Thursday Morning Superhero: Halloween ComicFest Edition

This Saturday marks the return of Halloween ComicFest!  Participating stores will be giving out free comics and typically have other fun activities that are delightfully bewitching. In addition to the comics, stores will also have some exclusive collectibles for sale.

The item on the top of my list is the Funko Pop! of Star-Lord.  This look is based on the Guardians of the Galaxy comic from Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.  In addition to the Pop!, stores will have limited numbers of exclusive Deadpool merchandise, including a lovely version of the Merc with the Mouth dressed in a lovely pink dress.  Check out all of the exclusives here.  In keeping with my annual tradition here at Nerds of a Feather, my top five comics are the following.  In no particular order.

Johnny Boo and the Spooky Tree - Written and illustrated by James Kochalka, Johnny Boo stories are a favorite in my house. The series features a ghost named Johnny Boo and his pet ghost Squiggle. The two interact with a colorful cast of characters and this book is the first chapter in an upcoming spooky story that I hope involves the Ice Cream Monster. I preordered three bundles of this book to pass out to trick-or-treaters and it already has rave reviews from my children.





Goosebumps: Monsters at Midnight - Based in the monstrous world created by R.L. Stine, this comic is penned by Jenny Lambert and illustrated by Chris Fenoglio.  One of the highlights each Halloween season is reading spooky stories and Goosebumps is synonymous with age appropriate horror. This full-size comic features a pair of children who find themselves in an upside down world after exploring a local library. It appears to feature Slappy the Dummy and that is more than enough reason to pick this title up.

Ms. Marvel #1 - If you haven't checked out this series from G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona now is the perfect time to get the debut issue for free! This story introduces some much needed diversity into the world of mainstream comics and Kamala Khan is a welcome change to the typical superhero. Find out why it is exciting to have Marvel's first Muslim character with her own book!






Jughead: The Hunger - Geared towards older readers, this spooky book is set in the Riverdale universe. It has been oddly satisfying to watch Archie re-brand itself as Riverdale geared towards teenagers. While I have not gone down that rabbit hole, I am very intrigued to read a book featuring Jughead as a werewolf and Betty as a werewolf hunter. From talking to friends who have enjoyed this reboot it sounds like this title doesn't take itself too seriously and has its tongue firmly planted in its cheek.

Over the Garden Wall and Into the Unknown - It has been delightful to see this quirky cartoon get an extended life in the form of a comic book. While the brothers Wirt and Greg have returned home from The Unknown, someone else has accompanied them on their journey.  Now they need to find a way to get their friend back to the Unknown.  Flipping the script and allowing for a stranger to interact in our world should be an interesting twist that is recommended to readers of all ages.





Check out the entire library of comics that might be given away at your local comic book store by clicking here.  Make sure you keep in mind that some stores may not have all of the titles and some may give away more comics than others. The idea is to have fun and pick up at least one free book. It wouldn't hurt to pick something else out as well as the stores purchase all of the books that we get to enjoy for this event for free.  Happy Halloween!

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

It might seem a bit too early to start your Halloween planning, but time is running out if you want to be cool and give out mini-comics to your trick-or-treaters!  Thanks to Halloween ComicFest, you can pre-order bundles of 25 mini comics from your local comic book store. I placed my order last week and look forward to introducing the neighborhood kids to the amazing Johnny Boo! Check out the comics you can pre-order here!

Pick of the Week:
Darth Vader #21 - We are starting to learn why Vader has selected the world of Mustafar for his prize from the Emperor. He was given Padme's royal starship as his vessel to embark to Mustafar and there is something very odd about Vader piloting such a pristine and shiny vessel. It seems that Vader has similar feelings and has an odd and surprising method of altering the shiny exterior. It seems that Vader has never felt more connected to the Force than his time on Mustafar. The location where he lost so much, including his life, has some sort of power over him and drives him forward with a blind allegiance. Marvel has really done a great job filling in the holes between the movies and providing us with valuable insights of characters that we have know since our childhood. When I think back to my first impression of Vader I thought he was simply a bad dude that could force choke someone out. We learned more about him as the movies progressed, but nothing like the nuance we get in the comics. The Clone Wars cartoon does a similar thing in regards to Anakin and I would love to see similar treatment given to other franchises.

The Rest:
Birthright #31 - It has been quite some time since I revisited this series and will admit that I will need to read the  previous few issues to properly catch up, but am instantly reminded why this series from Joshua Williamson and Andrei Bressan stood out to me when I first read it. The lore (inside joke) of Terrenos, the mages, and the world add such depth to what started as a missing child story. This week we learn more about the tragic upbringing of Mastema and the sheer power that consumes her. This issue is a nice pause in the story and Williamson promises the next few issues are insane.



