Librarian Lou's Big Bad Voodoo Blog

Binding Comic Books #2: Starman, Sandman Mystery Theatre, Blue Beetle, American Century

2009-10-09T18:29:00.005-04:00

After I got my complete Giffen/DeMatteis Justice League run bound into four handsome volumes by Library Binding Company in Waco, Texas, I immediately started planning my next comic book binding project. Combing through what was left of my collection, I prepped a few more complete runs by tearing out double-sided ad pages and back covers, coming up with enough material for nine new hardcover volumes.

When all was said and done, I had torn out three inches of ad pages -- almost two entire custom-bound hardcovers worth of pages!

This was a larger order so it took them longer to process, but I was thrilled to receive the finished products earlier this week. Of course, everything looked beautiful and came out great.

I collected James Robinson's Starman, my all-time favorite series, into four volumes with all possible tie-ins placed chronologically in terms of the story. In addition to Starman #0, 1-80, and 1,000,000, I found places for the two Annuals, the 80-Page Giant, the Secret Files and Origins issue, the Shade miniseries, the Batman/Hellboy/Starman miniseries, the Mist one-shot, the Power of Shazam! crossovers, Stars and STRIPE #0 (as important to the Starman mythos as it was to the new Star-Spangled Kid/Stargirl character), a short story by Robinson about Jack Knight (Starman) taking a boxing lesson from Wildcat (from the All-Star Comics 80-Page Giant), and even a JSA All-Stars issue that came out after Starman ended, reteaming Robinson and artist Tony Harris on a Golden Age Starman story. (I placed that one at the end of the final volume since it came out most recently, despite being a flashback.)

My custom Tables of Contents:

Sandman Mystery Theatre came next, a Vertigo series focusing on the late '30s and early '40s adventures of Wesley Dodds, the Golden Age Sandman. This mystery man had a real sense of style, dressing in a suit, trench coat, fedora, and gas mask, and carrying a gas gun that put criminals to sleep. This crime-noir period piece was often dark and violent, but featured a tender and well-developed relationship between the bookish hero Dodds and his resourceful life-long lover and partner, Dian Belmont.

In addition to the 70 issues and a single Annual, I included Sandman Midnight Theatre, an original graphic novel that tied the Mystery Theatre version of Sandman into Neil Gaiman's mythological dream king Sandman.

I also made sure to fit in the two short Sandman Mystery Theatre stories from Vertigo: Winter's Edge, a holiday-themed anthology. Here is the wraparound cover from Winter's Edge #2 by Mike Allred, one of my favorite artists:

I also collected Len Wein's complete '80s Blue Beetle series into one volume (24 issues preceded by Beetle's origin story in Secret Origins #2), and Howard Chaykin's gritty, sexy Vertigo adventure series American Century into one volume (all 27 issues). Note my snazzy custom Tables of Contents for Sandman Mystery Theatre volumes as well.

Anyway, here is my full library of custom-bound hardcovers, including my four Justice League volumes:

Custom-Bound Hardcover Library

2009-08-12T22:33:00.005-04:00

***UPDATED 10.05.09!***

AMERICAN CENTURY: The Complete Series
American Century #1-27

BLUE BEETLE: The Complete Series
Secret Origins #2 (signed by Wein)
Blue Beetle #1-24

JUSTICE LEAGUE: The Giffen / DeMatteis Era
Volume 1: JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL
Justice League #1-4
Justice League Annual #1
Justice League #5-6
Justice League International #7-13 (8-12 signed by Maguire)
Suicide Squad #13
Justice League International #14
Justice League International Annual #2
Justice League International #15-25 (16-19, 22-24 signed by Maguire)

JUSTICE LEAGUE: The Giffen / DeMatteis Era
Volume 2: JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA
Justice League America #26-30
Justice League America #33-36 (33-35 signed by Hughes)
Justice League International Special #1
Justice League America #37-42 (37-40 signed by Hughes)
Justice League America Annual #4
Justice League America #43-52 (43-45, 51 signed by Hughes; 46-50 signed by Beatty)

JUSTICE LEAGUE: The Giffen / DeMatteis Era
Volume 3: JUSTICE LEAGUE EUROPE
Justice League Europe #1-5 (signed by Sears)
Justice League International Annual #3
Justice League Europe #6 (signed by Sears)
Justice League America #31 (signed by Hughes)
Justice League Europe #7 (signed by Sears)
Justice League America #32 (signed by Hughes)
Justice League Europe #8-19 (8-12, 15-19 signed by Sears)
Justice League Europe Annual #1
Justice League Europe #20-28 (23-28 signed by Sears; 20-22 signed by Rogers)

