MUSE Comics & Games

October SALE!

2009-09-30T13:03:00.000-07:00

Coming in October:

In-stock alternate covers are BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE

Back issues in the back-issue bins are BUY TWO, GET THREE FREE

Magic: The Gathering grab bags are BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE

In-stock toys are 50% off

Holiday savings start early with Muse Monthly Sales!

Mastication Proclomation

2009-08-06T14:50:00.000-07:00

Just reminding you AGAIN to come and pick up Chew. We've got issues 1-3 all available right now. It really is one of the most entertaining stories I've read in a long time, and I'm a lonely comic nerd who needs people to talk about it with. So come to the Muse, give Chew a gander, and crack wise with your local comic fellows.

Greek Street

2009-08-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

Do you like sex and violence? Sure you do. Heck, who doesn't? I know a lot of people aren't willing to admit it. They wanna seem nice, and good, and polite. But even those who choose not to express their more 'barbaric' inclinations must still be tickled by schadenfreude every time someone slips on a banana peel, or gets hit in the face with a pie, or is gruesomely decapitated. No, I don't need any evidence to back up this claim. You'll take my assertions as facts and you'll like it!

If you ever feel like giving in to those nasty desires, but would like a blanket of intellectualism to wrap yourself in as you weather the rain of lust and gore, then look no further than Greek Street. Therein shall you find a cornucopia of ancient literary allusions and metaphors to stimulate your classical tastes, or at least hopefully inspire you to further research Greek mythology. Sure, author Peter Milligan (Skin, X-Force) dresses it all up with modern day gangsters, thugs, and strippers, but you can tell your friends that you're studying contemporary interpretations of Oedipus Rex and Daedalus. Unless of course you have the kind of friends who look down on intellectual pursuits, and then you can tell them you found this rad new comic chock full of skin and fightin', but you don't know why all the characters have such goofy names.

Casual reader beware, these first two issues of Greek Street are incredibly graphic. Though their original Greek counterparts certainly weren't very tame to begin with, experiencing them visually and with such gritty detail can be a bit shocking. Though I don't want to turn anyone off, just be prepared to experience some of the *ahem* finer details of Oedipus' relationship with his mother.

Greek Street #2 just came out today, and we've got plenty of them here at Muse Comics, so swing by and pick one up. While you're at it, grab Chew. Seriously, just do it. DO IT!

Chew

2009-07-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

Outspoken vegetarians often argue that eating meat is cruel and barbaric. Though I can understand where they’re coming from, not even the most perfect tofu curry or fruit compote could make me drool as easily as a cheap, greasy hamburger. In spite of countless films and books teaching me about the horrors of the meat industry, I cannot resist my craving for the succulent flesh of helpless animals. But this is easy for me since, unlike Chew’s protagonist Tony Chu, I’m not cibopathic.

“Cibopathic?” you ask. “What’s that? Please teach us, oh sexy and erudite comic guy!”

Cibopathy gives Tony a special relationship with food. For instance, while eating an apple he gets images of where the apple was harvested, what tree it came from, and what its life had been like until it served its ultimate, delicious purpose. Now, imagine how this process would go if he ate a steak or some foie gras. Now that juicy burger doesn't seem so tasty, unless you also enjoy devouring pain (you jerk). This gift is what separates Tony Chu from the rest of society, and what keeps him always on the edge of starvation.

Tony doesn’t find a great deal of use for this ability either in home life or as a detective, until he eats a bowl of soup tainted by the bodily fluids of an unsanitary sous chef. Suddenly, a suspiciously tangy taste reveals to Tony the bloody, depraved life of a seemingly innocent chicken dish. Now, if that’s enough to lure you into buying this comic, please stop here. Otherwise, prepare for a hyperactive mess that will totally ruin issue #1.

This is your last chance. Past this you are subject to spoilers and (more) bad writing.

Here goes.

Holy crap he eats people and learns their secrets! He eats a dude’s face and then he’s all like, “WHOOOOOAAAA!!! I know who you aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare!” He’s like a death metal version of Mega Man! He’s like an even metal-er version of the Highlander! He’s like Jeffrey Dahmer, except he also eats secrets!

Do you even comprehend how cool that is? Do you have any idea how many people I’d eat all the time if I were a cibopath? Lots! Lots and lots! A whole bunch! I’d have my lips removed and jaw unhinged, just so I could bulldoze people with my studious incisors!

He eats a dude’s face! HE EATS A DUDE’S FACE!

BUY THIS COMIC! Or eat someone who has.

Also, a note to vegetarians: Carrots got feelings too, yo.

ULTIMATUM

2009-07-21T11:52:00.001-07:00

ULTIMATUM

Throughout Manhattan, the heroes of the world continue with their day-to-day affairs. Iron Man and Captain America discuss the future of the Ultimates. Reed Richards prepares to propose to Sue Storm. Johnny Storm argues with his father. The X-Men take a walk down 42nd Street and Peter Parker and his friends take a ride on the El.
Without warning, the sky darkens and giant flashes of lightning explode across the sky. Torrential rain hammers down upon the city and within minutes, all of Manhattan is being flooded. The water levels rise so high that they engulf the first several floors of most of the city's skyscrapers. A drowning Bruce Banner transforms into the Hulk and rises above the water line where he sees one of the Watcher units growing in the middle of the street. Peter Parker changes into Spider-Man and hits the high ground, though he has no idea what he will be able to do in such a situation. Angel dives through the water and scoops up Alison Blaire who has swallowed too much water. He is too late to save her however. Franklin Storm is killed and Johnny Storm is missing in action. Iron Man grabs Captain America and takes to the sky. Yellowjacket grows to more than sixty-feet tall and tries to find his wife, Janet. Reed and Sue go to the top of the Baxter Building where Sue tries to hold the sea water back with a massive force field. The effort proves too much for her however and she collapses. Reed immediately suspects the Sub-Mariner is responsible for the flood and flies into a rage when he sees the Mariner's sea-craft floating in the water. He begins fighting Namor, but the Sub-Mariner assures him that he would never do anything that would put Susan's life at risk.
This ecological disaster is not limited to New York though. In Latveria, Victor van Damme finds that the entire area surrounding his castle is covered in snow and ice. Pedestrians are frozen solid, standing in the middle of the street.
At Xavier's Acadmey, Professor X experiences a psychic flash. He knows who is responsible for this disaster. He telepathically alerts the other X-Men and warns them that Magneto has activated his own Doomsday weapon.
Aboard his floating headquarters, Magneto seethes as he observes his handiwork. He wants revenge for the deaths of his children Wanda and Pietro, and he is determined to make sure that every man, woman and child pays the price.

