I have a new comic store. And they just made me a loyal customer.
See, here’s the deal, I fell for the whole Countdown to Infinite Crisis hook like a hypnotized lemur. I put them all on my reserve file at my old comic book shop.
I checked back in a while later. I had issues 1 and 3 from one title. Only issue 2 from another. Only issue 3 from a third… it was pretty pathetic. So, I wandered into Hall of Heroes in Cherry Hill Mall in New Jersey and ended up talking to the guy behind the counter. He helped me plug most of the holes in all four series… even going to the back room to find some. He pointed out some great titles I’d forgotten to look for (Like “The Defenders”) and was an all-around likeable comic-shop guy. 🙂
Before I knew it, I’d started a new reserve list there and left with plans to cancel my reserve at the old place.
Good enough, right?
Well, first a little backstory…
I’m still sore about the OMAC project series. Issue #3 leaves off and says you have to read three other titles to fill in the gap between OMAC #3 and OMAC #4. I hate that. And I didn’t read it until I already had OMAC #4 in my hands, saying, “Wha–? When did that ha–? What’s going on h–?!”
So I go in to pick up my reserves today, and I get the OMAC #5 and a bunch of other titles.
It’s not till I get home when I find a little something that they threw in for me: The issue of Wonder Woman that was one of the three you needed to read to understand the OMAC gap. A wonderful ish. An ish not in my reserve list, but one I wanted very much.
The guy behind the counter (a different guy) had asked me to check them over to make sure they were the ones I wanted — and I didn, kinda — but I kinda thought it was a formality.
Anyway… Whoever was thoughtful enough to throw that WW issue into my file won over a loyal customer for a long time… and a little plug. If they had a Web site, I’d link it. But suffice it to say, stop in to Hall of Heroes in the Cherry Hill mall. It’s a really swank store with books, T-shirts, figurines, Godzilla stuff… kind of a comic con in a can.
As the team hits the karaoke bar to blow off some steam, tensions rise and hidden rivalries come to light. Desdemona stirs things up by inviting management to the mix, and Count Spurlock is not ready to let go of his Bohemian Rhapsody solo. Meanwhile, Cassie and Miss Match have a heart-to-heart that’s as intense as any power ballad.
Panel 1 (Narration box):
That night, at the karaoke bar…
Miss Match (toasting Cassie with her bottle of beer:
OK… You weren’t just singing…
That was some full-on Patti-Lupone-level belting!
Panel 2 (Miss Match and Cassie standing with drinks):
Cassie: Songs are like men. It’s all about tension, tempo and timing.
Panel 3 (Miss Match putting a hand on Cassie's shoulder):
Miss Match: And trust. Cap told me how you were there for him when he needed you.
Panel 4 (Miss Match, serious):
I don’t want things to be weird between us.
Cassie: Treat him right, and we’ve got no problems.
(Cassie continues):
Treat him wrong, and, well… Ballads aren’t the only thing I’m good at belting.
(Catnip and Desi are singing passionately on stage with a mic, as the background screen shows karaoke lyrics to “I Kissed a Girl”. Others watch from tables.)