JUSTICE LEAGUE: The Giffen / DeMatteis Era
Volume 4: JUSTICE LEAGUE: BREAKDOWNS
Justice League Quarterly #1-3
Justice League America #53
Justice League Europe #29 (signed by Sears)
Justice League America #54
Justice League Europe #30 (signed by Beatty)
Justice League America #55
Armageddon 2001 #1
Justice League America Annual #5 (signed by Maguire)
Justice League Europe Annual #2
Armageddon 2001 #2
Justice League Europe #31 (signed by Beatty)
Justice League America #56
Green Lantern #18
Justice League Europe #32 (signed by Beatty)
Justice League America #57
Justice League Europe #33 (signed by Beatty)
Justice League America #58 (signed by Sears and Beatty)
Justice League Europe #34
Justice League America #59 (signed by Sears)
Justice League Europe #35
Justice League America #60
Justice League Europe #36
Secret Origins #33-35

SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE Volume 1
Sandman Mystery Theatre #1-16
Sandman Mystery Theatre Annual #1
Sandman Mystery Theatre #17-24

SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE Volume 2
Sandman Mystery Theatre #25-36
Sandman Midnight Theatre graphic novel
Sandman Mystery Theatre #37-48

SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE Volume 3
Sandman Mystery Theatre #49-56
Vertigo: Winter's Edge #1 (excerpt)
Sandman Mystery Theatre #57-68
Vertigo: Winter's Edge #2 (excerpt)
Sandman Mystery Theatre #69-70

STARMAN Volume 1
Starman #0-11 (0 signed by Harris)
Showcase '95 #12 (excerpt)
Starman #12-19
Showcase '96 #4-5 (excerpts)
Starman #20-23
Starman Annual #1

STARMAN Volume 2
Starman #24-35
Shade #1-4
Starman #36-37
Starman Annual #2
Starman #38-39
Power of Shazam #35
Starman #40
Power of Shazam #36
Starman #41

STARMAN Volume 3
Starman Secret Files and Origins #1
Starman #42
Batman / Hellboy / Starman #1-2
Starman 80-Page Giant #1
Starman #43
Girlfrenzy: The Mist #1
Starman #44-47
Starman #1,000,000
Starman #48-60

STARMAN Volume 4
Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #0
Starman #61-74
All-Star Comics 80-Page Giant #1 (excerpt)
Sins of Youth: Starwoman & the JSA Jr. #1
Starman #75-80
JSA All-Stars #4

