Andy Wood

It has been a while since I have been on the ‘ol blog.  I haven’t have any major events to mention lately, but we did get a couple of new items on the homestead.

1.) VIZIO 55-Inch LCD HDTV – this is just about the sweetest picture.

2.) Sony Blu-ray player – which is the winning format from the HD dvd wars.

We got these both from Costco and wow, what an amazing upgrade.  The quality of picture from the HD Projection to LCD is very noticeable too.  I have watched Predator and Star Trek and I am just blown away!

I have also placed my pre-order for Star Trek Online

Aside from that, things at the shop are pretty good, we are still working on getting established, but we have our steady stream of comic book customers, magic the gathering player and currently trying out YGO.

GamersCircle . . . “COMICS“

I suppose it goes with the times, I actually catch myself doing it to.  When I read something, I usually only read that I want to see.  This is a example of a phone call which took place today.

[insert your favorite ring tone here]

Me: GamersCircle Comics
Phone Call: Hi – can you tell me if you have Way of the Ninja 3 in stock?

Me: I am not familiar with that title.  Do you know who the publisher is?
Phone Call: I dunno, but I need it for my Playstation 3.

Me: That would explain why I don’t know that title.  We are a comic book store and we don’t sell video games, sorry.
Phone Call: Wha?  What is a comic book store?

Me: We sell comic books like Spider-Man, Batman, Superman and other titles like that.
Phone Call: Do you have any video games with Spider-Man, Batman or Superman?

Me: Sorry, but we don’t sell any video games, we mainly sell comic books, board games, card games and action figures.
Phone Call: Huh? What are board games?

Me: Board games are like Monopoly, Risk, Chutes and Ladders…
Phone Call: Do you know when you expect Way of the Ninja 3 in as a board game?

Me: I can’t speak to the fact whether there are plans to take that video game and turn it into a board game.
Phone Call:  I don’t understand, all I am trying to do is find out if you sell Way of the Ninja for the PS3!!!  Why do you even call your self a Video Game Store if you don’t stock popular games?!?!

Me:  Like I stated earlier, we are do not sell Video Games, we are a comic book store.  I am sure if you contact Dimple Records or Gamestop, they might be able to help you.
Phone Call:  Are you serious?

Me:  Sure – they sell video games and they most likely will have better information on what you are asking for.
Phone Call: Give me a straight Yes or no.  Do you have Way of the Ninja 3 in your store?

Me: No
Phone Call: <Click>

I understand that some people live in their own little world; that there are things/subject matters that some people are not familiar with at all, but there are those that are as sharp as a cue ball too.

Today on my pull list is:

Amazing Spider-Man #606 – Look out, Spider-Man! Hot on the heels of his old girlfriend’s trip home, The Black Cat’s back (and front!), sexier and more dangerous than ever! The deck is STACKED as the one woman that loves Spider-Man more than Peter Parker is up to some devilish shenanigans…and nothing bugs Spider-Man more than shenanigans!

Detective Comics #857 – Batwoman faces off against Alice in an attempt to stop the villainess from unleashing a toxic death cloud over all of Gotham! But Alice has more up her sleeve than just poison, and Batwoman’s life will never ever be the same again.

Fantastic Four #571 – Reed continues his quest to right all wrongs while Ben and Johnny prepare for a trip to Nu-Earth. Val figures out what her dad is up to and Sue wants to know "is that an ultimate nullifier in your pocket?" All that and a world-eater before breakfast! Part two of SOLVE EVERYTHING.

Incredible Hulk #602 – X marks the spot as the most insane father and son duo in the Marvel Universe take on one of the Green Goliath’s most formidable adversaries. That’s right, it’s the JUGGERNAUT, bi–bi–boys and girls! What happens when an unstoppable force meets the Old Power and the gamma-fueled genes of the Strongest One There Is? Massive destruction and emotional revelation, that’s what! Continuing the acclaimed writer Greg Pak’s return to the "Incredible Hulk,”plus, in the "Savage She-Hulk" backup story written by Fred Van Lente, Lyra takes on the all-new Gamma Corps Black!

Invincible #66 – After escaping from a Viltrumite Prison, Nolan Grayson and Allen the Alien must use what they’ve learned to gather the powers of the universe and unite them against the Viltumites. It all starts here, folks: The Viltrumite War looms large on the horizon!