Existence 2.0

2009-07-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Though I generally consider myself a patient man, I cannot stand to wade through comics without each issue having its own interesting catch. If I’m paying for single issues, I don’t see why I should have to accept filler while the writers are building up to some crazy twist or grand finale. Perhaps I’m missing the forest for the trees (or I have the attention span of a speed-addled 6 year old), but one dull issue comes and I’ll run full speed from a series, off to search for better story arcs or and wackier hijinx.

That being said, Existence 2.0 starts with the main character getting run through with a sword. But that’s ok, because he then transfers consciousness with his attacker and walks out the door in a slick new body, ready to find his killer, err, himself… whoever. This comic meets my ADD approval.

Before you complain that I’ve spoiled anything for you, keep in mind that this all happens on the first page. Yeah, page one and there’s already stabbing and body swapping. Were it my decision, I would have abandoned the cover and thrown that scene right onto the front, if only for the sake of watching the brains of passersby shoot out of their ears as their minds are literally blown.

At the center of Existence 2.0 is one Sylvester Baladine, an amoral physicist working on… stuff, secret stuff. Such stuff may involve cloning Jessica Alba, but probably has nothing to do with cryogenically freezing Gerald Ford. Seriously, not Gerald Ford. (Well yeah, maybe Gerald Ford.) This shady science doesn’t quite sit well with some folk, which leads us all back to the stabbity first page. As for the rest of issue one, I’ll not divulge any secrets, but the craziness does not slow down as terrorists, psychotic girlfriends, and a sex-crazed cat all enter the mix.

If you like cool stuff, and since you’re reading this blog I assume you do, you should definitely check out Existence 2.0. Currently only the first issue is out, with number two set to hit shelves August 5th. Though it’s hard to say just where the following issues will lead, I’m certain once you start reading you won’t be spending any time waiting for the good part to come.

Wednesday Comics

2009-07-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

At a time when newspapers are dwindling in numbers, DC redoes the weekly newspaper adventure strip for a new generation with Wednesday Comics. The weekly comic features 16 single page comic stories featuring different heroes, told in cliffhanger style.

Wednesday Comics is truely an experience. As you fold out the tabloid-size pages you can smell the newsprint. And yet the paper and printing are high quality, creating a unique aesthetic experience.

DC has gathered top names to make this 12-part series a success. Azzarello and Risso (of the recently concluded 100 Bullets) return to Batman, father and son Kuberts team up for Sgt. Rock, and Neil Gaiman and Mike Allred tackle Metamorpho. And that's just the start.

Each strip is handled in a different way, but they all emit a retro vibe, which contributes to the reincarnation of the adventure strip. The Flash's page is split into two separate strips: "The Flash" and "Iris West," each focusing on the two character's perspectives of similar events. Paul Pope's "Strange Adventures" is excellent trippy sci-fi nonsense at its best.

I could go on about each strip, or you could (should) just pick up a copy and find out for yourself. I'm excited to see DC playing with the comics print format in such a new yet familiar way.

See DC's solicitation info here.

DARK AVENGERS

2009-03-03T10:15:00.001-08:00

THE DARK REIGN IS HERE! The start of an explosive new era in the Avengers mythos! Who are the Dark Avengers? Who is the Iron Patriot? The answers will shock you! Brought to you by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato Jr.

More than anything else, the new status quo Brian Michael Bendis instituted at the end of "Secret Invasion" is certainly interesting. The bad guys are in charge now, so it stands to reason that they'd need a bad guy version of Marvel's biggest superhero team.

2009-01-18T16:23:00.000-08:00

I love a book that really surprises me! Enhanced with an unpretentious cover and almost humorous name, this is one of those rare finds. Early on when I glanced at my first copy of Hellboy, I remember those same feelings... minimalist artwork, and an overly self descriptive name. It imparts a feeling that you couldn't possibly take the book seriously. But seriously, just like Hellboy, this is a great read. The story follows America's experiment, Atomic Robo, as he trudges through mobs of Nazi soldiers and their war machines. His constant quips and realistic struggles through battle bring the reader inside Atomic Robo's world. I feel this series is best described by a quote from one of the U.S. soldiers in book 3: leaning over a German captive "Sprekin ze GUN?".

Great stuff!

Coraline

2009-01-15T14:09:00.000-08:00

Coraline, Harper Collins

Story by Neil Gaiman, art by P. Craig Russell

Coraline is as spooky as Pan’s Labyrinth, as spooky as Alice in Wonderland was for me when I was younger. I don’t usually think scary comics are scary (sadly, I usually think they’re just gross). But Coraline doesn’t seem to be going for scary so much as spooky, and it works. Coraline’s story is spooky, and I was worried for her, even though she’s a child heroine and they tend to be pretty brave in books. Coraline reminds me of Mirrormask, too; she has to travel into an unfriendly, fantastic world to save herself and her family and of course there’s something evil who wants to be her mother. In the wonderful way of smart and irrepressible young girls, Coraline manages to overcome her fears , finds that with help she can save the day, and discovers that her life and her new house aren’t nearly as boring as she thought.

P. Craig Russell’s art is beautiful and interesting, as you would expect, and the book is very open and accessible to readers who may not be used to a comic book format. I tried it out on my nine-year-old stepdaughter, who hasn’t been reading comics her whole life the way my boys have, by telling her she didn’t want to read it, it was probably too scary for her. She read it in one sitting and delivered it back to me with a haughty, “it wasn’t scary at all, it was just good.”

