall called the SHIELD that separates the peaceful kingdoms from the wilder kingdoms like those populated by the Marvel Zombies, Annihilus and Ultron. Like Jon Snow, you can be sent to serve at the SHIELD wall or worse, be banished into the lands
below the SHIELD to certain death.

Jonathan Hickman talks about Battleworld: http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/hickman-shines-light-on-battleworlds-secrets-in-secret-wars-2

To this world of chaos (dubbed Latverion by it’s master) come two surviving groups from the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe in rafts similar to the ones from the original SW, one is a team of heroes and one is a team of villains, and both are led by Reed Richards (for a hint take a look at the image of issue #3’s cover pictured above. Their arrival can cause Schism (the undermining of the reality Doom has created), and tear Battleworld apart – they will embark upon THE SECRET WARS.

Here are the Secret Wars Tie-Ins Coming next week. Most replace existing Marvel Universe titles. Please let us know if you want any of them added to your list:

AFORCE-1A-FORCE #1 (an Avengers book)
http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/a-force-1-marvel-comics-2015
• Marvel’s Mightiest Women finally get their own explosive series!
• In a secluded corner of the Battleworld, an island nation is fiercely protected by a team of Avengers the likes of which has only ever been glimpsed before…
• Fighting to protect the small sliver of their world that’s left, the Amazing A-FORCE stands shoulder-to-shoulder, ready to take on the horde!

dpswDEADPOOL’S SECRET WARS #1 (NOT A SECRET WARS TIE-IN!)
Well…it is…but not THE NEW Secret Wars.
Remember the original Secret Wars from 1984? And remember how Deadpool played a huge important role in it? Wait…you DON’T? Then you need to read this series immediately and be educated! From the team that brought you DEADPOOL KILLUSTRATED comes the most Secretest War of all! Plus: a bonus Deadpool Contest of Champions tale!

MASTER OF KUNG FU #1 (4 issue mini-series)
http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/master-of-kung-fu-1-marvel-comics
Can one man stand against the might of an entire empire? Find out this May, as Shang-Chi is unleashed in MASTER OF KUNG-FU #1, a new 4-issue Secret Wars limited series! Creators Haden Blackman (Elektra) and Dalibor Talajic (Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe) take you on a wild martial arts thrill ride through the mystical land of K’un Lun. Once the most prized student in all of K’un Lun, Shang-Chi now wanders the streets as a derelict. Cast out and forsaken, Shang-Chi and others shunned like him will rise up to dethrone the evil Emperor Zu. One problem – Zu is Shang-Chi’s father! Things are going to get messy. Can one beaten-down man become a MASTER? As the Secret Wars begin, step into the arena and find out who will be…MASTER OF KUNG-FU! The story begins this May!

4X14uF0PLANET HULK #1
http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/planet-hulk-1-marvel-comics-2015
This May, embark on a desperate mission into uncharted territory as PLANET HULK #1 smashes its way into the WARZONES! Be there when Sam Humphries and Marc Lamming take you Greenland – Battleworld’s inhospitable northernmost territory. Teeming with an unchecked population of raging Hulks – their unparalleled destruction is the stuff of legend. Now, a battle-worn gladiator named Steve Rogers and his steadfast companion Devil Dinosaur must venture deep within Greenland’s borders in hopes of rescuing a friend. Only an army of Hulks now stand between them and their goal! Plus – don’t miss a special back-up story this issue from fan-favorite creators Greg Pak (Incredible Hulk, Storm) and Takeshi Miyazawa (Ms. Marvel, Runaways)! Explore the untold history of Greenland. What secrets does it hold? What caused this untold outbreak of Hulks? Those answers and more lie in the pages of PLANET HULK #1 this May! Note that this series features DOC GREEN from the recently concluded Hulk series.

swbwSECRET WARS BATTLEWORLD #1 (4 issue mini-series)
http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/secret-wars-battleworld-1-marvel-comics-2015
• When the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe collide, there is only…Battleworld!
• Featuring the fights, battles and blow-ups that are just TOO BIG for Secret Wars!
• When a Dr. Strange-possessed Punisher goes on the run, only Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk and Ghost Rider can track him down!