Comic Book, TPB, and Graphic Novel Library

2009-08-12T22:24:00.181-04:00

***UPDATED 01.23.12!***

1963 #1-6 (Moore)
52 Vol. 1, 3 TPBs, #52 (1st chronological Beetle/Booster meeting)
Adventures In the DC Universe #8 (Beetle/Booster)
Adventures of Captain America #1-4 (signed by Maguire)
All-New Atom #14 (Beetle)
Altercations #1
Alternative Comics 2003, 2004 FCBD editions
Amazing Screw-On Head one-shot (Mignola)
Amazing Spider-Man #284-289 ("Gang War" and Hobgoblin reveal), 365 (hologram), 583 (President Obama), 666 (Coliseum of Comics variant)
Amazing Spider-Man: The Short Halloween (Bill Hader/Seth Meyers)
America's Best Comics 64-Page Giant #1 (Moore)
Americomics #3 (Beetle), Americomics Special #1 (Charlton heroes)
Astonishing X-Men: Vol. 1-4 TPBs (Whedon)
Atomic Robo 2009 FCBD edition
Authority #1 (Ellis) (promo)
Avengers 2009 FCBD edition
Avengers: Infinity Quest one-shot (Bendis)
Awesome Holiday Special #1 (Moore/Youngblood)
Batman: Ego and Other Tails TPB (Cooke)
Batman/Grendel TPB (Wagner)
Batman/Hellboy/Starman #1-2 (Robinson/Mignola)
Batman/Huntress: Cry For Blood #1-6 (Rucka)
Batman/Spirit (Loeb/Cooke)
Batman: The Ten-Cent Adventure (signed by Rucka)
Batman: Year One TPB (Miller)
Birds of Prey #1 (signed by Dixon), 15, 19, 25 (15, 19, 25 signed by Dixon & Guice), #37
Blackhawk #1-3 (signed by Chaykin)
Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #523
Blue Beetle #1 (Modern Comics; '70s reprint of Charlton)
Blue Beetle #1 (1st series; signed by Wein); #1-6 (2nd series)
Booster Gold (1st series): #1
Booster Gold (2nd series): Vol. 1-6 TPBs, #26-27
Box Office Poison TPB
The Broccoli Agenda OGN
Buckaroo Banzai Preview Edition
Captain America: Rebirth one-shot
Captain America/Thor: The Mighty Fighting Avengers 2011 FCBD edition
Captain Atom 1st series #83 (Modern Comics; '70s reprint of Charlton; 1st Beetle); 2nd series #1, 20 (Beetle)
Captain Atom: Armageddon TPB
Catwoman: Vol. 1-4 TPBs (Brubaker)
Charlton Bullseye #1 (Beetle/Question)
Children's Crusade #1-2 (Gaiman)
Chronos #1-11, 1,000,000
Civil War #1 (Millar) (promo)
Comic Book Tattoo TPB (Tori Amos)
Comico Black Book (Grendel)
Countdown To Infinite Crisis one-shot
Coup D'Etat: Sleeper, Stormwatch, Wildcats 3.0, Authority, Afterword one-shots
Criminal: Vol. 1-5 TPBs (Brubaker)
Danger Girl: Ultimate Collection HC (signed by Campbell)
Danger Girl: Hawaiian Punch #1 (signed by Noto)
Danger Girl: Viva Las Danger #1 (signed by Noto)
Daredevil (Miller): Frank Miller/Klaus Janson Vol. 1-3, Born Again, The Man Without Fear TPBs
Daredevil (Bendis): Vol. 4-7, 9-13 TPBs
Daredevil (Brubaker): Devil Inside and Out Vol. 1-2, Hell To Pay Vol. 1-2, Cruel and Unusual, Lady Bullseye, Return of the King TPBs, Annual #1, Blood of the Tarantula #1
DC Kids FCBD edition
DC New Frontier: Vol. 1-2 TPBs, Justice League: New Frontier Special #1 (Cooke)
DC Retroactive: Justice League America: The '90s one-shot (JLI)
DC Universe Legacies #10 (Blue Beetle variant)
Deadline #1-4 (all signed by Horn)
Deadshot #1-4 (1988), #1-5 (2005)
Death By Chocolate
Death By Chocolate: Sir Geoffrey and the Chocolate Car
Death: The High Cost of Living TPB (Gaiman)
Death: The Time of Your Life #1-3 (Gaiman)
Deathstroke #41 (Deadshot)
Doctor Solar/Magnus: Robot Fighter FCBD edition
Doom Patrol Vol. 6 TPB (Morrison)
Dr. Mid-Nite #1-3 (Wagner)
Dr. Strange promo (Ditko reprints) from Marvel Legends action figure
Elektra Saga #1-4 (Miller)
Everyman OGN (Allred)
Ex Machina: Vol. 1-10 TPBs (Vaughan)
Excalibur: Mojo Mayhem OGN (A. Adams)
Extreme Justice #0-4
Fables: 100 Nights of Snowfall (promo)
Fantastic Four #1 (second series; Jim Lee)
Fell: Feral City TPB (Ellis)
Flash: Rebirth #1 (promo)
Ghost Rider #1 (signed by Texeira and Saltares)
Girls #1 (promo)
Golden Age TPB (Robinson)
Green Hornet FCBD edition
Green Lantern (3rd series): #9 (signed by Van Sciver)
Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame OGN (Gaiman)
Grendel #16-19 (Comico; signed by Wagner)
Grendel: Black, White, and Red TPB (signed by Wagner)
Grendel: Devil By the Deed (Dark Horse; signed by Wagner)
Grendel: Red, White, and Black TPB
Grendel Tales: Four Devils, One Hell TPB (Robinson)
Hawaiian Dick #1-3 (all signed by Moore and Griffin)
Hawkman #27 (Brubaker)
Hellblazer #1 (promo)
Hellboy: The Third Wish #1-2, The Corpse #1, Wolves Of St. August #1, The Fury #1
Identity Disc #1-5 (Deadpool)
Immortal Iron Fist Vol. 1-2 TPBs (Brubaker/Fraction)
Incognito Vol. 1-2 TPBs (Brubaker)
Infinite Crisis TPB (Johns)
Infinity, Inc. #30 (JSA)
Invincible #0
Invincible Iron Man #1 (Fraction; free promo)
Iron Man (1st series) #268
