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.
March Match-Ups — Vote Now!
Budget overruns.
Two words guaranteed to make any executive meeting feel like you’re walking into a firing squad.
But Cassie Cruz knows how to keep her cool under pressure.
Instead of excuses or finger-pointing, she walks into the meeting with composure, professionalism… and just enough confidence to impress the boss. As the CEO of Evil Inc (Dr. Whoosh himself) makes clear, that kind of poise goes a long way in the corporate world.
Of course, when the meeting ends and the laptop closes, Cassie finally lets herself enjoy the moment.
Mission accomplished.
Down periscope.
Sometimes the real victory is simply keeping your head above water in a tough meeting.
Or below.
Transcript
Panel 1:
Dr. Whoosh (on laptop, to Cassie Cruz, who is in her office): “Budget overruns usually come with excuses. You brought composure and remarkable poise.”
Cassie has an emotion cloud — caused by Project SMILE — over her head that depicts a cucumber with sunglasses, with snowflakes hovering around it.
Panel 2:
Dr. Whoosh (on laptop): “I wish more people handled tough meetings the way you just did, Miss Cruz.”
Cassie Cruz: “Thank you, sir.”
A small submarine periscope pops up from under the desk.
Panel 3:
(No dialogue.) Cassie gently pushes the periscope down, leans back, and her emotion cloud turns into fireworks.
Alt Text
Three-panel black-and-white comic set in an office. Cassie Cruz, a professional woman with a bob haircut, glasses, blazer, necklace, and low-cut blouse, sits at a desk with an open laptop during a video meeting. On the laptop screen is the CEO of Evil Inc., Dr. Whoosh, speaking to her. In the first panel, Dr. Whoosh says, “Budget overruns usually come with excuses. You brought composure and remarkable poise.” Cassie sits upright, listening politely; above her is a small emotion cloud (caused by Project SMILE) showing a cartoon cucumber surrounded by snowflakes. In the second panel, Dr. Whoosh continues, “I wish more people handled tough meetings the way you just did, Miss Cruz.” Cassie replies, “Thank you, sir.” A periscope from a submarine pops up from under the desk. In the final panel, Cassie leans back slightly and gently pushes the periscope down. Above her, the emotion cloud features a large explosive burst with stars and smoke, appearing where the pickle character had been.