Daredevil #608 - Matt and Mike Murdock have some family issues to work out. I was unaware that Matt had a twin brother, but apparently he died many years ago and was brought back through the powers of The Reader. He is already causing quite a few headaches and kidnapped Foggy, but Daredevil is conflicted faced with the prospect of killing his brother or a realistic copy of his brother. I am not entirely on board with this development, but it became more interesting with this issue and has me very intrigued given the fact that Mike just went to visit Kingpin and informed him of Matt's research into the legitimacy of the mayoral election. If only our current political environment was this entertaining. I think some good old fashioned superheros would really liven up the Mueller investigation!




POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero: Halloween Comic Fest Edition

Halloween is next Monday and it can only mean one thing.  Candy!!  Well, that and free comic books!  This Saturday is Halloween Comic Fest and participating comic book stores will be holding costume contests, passing out free mini comics, and some will even have mini comic packs you can purchase to hand out on Halloween.  Handing out comics has become a tradition in my house and I look forward to it every year.  To find a participating location try the store finder here.  Per usual when Halloween Comic Fest rolls around, I am forgoing my normal comic book wrap-up and will highlight some of the great titles you can get for free this weekend.   Just know that Saga remains a must purchase and it would have likely been my pick of the week.

Johnny Boo and the Pumpkin Tiger - We love James Kolchaka in our household and Johnny Boo has been a staple in my kids' lives for the past 7 years!  I am so happy that we get a new Johnny Boo story just in time for Halloween.  Johnny Boo is the coolest ghost in town and goes on wacky adventures with his pet ghost Squiggle.  This title will be fun for the whole family.  Some stores will be selling this in packs of 25 and it is a great title to hand out on Halloween.





Grumpy Cat and Pokey - Grumpy Cat and her brother Pokey have different attitudes when it comes to Halloween.  Pokey is quite excited, but it comes as no surprise that Grumpy isn't too excited about the upcoming holiday.  Having read a few of the Grumpy Cat comics before, you know that you will get hit with a heavy dose of sarcasm and cuteness, in another great all-ages title.  This is one you should be proud to hand out to trick-or-treaters!

Pokemon Pocket Comics XY - While not really keeping in the spirit of the holiday, it is hard to have a more timely comic than this one.  I can only imagine that trick-or-treaters will be trying to catch a Ghastly or two and other spooky Pokemon on Pokemon Go as they trek across the neighborhood collecting actual candy and transferring caught Pokemon into virtual candy.  Imagine how excited they will be to see this title hit their plastic bucket or pillowcase on Halloween night.  You will have the coolest house on the block!





Archie's Madhouse - We all get trick-or-treaters that are a bit too old to be going from house to house collecting candy.  For a reference point see the amazing Freaks and Geeks Halloween episode.  One of the best.  Anyhoo, Archie is a classic and one that will be appropriate to hand out to the older kids who ring your doorbell.  Archie has seen a resurgence as of late and this title collects a variety of stories that are sure to entertain.







In addition to these titles there are other mini-comics and even a handful of full-size comics.  For a full list of comics click here and don't forget to dress up, have fun, and read more comics.  Happy Halloween!

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012. 

Halloween ComicFest

If this time of year wasn't good enough, with the candy, the jack-o-lanterns, corn mazes, and The Great Pumpkin, we now have Halloween ComicFest!  Diamond Comic Distributors and the good folks behind the Comic Shop Locator Service teamed with multiple publishers to bring us Halloween ComicFest.  So in addition to dressing up in costume, getting and giving candy, and scaring resident children, we now get free comics. 

On top of that they are hosting the Greatest Costume Contest ever and are giving away over 500 prizes in an online costume contest on their website.  Visit www.halloweencomicfest.com to find a participating store near you and to vote for me as Axe Cop in the Indy category!

Once you find a participating store in your area here are some of the free books that you can get your hands on.  There are four full-size comics and 11 mini-comics for you to try to get a hold of.  My five-year old son is most excited about Cow Boy, Johnny Boo, and Axe Cop.  With a great selection of comics for all ages, this is one event I hope becomes an annual tradition.

Full Size Comics

Batman Adventures/Scooby Doo Flip Book #1 - DC Comics

"Just in time for Halloween, it's a FREE all-ages flip-book comic reprinting classic BATMAN and SCOOBY-DOO tales! In his side of the comic, The Dark Knight meets Gotham City's new vigilante, the Cavalier, and battles the evil of Ra's Al Ghul in stories from BATMAN ADVENTURES #1 and #4. And in the other side, the Mystery Inc. Gang tries to get to the bottom of "The Costume Caper," in a story from SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #2" 






Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 Halloween Edition - IDW

Special reprint of the first issue in the ongoing series. 











Marvel Universe: Avengers and Spider-man - Marvel Comics

"Celebrate Halloween with two thrilling tales featuring everyone's favorite Wall-Crawler and the Earth's Mightiest Heroes! It can't get any better than free Spider-Man and Avengers comics, so don't forget to stop into your local comic shop and pick up a copy!"