Northlanders

2009-01-11T22:09:00.000-08:00

NORTHLANDERS is a monthly comic book series created and written by Brian Wood, published monthly by Vertigo.
The stories are set in and around historical events during the viking age. This title brings constant excitement and adventure with each issue. I hope you will check it out & see for yourself!

This week at Muse Comics

2008-12-30T09:29:00.001-08:00

Hope everyone has had some time to regroup after Christmas. Just wanted to take a moment to remind everyone of a couple of things this New Year's week. First, Muse Comics will be closed on January 1 for inventory. Second, new comics will be out on Friday, January 2 due to the Christmas and New Year's holidays. After this week, things return to normal and new comics will be out on Wednesdays.

Happy New Year to all from Muse Comics!

Swallow Me Whole

2008-12-20T19:04:00.000-08:00

Swallow Me Whole, Top Shelf Productions
by Nate Powell

This book has the kind of design I like immediately, down to the texture of the cover. I really enjoyed Nate Powell’s art throughout the story; it reminded me a lot of Craig Thompson’s style.

I lost the story, though, several times in between pages and panels. It almost seemed as if I wasn’t reading about a schizophrenic, but by reading, I was becoming one. The story sharpens on some pages and becomes crystal clear, just enough so that I can tell what’s going on and where the characters are. Then, suddenly, I’d lose it again in a mess of whorls and insect scribbles and would flip along, desperately searching for another clear spot. I think I held onto it long enough to get to know Ruth, pictured on the cover, but never enough to get a sense of Perry, her brother. (Step-brother, rather, according to the back cover.)

There are other brief glimpses and impressions I could pick up through the haze of Ruth’s and Perry’s viewpoints: a southern, biblical, racist school, a disconnected family, a frantic need to reorder the universe so it can be understood, teenage love and anger, and an eventual submission to madness. These all swam together in Swallow Me Whole, creating an interesting experience that’s difficult for me to explain. This is the kind of book you should read before you read the review, just to see how you take it before anyone explains it to you. Don’t even read the back cover, just dive in.

Life Sucks

2008-11-29T16:29:00.001-08:00

Life Sucks, First Second Books

Story by Jessica Abel and Gabe Soria, art by Warren Pleece

I’m already set in my course as a terrible reviewer as I follow with another book I knew I’d enjoy from the cover. Jessica Abel is one of my favorite creators. I loved Artbabe (the collections are called Soundtrack and Mirror, Window) and La Perdida, and some of you may even remember that years ago we printed out a guide to making comics by Jessica Abel and posted it in the store. It seemed a pretty good bet that I would enjoy Life Sucks—it’s co-authored by one of my favorite writers and published by one of my favorite companies. I was honestly surprised, though, that Abel put out a vampire story. Is this the influence of co-writer Gabe Soria? (The acknowledgements imply the opposite.) Either way, I picked up Life Sucks and thought, “…by Jessica Abel? Really?”

But, it's true, and if you enjoyed any of her previous books you’ll love reading Life Sucks. One of the things I’ve always appreciated about Abel’s comics is that her characters are real. As if, instead of making up the dialogue, she sits all day in coffee houses and bars surreptitiously recording conversations and just transcribes those. (I don’t know how she makes them all fit into the same story, though.) As strange as it sounds, even Abel’s and Soria’s vampires are real. What happens if you’re turned into a vampire and it isn’t all Gothy homoerotic angst, with mansions and candle-lit crypts? What if it just means that you’ll be working at the same convenience store a lot longer that you thought?

You’re probably thinking of Buffy at this point, and I agree with you, but not in the sense that Life Sucks is derivative. It isn’t like Buffy, but it has all the best parts—the likeable, regular characters dealing with really weird situations that don’t always turn out well for The Heroes, the quips, and the heart. I was reminded of the show (or was I reminded of Clerks?) as Dave, vampire and manager of the night shift at his master’s convenience store, complains, “Unlife blows. I’m just going to go out to the beach and wait for sunrise. You can pay your respects at the black spot on Zuma Beach.”

Dave finds his reason to un-live in Rosa, an aspiring designer in the local Goth scene, and watches helplessly as she falls first for the foppish Goth-king Alistair and then later for the dangerous “alpha-vamp” Wes. How can a regular vampire compete?

Warren Pleece’s art immediately puts you into Dave’s world and allows you to get close to the people who live there. Much of the story is told in the pauses between speaking lines and the expressions on the characters’ faces, and Pleece illustrates the subtle changes effortlessly. Though the scenes take place at night, Hilary Sycamore’s colors are vibrant and give the book a life and movement of its own.

This was a fun and interesting read, and I’d encourage you to join Dave as he finds out that though nice guys may not always finish dead last, in the end, Life Sucks!

Too Cool to be Forgotten

2008-11-26T09:32:00.000-08:00

Too Cool to be Forgotten, Top Shelf Productions
by Alex Robinson

I’m sure regular reviewers have to be objective, but to be honest, I knew I’d like Too Cool to be Forgotten before I even opened the cover. Alex Robinson’s Box Office Poison is one of my favorite all-time books. (In fact, if Jeff doesn’t have it in stock right now, somebody yell at him for me.) I’ve read BOP so many times that Robinson’s art is comforting to me, so all I saw when I looked at the cover of Too Cool to be Forgotten was the familiar Robinson-style character. I didn’t even realize the design looked like a pack of cigarettes until after I’d started reading.

That all said, it took me a while to warm up to Andy, the main character of the book. The frame story is that Andy’s wife has talked him into hypnosis as a way to quit smoking. Most of the story takes place when Andy wakes up back in high school in 1985 with his 40-year old self and memories crammed back into his fifteen-year-old body. I didn’t have much to connect with at first; I don’t smoke, I was in grade school in the mid-eighties, and while I probably hated high school more than Andy did, I liked having to sit through Math class. But Andy wins you over as he does what any of us would do in the imaginary situation--he uses his adult mind and experiences to try to set a few things right. He’s “watched enough ‘Star Trek’ to know that the first thing you do when you’re in the past is not mess up the timeline,” but he makes minor improvements: be nice to the kid sitting alone, stand out when you want to, ask the girl you’ve been afraid to talk to out on a date. High-school, being high-school, still wins and Andy realizes he hates being stuck there. He assumes that he’s traveled back in time to not smoke that first cigarette, and after he avoids it, he can go home. But again, it doesn’t work. By that time, I found myself rooting for him. I’m frustrated that he’s stuck there, I’m sad when he misses his wife, and I’m wondering along with him how he’ll get back. I’m wrapped up enough that the end of the story catches me by surprise.

