Monday, March 30, 2015
Brainstorm Question of the Day: As always, once you know the answer, like the post. Starting at 6 pm, share those answers, guys and gals. In honor of Convergence, we will do some DC questions this week. When Batman had his back broken during the 1990s, Jean Paul Valley replaced him. What was Valley's alter ego's name?
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Today's question has to do with the comic Invincible. For those who don't know, we are giving away the book this week. If you haven't been reading it, you've been missing out. Now to the question: normally when an adversary attacks a hero, it's for nefarious means. However, Allen the Alien attacked Invincible out of altruistic motives. What was the reason? Like the post once you know the answer and start sharing your answers at 1 pm.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Brainstorm Question of the Day: Continuing the green-based questions in honor of St Patrick's Day, we have one that is centered upon the jade giant--the Incredible Hulk. What is the real name of his alter ego in the 1970's live action television show. Once you know the answer, like the post. Please share your answers starting at 1 pm.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Comic Reviews!
BILL AND TED'S MOST TRIUMPHANT RETURN #1
Bill and Ted are back! Excellent! But it's only a 6-part mini-series. Bogus!
Everyone's favorite slackers are back and are struggling to find that second song that will seal their futures as the saviors of, well, the future. Being who they are, the duo decide to take the inevitable shortcut of going to the future to discover what their second hit was/is/is going to be.
Fans of the movie will love the jolt of nostalgia and the fact that you can practically hear Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter reading the lines. If you're just looking for a fun read, this is definitely one to pick up.
SPIDER-GWEN #2
Spider-Gwen continues to steal the show! If you miss the old teen-age Peter Parker, you're going to want to read this book. The same self-doubts that plagued that character are present here, along with the snappy one-liners. Plus, there's Peter Porker, so how can you go wrong?
Seeing Matt Murdock in a different role in this book was interesting, which we're hoping is expanded on. If you're a fan of Invincible, this book is highly recommended. And vice versa--if you like this book, you'll love Invincible.
We highly recommend this book--the second printing of number one is coming in shortly.
POSTAL #2
John LOVES this book.
The art and story continue to impress as the Twin Peaks-like town continues to add layers to the mystery around the dead body that turned up. To say much more would be to spoil an excellent read.
The characters are continuing to grow, becoming real with a story that would fit on the big screen quite comfortably. The only two shortcomings to the story are the middle bit with Maggie (which I won't spoil) and the exposition between mother and son explaining the book's world. It would have been much better had it been a natural progression. Still the story is amazing.
Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You won't be disappointed. The second printing of issue one is coming out within the next few weeks.
Stop by the store and pick up these great books. If we're out of them, let one of the crew know you want it and we'll get you a copy.
Bill and Ted are back! Excellent! But it's only a 6-part mini-series. Bogus!
Everyone's favorite slackers are back and are struggling to find that second song that will seal their futures as the saviors of, well, the future. Being who they are, the duo decide to take the inevitable shortcut of going to the future to discover what their second hit was/is/is going to be.
Fans of the movie will love the jolt of nostalgia and the fact that you can practically hear Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter reading the lines. If you're just looking for a fun read, this is definitely one to pick up.
SPIDER-GWEN #2
Spider-Gwen continues to steal the show! If you miss the old teen-age Peter Parker, you're going to want to read this book. The same self-doubts that plagued that character are present here, along with the snappy one-liners. Plus, there's Peter Porker, so how can you go wrong?
Seeing Matt Murdock in a different role in this book was interesting, which we're hoping is expanded on. If you're a fan of Invincible, this book is highly recommended. And vice versa--if you like this book, you'll love Invincible.
We highly recommend this book--the second printing of number one is coming in shortly.
POSTAL #2
John LOVES this book.
The art and story continue to impress as the Twin Peaks-like town continues to add layers to the mystery around the dead body that turned up. To say much more would be to spoil an excellent read.
The characters are continuing to grow, becoming real with a story that would fit on the big screen quite comfortably. The only two shortcomings to the story are the middle bit with Maggie (which I won't spoil) and the exposition between mother and son explaining the book's world. It would have been much better had it been a natural progression. Still the story is amazing.
Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You won't be disappointed. The second printing of issue one is coming out within the next few weeks.
Stop by the store and pick up these great books. If we're out of them, let one of the crew know you want it and we'll get you a copy.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Brainstorm Question of the Day: This one is for those who love anything involving die. As always, once you know the answer, like the post. Share the answer starting at 1 pm. The cornerstone of most board games, war games, etc are die. So who created that wonderful piece the dice? There are two acceptable answers.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
QUESTION OF THE DAY FOR WEDNESDAY MARCH 11TH
So what makes today's Question of the Day special? You have the opportunity to earn a 20% discount on your comics today! That's right. All you have to do is tell whoever is behind the counter the answer to today's Question of the Day--it's that easy!