Justice League of America #37 – It’s the epic finale of the 3-part Royal Flush arc as Roulette and Amos Fortune raise the stakes, and the JLA go all in! But with the odds against them, the team had better pray for a last-minute miracle before their chips are cashed in for good.

New Avengers #57 – It was bound to happen and now it has. The Hood loses his grip on the colorful criminals that make his empire. It’s a super-villain turf war and guess who is stuck in the middle? That’s right… the powerless New Avengers. Not to mention the powerless Dark Avengers (who guest star, btw.) Who will replace the Hood as kingpin of criminals??

Spider-Woman #1 – The gorgeous and mysterious Jessica Drew reenters a society she did not make…as an AGENT OF S.W.O.R.D. This brand new series is a perfect companion to the dazzling Spider-Woman motion comic. Containing new story and artwork not available in any other format. This is the start of a major chapter in one of the most high profile characters in all of Marvel Comics.

Star Trek Spock Reflections #3 – Ambassador Spock’s mysterious journey continues! As Spock makes his way toward Earth, he thinks back on another previously untold tale from his past, this time featuring James T. Kirk, Leonard McCoy and the crew of the original U.S.S. Enterprise!

Superman Batman #64 – Batman makes a shocking discovery with possible Kryptonian origins that places the duo in certain doom – unless Superman makes the ultimate sacrifice

I know that I haven’t been very active on this blog as of late.  That might be a pretty good sign or that I have just been pre-occupied with other things, all of which have been good and on the positive side of the karma bridge.  (I have no idea what I was trying to say there <grin>)

The 2 years that I am talking about is that just recently GamersCircle Comics celebrated it’s 2 year anniversary.  Yes, you read that correctly as it has been two years already!

In the two years, we have gotten a real fine bunch of regulars for both the comic book and magic the gathering sides of things.

Around November of 2008, we got our first helping hand -

Ben Gartman
Age:17
Favorite musical group/band:Lincoln Park
Favorite Movie:Transformers
Comic books currently reading:Brave and the Bold, Dark Avengers
Favorite Video Game: Gears of War 2
What do you do to relax: Watch Anime
What does Ben do at GamersCircle Comics:  During the summer, Ben helped out quite a bit with the ‘new’ comic book days, making sure that the proper comics were pulled for those that have a comic subscription through the store.  Ben also keeps the Magic the Gathering binders stocked. 
Ben, thanks for your continued help and support!

Then it was around  March of of 2009 – we got even more help at the shop with -

Alex Tillisch
Age:18
Favorite musical group: It’s hard to choose one favorite, but I’d have to say Kid Dynamite.
Favorite TV Show: The Big Bang Theory
Favorite Movie: Star Wars…the whole saga counts as one to me.
Comic books currently reading: Amazing Spider-Man, Batman, Batman & Robin,  Berserker, Dark Avengers, Deadpool, Detective Comics, Invincible Iron Man, Kick-Ass, New Avengers, Red Robin, Uncanny X-Men, The Walking Dead, Wolverine: Weapon X, and X-Force.
Favorite Video Game: Zombies Ate My Neighbors.
What do you do to relax: hang out at home, read (comics and novels), and sleep the day away.
What does Alex do at GamersCircle Comics:  Alex has been responsible for making sure that ‘new’ comic book day(s) goes off without any issues.  Alex was also the main "meet & greet" guy for our last Free Comic Book Day.  Alex is pretty new to the comic book industry, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that after talking to him about story lines, writers and artists. 

Then towards the end of June – added yet another person to the clan at GamersCircle Comics

Becky Kaplan
Age: 5
Favorite Musical Group: I don’t really care for picking favorites because there’s just too many to chose from. But if I must, I’ll go with…Secret Chiefs 3.
Favorite T.V. Show: Toss up between The Venture Brothers and Dead Like Me
Favorite Movie: A Scanner Darkly
Comic books currently reading: Kick-Ass, The Sword, Tales Designed to Thrizzle, North 40, Chew, The Boys, Crossed, The Ultimates and collected works by R. Crumb.
Favorite Video Game: The Fallout trilogy (a series counts, right?)
What do you do to relax: read (novels/comics), paint, be indecisive, listen to music, download music, poke dead people, eat food, sleep, and on occasion, watch movies and play video games.
What does Becky do at GamersCircle Comics?:  Becky has been learning all of the ropes to be the Sunday Comic Book Guy/Person.  Becky has been part of a couple FNM (Friday Night Magic) events, and has endured the riggers of getting the new comics on the shelf, into the savers and ready by when the store opens.  Those of you that are video game and comic book connoisseurs, you might recognize Becky from when she used to work at the Folsom GameStop.

