Thanks for visiting the site.

As you know, our brick and mortar store closed two years ago (April 30, 2015). From May 2015 we provided orders and delivery/pick-up options to our existing customers who wanted to continue with us and continued to do conventions.

In October 2015 I was hired by Fan Expo HQ to be the comic relations coordinator and lead comics consultant for their family of conventions that includes FAN EXPO CANADA, TORONTO COMICON, Fan Expo Vancouver, Fan Expo Regina, Fan Expo Dallas, MegaCon Orlando and subsequently MegaCon Tampa Bay and Boston Comic Con. This necessitated a downgrade of what retail services I could provide so I struck an arrangement with Canadian online comics superstore ALL NEW COMICS to gradually shift new comics ordering services for our customers to their site.

This transition took a year and was completed in December 2016. I closed our Diamond account on December 28th, 2016. I still provide a pickup point for the old Lounge customers who purchase from All New Comics, Inc. at this time. We still have a lot of inventory, but this will be sold off gradually at conventions and online over the next few years. Since my time is limited this will likely mean just at events like Toronto ComiCON, Fan Expo Canada, Toronto Fan Days as well as the occasional Toronto Comics Show or Oshawa Comicon.

Thank you for your support of the years, we are very proud of what the Lounge accomplished in it’s five years.

Kevin Boyd

A version of this post was posted on my FB wall in December.

Comic shop closures are a thing the community is discussing, as is usually the case when we end the year and start the next. The holidays can be a make or break time for many comic shops. We closed our retail operation in the spring of 2015, but the decision to close was made in January 2015.

Personally, I think we’re in for a few more shuttering in the GTA in the new year but it’s also a year of changes as we see some downtown stores relocating as their old locations are being renovated or demolished for new developments or current leases end. Continue reading “On Comics Retailing” →

It’s hard for me to pick a best of comics list from those I read this last year so here instead are the writers I’m reading:

MARVEL:
5. Mark Waid (Avengers, Black Widow, Champions)
4. Dan Slott (Amazing Spider-Man, Clone Conspiracy)
3. Brian Michael Bendis (Guardians, Spider-Man, Iron Man)
2. Kieron Gillen (Darth Vader)
1. Jason Aaron (Mighty Thor, Unworthy Thor, Dr. Strange, Star Wars)

A long time customer of Dragon Lady Comics and the Comic Book Lounge, Joseph PAUL ROCCHI passed away on December 14, 2016. He was 54 years old. A reliable part of my week, Paul had been coming to visit me at the office every Thursday to pick up his new comics subscriptions since the College Street store closed. I was his stop on the way to 401 Games where he would moderate Heroclix games and tournaments. He would offen show up with cases of his freshly painted Clix creations and modifications to show me what he had been working on.

It was odd that he did not come to see me on December 15, but I had chalked it up to the bad weather we had that afternoon/evening, until I saw the email from his sister Sarah later that evening letting us know that her brother had passed the day before.

Everyone associated with Dragon Lady Comics and the Comic Book Lounge send our condolences to the Rocchi family. Here is the official notice:

Joseph Paul ROCCHI

ROCCHI, Joseph Paul July 26, 1962 – December 14, 2016 Joseph Paul “Paul” Rocchi, of natural causes, suddenly at his home in Etobicoke; he was 54. Paul is predeceased by his father Joseph and mother Patricia; he is survived by his younger siblings, Ann, Sarah, Daniel and James and a large circle of family and friends. A loving and beloved older brother, a devoted son, a skilled and hard-working systems engineer, a true friend, and a volunteer blood donor for years, Paul was also a delighted and dedicated uncle to his nieces and nephews: Miranda, Natalie, Claire, Fiona, Weston, Siena and Caelum. A graduate of Cardinal Newman Secondary School in Stoney Creek, Paul went on to earn an Honours Degree from Scarborough College, majoring in Computer Science, with a minor in History. Paul worked as a systems engineer and programmer for a variety of companies on a vast array of corporate and infrastructure projects. A good neighbour and proud resident of Toronto, Paul received a commendation from the TTC in 1984, after coming to the aid of a driver who was attacked. Paul was stabbed himself during his efforts; it was, in its selflessness and civility, an action that in and of itself summed up Paul. Visitation will be at CRESMOUNT FUNERAL HOME, 1020 UPPER JAMES ST. in Hamilton on Tuesday, December 20th from 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday, December 21st from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. A memorial service and reception at Cresmount will immediately follow the Wednesday afternoon visitation. In lieu of flowers, feel free to donate to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation in Paul’s memory.

