Heroes Aren't Hard to Find: Charlotte Mini-Con 2018 Haul (part 1)

Last Saturday (01/28/18), I made the trip to uptown Charlotte, NC to my old college campus of CPCC at the Grady Cole Center. The best comic shop I've ever had the pleasure of shopping at, Heroes Aren't Hard to Find, organizes the Charlotte Mini-Con each January along with the much larger HeroesCon during the summer. It's been awhile since I've been able to attend a comic book show, so I was glad to have made time in my schedule to attend (i.e. - my wife was gracious enough to let me attend!). 

Part of the fun of this event and others is that I get to spend some one-on-one time with my brother. Comics are something that we both enjoy so it's cool to get to share that with him. He is the one afterall that is responsible for getting me hooked on all of these colorful, costumed super heroes. While my reading and collecting comics has come and gone as I've grown up and started a family, my love for the characters has never ceased. I'm predominately a Marvel fan (again, thanks to my brother) and I enjoy most of Marvel's books from the Bronze age. 

In fact, when I go to shows and conventions I rarely look at the "wall books" and sniff out the $.50 boxes. That's were I generally plant myself, though as I'm getting older I start to feel the aches and pains in my body towards the end of the day / the next day after sitting on the floor, leaning over going through so many boxes!

On this trip to the Charlotte Mini-Con, I was able to find several tables that had great deals. I pulled out my phone and fired up the CLZ comic app and I started to dig to see what I could find. For starters I'll share the books I was able to find of one of my favorite characters, Spider-Man.

While my collection of Amazing Spider-Man is meager when compared to many other collector's, it remains one of my favorite titles to search out and try to fill in the holes. It's getting harder and harder to find AMS in cheap boxes so at some point in the near future I may have to set my sights on $1 boxes. *gasp!*

Only found one book I needed from the regular Spider-Man title, issue #51. This one has a foil cover and is a flip book. I found a small chip on the edge of the foil and almost put it back, but it was cheap, filled a hole so why not?

I remember when Web of Spider-Man #1 came out. I remember seeing it on the shelves at Heroes in Charlotte...however back then I wasn't reading comics. Of course by the time I "discovered" Spider-Man, most of his titles, including Web were already well along in their numbering. I've only recently started to buy issues of Web of Spider-Man so I was thrilled to find such a large run...especially for cheap!

At the time of this post, I'm still behind on reading my new books. I'm currently about half way through Civil War II, but before that I completed the Secret Wars mini series. While it wasn't my favorite Marvel event story, one thing that did come out of Secret Wars that I enjoyed was the Amazing Spider-Man Renew Your Vows storyline. 

While I'm not a huge advocate of reversing the One More Day events, I did like reading a married Peter Parker. Toss in his daughter and super-powers and it makes for some fun stories, at least in my opinion. While I bought the Renew Your Vows mini-series, I didn't pick up the series when it became an ongoing series. I kinda regret that and I've been hoping to find back issues at an affordable price. While I only found the first two issues last weekend, I'm glad to have found them and I'm eagerly awaiting to read them.

One of the first Spider-Man stories I read was the now famous (or infamous?) clone story in Amazing Spider-Man. I loved every minute of it and have enjoyed the subsequent stories that took place afterwards. When the Scarlet Spider was given his own series, I wasn't currently buying new books so I've been trying to piece this series together for awhile. I don't usually see this title in $.50 or $1 boxes that often so I was more than happy to gobble up 4 issues that I didn't have, including the last issue of the series, #25.

Anything Venom always seems to be in demand. I found this one lone book of his The Hunted mini-series and according to my CLZ app, I didn't have it. Now I do.

Those are just the Spider-Man related books that I picked up. I'm still working on part 2 where I'll show off the other books that I was able to find on the cheap end. Thanks for stopping by!

Free Comic Book Day Sketch

There was a time when I was all about comic books.  While I still enjoy reading I just don't have the time nor the funds (or space for that matter) to collect comic books.  One of the great things about comics for me each year was Free Comic Book Day.  One of the local comic shops in town always treated the event really big each May.  Several notable artists would be invited and for several hours would provide sketches by request for FREE!  Most of the artists didn't just scribble something down either.  They would take there time and craft some beautiful pieces of art.  I've got several from Mark Brooks currently framed and on my wall at home.  I don't remember what kept me from attending FCBD in 2010, but my brother graciously requested a Scarlet Spider sketch for me from artist Tom Lyle.  When he brought it home to me I was floored at the level of detail Tom put into it.  I still need to find a suitable frame, but once I do this piece will be proudly displayed on the walls of my home.

Marvel Universe: Scarlet Spider

QUICK INFO:  
Name: Scarlet Spider
Line: Marvel Universe (Hasbro)
MSRP: $7.99
Year: 2011

Cloned from the DNA of Peter Parker to battle Spider-Man, the Scarlet Spider gradually turned into one of the web-slinger's most trusted allies and greatest friends.  Battling alondside Spider-Man, he found himself becoming something more than a clone - the Scarlet Spider had finally become a hero in his own right.

The Marvel Universe line rolls on with Series 3 featuring such characters as Dr. Doom, Skaar, Doctor Strange, Falcon and Spider-Man's clone, the Scarlet Spider.

When the Marvel Universe line started I found myself buying just about every figure released.  Down the road I've found myself with both limited space and funds for such things and I have cut back.  When I heard there was going to be a Scarlet Spider toy I knew I had to buy it for several reasons:

1) I first got back into reading comics while in high school working at a local drug store.  We always had the various Spider-Man titles on the magazine rack and what was the major story line at the time?  None other than the controversial Clone Saga.

2) I like the character!  I'm not a long time Spider-Man reader like my brother is so I don't have the attachment to the character's history.  That said I enjoyed the story and thought having a figure to display side by side w/ Spider-Man would be cool.

3) The Scarlet Spider later joined the New Warriors.  I'm a huge New Warriors fan and have always dreamed of having the team members in toy form.  I got my wish (sort of) with Firestar from the Spider-Man 3 pack.  Now I have one more.  I know it's a pipe dream at best,but I'm still waiting for Hasbro to make a classic Speedball figure!

I noticed when I found this series at local retail that Marvel yet again changed the artist for the packaging.  I'm not sure who supplied this art, but I don't like it.  I could deal with Mike Deodato and Oliver Coipel from series 1 & 2, but I don't like this darker, grainy artwork.  Didn't stop me from buying the figure though!

I've seen all of the figures in this wave except for the Falcon.  Figures as he is the other one I want.  Dr. Doom looks nice.  Better than the one in the comic 2 pack released earlier...but I'm trying to stick to Spider-Man and Avengers characters/villains at the moment.

Scarlet Spider features the new figure build.  The added swivel joint in the thighs makes a huge difference.  The figure sports all of the normal points of articulation that we all have come to expect with this line.

I love the blue sweat shirt.  The colors are spot on.

 

While I generally like these new action figure stands, I don't care for the peg placement on Scarlet Spider's stand as it hinders certain poses.  You have to bend the legs at the knees and it just makes the figure look awkward.  Thankfully the figure is well proportioned and can stand on it's own without the need of the stand.

Outside of Constrictor that I bought at the big comic book convention this summer I haven't bought many Marvel Universe figures lately.  However Hasbro has come a LONG way since the first wave and the quality just keeps getting better and better.  This is a solid figure and a must have for any Spider-Man (or his clone) fan!