Tag Archives: comic book men

TV Review: Comic Book Men S4E3 Stand Up Guys

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comic book menIn this episode of Comic Book Men, Walt challenges the guys to perform stand up comedy at the Stash. A collector brings in key Marvel comics from the 1960s.

The show kicks off right away with that 1960s comics above. The man who comes in says he’s a collector and a dealer, which makes me wonder why he’s coming into the Stash to sell these books, and it’s an impressive set of comics. It’s a little weird that he’s a dealer and yet goes to another shop to sell them, and they never ask why he’s trying to sell the books. Plus, Walt doesn’t even check out the books. He doesn’t see if it’s restored, or how the insides are. Walt just hands over cash. As a person who used to work at a store myself, this segment doesn’t really sit well with me at all. But, segment shows off some comic history. It’d have been better talking a bit more as to why they’re important, but also going over and grading the comics themselves. Dropping a couple hundred dollars without checking the item out is just odd.

There’s another segment about selling a toy. That one was a bit more interesting to me. It’s a toy I know nothing about. Here, some history is given about why the toy is important, and there’s a lot of joking. It’s a stronger segment than the first, and here the dealing is more realistic and there’s an explanation as to why the guy is trying to sell the toy.

The third segment sadly plays into folks who are on the show for some fame. She walks in dressed as the Baroness to sell a toy. It felt a little bit playing into the whole tv show aspect. The selling of the item does have a good reason about it, it’s to raise money for a charity. That part is nice, but it’s a bit odd overall.

The comedy segment, I do have to say I’m impressed with the two comic minimum to get in. That’s some great out-of-the-box thinking that more stores should do to sell products. It’s actually a great idea overall, and if I had a store still, you better believe I’d be holding events like that. The jokes themselves…. are mixed. The crowd seems to enjoy themselves, so that’s good. None of them will likely be making a living in comedy. Overall though, the crowd seems to have fun, and it’s a good idea to get folks into the store. I’d love to see more of this type of things going forward. Mix that with the comic history, and the regular banter, you’ve got a solid series.

Overall, this is the first episode that I had an issue with someone selling something, it bothered me as a former store clerk. With that, it was a mixed episode overall.

Overall rating: 6.75

TV Review: Comic Book Men S4E2 Walt’s Treehouse

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comic book menIn this episode of Comic Book Men, a returning customer swings by the store with a toy Walt always wanted but never had. Also, an aspiring student brings in a book signed by comic greats.

If there’s a theme for the second episode of the fourth season, I guess it’d be about dreams. There’s two that’s touched upon, mixed in with the usual craziness of the show. Walt gets his hands on a toy he always wanted, and there’s the student who comes in to sell a comic so that he might have some money to go to school. Both show an interesting end of the spectrum, one of consuming, the other of letting something go.

There’s no doubt many of us can relate to Walt and his excitement as the toy he’s always wanted comes into the store. You’ll need to watch the episode to find out what that exactly is. To say I had no idea it existed is an understatement, it was a bit before my time. That magic is brought together by the same individual who appeared previously on the show with the G.I. Joe USS Flagg, which got Ming so excited. Watching Walt jump for joy is worth it, there’s something very kid like about it all, and it’s a bit infectious in the positive feeling.

The student on the other hand is a bit of a downer. Here we have someone who is giving up something very cool to help make their future possible. It’s something that Kevin Smith himself did to fund his first film Clerks. It’s a nice lesson to see, and again something many of us can relate to.

To have both of these in an episode is a nice juxtaposition that sets the show apart from just being Pawn Stars of comic geeks. As seen in this episode, there’s something a bit more than just business here, and that’s making it all relateable to us the viewer.

While the episode isn’t amazing, it’s another fine example of a “comic geek” show, that doesn’t get the respect it deserves.

Overall rating: 7

TV Review: Comic Book Men S4E1 Heir Apparent

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comic book menIn the debut episode of the fourth season of Comic Book Men, Kevin Smith sends his daughter Harley to the Stash to learn how to be a clerk. Also, a customer sells his rare and unusual Rocky action figures.