That brings us to today's question--Peter Parker and Clark Kent shared similar professions. Which newspapers did they work for?
That brings us to today's question--Peter Parker and Clark Kent shared similar professions. Which newspapers did they work for?
GAMES WORKSHOP PAINTING CONTEST!
GAMES WORKSHOP fans! Matt is introducing our first painting contest. Come in and buy the Harlequin Shadowseer, then bring in your fully painted model. The contest ends on March 31st. Top prize wins a $50 gift certificate. The models will be displayed in one of our cases to ensure their safety and to allow your fellow Games Workshop fans to appreciate your work.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Tomorrow's Question of the Day!
Be sure to follow the Brainstorm Question of the Day starting tomorrow! Why? Well, that would be telling. It will have a HUGE impact on your Wednesday comic purchases. So, be sure to join us tomorrow morning at 7 am in order to find out how.
Gaming schedule for March 13th - March 15th
FRIDAY MARCH 13TH
Magic: The Gathering Booster draft! 3 packs for $12 with prize support! How much prize support? That depends on you! Bring some friends and increase the prize pool! Games will start at 6:30. Starting this Friday, we are also taking pre-orders for Dragons of Tarkir. Place your order for the low, LOW cost of $95.
SATURDAY MARCH 14TH
Forbidden Desert! Join us to learn how to play this co-operative game. You and your colleagues have crashed in the desert. In order to escape, you must collect the necessary pieces of your vehicle. Can you survive the Forbidden Desert or will you become another victim of its merciless wrath? Find out this Saturday. Games will start at 3 pm and will conclude at 6 pm. The more the merrier!
Check out the fun of Forbidden Desert here as well-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMLP0gn4I6k
SUNDAY MARCH 15TH
Warhammer 40k kill team game! The rules remain the same as the last few times. If you haven't participated or aren't aware of them, please contact Matt at Brainstorm Comics and Gaming so he can provide them to you. 1st place wins a $20 gift certificate. 2nd place wins a $10 gift certificate.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Comic Reviews for the week of March 5th
GUARDIANS TEAM-UP #1
Here we have a very memorable team-up. No, not the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, but Brian Michael Bendis and Art Adams. Their talents mesh well in this endeavor with Adams fitting a ridiculous amount of characters on the page. Bendis does a great job of giving many individuals in the book a moment in the sun, some having great lines that the writer is known for. If you're a fan of large action books, you'll love this one. If there is any complaint, and I think it's a minor one, it's that there are too many characters. But hey, we get Art Adams to draw the pieces, so that more than makes up for that criticism.
This title is highly recommended for fans of the movie as the comic is funny, action-packed and well-drawn. The perfect storm of a comic.
STAR WARS: PRINCESS LEIA #1
First, the bad news--of the three Star Wars books currently on the shelves, this is probably the weakest. The good news, however, is that it is still a high quality book. The other two books begin with more action and menace whereas this one commences with Leia maintain her royalty while becoming a leader in a more combat-intensive way. She refuses to sit on the sidelines and be protected--this princess wants to protect a legacy. Hopefully the two main characters continue to grow, allowing a strong relationship to form.
Terry and Rachel Dodson provide the terrific art that they're known for as Mark Waid provides the foundation for a the growth of the title character. While we know things about these characters from the movies and other media, there is a deepening of that understanding now.
If you're a fan of the Star Wars universe or looking for a strong female character, this is definitely a book to pick up.
DESCENDER #1
This book, by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen, is a blend of several different pieces of sci-fi we've seen previously. At first, it strikes the reader as the type of genre-piece where robots and humans co-exist. Then we move into an Independence Day type scenario before moving into the crux of the book.
The premise of the book is strong as it appears it will be about a young robot (a la A.I.) seeks to make sense of the world around him after some heavy losses. Despite being robotic, the reader definitely feels for the lost character, especially once we get to the last page. While a lot happens on the macro scale in the book, there isn't much movement on the micro level, which is where the series seems like it will live. Now that the writer has the foundation set in place, hopefully more puzzle pieces will fall into place.
If you like sci-fi stories, this is one you'll want to read. It has been optioned for a movie already, so don't miss out before it explodes onto the silver screen some time in the future. I can't say the first issue will wow you, but it looks like things will pick up quickly in issue number two.
Here we have a very memorable team-up. No, not the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, but Brian Michael Bendis and Art Adams. Their talents mesh well in this endeavor with Adams fitting a ridiculous amount of characters on the page. Bendis does a great job of giving many individuals in the book a moment in the sun, some having great lines that the writer is known for. If you're a fan of large action books, you'll love this one. If there is any complaint, and I think it's a minor one, it's that there are too many characters. But hey, we get Art Adams to draw the pieces, so that more than makes up for that criticism.