Generally, when I read a comic, the artwork does enough to warn me that I have time to pull back emotionally before I get too caught up. When I see a panel like this one, I step away from the story a bit, and read it expecting an emotional outburst.

This time, though, I was all the way through the page before I had time to think about distancing myself and found my tears welling up as Andy’s do in the next few panels. Blame it on the weather, or the fact that I’ve been ready all week for this holiday with my family, or blame it on Alex Robinson’s ability to write a story like he made it just for you, but the last part of the book really touched me. I sniffled in agreement at the end of the book when Andy says, “It worked.”

If you haven't read Box Office Poison, go read it. And pick up Too Cool to be Forgotten while you're at it, too.

(These are my favorite panels from the book. Look inside the book itself to see how great these really are.)

Boxes full of Eisner goodness!

2008-11-26T07:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Missoulians, hello Muse!

I've been down in Colorado Springs all year, and the few times I've been back up in the store, I didn't get to see many of you. I hope you're getting ready for a wonderful holiday season, and you're keeping Jeff and the kids at the store busy.

Most of what I've been doing this year has been working for ComicsPRO, the trade association for comic book retailers. We get business discounts and other benefits for comic book retailers, mentor prospective entrepreneurs so they can open up new comic book stores, and work with publishers and distributors on behalf of our members. Since we're trying to reach out to a nation of independent business owners, we also travel a lot! This year I've been to Las Vegas, San Diego, Ft. Wayne, Denver, back to Las Vegas, Baltimore, and back to Ft. Wayne, and that's aside from my trips between Colorado Springs, Billings, and Missoula! (During all of that, I also got married!)

Another great thing happened to me this year, though--I was picked to be an Eisner judge. The Eisner judges review all of the comics that come out in 2008 which are submitted for the Eisner awards, and they decide which books are nominated and will be on the Eisner award ballots. Then, everyone in the comic book industry votes on those. Books (or creators) with the most votes in each category win Eisner awards. It's a great honor to get to be one of the judges!

Even when you work behind the counter every day, it's really difficult to read everything that comes out, or even most of what comes out. Working in retail the way I have in the last year, thinking more nationally than locally, it's been even more difficult to keep up with much! As we talked about the number of books I'll be reading between now and the judges' meeting in March 2009, Jeff and I had a great idea--why not share the experience with our customers?

So, I'll be posting reviews as I make my way through the giant, amazing list of books on the must-read list for the Eisner awards. I can't promise a review for each book, and most of you guys know me--I'm not much of a reviewer. The store newsletter we put out for years was built around the great reviews out there already available--I didn't have to write any of it! But, I thought it would be fun to at least share the wonderful opportunity I have, getting to read so many of the books from 2008, with all of you.

I miss you guys!

Manda

24 Hour Comics Day - Completed

2008-10-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

Tired eyes, caffeine jitters, sore drawing arms and bright spirits mark the close of Muse Comics first 24 Hour Comics Day event. What a great day we had. Meeting new people, making comics, eating, drinking, sharing stories; what more could we have asked for. Everyone who came in commented on how much fun they had. The people who watched were all amazed by the talent that was on display in the back of the store. Missoula has an incredible pool of comics talent and I'm excited that I got to see it first hand.

Thanks to:
All of the creators! Without you we couldn't have done this.
Bawls Energy Drink for the fuel to keep going.
Blue Line Pro art supplies for the great deal on art boards.
ComicsPro for sponsoring this event.
The Missoulian for the great story.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program as we all stumble off into the morning in search of some sleep.

24 Hour Comics Day - Rounding Third and Heading for Home

2008-10-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Only an hour to go and they are still back there drawing! Three of the first people to arrive are still here laughing and drawing. Everyone is tired but they are talking about how much fun this event was and how they are looking forward to doing it again next year! We will definitely be hosting 24 Hour Comics Day in 2009. Just remember it's never too early to start planning what you want to do for next year. If I learned anything from talking to the artists at this years event, it's that the more planned out everything is, the easier it will be to complete 24 pages in 24 hours. Here are some snaps of the last few hardcore creators!

24 Hour Comics Day - The Sun Also Rises

2008-10-19T05:23:00.000-07:00

As we approach daybreak, we still have creators working hard in the back of the store. Justin has gone home after working the brutal overnight shift. Comics are being completed as tired artists look to go home and get some well deserved rest. Spirits are still high in the back, but the only sounds in the store are the scraping of pencil on paper and the Simpsons on the TV, as everyone pushes to keep turning out completed comic pages.

The Missoulian has posted a story about the 24 Hour Comics Day event at Muse Comics here.

We couldn't have made this event work without the support of Bawls Energy Drinks and Blue Line Pro art supplies.

24 Hour Comics Day Others reach the last stretch.

2008-10-19T02:44:00.000-07:00

Artists hard work begins to show as some reach the last ten pages!!!!! As the Clock ticks close to 4 am,

many stil go strongly into the night.

24 Hour Comics Day Eyes begin to drop as stomachs fill

2008-10-19T02:29:00.000-07:00

It did not take long for pizzas to dissapear as our artists refuel and rest hard working hands!

24 Hour Comics Day Still open!

2008-10-19T02:07:00.000-07:00

We turned on the Bat-signal,... he has yet to show up..... hope is still strong!

24 Hour Comics Day To Geek or Not to Geek

2008-10-19T01:56:00.001-07:00

Thanks again for Bawls supporting 24HCBD!

as we reach the weee hours in the morning it is sure appreciated.

24 Hour Comics Day First one to cross the finish line!

2008-10-19T00:35:00.001-07:00

It is only 1:30 in the Morning and David Johnson finishes his book Dean Bodean. David used watercolor paint and highlighted with pen to make a unique black and white style!

Keep up the Great work guys!!!