Iron Man/Nova FCBD edition
Iron Man/Thor FCBD edition
Irredeemable FCBD edition
Jack of Fables #1 (promo)
JLA 80-Page Giant #1 (Beetle/Booster)
JLA: Incarnations #6 (JLI)
Judgment Day: TPB, Sourcebook (Moore)
Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare TPB
Justice League: Formerly Known as the Justice League TPB (JLI)
Justice League: I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League TPB (JLI)
Justice League: Generation Lost Vol. 1-2 HCs (JLI)
Justice League International Special #2 (Huntress)
Justice League OF America #100 (Bronze Age; JSA/Seven Soldiers)
Justice League Unlimited #5 (Beetle), 8 (Question), 36 (Question), 43 (Beetle/Booster)
Justice Riders OGN
Justice Society of America 100-Page Super Spectacular (reprints)
Justice Society Returns: All-Star #1 (signed by Lark), 2, Adventure, All-American, National, Sensation, Smash, Star-Spangled, Thrilling Comics #1s (1999)
Last Days of the Justice Society of America #1
L.A.W.: Living Assault Weapons #1-6 (Beetle/Charlton heroes)
Legends TPB
Losers: Vol. 1-5 TPBs, #1 (promo) (Diggle)
Madman: The Oddity Odyssey TPB
Madman Adventures: TPB, Ashcan edition
Madman Comics: Vol. 1-4 TPBs; issue #7 (signed by Allred and Darrow)
Madman/Superman Hullabaloo TPB
Madrox: Multiple Choice TPB
Martian Manhunter: American Secrets #1-3 (miniseries)
Martian Manhunter #24 (JLI)
Marvel Team-Up #74 (Spidey and original SNL cast!)
Maus Vol. I-II TPBs
Mister Miracle #7-8 (2nd series) (Beetle/Booster)
New X-Men #114 (Morrison) (promo)
Nightwing #63 (Beetle)
OMAC Project TPB (Rucka)
Oni Press Free For All FCBD edition
Planetary: Vol. 1-4 TPBs; Planetary/Authority, Planetary/JLA, Planetary/Batman OGNs (Ellis)
Point Blank TPB (Brubaker)
Power and Glory #1-4 (Chaykin)
Power Girl Vol. 3: Bomb Squad TPB
Preacher TPBs: Vol. 1-3, 5-9 (Ennis)
Prelude to Infinite Crisis TPB
Pryde and Wisdom #1-3 (signed by Dodson)
Pulse: Vol. 1-3 TPBs (Bendis)
Punisher #1 ('80s ongoing)
Punisher War Journal #1 ('80s)
Punisher War Zone #1 ('80s)
Queen and Country #1 (FCBD edition), Declassified #1-3
The Question (2005) #1-6
Radical FCBD edition
Red Rocket 7 TPB, #1-7 (oversized)
Rex Libris: Vol. 1-2 TPBs
Ruse #1 (signed by Waid and Guice), 2
Sandman: Endless Nights Preview (Gaiman)
Scene of the Crime #1-4 (Brubaker; signed by Lark)
Secret Wars #1
Sensational Spider-Man #0
Sentry TPB
Seven Soldiers of Victory: Vol. 1-4 TPBs, #0 (Morrison)
Shadow: Blood and Judgment #1-4 (Chaykin)
She-Hulk: Vol. 1-2, 5 TPBs (Slott)
Silver Age Classics: Showcase #22 (reprint of 1st appearance of Hal Jordan Green Lantern)
Sin City: The Hard Goodbye TPB (mini-size, came with SE DVD)
Sixth Gun FCBD edition
Sleeper: Vol. 1-4 TPBs (Brubaker)
Solo #4 (Chaykin), 5 (Cooke), 7 (Allred)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2010 FCBD edition
Spartan: Warrior Spirit #1-4 (Busiek)
Spawn #1, 9 (Gaiman)
Spectacular Spider-Man #189 (hologram)
Spider-Man #26 (hologram)
Spider-Man's Tangled Web #4 (signed by Rucka), 14 (Scott "Raven" Levy), 21 (Cooke)
Spirit: The New Adventures #1-2 (Moore, Gaiman)
Starman #1 (Will Payton series)
Starman #81 (Robinson)
Stormwatch #11 (2nd series) (Ellis)
Suicide Squad: Vol. 1 TPB
Suicide Squad: From the Ashes TPB
Supreme: Vol. 1-2 TPBs, #52a-52b (Moore)
Team One: WildC.A.T.s #1-2 (Robinson)
Terminal City TPB, Aerial Graffitti #1-5 (all signed by Lark)
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1
Tick: The Complete Edlund TPB, FCBD edition
Top Ten: Vol. 1-2 TPBs (Moore; both signed by Ha)
Transformers: Rodimus vs. Cyclonus promo (from Hasbro toy 2-pack)
Ultimate Daredevil & Elektra #1 (Rucka)
Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #4-5 (Allred), 11 (Chynna)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man Annual '96 (Allred)
V For Vendetta TPB (Moore)
Vertigo Pop: Tokyo #1-4
Vertigo Rave #1
Vertigo Visions: The Geek (Allred)
Vertigo X #1
Vext #1-6 (Giffen)
Vigilante #1-4 (Robinson)
Villains United TPB
Watchmen TPB, #1 (Moore)
Web of Spider-Man #18 (1st Eddie Brock/Venom), 90 (hologram)
WildC.A.T.s #11-20 (Robinson), Alan Moore's Complete WildC.A.T.s TPB
Wildcats (2nd series): Vol. 2-4 TPBs
Wildcats 3.0: Year One, Year Two TPBs
Wildcats (4th series) #1 (Morrison/Lee)
Wolverine FCBD edition
World's Best Comics: Golden Age Sampler, Silver Age Sampler
World's Funnest special
X-Factor (1st series): #41-42, 67-68 (signed by Thibert), 87
X-Factor (2nd series): Vol. 1-5 TPBs (David)
X-Force: Vol. 1-2 TPBs (Milligan/Allred)
X-Men: Second Coming: Prepare #1 (promo)
Y The Last Man: Vol. 1-10 TPBs (Vaughan)
Youngblood #1-2 (Moore)
Zero Hour #2