This title is highly recommended for fans of the movie as the comic is funny, action-packed and well-drawn. The perfect storm of a comic.
STAR WARS: PRINCESS LEIA #1
First, the bad news--of the three Star Wars books currently on the shelves, this is probably the weakest. The good news, however, is that it is still a high quality book. The other two books begin with more action and menace whereas this one commences with Leia maintain her royalty while becoming a leader in a more combat-intensive way. She refuses to sit on the sidelines and be protected--this princess wants to protect a legacy. Hopefully the two main characters continue to grow, allowing a strong relationship to form.
Terry and Rachel Dodson provide the terrific art that they're known for as Mark Waid provides the foundation for a the growth of the title character. While we know things about these characters from the movies and other media, there is a deepening of that understanding now.
If you're a fan of the Star Wars universe or looking for a strong female character, this is definitely a book to pick up.
DESCENDER #1
This book, by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen, is a blend of several different pieces of sci-fi we've seen previously. At first, it strikes the reader as the type of genre-piece where robots and humans co-exist. Then we move into an Independence Day type scenario before moving into the crux of the book.
The premise of the book is strong as it appears it will be about a young robot (a la A.I.) seeks to make sense of the world around him after some heavy losses. Despite being robotic, the reader definitely feels for the lost character, especially once we get to the last page. While a lot happens on the macro scale in the book, there isn't much movement on the micro level, which is where the series seems like it will live. Now that the writer has the foundation set in place, hopefully more puzzle pieces will fall into place.
If you like sci-fi stories, this is one you'll want to read. It has been optioned for a movie already, so don't miss out before it explodes onto the silver screen some time in the future. I can't say the first issue will wow you, but it looks like things will pick up quickly in issue number two.
Sunday, March 8th Brainstorm Comics held it first charity Magic event at the William Talley Recreation Center. 21 Players came out ready to battle and show their support for Payson Silvio daughter of long time Brainstorm customer Jay Silvio who suffers from P.O.T.S. . The Tournament and the bake sale at the event combined to raise $450 Dollars which will go towards Payson's mobility assist service dog. A special thank you goes out to everyone who supported this event!
Payson sitting at the Table of Goodies
Ben Click Showing off His Foil Japanese Ugin
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Sunday, March 1, 2015
More Comic Book Reviews
SPIDER-GWEN #1 -- BOOK OF THE WEEK!
This book has a lot of advance buzz thanks to the Spider-verse storyline that ran through the Spidey books. Late to the party, I haven't red those books so this first issue is my introduction to the character. When it was picked up for review, there were many doubts and reservations I had. Despite knowing where she came from, there was a certain amount of trepidation regarding the return of Gwen Stacey.
The first issue did a lot to alleviate those concerns, however. For the most part, this character feels like the Peter Parker we've all known and loved--hated by Jameson, hated by the city (s)he's protecting, and obstacle after obstacle getting in the way of doing what's right. Like most alternate universe books, of course part of the fun is seeing where familiar characters lie in this world. My concern with that, as with all alternate reality books, is that it will depend too much on that as a gimmick. While the first issue does use it, it feels like it's more to set up future storylines than it is to be an "Oh, look who just showed up" affair. So, at this point, the benefit of the doubt will be given.
As for the art, for some reason it is reminiscent of Ryan Ottley to me. Simple, but it gets the emotions and expressions just right. It feels dynamic without being over-wrought. The first issue shows a ton of potential. Don't miss out on what's sure to be one of the hottest books of the year.
John's pick of the week.
THEY'RE NOT LIKE US # 1 - 3
There is a mentor collecting the super-powered forgotten and mistreated, teaching them how to use their abilities. There are a lot of parallels that can be drawn to the X-Men. But what if Charles Xavier targeted the most vulnerable, the ones who could be coerced into doing acts that other people wouldn't be capable of? Make no mistake about it--this is NOT the X-Men.
To be sure, this book isn't going to be for everyone. If you like your superheroes clearly on the side of good, fighting for eternal ideas of righteousness, this isn't going to be the book for you. Deeply rooted in moral relativism, there is a question that permeates the book as to what right and wrong even is.
That being said, the story is strong, showing the doubts of their newest recruit Syd as The Voice (the Professor X of this group) introduces her to this new world. Having been shuffled from hospital to hospital, she's willing to listen to this mysterious benefactor, something the reader understands even in the few brief moments we are introduced to her.
The art is a little shaky in spots, but fits the feel of the book. It isn't something that will bowl a person over, but it is serviceable for the story being told.
