LCS Tour - Planet Comics

Planet Comics
Anderson, SC
As you can tell from the photo above, one thing that separates Planet Comics from many other shops is that it is open at night! We arrived at a time when most comic stores I know of would be closed. It was nice to see the place buzzing with people on Saturday night, particularly the gaming area. You can find a great selection of current comics and back issues, as well as discount books and an impressive anime and dvd section. So if you find yourself out on the town in Anderson, stop by Planet Comics for an after dinner treat!

To check out all the Local Comic Shops I have visited on this tour, check out my LCS Tour Google Map!

LCS Tour - Borderlands

Borderlands
Greenville, SC
While we were in Greenville, we went from one of the smallest stores (in square footage) so far on our tour, to one of the largest. And the two shops are mere blocks away! Robert Young is the new owner of Borderlands and he has some big plans to go with his big store. He has been in the comic retail business for over 20 years and is a passionate believer in the medium and great supporter of creators. Listening to some of his ideas, I know this will be a store to watch in 2011 and beyond! In addition to everything you'd expect from your LCS, Borderlands is also THE place to be for wargaming. Between all the gaming tournaments and comic events Rob has scheduled for this year, I have no idea how he's going to get any sleep!

To check out all the Local Comic Shops I have visited on this tour, check out my LCS Tour Google Map!

LCS Tour - Richard's Comics

Richard's Comics & Collectables
Greenville, SC
One of the dealers at the Charlotte Mini Con this weekend was Richard Morgan, and we also made it a point to visit his store on the return trip. And I'm so glad we did! Out of the many stores I have visited, Richard's Comics & Collectables gets my vote for best maximum use of minimal space! I can't believe all the items in this store - the current titles, decent backstock, shelves full of trades, figures and statues, original comic art for sale, gaming cards, and much more. I actually nearly got lost looking around the shop and it is one of the smallest ones we've been to! Not only did I find some cool stuff to buy, but also gave me some ideas for organizing my own geek space.

To check out all the Local Comic Shops I have visited on this tour, check out my LCS Tour Google Map!

LCS Tour - Heroes Aren't Hard to Find

Heroes Aren't Hard to Find
Charlotte, NC
This past weekend, we decided to take our LCS Tour out of the state, mainly because we were going to check out the Charlotte Mini Con, operated by Shelton Drum. The con itself was fun, though on a smaller scale than Shelton's world-renown "other" convention - HeroesCon - one of my personal fave cons every year. Though Shelton is recognized as the organizer of some great cons, he is also the owner of one of the best comic stores in the world, Heroes Aren't Hard to Find. Much like his conventions, comics not only take center stage, but nearly the entire stage! You will find an impressive assortment of current monthly titles (main and indie) as well as trades. There's a decent kids section in front and sweet statues throughout. And the life-size figures of Spider-Man battling Doctor Octopus hanging overhead are noteworthy attractions for any kid at heart! So if you are ever in the Charlotte area to attend one of Shelton's cons (and you should!), make sure you stop by Heroes Aren't Hard to Find. And if you happen to be in town when there is not a con, never fear! The same atmosphere and spirit can be found at shop on a daily basis!

To check out all the Local Comic Shops I have visited on this tour, check out my LCS Tour Google Map!

Friday Night Videos

Social Distortion is back with a new album and they still ROCK!

Wes Craven's Scream 4 looks like it might be worth checking out. Did I mention Kristen Bell is in it?

Three and a half weeks until season two of Justified! If you have not seen this show, season one is now on DVD!

Wuxia superhero fun!

New comic series from the publisher of Arthur: The Legend Continues!

ESO Podcast #43

This week’s episode of the ESO podcast, comes to you live from Galactic Quest Comics in Lawrencville, GA as we sit around and discuss our favorite Super Hero Origins, and then we review the new Green Hornet movie starting Seth Rogan.

Join us for another fun filled podcast that we like to call Episode 43: Live From Galactic Quest Comics, You Call That an Origin?

Table of Contents

0:00:00 Intro / Welcome

0:02:35 Rants & Raves – Young Justice / Human Target / Star Wars Blu-Ray / Torchwood / David Tennant / Spider-Man & Captain America Costumes
0:24:51 The Geek Seat w/ Kyle from Galactic Quest

0:37:40 Our Favorite Super Hero Origins
1:55:49 Our Review of the Green Hornet

2:15:32 Show Close

Listen to ESO #43 here, or download this podcast from iTunes.

LCS Tour - Galactic Quest Lawrenceville

Galactic Quest
Lawrenceville, GA
This year will mark the 20th anniversary of Galactic Quest, and I have been a subscriber at the Lawrenceville store for over 15 years. Over the years, both the store and myself have had our share of ups and downs, but my stack has been consistently there for me each and every week. I used to think that it would be cool to own a comic store, but Kyle (the owner) made me realize that it is not enough to provide comics for folks each and every week, you must also build a community. Over the years, I've seen gaming tournaments, 24-hour artist marathons, art exhibitions, locally televised events, movie screenings, concerts, signings, and even a live podcast recording (co-hosted by yours truly just this past weekend). Not only do I appreciate the store as a fanboy, but as a creator as well. So please be sure to visit Galactic Quest, and if you do so on a Friday late afternoon, odds are I'll be there picking up my books!