The Comic Book Lounge exists only now as a space to promote my upcoming comics related events and shows where I’ll be vending (I still have a lot of stock left from the retail days). All of our remaining subscription customers have been moved to All New Comics.

UPCOMING SHOWS (Retail)

TORONTO COMICON – March 17-19, 2017

FAN EXPO CANADA – August 31 – September 3, 2017

TORONTO FAN DAYS HOLIDAY SHOW – December 2017 TBA

2017 SHOWS – AS COMICS RELATIONS COORDINATOR for FAN EXPO HQ

Toronto ComiCON MAR 17-19
Fan Expo Dallas MAR 31 – APR 2
Fan Expo Regina MAY 6-7
MegaCon Orlando MAY 25-28
Boston Comic Con AUG 11-13
Fan Expo Canada AUG 31 – SEP 3
MegaCon Tampa Bay SEP 29 – OCT 1
Dallas Fan Days OCT 20-22
Fan Expo Vancouver NOV 10-12
Toronto Fan Days Holiday Show TBA

JOE SHUSTER AWARDS 2017

DATE AND TIME TBA

Fan Expo Canada takes place on September 1-4, 2016 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Look for the Comic Book Lounge + Gallery at BOOTH 510 in the South Building. We’re now officially part of the ALL NEW COMICS section.

We will have graphic novels and books, Pop! Vinyls, statues and more! CGC Signature Series Services area also available.

New orders: As of July 1, all new product orders will go through All New Comics.

Book customers – previously ordered products will be processed through the Comic Book Lounge until we have received all outstanding orders from Diamond.

We will continue to exhibit at local events so long as we have the inventory.

Please note: Contrary to previous announcements, we will be providing CGC Witnessing services at the Comic Book Lounge booth at Fan Expo Canada September 1-4.

STATUES FOR SALE
Here’s what still available. Mostly Bowen Marvel.
Keep in mind Bowen released four waves of Marvel Statues, so beside each Bowen entry is the wave number and the statue number.

Character – Company – Type – Series – Item #
PLEASE INQUIRE RE: PRICES

Since the show is next week, just letting people know that we are sharing our space with ALL NEW COMICS at booth 903. Comic Book Lounge will have trades and hardcovers, as well as a selection of statues, pop vinyls and other collectibles.

Since I am the Comic Expo Coordinator for the show I won’t be around the booth much and we are not offering CGC Signature Series Witnessing at this event.

SKM_C284e16031012140

Hope you had a safe and happy holiday season, welcome to the new year! This will be our fourth year of operation.

Back in October 2016 I returned to working for Fan Expo again after a 3 year break from shows. Things have changed quite a bit since then as Fan Expo is now owned by Informa, PLC and has a lot more shows on the schedule — in Orlando (Megacon, Megacon Fan Days), Dallas (Fan Expo Dallas, Dallas Fan Days), Regina (Fan Expo Regina), Vancouver (Fan Expo Vancouver) and Toronto (Toronto ComiCON, Fan Expo Canada). As the comics coordinator that’s a busy annual schedule!

In order to free up my schedule – as of January 1, 2016 I’ve downsized the services that the Comic Book Lounge provides.

We have decided to stop carrying new comic book issues, instead we have worked out an arrangement with online subscription service All New Comics and a few local shops to transfer our comic subscriptions to these services and will work with these new providers to ensure our customers continue to get the service they have grown accustomed to. This transfer took place with comics that arrived this week, January 6th.

We are continuing to order books, magazines and specialty items for our customers and we will be a presence at local shows in 2016 – including the Toronto ComiCON in March and at Fan Expo Canada in September. We still have an extensive inventory of books and novelty items available for special order.