Kicking off the latest season of the series set in Smith’s comic shop, The Secret Stash, we actually get some insight into what it’s like working at a shop. It’s something I spent many years doing myself, and the episode for me, brought back a lot of fun memories of my time doing so.

The episode pulls back the curtain a bit of some of what goes into working in a shop. Harley has to buy something from a person, decide if she should cut someone a deal, and finds, there’s a rush to it all. That sort of work is pretty fun. What is missing is the shit part of the job, inventory, the horrible customers, trying to figure out orders. The fun is shown, the hard work isn’t. But then again, that hard work wouldn’t make entertaining television.

Overall, the first episode shows a bit more of what it’s like to work in a shop like this through the eyes of an outsider. And by doing so, brings the fun.

Overall score: 7.5

TV Review: Comic Book Men – Episode 316 – Knights of the Stash

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comic book menIn this episode of Comic Book Men, Jason Mewes invites the guys to a Renaissance fair for medieval revelry and a customer brings in one of the most valuable items the Stash has ever seen.

The most valuable item is interesting and kicks off the show. This is an item I’ve never eve heard of, which is a reason I like the show. As usual it’s a fun thing about the episode, I find something about geekdom that’s new to me. The end decision about the deal, I’m not too sure on, but it’s always interesting to hear Walt’s thought process on how he comes to his decisions.

I’ve never been to a Renaissance fair. There’s little about it that interests me. So watching how these guys react going to one is entertaining. It’s all clearly set up and none of it is realistic in that you or I could experience one like they experience it. The situations are fun, and in the beginning the crew is rather mixed in their enjoyment, but that generally turns. The most interesting thing is that there’s a good debate about how Walt judges the folks who appreciate Renaissance fairs, but they themselves have no issue with comic related cosplay. I wish there was more discussion of that, as it’s well worth it. But, thankfully most of the group seems to disagree with Walt, who’s the judgy one of them.

Overall, the episode was an ok one, maybe the weakest of the season, but there’s still moments that got me to laugh. I do appreciate it on some level…. still not sure I’ll ever go to a Renaissance fair.

Featuring: Ming Chen, Kevin Smith, Walt Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, Mike Zapcic Overall Score: 7

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TV Review: Comic Book Men – Episode 315 – Certified Guaranty

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comic book menIn this episode of Comic Book Men, a college hopeful goes to the Stash to appraise his collection and learns the value of comic book grading. Walt buys Wayne Gretzky memorabilia.

I used to work in a shop and part of the fun of it was getting in collections to our shop. We were located in a college area and had lots of college kids coming in, and girlfriends selling their ex’s collections (but that’s another story). So, the show kicks off with the college kid coming into the shop to sell his impressive collection. For those who might not know, the show goes into comic book grading and the services out there, like the CGC.

There’s a segment about the movie Jingle All the Way, and the acting/entertainment ability that is Arnold Schwarzenegger. I was shocked at how much the figure that was brought in is going for.

The Gretzky discussion is interesting. I remember getting all kinds of weird stuff coming into the store. Stuff that had nothing to do with anything we sold. But, it was items I personally, or other staff, were interested in. That was so much fun, and a fond memory of my many years as a counter jockey. Watching Walt deal with the guy sending the items is beyond entertaining. Him squirming has become an fun thing of the show.

The show ends on the CGC segment and going over all of the big books. The numbers thrown out there is impressive. It really shows how important grading is today. It’s cool too that this is a kid trying to pay for college, so it’s nice the shop is willing to help him out and get him so extra bucks.

Overall, the episode was a good one. For me it brought back a lot of memories of my time working in a comic shop. I look fondly back on it all, and kind of miss it. The show to me is entertaining for that reason alone.

Featuring: Ming Chen, Kevin Smith, Walt Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, Mike Zapcic
Overall Score: 7.5

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TV Review: Comic Book Men – Episode 314 – Batcycle on Broad

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comic book menIn this episode of Comic Book Men, the guys have a chance to purchase a replica of the ’66 Batcycle and a customer sells his collection of Marvel fan magazines from the 70s.