SPIDERVERSE_1SPIDER-VERSE #1
http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/spider-verse-1-marvel-comics-2015
The biggest Spider-Man event of all time was just the beginning! This May, writer Mike Costa (Scarlet Spiders) and artist Andre Lima Araujo (Inhuman) wallcrawl and webswing through Secret Wars in the pages of SPIDER-VERSE #1! And they’re bringing along a team of some of the most popular Spider-Men and Spider-Women! The battle with Morlun and the Inheriors may be over, but the battle is just heating up! Stranded on Battleworld, a small band of universe-hopping heroes – Spider-Gwen, Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man: India, Spider-Girl, Spider-UK and Spider-Ham – will find themselves face to face with the worst Secret Wars has to offer. How did they get here? What happened to their homes? What tragedy has befallen this region of Battleworld and how will this team of spiders cope? Amidst the horror and the fury of this strange new planet, six spider powered heroes stand alone. United as one, is this a new beginning, or a grisly end? Find out this May in the can’t miss pages of SPIDER-VERSE #1!

ultimate_end_1_cover-jpgULTIMATE END #1 (5 issue mini-series)
http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/ultimate-end-1-marvel-comics-2015
As the Secret Wars begin, the Ultimate Universe reaches its end! This May, experience it’s heartbreaking curtain call in ULTIMATE END #1! Blockbuster creators Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley – the creative team that helped start it all – will end it with one last, epic story! Miles Morales and the rest of the heroes of the Ultimate Universe face their final extinction. Judgement Day is here and the end is nigh. Yet as they come to terms with the end of all they’ve ever known and all they hold dear – will their gut-wrenching sacrifices make any difference? Is there any hope for the Ultimate Universe or it’s beloved heroes? Find out this May, as an entire universe experiences its final moments in ULTIMATE END #1!

Next week we’ll take a look at some of the Secret Wars tie-ins arriving May 27th, and in two weeks at some of the new DC series launching in June.

The last week is upon us. College Street location closes April 30th.

This past weekend we boxed up a lot of the back issues as well as the art books, preparing them for the big move to storage. We’ve left a bin (approx. 5 long boxes worth) of late 2014/early 2015 comics that will be available until the 30th.

Books in the bookshelves continue to be 40% off US Cover until Sunday, April 26th.

Over the course of this week, April 21-24th we’ll be packing up more of the store for a series of moves this week and some larger ones over the weekend of April 25-26.

We receive our final shipment of new comics on Wednesday April 29th and we’ll be hosting a signing with artist Leonard Kirk (Fantastic Four) in the late afternoon, followed by our FINAL INDUSTRY NIGHT & CLOSING PARTY that will run late, until 11PM that day.

On Thursday, April 30th we’ll be moving the last items out, the end of an era.

 

 

 

April Showers bring Comic Shows

hflNext weekend – April 11/12, the Comic Book Lounge will be setting up a booth at HERO FEST KINGSTON, a new 2-day show taking place in Kingston, ON. Featured guests in include TY TEMPLETON, DAN DAY, Dr. Who’s COLIN BAKER and Star Trek: The Next Generation’s DENISE CROSBY (who recently appeared on the Walking Dead).

The following weekend we will be setting up on Sunday, April 19th at the next TORONTO COMIC BOOK SHOW.

Don’t forget, between now and April 24 we are having a 40% off older trades and hardcovers clearance sale. All books on the bookshelves on the walls are on sale – after the 24th we’re packing up the remainder for show backstock and for online sales. New books are not on sale.

After that we really start winding down the retail shop, and on the following weekend – April 25/26 we’ll be moving a lot of the remaining stock and fixtures into storage for shows and online sales.

FINALLY on Wednesday, April 29th – an event three years and three months in the making — we are throwing a LAST WEDNESDAY/FINAL NIGHT PARTY and staying open until 11PM with special appearances by comic guests like LEONARD KIRK (artist on Fantastic Four – the last issue of Fantastic Four ships that day), TY TEMPLETON (Batman ’66 Meets the Green Hornet artist), and more. It’s doubles as our final Industry Night at this location and the following day, April 30th we bid adieu to 587A College.

Toronto ComiCON complete!