DVD Library

2009-07-09T00:04:00.019-04:00

***UPDATED 10.21.11!***

DVD:
Angel (Seasons 1-5 box set)
Archer (Season 1)
Army of Darkness (Bootleg Edition)
Arrested Development (Seasons 1-3)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Seasons 1-7 box set)
Casablanca SE
Chicago
Dark City (Director's Cut)
Dave
Desperado
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
An Evening With Kevin Smith (no case)
Fight Club SE
Firefly: The Complete Series
Ghostbusters
Goodfellas SE
Hard Boiled
Hard Target
The Killer (Criterion Collection)
Knocked Up (Extended)
L.A. Confidential (2-disc SE)
Last Man Standing
Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
The Long Kiss Goodnight
The Matrix
Memento SE
Mystery Men
Office Space SE
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Pirates of the Caribbean
Point of No Return
Portishead PNYC Live
The Prestige
Pulp Fiction SE
Reservoir Dogs SE
The Rocketeer
The Rundown
Running Time
Serenity
Sin City (Directors' Cut)
Snatch SE
Sneakers
South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut
The Specials
Suicide Kings
Superman (1940s cartoons) Vol. 1-2
The Thirteenth Floor
This Is Spinal Tap
Transformers: The Movie (20th Anniversary)
The Transporter
True Romance SE
12 Monkeys
The Usual Suspects SE
The Venture Bros. (Seasons 1-2)

Blu-Ray:
Bridesmaids
Dark Knight
Inception
Up
Watchmen (Director's Cut)

Store-Bought VHS Tapes:
Plan 9 From Outer Space
Schindler's List
Taxi Driver

Binding Comic Books #1: Justice League International

2009-07-01T02:02:00.004-04:00

I don't really buy new comics anymore. I may pick up a few trade paperbacks a year (only when they're heavily discounted), and I rely on inter-library loans to furnish me with others, but the days of waiting for new comic Wednesdays, scouring the spinner-racks, buying, reading, bagging, and boarding comics are over for me. I've sold or donated boxes and boxes of comics over the last few years, and just don't have the interest I used to.

That said, even though I've greatly downsized my collection, I still have a few complete runs that I wouldn't ever want to part with, sentimental favorites from years past. But I noticed that while I'll often reread trade paperbacks on my bookshelf, I almost never delved into my remaining longboxes to reread bagged and boarded single issues, even the really terrific ones. Sure, sometimes they get reprinted in trade paperbacks, but who wants to repurchase things they already own (albeit in an inferior format)? Not I. And half the time the new TPBs are expensive (and only reprint four or six issues in a shot), or they skip issues or reprint things out of order, and they always seem to trickle out slowly. At least I know I have all the good stuff already.

That's when I had an epiphany: what if I had my all-time favorite comics bound into collected editions of my own? That would eliminate longbox clutter, allow me easy access to old classics, and even create one-of-a-kind new collectibles. Like so many great ideas, it had already been done... but that made it even easier for me to move forward with it. To start with, I envisioned binding the classic Justice League International run co-written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis into four hardcover volumes. The first volume would be Justice League International, followed by Justice League America (the same series with a title change), Justice League Europe (a spinoff book that ran concurrently, starting when International changed its name to America), and finally, Justice League: Breakdowns (a crossover that ran back and forth between the two titles, leading to the end of the Giffen/DeMatteis era on both). I had all the comics, including Annuals, Specials, tie-in issues from other series, random crossovers, and whatever else was needed to make these volumes truly complete. But who could help me make this happen?

Library Binding is based in Waco, Texas, and they specialize in the kind of comic binding projects I had in mind: http://librarybinding.com/comic-books.php . Their prices are amazing: $15 (plus shipping) for binding a stack of comic books into a simple, sturdy, no-frills hardcover book with custom text stamped into the spine. We pick the cover and text colors, which are included in the base price, and they trim the edges nice and smooth and even remove the staples in the process. Special features like fancy fonts, front cover stamping, and custom logo dies cost extra. I corresponded with experienced bookbinder James Jasek several times via e-mail with all of my questions and concerns, and the man had the patience of a saint. Eventually, I was ready for what most comic book collectors would consider a nightmarish scenario. I started tearing pages out of these beloved old comics.