As always the show starts off with a hypothetical, this one about the standards as far as members of the Avengers. It was pretty funny, and got me to crack a smile right away.

And the first segment is the Batcycle. The episode jumps right into the main draw of the episode and the motorcycle is pretty cool. The bike looks really nice, a great replica, and looks like it was put together. There’s some great jokes thrown around about it. It’s a tough one since you need a motorcycle license to drive it, and only a couple of them do have one. Johnson has some good incite as war as the bike itself. Overall, it’s pretty cool, but I wonder who’s watching the show while this is all going on. And the filming of them riding the bike is a bit all, it looks green screened, which is strange…. and then we find out how it’s done. And I was laughing.

From there a guy brings in a board game that I’ve never seen. The game is kind of cool, and shows how much licensing and design has changed. It’s a great piece of Marvel history. The game is interesting to say the least when it comes to the actual game play. This all leads to a discussion of family game night and the lie that is board game advertising.

As a break, which is awesome, is Greg Capullo on the radio segment of the show. It’d be fantastic to see more of this type of segment in future episodes. Capullo is an interesting guy and his inclusion helps open up non comic fans to the comic book world.

The magazine segment, much like the board game segment is really cool and the collecting of it all comes to the forefront. I’ve never seen the magazines myself, or even knew about it. So, I learned a bunch about it all. That’s part of the reason I dig the series, it shows off things I’ve never heard of or seen.

The final segment is all about Back to the Future and the show leaves on a funny note around it all. It’s cool and fun, and shows that collecting can be more than just comic books.

Overall, the show is fun and entertaining and lifts the current on comicdom. Hopefully we see more comic creators as part of the radio segments, the inclusion shows off something that’d make the show even more solid.

Featuring: Ming Chen, Kevin Smith, Walt Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, Mike Zapcic
Overall Score: 7.25

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TV Review: Comic Book Men – Episode 313 – The Esposito Collection

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comic book menIn this episode of Comic Book Men, the Stash helps auction off the work of legendary comic book inker, Mike Esposito. Walt buys the epitome of cool in the form of a paper doll.

The episode kicks off with a debate of the best robot ever, which is a nice one and the answers are interesting not in their responses but the reactions by everyone. There’s another segment about everyone’s favorite villain, and that one is really funny.

The Esposito segment is the first thing, and the history thrown out is great and wonderful to see. There’s some cool history shared for a person most folks wouldn’t know about. The reason why it’s being sold also spotlights the issue of creators who weren’t treated all that well and many are having hard times now. In this case, the sales would benefit his widow. The guys step up to help out which is fantastic to see and their decision as to what to do when they’re offered money is even better.

There’s the usual segments of folks coming in and looking to purchase things or sell things, but really the episode is all about the fundraiser for Esposito. I honestly wish I knew about the auction, I might have headed up to take part, because the prices that items went for seemed to be very reasonable. The total raised was far above what anyone expected. To watch the sale and reactions of everyone buying and helping out puts a smile on your face.

Overall, the episode was really focused on one thing, the auction, and that positive segment raised up the episode. It’s kind of hard to not end it without seeing the good in the comic community.

Featuring: Ming Chen, Kevin Smith, Walt Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, Mike Zapcic
Overall Score: 7.5

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TV Review: Comic Book Men – Episode 312 – Trivia Chew-Off

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comic book menIn this episode of Comic Book Men, a bored Walt decides to quiz the guys on comic book trivia, where a wrong answer lands them a gumball. Also a customer sells his Hellboy prop replica.

The episode kicks off with the crass discussions that you’d expect, all sexual in nature, and one particularly awkward. But from there, it gets a bit fun when a pair come in to buy a copy of the first appearance of Hobgoblin. To get the price down, they trade in two mysterious boxes they got at a convention and have no idea what’s inside. Walt goes with the trade, and to see him so irritated at the result is worth it. Though an exploration of more of what the two items are would have been good.

A thing I remembered from my time working at shops was dealing with so many people coming into the shop trying to sell things that had nothing to do with the shop at all. In this case the Stash has a person come in to sell a piece of video game history, the interaction is interesting and a nice piece of history.

