X-Men books GALORE (and a few Valiant for good measure) :)

I just received my bundle from brownies8701.  I can't say enough kind things about this cat, awesome prices, condition was as good/better than stated, great communication, SUPERB packing job...the REAL DEAL.

Plus LOOK at all this goodness I got, X-Men GALORE!!  A smattering of Valiant added for good measure (while Magnus is one of my favorite characters of all time, the X-series are more of a priority for now).

New nabs today

Half Price books was GREAT today ;)

First purchases now that I'm back into comics (pic heavy)

Within the last few weeks, I restarted my collection.... these are my new nabs :)

Back in the game after 14+ years!!

I grew up with comics.  As a very young kid, I wandered into my attic, and found a BIG box of my dads comics.  It was a treasure trove...old Gold Key Solar Man of the Atom, Magnus Robot Fighter, Thor, X-Men, Avengers, Dr. Strange etc, etc.  I read, and re-read this mountain of greatness many times over, learning more as I went.

Fast forward a few years, and I start buying my own comics at a local shop (that actually STILL exists).  It's slow going as even back when comics were a LOT cheaper, $ was also harder to come by as a kid.  I mainly stick with the X-Men titles until the late 80's/early 90's.   Marvel's reboot is ON. SO many variant issues (X-Men, Spiderman, X-Force)...then the Marvel Masterpiece card line comes out...I can't get enough.  Slowly but steady, the growing variant craze, story arcs that run loner/include more series, prices climbing, the start of Valiant, and Image just spread the time/$ WAY to thin...and I drop out of comics.

My newest issue was from the Battlestar Galactica (1997-1998) by Realm...and even then I only got issue 4 of 5.  Life moved on and comics completely fell by the wayside.

Mind you I still had some of my old stash:
Battlestar Galactica (1997 - 1998) Realm Press
Jay & Silent Bob (1998 - 1999) Oni Press
Resident Evil Magazine (1998) Image
Star Wars: Crimson Empire (1997) Dark Horse
Stargods (1998) Antarctic Press
Transformers: Generation 2 (1993 - 1994) Marvel   (just the first BADASS gatefold cover)
Transformers: The Wreckers (2003 - Present) 3H Productions

Star Wars Manga (that I can't seem to find on here).


A few weeks ago I was talking with a long time friend (FINALLY got him to watch The Avengers movie)...and talk fell on comics.  The more we talked, the more I missed the days of my youth reading, and looking for comics weekly.  The fire was re-ignited.

Now mind you, being out of comics for basically 14 years makes getting back into things a bit daunting.  I have missed a HUGE amount of MASSIVE storylines...so where to start?  I start talking to a few old friends that notice me posting some of my favorite art/covers from comics gone by.  I have a few that help get me back up to speed a bit, and I settle on the Avengers vs X-Men collection.  I can't stop there right?  So I order a collected Dark Phoenix Saga (aa BIG fave in my younger years). Then I hit a couple half price books, and start nabbing some random older stuff (a BIG Cable bundle, random X titles) for fun. Next I hit the local comic shop (hehehhe(.  I decide to get the first 2 issues of Uncanny Avengers...I was going to go with the All New X-Men, but they were out of 3 of the first five, so that has to wait a bit.  I start to peruse the variant boxes, and "clearance titles"...nab some SWEET variant issues of  Voltron (2011-2012) Dynamite Entertainment, and a  Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters (2011 - 2012) IDW Publishing #1.

I am back, and having a BLAST. (though catching up on SO many years of storylines, new characters, good people now evil (and vice versa) wil def take awhile LOL).

The Times Cinema, Larry Widen, and the beginings of my theater artifacts collection

 I have had a lifelong love of old buildings.  Growing up in Milwaukee gave me ample opportunity to find, explore, and learn about anything from old neighborhood houses, to sprawling brewery complexes, the backrooms of the MECCA,and Gran Avenue Mall....and of course the many theaters all over the city.

A few days ago I stumbled across the news that 2 Milwaukee area institutions were closing; The Times, and Rosebud Theaters.  Though I have been out of the city for 12 years now (!), I have spent many fun filled hours in both of these fine establishments.

To cut this part of the story down, I contacted legendary Milwaukee theater guru Larry Widen to send my condolences on the closings, and mentioned a piece of an old theater that was displayed at the Times.   It just so happens that the piece was for sale!!!  With a few emails back and forth we setup a time to meet this morning.  I honestly felt like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.  We arrive at the Times, and Larry, and 2 helpers already have the piece is already taken off, and halfway down the wall (we did indeed luck out...my sincere thanks to all).  I go to pull the van over in front to load it into the trailer.  After that is done we go back and inside and start chatting.  I brought his newest theater book with he, and he happily personalized it for me;

Silver Screens: A Pictorial History of Milwaukee's Movie Theaters

( http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whspress/books/book.asp?book_id=307 )




It was a blast talking with someone so knowledgeable about one of my (our) passions.  There's so many stories to hear, and information to learn.  At the same time we wander thru the Times, talking...while I snap pictures all over, listening to cool stories, and just taking the whole experience in. 


the main item I initially went for is:

Milwaukee Egyptian Theater Artifact

On top of that Larry had many more items of interest:

A piece (well 2) of the Princess Theater facade:

A piece of the "columns" from the facade of the Venetian Theater:

A piece of the floor(?) from the Uptown Theater

Curtains from the Riverside Theater:

Some Times Theater glasses, 35mm movie trailers, and some of the bathroom wall decorations:

My copy of Larry's AWESOME book personalized by the MAN himself with a message that is just to true:

Additional pictures of the Times cinema, and more fun from today's trip (click the link below)   :)

Times Cinema pics, and Milwaukee theater artifacts


A HEARTFELT thank you to the 2 gentlemen that helped take down, and load the Egyptian piece,  Larry's brother, and most of all to Mr Larry Widen...a true gentleman, and a scholar.

In the coming months I plan to expand on the history of all the above mentioned lost theaters (save the remaining Riverside).  I hope to obtain pictures, and info to share, and do my part to help preserve the memory of these lost movie houses.

One of the BEST of the "forgotten gems" Sega Saturn edition

Sometimes even a niche game can be a system seller to certain people.  Magazine preview pics made his a MUST own for me.  It took me some time to nab a copy as I was a late adopter to the world of Sega.


A real time strategy/tactics game with a fun story, and great graphics (hold up even today). Large scale battles that are an amped up version of rock paper scissors.   You chose from 8 different rulers, each with a distinct path/storyline, and predominant troop type.

             

This game BEGS for a re-release (yes it was re-released for the PS2 Sega Ages line, but stayed in Japan)....even if just a digital download.  In my opinion, this would be a GREAT game on a portable system (3DS/PSP/Vita).  Even better would be if we received a collection with a  translated version of the sequel that never left japan.

COME ON SEGA, you aren't doing much else GOOD these days ;)

STILL one of the best videos of all time...perfect for Halloweeen

Enjoy :)