24 Hour Comics Day Almost Half Way!

2008-10-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

Everyone is still diligently working away!

There was not so much as a moment of attention paid, as I snaped pictures. It seems that everyone has hit their groove and wont be stopping until the books are complete.

24 Hour Comics Day - Happy Workers

2008-10-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

Snacks a plenty and tables loaded we approach the big niner. Who will have the fortitude to tackle an entire night? Who could possibly triumph over a night of sleep deprivation and comic strips? Truely we shall test the metal of these comic maniacs, and aspireing authors.

24 Hour Comics Day - Supporting Your Comic

2008-10-18T18:20:00.000-07:00

Pouring into their work, the fruits of their labors begin to surface! With Batman playing in the background and the volume of the artists and "support staff" ebbing and flowing in excitement, this is definitly the place to be this chilly saturday.

Did I mention support staff?
Here they are!

24 Hour Comics Day- Food and Fun

2008-10-18T17:06:00.000-07:00

Well we're all well fed and its time for a progress report.
While some have made short work of thier project beginnings we still have many fresh starters and piles of comic boards to burn through. An exciteing prospect as night closes in and the real grind begins.

24 Hour Comics Day - The Pile In

2008-10-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

Overflowing with creativity, brimming over the edges with ink, what a fantastic turnout we're having. And there is still room for more!

Such a full house, and more

still arriving this looks to be a full evening of caffiene driven imaginations, and Pizza filled bellys.

What a fantastic atmosphere!

24 Hour Comics Day - 1/5 done!

2008-10-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

All of our creators have been working hard. They will occasionally stop to eat or drink a little bit, but I've been surprised by how they are throwing themselves into their projects.

We've been going for 4 hours now and here is some

of the work that's being done. All of the creators have been cranking out the pages. One of the guys is actually ahead of the pace of one page per hour. It's a difficult challenge, but everyone here is working hard. Enjoy the pictures!

24 Hour Comics Day - Noon

2008-10-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

Wow! More creators have shown up to start drawing comics. We have started feeding them and giving them many caffeinated beverages to help keep them going. The Missoulian (local newspaper) has come down to interview us and the creators for a story in tomorrow's paper! Check out one of out creator's hard at work.

Come down and draw some comics with us!

24 Hour Comics Day - And it begins...

2008-10-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

We are almost an hour into our first 24 Hour Comics Day. We have several artists hard at work in the back. It's really cool to walk back there and see them creating, the vibe in the store is amazing right now. Hanging out with creative people can be quite a rush.

Muse Comics will be doing our best for the next 23 hours to make these creators comfortable and keep them fueled for the challenge ahead of them.

Check back throughout the day as we update this blog and photos! If you have some time and are in the area, stop in and watch these creators at work.

?

2008-09-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

Why are you reading this blog instead of reading Powers? Seriously now.
You tried Powers and didn't like it? Well then, you should try The Goon.

...what? What?! You didn't like either of those? Jeebus. I have no idea what to do with you other than to point you in the direction of The Boys. It's glorious.

That said, I'm going back to re-reading Sandman and finding new things that I haven't picked out before. Volume 9, "The Kindly Ones" has a lot of past characters and makes excellent use of them all, as well as having funky, beautiful art. Ta!

A RETURN TO FORUM

2008-08-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

There are a countless number of art blogs out there, from the old pros to the newest of the new up-and-comers in the comics industry. Aside fromt the obvious visual entertainment these venues offer, artists will often share works-in-progress, progression peices and previews for titles they're working on far in advance of publication. Stuff you rarely if ever get to see on the prime websites for Marvel, DC, Image, Darkhorse, etc. Here's a little list that should keep you entertained for a while or just leave you with scalded eyeballs and a busted thumb:

Ming Doyle
http://users.livejournal.com/_ming/

Ryan Ottley
http://ryanottley.com/

Brian Churilla
http://www.brianchurilla.com/

Michael Cho
http://chodrawings.blogspot.com/

Sean Phillips
http://surebeatsworking.blogspot.com/

Sean "CHEEKS" Galloway
http://gotcheeks.blogspot.com/

Paul Maybury
http://www.deliciousbrains.com/

Cory Walker
http://corenthal.blogspot.com/

Eric Canete
http://kahnehteh.blogspot.com/

Paul Azaceta
http://lazypalooza.blogspot.com/

Tommy Lee Edwards
http://www.tommyleeedwards.com/

When you visit each site, check out the artist's recommended links for other amazing talents, because this list goes on and on. So enjoy, and see you down the rabbit hole.

FICTION CLEMENS

2008-03-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

The first issue of Montana writer Josh Wagner's 3-Issue Series "Fiction Clemens" has been advance-reviewed at Broken Frontier.

"Fiction Clemens" inhabits the world of Wagner's novel, "The Adventures of the Imagination of Periphery Stowe," where the character Fiction first appeared.

Check out the raving review, and then pre-order your copy. The order code is Mar083428.

SUBURBAN GLAMOUR

2008-03-06T17:13:00.000-08:00

In lieu of a well-thought-out review of a comic, let me link you to Jamie McKelvie's Suburban Glamour: Workblog.

McKelvie's previous work on Phonogram was impressive in black and white, and here it pops with vivid colors. The story is a bit like Labyrinth art-directed by Miami Ink. Read it. Trade collection's due out May 7th.

-Lauren

TITANS! TITANS! TITANS!

2008-02-25T19:11:00.000-08:00

I'm in the midst of reading "V for Vendetta" for the first time. As I've admitted in prior posts I've got a whole lot of catching up to do, and since last summer I managed the "Watchmen", that makes Alan Moore & David Lloyd's "V" next on the "classics" reading list.

Since I'm only a few pages into it, and because I've been thinking about how readers of all ages discover comics, this week seemed like a great time for a guest writer!
A lot has been made about comics' leeking readership, an audience that is getting older and according to all reports starving for new readers who readily flock to other forms of entertainment. Sales figures tend to suggest we're far removed from the grand old days of yore...the 1990s, when the frenzy of collectorship overheated the market and inflated readership levels eventually leading to the now fabled crash.