If you've wanted a darker version of the X-Men, some might even say a more modern take, then this is one you may want to check out. The story is brisk and poses some questions that and ordeals that are different from the standard superhero fare.
Mike's pick of the last few months!
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #1 - 2
Marvel is handling their new property Star Wars as one would expect--as an important property that deserves great writing and great art. While there are long-term fans of the expanded universe who will hate what has been discarded and changed, everything about Marvel's assumption of the reins feels cinematic and impressive.
In this series, Vader is dealing with his deteriorating power base after Episode IV, something he is not going to take lying down. Without giving too much away, the first two issues demonstrate who Vader is, what he is willing to do to hold onto his power, and where his allegiances lie. The first issue has a great exchange with Jabba the Hutt.
Even better than that scene, however, is the fact writer Kieron Gillen imbues the character with qualities which make us sympathetic to his plight, despite him being on the wrong side. We care about what is happening to him, not just because of our familiarity with the story, but because we get to know his inner workings.
The art is amazing as it is supplied by Salvador Larroca. Every panel feels as though it were ripped from a movie we were deprived of, but have finally received.
If you're a Star Wars fan, this is a must read--you won't be disappointed. Matt loves what Marvel has done with the property and we're all excited to find out what happens next.
This book has a lot of advance buzz thanks to the Spider-verse storyline that ran through the Spidey books. Late to the party, I haven't red those books so this first issue is my introduction to the character. When it was picked up for review, there were many doubts and reservations I had. Despite knowing where she came from, there was a certain amount of trepidation regarding the return of Gwen Stacey.
The first issue did a lot to alleviate those concerns, however. For the most part, this character feels like the Peter Parker we've all known and loved--hated by Jameson, hated by the city (s)he's protecting, and obstacle after obstacle getting in the way of doing what's right. Like most alternate universe books, of course part of the fun is seeing where familiar characters lie in this world. My concern with that, as with all alternate reality books, is that it will depend too much on that as a gimmick. While the first issue does use it, it feels like it's more to set up future storylines than it is to be an "Oh, look who just showed up" affair. So, at this point, the benefit of the doubt will be given.
As for the art, for some reason it is reminiscent of Ryan Ottley to me. Simple, but it gets the emotions and expressions just right. It feels dynamic without being over-wrought. The first issue shows a ton of potential. Don't miss out on what's sure to be one of the hottest books of the year.
John's pick of the week.
THEY'RE NOT LIKE US # 1 - 3
There is a mentor collecting the super-powered forgotten and mistreated, teaching them how to use their abilities. There are a lot of parallels that can be drawn to the X-Men. But what if Charles Xavier targeted the most vulnerable, the ones who could be coerced into doing acts that other people wouldn't be capable of? Make no mistake about it--this is NOT the X-Men.
To be sure, this book isn't going to be for everyone. If you like your superheroes clearly on the side of good, fighting for eternal ideas of righteousness, this isn't going to be the book for you. Deeply rooted in moral relativism, there is a question that permeates the book as to what right and wrong even is.
That being said, the story is strong, showing the doubts of their newest recruit Syd as The Voice (the Professor X of this group) introduces her to this new world. Having been shuffled from hospital to hospital, she's willing to listen to this mysterious benefactor, something the reader understands even in the few brief moments we are introduced to her.
The art is a little shaky in spots, but fits the feel of the book. It isn't something that will bowl a person over, but it is serviceable for the story being told.
If you've wanted a darker version of the X-Men, some might even say a more modern take, then this is one you may want to check out. The story is brisk and poses some questions that and ordeals that are different from the standard superhero fare.
Mike's pick of the last few months!
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #1 - 2
Marvel is handling their new property Star Wars as one would expect--as an important property that deserves great writing and great art. While there are long-term fans of the expanded universe who will hate what has been discarded and changed, everything about Marvel's assumption of the reins feels cinematic and impressive.
In this series, Vader is dealing with his deteriorating power base after Episode IV, something he is not going to take lying down. Without giving too much away, the first two issues demonstrate who Vader is, what he is willing to do to hold onto his power, and where his allegiances lie. The first issue has a great exchange with Jabba the Hutt.
Even better than that scene, however, is the fact writer Kieron Gillen imbues the character with qualities which make us sympathetic to his plight, despite him being on the wrong side. We care about what is happening to him, not just because of our familiarity with the story, but because we get to know his inner workings.
The art is amazing as it is supplied by Salvador Larroca. Every panel feels as though it were ripped from a movie we were deprived of, but have finally received.
If you're a Star Wars fan, this is a must read--you won't be disappointed. Matt loves what Marvel has done with the property and we're all excited to find out what happens next.
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