Chapter 17 | Page 3b: Hot Stuff

Posted on December 19, 2025 by Brad Guigar

Today’s page takes us back to Ralph’s Diner, where Captain Heroic proves—once again—that nothing rattles him… not even a surprise soup bath.

Hailey is mortified, Captain Heroic is dripping, and somewhere across the diner, Yazmine Velour is livestreaming the whole thing as heart emojis rain from the internet. It’s a small moment, but one that says a lot about who Cap really is—and why people can’t help falling for him.

Transcript

Panel 1
Hailey (distraught that she has dumped hot soup on Captain Heroic): Omigod Omigod Omigod…

Captain Heroic (turning to another person eating at the diner): Excuse me. Would you hand me a napkin, please? (The person hands him a napkin)

Panel 2

Hailey: I’m so sorry Captain Heroic, sir. I didn’t mean to — {sob}

Panel 3

Captain Heroic (handing her the napkin): Here. Please don’t cry.

Panel 4

Captain Heroic (continues): Most of my first impressions involve disintegration rays. And actual impressions. In concrete.

Panel 5

Captain Heroic: This was far more pleasant — not counting the bay leaf in my shirt.Yazmine Velour (as she livestreams the interaction from the other side of the diner, a torrent of heart emojis flow from her phone as the audience reacts): Omigod Omigod Omigod

After Dark

This week's commissioned MicroFic delivers exactly what you’d want from a pairing between Dynasty and Father Christmas.

  • Yes, he lives up to his name.

  • Yes, Dynasty knew exactly what she was doing.

  • No, the North Pole will never be the same.

I also posted the Goblin Girl MicroFic from the Monster Girl poll — and the response was so good, I might need to make these poll-powered MicroFics a recurring thing!

Comic Book Publisher Market Share: October 2009

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Brad Guigar

For the first time since 1968, DC snagged the top six spots in the top-ten selling titles of the month. Marvel Comics maintained its hold on the dominant market share in comics, according to Diamond Comic’s monthly sales report. But DC closed the gap from 14.84% to just under 2.5% by dominating the top six, best-selling titles of the month. Blackest Night #4 secured the Number One position, with four other Blackest Night themed titles and Batman and Robin shoring up the rest of the top six slots. Dark Horse held its firm bronze finish over both IDW and Image — who traded off fourth- and fifth-positions yet again. And Archie Comics crept into the Top Ten for the second month in a row, no doubt because of the “Archie marries Veronica” storyline that has been garnering a fair share of media buzz. Here’s a look at the numbers:

Percent of unit share, by publisher.

Publisher
July 09
Aug. 09
Sept. 09
Oct. 09
This month’s
Top 10
Marvel Comics
42.58
41.26
47.58
40.12
Marvel
DC Comics
34.14
32.06
32.74
37.69
DC Comics
Dark Horse
4.06
5.74
3.72
4.14
Dark Horse
IDW Publishing
3.72
3.29
2.58
3.15
Image Comics
Image Comics
3.21
2.91
2.93
3.93
IDW Publishing
Dynamite Entertainment
2.27
2.11
1.72
Dynamite
Boom! Studios
1.52
1.42
1.44
Boom!
Viz Media
0.76
1.61
0.62
0.79
Avatar Press
Avatar Press
0.68
0.92
Archie Comics
Aspen MLT
0.62
Viz Media
Tokyopop
1.15
Wizard Entertainment
0.95
0.45
Gemstone Publishing
0.92
Dynamic Forces
0.92
Archie Comics     0.95 0.90  


Top Ten Titles, Oct. 2009


1 BLACKEST NIGHT #4
2 BATMAN AND ROBIN #5
3 GREEN LANTERN #47
4 BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #3
5 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #41
6 BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #3
7 NEW AVENGERS #58
8 DARK AVENGERS #10
9 UNCANNY X-MEN #516
10 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #608

Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which include the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from a universe of over 4,000+ accounts, comprised of comic book specialty shops and other merchant stores and buyers. The shops are primarily located in North America, with a percentage of sales also to international stores and buyers located throughout the world. The account base includes brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, Internet merchants, and other specialty stores. Unit and dollars sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during any given month, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.