As for those elusive and coveted younger readers, I've got one right here with me, ready to give you a triple dose of DC Comics Teen Titans. From one young reader to another - Elle, aged 9, reader of comics for the past 5 years presents, "TITANS! TITANS! TITANS!"

THE TINY TITANS
Tiny Titans was going to be a fun book as soon as my dad gave it to me. I could not wait to start to read! As soon as I opened Tiny Titans it told me all the charaters and here they are; Robin, Starfire, Raven, Kid Flash, Miss Martian, Kid Devil, Cassie, Beast Boy, Aqualad, Wonder Girl, Bumblebee, Cyborg,R ose,and of course, Speedy. I like the page were you get to meet Starfire,Wonder Girl,and Barbara Gordon a.k.a Batgirl.

So Elle - do you think other readers will enjoy TINY TITANS?
Yes! It's a fun book with lots of jokes that will tear down the house, well - maybe.

THE TEEN TITANS - YEAR 1
I liked it so far because it tells how the real Teen Titans joined up. I mostly like the illustrations and because I get to see the original Teen Titans. I liked it because every time you see Aqua Lad he needs air and starts to gurgle!

Do you think you'll read all 6 issues?
I bet I will because it's really getting interesting. Now that they're starting to form a team.

TEEN TITANS - GO!
How long have you been a reader of this comic?
For a long, long time!

Is this the title that got you into reading comics?
Yes!

So why have you been a fan this long?
Because I know that if I liked one issue I might just read them all.

So, tell some readers out there about TEEN TITANS GO!
Beast Boy is really cool. I like Starfire too because she's always happy and never let's herself down. I like the relationship between Robin and Starfire because even if they don't get along they try to work it out. I like Teen Titan's Go! because every new first picture in the beginning of the book always has something fun to read.

So who is your favorite Teen Titan's Go! artist?
Cheeks! (Sean Galloway)

Here's a tough one. Teen Titan's Go! is ending with issue number #55...
I know. I'm really upset, I love this comic and I did not want it to end. I think it should keep going.

Now do us the favor and go get your son or daughter and have them read this, or print it out on your employer's dime and share it at home tonight around the dinner table, or better still bring them into Muse where they will surely discover new and exciting worlds that will ignite their imagination as well as their interest in reading!

MUSE COMICS DOWNTOWN MOVING SALE

2008-02-21T18:07:00.000-08:00

Muse Comics Downtown is moving. From now until Friday, March 7, we will be having a moving sale featuring amazing deals on all of the products at our downtown location.

Graphic Novels up to 90% off!
Magazines $1 each!
Thousands of comics at only 33¢ each!
Boards Games at 75% off!
Action Figures at 75% off!
Stationary sets and Journals at 75% off!
Card Games at 20% off!
Hundreds of volumes of Manga only $2 each!

We will also be selling some of our store fixtures if you are interested.

Come down and check out the sale and say hi! We will be adding additional inventory to the sale each week so be sure and check back with us.

Pick up great books at amazing discounts from our Downtown location! We don't want to have to move the books, so we want you to take them for us--for next to nothing!

MORE BRAINS...THE WALKING DEAD

2008-02-11T22:38:00.000-08:00

If I had more brains, I would not dismiss things so quickly and take a few more chances at the outset of a series rather than several years and some 45 issues later...but, that's what happens after nearly 3 decades of reading comics and fighting for the last 5 to break out of old habits and expand the reading pile, not by number but by genre. Less tights more frights perhaps?

In this case, I ventured away from my cowl covered comfort zone and scored a copy of The Walking Dead HC Vol.1 encompassing the first 12 issues of the 2003 Image Comics series from Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn. Initially, I ignored the series out of disdain for the glut of zombie horror flooding all mediums several years ago, but I loved the movies "28 Days Later" and "28 Weeks Later" and devoured, that's tongue through cheek for you - I devoured Max Brooks novel "World War Z", Stephen King's "The Cell" and Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" - so it was no surprise to me when I started taking interest in Walking Dead when seeing the ads in the back pages of Kirkman's Invincible. I thoroughly enjoy that book, so I figured Kirkman might have something to add to the world of shuffling cadavers as he has the superhero genre.

Kirkman's Walking Dead succeeds, in the most unexpected ways, at least to this reader. Sure we get a conceit similar to "28 Days Later" (a man waking up from a coma in a world overrun by zombie hordes) but that's about it. After that, the similariites end and it's off on the road where former small-town Kentucky police officer Rick Grimes learns that the world he inhabited prior to his coma has been torn to peices by a unexplained zombie apocalypse. The road is fraught with seemingly insurmoutable obstacles both figurative and literal, plenty of roaming bands of zombies, and the occassional damaged survior struggling to carry on.

About half way through the hardcover I realized by I was enjoying it so much I could barely stop myself from finishing in a single sitting. What I had dismissed as another in a long history of felsh eating yearns was not about bashing zombie skulls with pickaxes and hammers, though these moments are fun and frequent, it's about the layers of interactions between the band of survivors Rick befriends.

This is not human versus zombie, this is human versus humanity. Human beings desperately trying to cling to what little humanity, sanity and community this new and bleak world affords them. Kirkman is able to weave many stories together into one surging narrative demonstrating simply and often eloquently how we as humans are constantly beating back our own craven impulses and desires in order to fulfill our duty as husbands, wives, friends, lovers and companions. A constant balancing act that differentiates the survivors from the one-track minded zombies that are all nothing but craven impulse.

And that's the creative spark that obviously makes The Walking Dead one of the top selling independent books. The interactions and complex relationships of the survivors are rich with subtlety and layers of motivation, some far more insidious and deadly than the slow footed brain eaters themselves as Rick confesses, "I think we've got some good people here...I think we're getting by okay...but honestly...I just don't know what anyone's thinking. To me that's scarier than any half-rotten ghoul trying to eat my flesh."

To his credit, Kirkman throws a nice zombie melee or gun battle or throat ripper in the narrative mix every 10 pages or so for good measure, often with shocking results. Without spoiling, characters come and go quickly, for many reasons and from many causes, not all zombie driven either. Be prepared and don't get too fond of anyone, well almost anyone.