Needless to say, I wanted my custom-bound books to be as nice as possible, so I figured I would prep my comics for binding by removing all the double-sided ad pages and back covers. Nobody likes ads breaking up a story, which is one more reason trade paperbacks are so much nicer than single-issue comics. Plus, this would decrease the size of the volumes I had planned, allowing me to fit more issues into each bound book. I went through over 100 comics and very carefully tore out every offending page, which constituted a real history lesson in the comic books, video games, and junk food of the late '80s and early '90s.

(This isn't a great picture for showing you the size of the stack of ads I tore out, but it's the only picture I took. Trust me, there were a LOT.)

I only wished some really fastidious fanboys could have seen me in action, as they surely would have panicked and gotten offended. It seemed counterintuitive, ripping out pages -- essentially "destroying" the priceless collectibles we've gotten conditioned to think of comics as. But I've moved past that. The best comics are reading material first and foremost, deserving to be accessible for revisiting at any point, like good friends. Instead of destroying these old issues, I saw myself creating something new. Something better. Something that could be displayed proudly on a bookshelf instead of taped up in mylar and surrounded by cardboard, shielded from the light of day.

In the end, I had my four volumes planned out, and divided the comics into four stacks to get them ready for Library Binding.

I filled out their binding slips with everything I wanted and sent them off. Was I nervous? You better believe it! But I had seen samples of the beautiful work Library Binding did, and I knew my beloved Justice League International comics were in good hands.

About a month later, I received a package at work. The books were ready! How did they come out? See for yourselves!

I added custom Tables of Contents to each volume:

And the books lay open flat, unlike most "official" published trade paperbacks:

My Want List

2009-04-30T01:30:00.225-04:00

Here are items I'd love to get eventually, either for good prices or via trading.

***UPDATED 01.28.12!***

Graphic Novels and Comics I want:
52 Vol. 2, 4 TPBs
Madman Atomic Comics Vol. 1-3 TPBs
Power Girl Vol. 4 TPB
Lucifer Vol. 4, 6 TPBs
Criminal Vol. 6 TPB
Immortal Iron Fist Vol. 3-5 TPBs
Sandman Vol. 1-10 TPBs

Toys and Collectibles I want:
Justice League Unlimited: Blue Beetle, Guy Gardner, Heat Wave, Barry Allen Flash, Omac, Max Lord custom (made from Nemesis), possibly others...
Batman Legacy: Catman
DC Direct: Black Lantern Blue Beetle
Eaglemoss DC Collection: Starman
Simpsons World of Springfield: Comic Book Guy
Tokidoki Barbie (for my wife!)

Media I want:
Tom Waits: Blood Money, Bone Machine, Big Time CDs
The Wire: Season 1-5 DVDs or Complete Series set

Does anyone prefer single issue comic books to TPBs?
I have the following comics as singles,
but I'd gratefully trade them for the corresponding TPBs:
Batman/Huntress: Cry For Blood (#1-6)
Blue Beetle: Shellshocked (#1-6)
Coup D'Etat (Sleeper, Stormwatch, Wildcats 3.0, Authority)
Deadline (#1-4, signed by Greg Horn!)
Death: The Time of Your Life (#1-3)
Dr. Mid-Nite (#1-3)
Grendel: Devil Tales (#16-19; signed by Matt Wagner!)
Hawaiian Dick (#1-3; signed by B. Clay Moore and Steven Griffin!)
Identity Disc (#1-5)
James Robinson's Complete WildC.A.T.s (#15-20 and Team One: WildC.A.T.s #1-2)
Planetary: Crossing Worlds (Authority, JLA, Batman one-shots)
Red Rocket 7 (#1-7; oversized)
Scene of the Crime: A Little Piece of Goodnight (#1-4; signed by Michael Lark!)

Action Figures for Sale or Trade

2009-04-23T23:01:00.086-04:00

I've been a lifelong collector, but I'm cutting back, downsizing, holding onto the things I REALLY like and hoping to find new homes for the rest. If you're interested in action figures, comic books, and various other items, read on!

***UPDATED 01.28.12!***

DC action figures:
DC Direct figure stands (lots!)
JLU Amazo (clear)
JLU Booster Gold (dark colors)
JLU Flash (either 5 or 9 POA)
JLU Green Lantern (5 POA w/hair or 9 POA bald)
JLU Hawkman
JLU Lobo

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero 3 3/4" action figures (Hasbro):
(These are almost all '80s originals that come as is, with whatever I have pictured. I will happily check the condition of O-rings and joints if you have any additional questions.)

