Support your favorite creators:
A lot of comic book creators have Patreons or some sort of store front. If you have been thinking about commissioning a sketch from your favorite artist or picking up a t-shirt from one of your favorite comic books now is the time to do so. I recommend checking out Cullen Bunn's Patreon myself. You can also purchase their books on Amazon or if you can't financially afford to support creators reviews on Amazon go a long way. You can also purchase merchandise directly from the publisher as long as they are still able to ship.
Support your LCS:
If your town has a shelter in place order like mine your LCS is likely temporarily closed. If this is the case you might be able to purchase a gift certificate online or ask if you can pay for any comics on your pull list that you haven't been able to pick up lately. If your town hasn't implemented shelter in place orders, it is crucial to still practice good social distancing, but your store might have curb side delivery. The last thing to look into is if there is any sort of relief fund for hourly workers you can contribute to. We supported one for a few businesses here and these individuals greatly appreciate any support they can get.
One of the easiest way to support this industry is to purchase digital comics. I have utilized ComiXology for years as it has been harder for me to make it to my LCS every week. This is a great way to help fund the smaller publishers who are really going to suffer if Diamond isn't able to pay its vendors.
Recommended reading lists:
I wanted to end this month's post with some suggested reading while we are all spending more time at home. I know this doesn't translate for more down time for everyone, but I have found great value in escaping into the pages of a good comic. I am currently reading volume 10 of Death Note as it has been too long since I revisited this title. Beyond Death Note here are some of my favorite books that should take a decent amount of time to finish.
Captain America - The Ed Brubaker run:
My love of Captain America started with Brubaker's work. It features the Winter Soldier, the Death of Captain America, and beyond. Brubaker has a bit of a darker note for Steve Rogers and it is welcome as the cast of villains he features fit well with his style.
Y: The Last Man by Bryan K. Vaughan:
While not everyone on this blog will agree, Y: The Last Man is one of my favorite takes on the apocalypse. I realize that not everyone is ready for this type of series, but Vaughan's approach is a lot of fun and posits what happens if all of the men on earth die except for one.
Essex County by Jeff Lemire:
This comic came extremely close to making it as required reading for the sport and society course I used to teach. Lemire's ability to relate the importance of hockey to Canadian culture is extremely powerful and you can't help but to get drawn into the characters in this small town and immediately care for their well being. This title is a bit heavier than the others, but it remains one of my favorite books and I can't say enough good things about it.
POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.
