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.
Hailey thought she was serving a fan. Turns out she was just serving condiments.
Poor Hailey. One viral moment and suddenly every interaction feels like the beginning of a redemption arc. Unfortunately, the universe has other plans — and those plans involve a side of extra ranch dressing.
Meanwhile, somebody mysterious is sliding into her DMs with promises of social-media glory. That’s probably fine. Nothing ominous ever starts with a stranger saying, “I can make that happen.”
Transcript
Text conversation on the left
Unknown: “Do you want your followers back?”
Hailey: “No.”
Unknown: “I can make that happen.”
Hailey: “I want twice as many.”
Unknown: “I won't wait forever.”
Hailey: “Sure. [eyeroll emoji]”
Unknown: “Opportunity requires initiative. I'll send my address.”
Panel 1:
Customer at a booth in Ralph’s Diner: “Hey! Aren’t you that girl who dumped soup on Captain Heroic?”
Hailey: “Ha-ha. Guilty!”
Panel 2:
Customer: “Could I ask you something?”
Hailey: “Say no more! I’m out of glossy photos, but I’ll be happy to sign your menu!”
Panel 3:
Customer: “That wasn’t my question.”
Hailey: “Oh. Go ahead! Anything for a fan!”
Panel 4:
Customer: “Can I get extra ranch dressing?”
Alt text
Four-panel “Evil Inc” comic with a sidebar showing a text conversation. On the left, waitress Hailey exchanges messages with an unknown sender. The messages read: “Do you want your followers back?” Hailey replies, “No. I want twice as many.” The sender says, “I can make that happen.” Hailey replies, “Sure. [eyeroll emoji]” The sender says, “I won't wait forever.” The sender finishes with, “Opportunity requires initiative. I'll send my address.”
In the comic panels, Hailey is working at Ralph’s Diner, wearing a short white waitress uniform and apron. She has long red hair and carries a pen and order pad. A middle-aged gray-haired customer in glasses sits at a booth eating a burger and fries.
In the first panel, the customer excitedly recognizes her and asks if she is “that girl who dumped soup on Captain Heroic.” Hailey smiles awkwardly and admits, “Ha-ha. Guilty!”
In the second panel, the customer asks, “Could I ask you something?” Hailey immediately assumes he wants an autograph and enthusiastically says she is out of glossy photos but would happily sign his menu.
In the third panel, the customer clarifies, “That wasn’t my question.” Hailey looks embarrassed and says, “Oh,” then gestures dramatically and says, “Go ahead! Anything for a fan!”
In the final panel, the customer simply asks, “Can I get extra ranch dressing?” Hailey looks deflated and disappointed while the customer remains casual and oblivious.