The shop has gone through some real good growing changes along with some painful ones too.  All and all, I think I have the best job in the world; there are some really great people that come into the shop every week.

Thanks to all of you that have been with us since Day One and have stuck with us.  And for the new folks that are just discovering us, welcome and thanks for letting us be a part of your routine.

I really want to thank Ben, Alex and Becky for their hard work and help at the comic book shop.  I think I see a day off coming in the near future for me. <grin>

Sort of (grin)

This past weekend T8RO, iamtaintedmeat and myself (GamersCircle360) sat down and cleaned up the infected “one bullet at a time” in a little Left 4 Dead.

Where I pulled in the following:

Through out the game, T8RO and “meat” (aka iamtaintedmeat) had this constant inner contest going on.

iamtaintedmeat, “Hey T8RO!  I just saved your butt.  No need to thank me.”

T8RO, “Yeah?, whatever , nice kill on the brick wall.  I am sure that wall will never rise from the dead again.”

or

T8RO, “I guess no thanks are in order for pulling the Hunter off you and getting puked on by the boomer and rescuing your butt from the smoker, Meat!”

iamtaintedmeat, “Hey!  thanks, Sorry, I thank you.  Perhaps I was spending that time pulling all of the buckshot out of my back from your daring rescue. Bitch!”

Then iamtaintedmeat got the great idea of downloading Duke Nukem 3D where we had a little Free For All!  Nothing like a little 16bit graphics to get the blood boiling.  Still, I did get this in addition to the above.

I do understand that there is more to life than comic books, but I just had to share this:

<Phone rings>

Me: GamersCircle!

Male Voice:  I am looking for either an Incredible Hulk or Captain America toy/action figure.

Me: Hang on, let me walk around the store and take a look real quick.

Male Voice: <burp>

Me: I know that I have a “Zombie” Hulk, but I am still looking for a Captain America

Male Voice: Nah, I am looking for the ‘standard’ I guess is what you would call it.

Me: Sorry, looks like I all out of any Hulk related and I know when Captain America was killed, I got pretty much cleaned out.

Male Voice:  What?!?!  He is dead?

Me: Yep, shot and killed

Male Voice: In real life or the comic book?

Me: errr

Male Voice: There isn’t really a person called Captain America … is there?

Me: Umm – he was killed in the comic book about a year ago.

Male Voice: okay.   Thanks for checking.

Me: Have a good day!

Not only to have have the honor of being the local ‘Comic Book Guy”, but today a young man picked up one of the new Halo Mark IV Armor packs.

Then about 3 hrs later, he returns (along with his mother) claiming that the toy was broke.

<Quick Hat switching>

As not only am I Connoisseur of comic books, but I play with toys too!

I was able to quickly demonstrate that the swapping of heads takes just a little bit of patience and they will snap on and one can easily swap them out for the other helmets that come for the Spartan.

Ah ha!, but there was yet another challenge.  It would seem that the chest piece was ‘deformed’, not really.  One of mounting posts was a little longer and discolored, but I was able to demonstrate how to correctly affix it to the Master Chief so that he could battle the swarm yet another day!

<Quick Hat re-switching>

Worst excuse for a pulp-ize ever!

They posted this video which is great and true when it comes to Folsom, CA.

I had to make a comment and thought I would share it -

To set the record straight, she (the Folsom Video Game Girl) did not sell me my Wii.  I got mine from winning a trivia contest at a local event, but she is smart, witty, digs zombies (not literately) is a major geek and sure to become as asset to GamersCircle Comics.

More details as they are made available.

Levels of decay, maggots, at least they still have hair, which means there still is hope.

Am I bummed that I have to work on this holiday?

Not one bit!   I get a 1/2 off today and get to sleep in tomorrow.  Awesome!

I feeling a little Left 4 Dead-ish and/or Fall Out 3-ish