The episode wraps up with comic book trivia where if you get a wrong answer, you have to start to chewing a gum ball. The questions are solid and some of the knowledge presented is impressive. That part is great with some cool information dropped and really funny. I wish I had thought of doing this when I worked in a shop. It’s a great way to quiz the staff. I found myself laughing and had a smile on my face.

The episode wraps up with the Hellboy segment and a lot of discussion about his creator Mike Mignola. There’s some good discussion and negotiation for the piece. It’s a nice way to end the episode, spotlighting a creator who deserves much more name recognition within comic fandom and the mainstream folks out there.

As usual, the episode is light and entertaining. There’s some moments that reminded me of my time working in a comics shop, and there was some comic history knowledge to be gained. One of the better episodes.

Featuring: Ming Chen, Kevin Smith, Walt Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, Mike Zapcic
Overall Score: 7.5

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TV Review: Comic Book Men – Episode 311 – Pinheads

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comic book menIn this episode of Comic Book Men, Walt’s recent purchase of a Batman bowling ball inspires him to make a bowling team. An ill-conceived action figure makes its way to the Stash.

The bowling ball kicks off the episode and the banter during it was rather funny. It sets up a Comic Book Men vs Clerks game with a pretty serious tone to it all. Walt is clearly competitive. It also gives a chance for Kevin Smith to wax nostalgic about his history with the Clerks crew.

From there, the usual scenes of folks entering the store happens, with folks trying to sell odd items. The first is pretty solid and I even learned some history about a classic magazine. The toy that is brought out is pretty damn funny and a bit of a legend in bad toy design.

The episode is all about the bowling competition, which has a beginning that had me laughing. I don’t want to give it away, but a certain person’s look of disgust is amazing and what he pulls off is hilarious. It’s clear one team is actually a team and plays regularly. It got me back to wanting to go bowling actually. There’s some fun and funny about it all. They were laughing, I was laughing, it was pretty damn funny.

The show was all about the bowling part, that made it worth it. As usually, the show is highlighted by one segment that makes it stand out. This isn’t the craziness that I experienced working in a comic shop many years ago, but it’s still entertaining.

Featuring: Ming Chen, Kevin Smith, Walt Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, Mike Zapcic
Overall Score: 7.5

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TV Review: Comic Book Men – Episode 310 – Uhura’s Uhura

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comic book menIn this episode of Comic Book Men, Nichelle Nichols pays the Stash a visit, looking for an Uhura Mego doll from the ’70s. An X-Men fan buys the first appearance of the Phoenix and a discussion of He-Man gets pretty heated (as heated as this show gets).

The show kicks off with a debate on shocking moments in comics and of course someone brings up the Green Lantern refrigerator scene. It’s a somewhat awkward conversation where it goes from there. For some reason I actually cringed at this opening.

The rest of the episode features the usual, of folks coming in to purchase items or sell items. There isn’t a ton that really jumps out to me other than a discussion of the Phoenix and Jean Grey dying. That was a little interesting, but overall, it’s the usual stuff for the show.

What’s interesting is Nichelle Nichols enters the shop and Walt doesn’t recognize her at all. It’s a bit embarrassing I think, it takes Mike to know who she is. She’s looking for a Mego figure of herself, shockingly she didn’t have one. The team does everything they can to get it for her. She eventually comes back and Ming is still out to get the figure, which leaves her waiting for it, and she’s under a time constraint to get it.

While she’s waiting, she’s clearly a bit irritated, but Bryan asks her about the story where she was told to stay on the show by Martin Luther King Jr. when she thought about leaving. She actually says she was ordered to stay on the show by him. A very interesting piece of history.

Then there’s the awkwardness of her buying the figure, that was never discussed. That’s solved by Bryan saying he’ll take care of it after Walt awkwardly attempts to negotiate it. For his act, Bryan gets a kiss from Uhura herself.

The episode overall is rather blah, but the tidbit about MLK made it worth watching for me.

Featuring: Ming Chen, Kevin Smith, Walt Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, Mike Zapcic
Overall Score: 7.25

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