And I could not help but feel as if Kirkman is deftly flirting with other dimensions of the story that could over time be revealed, though since I have roughly another 35+ issues to read in collected format, I might be wrong, but I could not help but read into comments like, "with stock like this you'd think they knew what was coming." Did some people know about the coming apocalypse? Are there any major cities actually safe and secured? What caused this widespread transformation? Will it last, and why do some zombies roam while others idly pass the days in a near motionless stasis?

Tony Moore was the original artist on the title but his stint ended with issue 6 when British artist Charlie Adlard took over and has been on the title ever since with gray tone assists from Cliff Rathburn. Wait gray tones? Yep, grey tones, as this is a black & white presentation and it's refreshing in the same way Frank Miller's Sin City was back in 1991. It's a stark, yet fully realized world washed in shades of gray, free from over-rendering and computer-based coloring. Moore should certainly be credited for laying a strong foundation here for Adlard to capitalize upon, and to be sure the artistic swap is a bit jarring at first, as you'll grow to indentify and care for these characters in no small part to Moore's art, but I soon found myself appreciating Adlard's scrubby lines and blasts of black in the same manner I enjoy Eduardo Risso or Tim Sale's work.

After finishing up the hardcover, I'm all aboard Kirkman's battered RV, plowing through the rotting masses in search of the next volume! I recommend you do the same. Save yourself! Come on in to the store and ask for an order of the Walking Dead TPB Vol.1 - only $9.99.

ANYTHING ELSE WOULD BE CRIMINAL

2008-01-29T15:43:00.000-08:00

Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips CRIMINAL 2 is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated books of 2008.

What more could be expected from a book combining the talents of the headline grabbing writer of Captain America and the British artistic virtuoso of Marvel’s Zombies. No this is not a blog flashback to 2006 when the series originally launched. CRIMINAL 2 is a re-launch of a title that is deserving of far more readership, because it surely has not lacked in recognition.

In the year of 2007 Criminal became the Eisner Award winning, brass knuckle alternative to standard superhero fair dominated the racks these days. It scored best New Series and Best Writer for Brubaker and fans as diverse as comic book legend Frank Miller to actor Bill Hader of SNL & the motion picture SUPERBAD!

Published monthly from ICON comics, CRIMINAL has already lodged two story arcs in the clip and is ready to squeeze the trigger on a three-issue arc of inter-locking, but stand-alone issues that will expand its’world of smoky barrooms, double-crosses, heists, murders and cons. Part homage to the Film Noir motion pictures that inspired the likes of Scorsese and Tarantino, the book leans heavily on characterization and set-up. Don’t expect double page spreads of shoot’em-ups and blood spattered pavement, instead be ready to delve into the minds of the characters, the interactions between the denizens of its world.

Plot does not drive the action in this book, and if you have enjoyed the book's distant cousins Sin City and Fell you'll understand to a degree what to expect from CRIMINAL.

What CRIMINAL does offer is Brubaker at his tight-lipped best, every word appears chosen with great care and consideration and as a result of this economy - every thing counts.

“If you want to understand the truth about anyone, about who they are and where they came from and what they might do, good or bad…you have to look back. Find those moments where time and life collided and made a mark that won’t ever go away. Like back in 1954, when my father took Walter Hyde out to a field to break his knees and put a bullet through his left eye”.

That example is exactly the kind of simple, punchy prose one would expect from the genre and its reptile-blooded morality.

Phillips shares an artistic lineage with Miller, Mazzucchelli and to some degree his contemporary Michael Lark, making the art readily accessible, but make no mistake, his artistic voice is distinct enough that Criminal bears his indelible creative stamp. It looks nothing like Zombies and the painted covers reveal Phillips mastery of the form and artistic his oustanding range.

Val Staples’ colors have become progressively more muted and subtle, a once neon palette that has slowly evolved into a darker, richer spectrum giving the book an even more atmospheric tone and meshing perfectly with Phillips dark brush lines.

One of myths that has plagued the book since it’s inception has been the notion that new readers will have a hard time engaging the book without the knowledge of the backstory and established continuity. Once again, here’s where CRIMINAL proves a winner; each arch is self contained, sure you might get trace elements of the prior arc lingering in the air, but that won’t prevent any new reader from being able to experience full immersion. Volume 1 – “Coward’ and Volume 2 – “Lawless” are in fact interchangeable.

And finally, what would touting a book of this caliber be without some serious proof. Here’s an exclusive web-poster of “Second Chance In Hell”, the first issue of which is due in stores February 2008.

For the full-sized version:

http://www.hiddenrobot.com/crimposter.jpg

3 YOU SHOULD BE READING

2008-01-22T20:38:00.000-08:00

The MICE TEMPLAR

Bryan J.L. Glass

Michael Avon Oeming

A massive and sprawling tale told in the most intimate manner, from the point of view of a small mouse. You've got all the earmarks of a traditional epic - a prophecy, a powerful sword, a naive young protagonist, a damsel in distress, the oppressive forces of darkness and evil, and a hooded old wiseman to light the way. But this tale is more LOST than Star Wars, more mystery than soap opera as the story unfolds in unexpected ways.

FELL
Warren Ellis

Ben Templesmith

Detective Richard Fell has been dispatched or exiled 'across the bridge' to Snowtown - a nasty, seedy an impossibly lurid burrough filled with murders, smugglers, arsonists, drug addicts and a chain smoking nun wearing a Richard Nixon mask. I said - A chain smoking nun wearing a Nixon mask! There is simply nothing like it on the shelves and cases Det. Fell handles are all based in some form of reality, whether they are culled from the headlines or inspired by police procedurals, this book will either offend or amaze. Every issue functions as a stand-alone and you get a little dose of a bigger story every time!

KABUKI

David Mack

Explain Miles Davis' jazz to someone who has never heard music before...Impossible, they'll never get it until they hear it. You'll never get David Mack's medium exploding Kabuki either until you pick it up, sit down with it at your favorite coffee shop, study place, or fortress of solitude and read. Read closely, read carefully, take your time, ingest it and listen. You'll hear mad improvisation and somehow it will all make sense. The Alchemy, the latest 9-issue arc just concluded is highly recommended for any aspiring creator of any form of art or expression. It is guaranteed to fill your mind with ideas and the desire to create. And when you're done, go back to the beginning and pick-up the TPB Kabuki: Circle Of Blood and revel in a fully realized dystopian future of corporate feudalism and the poetic carnage of one soldier's personal war for identity.