Thanks to everyone that stopped by to see us at the show this past weekend. We had a great time and are now looking forward to Fan Expo Canada in early September 2015!

We’re gearing up for our move at the end of April. As you know, our lease is ending on April 30, so we won’t be a full service location after April 30th (most of our existing inventory is being moved into storage for stock for online orders and conventions), but we are are going to have a small, (by appointment only) retail front at 484 Oriole Parkway, just south of Eglinton Avenue, east of Avenue Road, west of Yonge Street.

This location will double as our receiving and processing centre for weekly releases as we concentrate on our new delivery service model for those existing clients who would prefer this service, but the new location will be a true lounge, with an extended original art gallery, and we hope to have some pictures of the new location for you after the renovations are completed in mid-April 2015.

We’ve already begun to move some inventory off-site. We will continue our sale on selected graphic novels and books right until the end of April.

Unfortunately, due to family commitments on May 2 and the transition to the new system and location, we will not be a full participant in Free Comic Book Day for the first time in four years. Subscribers will receive a sampling of FCBD books with their first pick-up after May 3.

Look for us at the following shows:
Oshawa Comic Con – April 4
HeroFest – April 11/12
Toronto Comic Book Show – April 19

Update from the owner: March-April 2015

10500476_285421854962856_8804103666978402748_nLast date of operations on College Street: Thursday, April 30, 2015

CGC Update:
– all books sent before October 2014 are now graded. To be shipped up in advance of the Toronto Comicon 3/20.

Anniversary Sale Phase 2
– selected books, trade paperbacks: now 30% off US Cover price
– back issue sale – recent releases $2.99 = 1.99, $3.99 = 2.99, stickered comics and other higher priced releases: 30% off
– toys and statues, as priced – some discounted last month

Consignment Items to be retrieved by 4/30
– any items on consignment will need to be picked up from the shop before our final day of operations on College (Thursday, April 30). Any remaining items will be moved into storage and returned by appointment.

Inventory Move
Some graphic novels and back issues have been relocated as future show inventory already. Please note that most of our inventory will be moved into storage the week following the Toronto ComiCON. After March 27 we will have limited stock (mostly new releases) until our last date on College Street.

TORONTO COMICON Weekend (March 20-22)
– store will remain open during these three days.

EASTER WEEKEND – Closed on Friday and Sunday
– the Lounge will be closed on Friday, April 3 and Sunday, April 5. (Store will be open on April 4).

TTC
– No College Streetcar service April 6-April 27 (3 weeks) due to an intersection upgrade at College and Spadina. College Streetcars are being diverted to Dundas Street at Bay and at Ossington. Access to the Lounge – pedestrian and vehicle access only. Transit users will have to walk to College from Dundas, Bathurst, Harbord or Ossington.

Upcoming shows:
Toronto ComiCON – March 20-22
Oshawa Comic Con – April 4
HeroFest (Kingston) – April 11-12
Toronto Comic Book Show – April 19

What next?

Updated February 19th – Last date of operations at 587A College Street – Thursday , April 30.

Current plans are for our 3rd Anniversary Sale (Currently 20% off back issues and older books) will continue until our final day of operation.

For new comics shipping in May 2015 and beyond, the Comic Book Lounge will be providing delivery services for preorders on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with pickup options on weekdays and weekends.

If you are interested in carrying on with the subscription and special order services, we’ll need to make arrangements with you individually for days/times for delivery and/or pickups. As well as discuss preferred payment methods and so on.

CGC Shipping Update

Dear customers with CGC books submitted at Fan Expo:

We understand you have been waiting patiently, and at last check, some of the books have been graded and are in Quality Control with the remainder “scheduled for grading”. I should be able to let you know grades soon, when that information is available to me online.

Any Fast Track and Standard Tier Submissions are already done and should be available for pick up at the store within a few days – the FedEx package was sent yesterday (Jan 14) – we will contact you when they arrive.

At this rate we are looking for the remainder of the Fan Expo books to be shipped up in early February.

Beyond the closing of the physical shop in the spring, we will continue to accept submissions and requests at local shows.

UPDATE: (March 1st) still waiting for one invoice to be finished but we should have everything in hand before the Toronto ComiCON on March 20th.