Airtight:

Backstop:

Baroness:

Blowtorch:

Chameleon (2000 Baroness repaint):

Chuckles:

Clutch:

Cobra Commander (2000):

Copperhead:

Crazylegs:

Deep Six (version 2):

Destro:

Fast Draw:

Frostbite:

Iceberg:

Lady Jaye:

Leatherneck:

Lightfoot:

Lowlight:

Major Bludd:

Outback:

Psyche-Out:

Recoil:

Red Dog:

Repeater:

Shockwave:

Snake Eyes (1983; swivel-arm):

Snake Eyes (version 3):

Snake Eyes (25th Anniversary):

Taurus:

Wet-Suit:

Zarana:

20-something black round Protech stands (for vintage Star Wars or G.I. Joe figures)

Star Wars (vintage loose 3 ¾" Kenner figures):

Han Solo: original
Han Solo: Bespin (leather jacket)
Han Solo: Hoth (snow gear)
Luke Skywalker: Bespin (fatigues)
Luke Skywalker: X-Wing pilot
Luke Skywalker: Hoth (snow gear)
Luke Skywalker: Jedi (in black)
Princess Leia: original
Princess Leia: Hoth (snow gear)
Chewbacca
C3PO (removable limbs, probably some gold paint wear)
R2D2 (sticker removed so his cylinder body is just white, chrome wear on head)
Darth Vader (head glued in place)
Stormtrooper
Snowtrooper
Death Star Commander
Tusken Raider
Yoda (still has belt)
Biker Scout
AT-AT driver (the guy in the gray-green fatigues)
AT-ST driver (looks kinda like a Stormtrooper)
Imperial Commander (the guys in the black suits and caps) x2
Lando Calrissian: original
Lando Calrissian: skiff guard disguise
Gammorean Guard
Greedo
Snaggletooth
Weequay
Ree-Yees
Squid Head (cloth cape torn)
Power Droid
R5D4
2-1B (blue medical droid)
Boba Fett
Dengar
4-Lom
Bossk
IG-88
Admiral Ackbar x2
Nien Numb
B-Wing pilot
Hoth Rebel Trooper
Endor Rebel Trooper (green fatigues)
Chief Chirpa (Ewok)
Logray (Ewok)
Mace Windu (Episode 1)

Transformers:
G1 Hot Rod (w/Tech Specs, rifle; window piece broken but included)

Optimus Prime knockoffs (about 5" tall; they transform and their chests light up)

Grendel Halloween mask (w/elastic band for head and real cloth straps)

Buffy and Angel (Diamond Select):
Anya (Once More With Feeling version; loose)
Faith (End of Days super-articulated version; loose)
Summers Family Album set (Buffy, Dawn, and Joyce; unopened MIMB)

Smurfs figurines (all early '80s):

Snoopy figurines (all early '80s):

The greatness of the Golden Age Superman

2007-04-21T00:22:00.000-04:00

As much as I love comic books, I've always been pretty ambivalent about Superman. Okay, he's the big blue Boy Scout, the perfect paragon that even other superheroes look up to, the strongest, fastest, most powerful, most infallible... and why? Because he was lucky enough to end up on a planet with a yellow sun that granted him those powers? If Krypton hadn't exploded, Kal-El would have lived a normal life there like every other schmuck. Instead, he was raised by kind, loving Earth parents that instilled him with good, traditional, American values, but he didn't have to train hard or experience a great, life-altering tragedy to become a superhero. Sure, he does good because he is good -- we could all learn a lesson from that. But for me, that doesn't create compelling drama like guilt or retribution or obsession or even an overwhelming need for self-improvement. That's why I can't get behind the character more.

That said, my favorite version of Superman is from the Golden Age of comics, the original incarnation of the character that debuted in Action Comics #1, the version two young Jewish kids, Jerry Siegel and Joel Schuster, created in 1938. Before Superman's Kryptonian backstory was even fleshed out, they created Superman as a true hero for the people at a time when heroes were needed. He was always duking it out with evil slumlords, greedy sweatshop owners, corrupt politicians, amoral munitions dealers, and weaselly criminals -- all relevant villains in the late '30s and early '40s. He typically hit first and asked questions later, and experienced some level of sadistic glee beating up people who had it coming (a stark contrast to the Superman of today, who pulls his punches when he isn't dealing with universe-threatening big bads). Once the interplanetary origin story came into play, Superman took on a deeper meaning as the ultimate immigrant making good in America, embraced by a culture of recent immigrants trying to carve out new lives and understand "truth, justice, and the American way."

Here are some panels from early Superman comics depicting the populist icon at his most absurd, violent, and unintentionally hilarious, all copyrighted by DC Comics.