Jack Davis' Tales from the Crypt - Fantagraphics

"Heh, heh! Got a real chiller-diller this time fiends! Join me, The Crypt-Keeper, your host of howls, along with Jack Davis and Al Feldstein as we creep our way through four spine-tingling, hair-standing, blood-curdling tales of terror from the vaults of EC Comics! We'll scare you silly! Trick or treat? Treat!!" 








Mini-Comics


Axe Cop Halloween 2012 - Dark Horse

Ghost Busters: Time Scare Halloween 2012 - IDW

"First time in print! A long-dead gangster is terrorizing Times Square, wreaking horrific havoc on a building that once housed a spirited speakeasy. But the place is now a toy store, and when the ghostly gangster starts shooting ectoplasmic bullets at terrified patrons, the Ghosbusters - Egon, Ray, Peter, and Winston - are called in to nab the speakeasy spook! Written by Brian Lynch (Angel, Spike, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and illustrated Marcelo Mueller (Lady Death, Aliens), Ghostbusters: Time Scare! serves as a hauntingly hilarious gateway into IDW's smash-hit line of Ghostbusters comics" 




Zombie Kids Diaries Halloween 2012 - Antarctic Press

"In the madness of the Zombie Apocalypse, amid the throngs of living dead and terrified victims, the Littlest Zombie roams. He's just an inquisitive chap filled with curiosity about the world on fire around him. Pushed around by his fellow undead (who always get to the brains first), and positively frowned upon by the remaining living citizens, the poor little guy just wants a friend. And maybe something to chew on. Like your face" 






Strawberry Shortcake/Scouts Flipbook - Diamond Publications

"Our 2012 Halloween mini-comic flip-book features 3 short stories! One side features the boys of the Weasel Troop in a SCOUTS! short story, "Meet the Pets". And the flip-side features the stories from our wildly successful STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE comic, "Custard & Cake" and "A Little Kitchen Help"! This sweet treat is sure to please boys, girls, AND their parents!"







 Cow Boy: Hallow's Eve - Archaia
"All y'all step right up for the showdown of their century: Cow Boy vs. Billy the Kid! From the acclaimed team of Nate Cosby (Jim Henson's The Storyteller, Pigs) and Eisner-nominated Chris Eliopoulos (Franklin Richards, Misery Loves Sherman) comes an all-new Cow Boy yarn from Archaia Entertainment, just in time for Halloween, and for free!" 






New Crusaders: Rise of the Heroes - Red Circle Comics

"Red Circle Comics proudly presents the next generation of super heroes: The New Crusaders! From the ashes of the past, a new generation must rise! Get acquainted with the most exciting group of young super heroes that comic books have to offer in this free introduction. Get The New Crusaders!" 








Adventure Time - Kaboom!

"It's ADVENTURE TIME! Join Finn the Human, Jake the Dog, and Princess Bubblegum for all-new adventures through The Land of Ooo. The top-rated Cartoon Network show now has its own comic book! With the show exploding in the ratings, garnering rave online reviews, major cosplay at the San Diego Comic-Con, and huge displays dominating the New York Comic Con, it's clear fandom is obsessed and 2012 is the Year of Adventure Time! Don't miss out on this new phenomenon!"





Spacehawk - Fantagraphics

"Blast off into outer space with Basil Wolverton's weird and otherworldly SPACEHAWK! Two tense and terrific tales of terrible adventure and tumult from comics' Golden Age! You ain't seen nothing like this!"









Ernest and Rebecca: The Haunted House - Papercutz

"Papercutz presents a special Ernest & Rebecca minicomic for Halloween! Rebecca is a vivacious 6 1/2 year-old girl whose best friend happens to be a germ named Ernest. He's not only her best friend- he's also her partner in mischief, adventure companion, and confidant. An inseparable duo, the zany adventures of these two continue to delight in this award-winning series from Papercutz."






Johnny Boo and Harold Tricky Treaters - Top Shelf 

"Johnny Boo is the best little ghost in the world. Don't believe it? Just ask him! What wacky Halloween adventure are he and Squiggle up to now? Plus: meet Harold, the star of Upside Down: A Vampire Tale. He's a friendly vampire kid who loves candy, so trick-or-treating is just about his favorite thing in the world! Tricky Treaters is a blast for all ages: a great introduction to James Kochalka's hit series Johnny Boo and Jess Smart Smiley's delightful debut Upside Down! Grab this free mini-comic and spook yourself silly!"





Little Miss Daredevil: The Incredible Race! - Viz Media

"From Viz Media. Little Miss Daredevil is competing in the Incredible Race, and she's in it to win it! Whether scaling to the top of Mount Dillydale or taking a wrong turn and rocketing into outer space, no thrill's too thrilling for Little Miss D!"