THE GOON - WELCOME BACK YA' MUTT

2008-01-15T22:34:00.000-08:00

It had been so long since we'd seen a pipe wrench burst a slack jaw's brittle skull I was beginning to wonder if we might ever see our beautifully scarred and hopelessly brokenhearted Goon and his hollowed eyed sidekick Frankie protect the meek and mild from the hordes of the Zombie Priest.

After an approximately 18 month haitus from the bi-monthly title, Writer/Artist-Creator Eric Powell has returned with a new schedule, MONTHLY, and some new tricks in the person of top-tier colorist Dave Stewart on finishes.

The first issue (#20) of this latest run is already on shelves and Stewart proves and excellent fit for Powell's brushes and wash finishes. The slight change actually gives the art a softer, rounder edge, a little sheen and shadow where before Powell's ink washes would have filled the page. That's what sold me on the book to begin with, so this is no complaint!

What was most pleasing to discover after reading #20 is the writing, like all classic Goon tales is strictly top-notch satire. Tongue through cheek wordplay and witicisms will have you laughing your ass off at least 3-4 times, other times you'll merely chuckle - but when was the last time you did that reading a comic.

And that's just it about the Goon - I could exhaust myself trying to convince you to pick it up because it destroys genres, defies easy categorization, has no business being sold in a reputable establishment like Muse Comics, but I will tell you, read this book, especially if you're a mature reader if you've found a hint of something missing in your comics soul admist all those not so civil wars and crisis. Then you'll know you've found something timeless, something that will make you wince, shake your head, laugh out loud, smirk or burn the book in anger.

If that ain't enough, did I mention the Burlesque Harpies and a lesson learned about brown toothbrushes? Well then, get reading you mutt!

NOTE: Despite the rumors of the Goon's demise, we're here to confirm that Eric Powell's haitus was not due to his having eloped with a woman named Chuck Muckle who bore a striking resemblance to that of an adult Pygmy marmoset, nay - he is but a man, and man must work long hard hours to create the Hardcover Graphic Novel masterpeice The Goon: Chinatown & The Mystery of Mr. Wicker. So he had other people write and illustrate the standard Goon series in the meantime. Buying Chinatown means you'll learn the Goon's tragic origin and that Eric will finally stop mooning over women with mustaches or crying uncontrollably at the zoo.

PAUL AZACETA - FUTURE STAR TODAY!

2008-01-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

I had the great pleasure of discovering artist Paul Azaceta in late 2005 when his series GROUNDED with writer Mark Sable debuted from Image Comics. The series is a masterpeice of what makes comics such an entertaining medium for all age readers.

Since that time Azaceta's star has been on the rise, and his next mini from BOOM studios, aptly named, TALENT, garnered immediate attention from Universal Studios and a fast and furious Hollywood bidding war took place before the first issue was off the shelves in stores.

More recently Paul's output has seemed to increase and you can still find issues of POTTER'S FIELD on the rack at Muse. The books is a gritty mystery in the vein of The CROSSBRONX and this might be the best example yet of how Paul's deep love of black infuses every book he's contributed to with a unique and palapable atmosphere.

This past week, Paul Azaceta has dipped his brush into the world of mainstream comics with the release of BPRD: 1946, Mike Mignola's "origin story" for the league of freaks, misfits and supernatural anomalies that go bump in the night.

Get a peek for free here.

I think it's pretty safe to assume, given Paul's obvious artistic talent with an obvious influence from industry legends like Alex Toth, Paul will soon be drawing for Marvel or DC. It's easy to visualize his ragged, thick lines and pitch blacks lending greater depths and menace to characters like Daredevil or Batman.

THOR - 2007 SURPRISE OF THE YEAR!

2007-12-28T21:42:00.000-08:00

At least for me anyway. And who am I? My name is Tim and I have been the Muse Comics webmaster for nearly 5 years as 2008 arrives. I also happen to read piles of books each week, mainly mainstream offerings from Marvel, DC, Image and Darkhorse with the occassional oddity thrown in for good measure. My tastes have always run towards capes and cowls, tights and fights, since the day I turned the page and Jean Grey turned that moon laser on her destructive self.

But back to the hammer weilding Asgardian. I will admit, Thor and Norse mythology has never been my taste, but after reading Neil Gaiman's American Gods I think I was primed and ready for anything along these lines. And sure enough, here comes the post Civil War re-launch of Thor. Thus far, the 5 issues that have seen print (the schedule has been perfectly monthly since launch) the writing remains crisp, the art surprisingly, consistently beautiful and the costume re-design works (a little less cartoon with apologies to Jack Kirby and a little more servicable, he wears a chainmesh). Because of this series I can no longer claim not be a fan of Thor, writer J.M. Stracynski and artist Oliver Coipel, whose talent has grown considerably since his 2 issue fill-in on Uncanny X-men #448-#449.

This is my personal 07 Surprise Book of The Year - whachu got?

WELCOME TO MUSE COMICS & GAMES!

2007-12-28T21:17:00.003-08:00

The owners and operators of Muse Comics & Games would like to thank you for visiting us. As a member of our community we would like to ask that you consider the age range of our readership that may be visiting the site at any given time. Muse Comics & Games customers are readers and gamers of all ages. In part, we hope our more mature visitors will act respectfully in tone and language when responding to posted topics and in doing so serve as an entry point for introducing younger readers to the medium of comics.

As such we hope that those same younger people will find our corner of the Comics & Gaming Community and enjoy all of the same access rights this site should afford visitors of all ages and viewpoints, namely: reading and game discussions, comics and game related information, special event news, and staff recommendations!

We ask that posters refrain from:

Posting pornographic material of any nature including pictures or links.
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We hope that you can respect these simple guidelines because of our younger visitors. The assessment of infractions will be by the discretion of the site Moderator. Infractions will result in the post being deleted.