Example 1: If Superman wants to come visit, he WILL come visit.
http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=superman13sb.jpg

Example 2: How great would it be if real life was like this?
http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=superman29bf.jpg

Example 3: Before Single White Female! Before Misery! One of the creepiest Superman stories ever!
http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=superman31zh.jpg

Example 4: Superman's kind of a dick here, but he gets results.
http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=superman40wr.jpg

Example 5: More of the Super-Bully, having a little too much fun.
http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=superman51hl.jpg

Example 6: I'm sure he learned all about that place from Bruce and Dick.
http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=superman68cn.jpg

Example 7: So he stopped the bomb from falling, but what about the debris from the plane?
http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=superman77te.jpg

Example 8: Superman at his most hardcore! You won't see him do anything like this nowadays.
http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=superman88pz.jpg

Recipe cards from the 1970s

2007-04-01T12:04:00.000-04:00

Make mine MEATCAKE!

2007-02-05T23:32:00.000-05:00

This is how you create that mammoth of meals disguised as a dessert, the hearty and delicious Meatcake. Like robots that transform into cars, the Meatcake is more than meets the eye!

Ingredients
5 pounds of ground beef (don't worry about getting the expensive lean stuff for this recipe!)
2 cups of dry bread crumbs (I like the Vigo brand bread crumbs with romano cheese for a more robust flavor, but you can use Progresso or the Jason brand kosher bread crumbs if your friends keep kosher as some of mine do.)
4 eggs
1 small can of plain tomato sauce
Minced garlic
Finely-chopped sweet Vidalia onion
Ketchup
Barbecue sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Tabasco Chipotle sauce
Liquid smoke
Gulden's spicy brown mustard
Brown sugar
Old Bay seasoning
Basil
Oregano
Adobo
Cumin
Paprika (regular or smoked; I have both so I used both!)
Chili powder
Garlic powder
Black pepper
Kosher salt
Red pepper flakes
Whatever else you have on hand that you like!

Keep separate:
1 box instant mashed potatoes (usually potato flakes) -- follow the instructions on the box, which usually call for salt, water, butter or margarine, and a bit of milk.

Recipe
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (This is the easy part.)

2. Combine the meat, bread crumbs, eggs, and and a good bit of every spice, seasoning, and condiment you have in the house in a large mixing bowl, as you would a meatloaf. You're going to need to use your hands, so make sure the meat isn't ice-cold.

3. When mixed evenly, divide the meat into three round disposable aluminum cake pans, then top each one with a blend of ketchup, barbecue sauce, and brown sugar so it will form a nice, sweet, crusty red glaze on top when they go in the oven.

*(No pictures for this part because my hands were covered with meat and ketchup and other greasy, sticky, slimy stuff.)*

4. Bake them for an hour at 350 degrees and carefully drain the orange-red liquid fat, preferably into an empty glass jar rather than down your sink. Put the meatcake discs in the fridge overnight, covered with plastic wrap, ideally still in their aluminum cake pans.

5. When they're chilled and hopefully firmed up, use a long, sharp knife to shave off the tops and sides of the three meatloaf discs to get them to be even, flat, and round (or at least moreso than they were before. Perfection is unnecessary.)

6. Put them back in the oven just long enough to heat them back up.

7. Meanwhile, whip a quick sweet tomatoey sauce by simmering a can of plain tomato sauce with some worcestershire and brown sugar, stirring constantly.

8. Cook up some instant mashed potatoes -- believe it or not, I used the equivalent of 8 cups, although I didn't follow the box instructions by adding milk. Mashed potato purists, feel free to sneer, but you really need the smooth, uniform consistency you get from the instant potato flakes.

9. Scoop the instant mashed potatoes into a plastic Ziploc baggie and snip a tiny hole in one corner, so you can use it like a pastry bag.

10. Stack the meat discs on a large plate: a foundation meat layer with a ring of potato icing from the bag to act as a gasket, and tomato sauce inside the ring. Follow with a second meat layer, another potato ring, and more sauce inside it, and top with the third meat layer.

11. Stick in some short bamboo skewers to keep them from sliding or falling apart. 6" skewers worked well for me, and I still had to snap off the protruding tops. Trust me on this one, you'll be glad you had these!

12. "Ice" the triple-decker meatcake just as you'd spread and smooth icing over a real dessert cake. If you have extra mashed potatoes, you can use your "pastry bag" to squeeze out little artsy flourishes around the top and sides, like you'd see on a cake. (This is where you may add food coloring for some real style points, but you don't want to gross out your guests to the point where they won't try it.)

13. Fill another Ziploc baggie with the tomato sauce and snip a tinier hole in the corner. Use this to squeeze a ring of sauce carefully around the top circumference of the meatcake, and another ring around the bottom, along the plate (to mimic a "strawberry sauce" effect).

14. Cut out slices (taking great care not to eat the bamboo skewers) and serve it like a real cake: layers of rich brown meatloaf with red tomatoey goodness between them, all iced with tasty smooth mashed potatoes and a sweet red sauce. It's an entire hearty meal... in cake form! MEATCAKE!