Product arriving Feb. 25, 2009

ANGEL #18
ARCHIE #594
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #13
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #22 DKR
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #10 (OF 12)
BETTIE PAGE PLAYING CARDS
BLUE BEETLE #36
BOUNCER CAINS EYE VOL 1 HC
CAPTAIN AMERICA #47
COMPLETE PEANUTS 1971-1972 VOL 11
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #8
CRIMINAL MACABRE CELL BLOCK 666 #3 (OF 4)
DAN DARE #5 (OF 7)
DAN DARE #6 (OF 7)
DARK REIGN FILES DKR
DARK TOWER TREACHERY #6 (OF 6)
DOCTOR WHO WHISPERING GALLERY (ONE SHOT)
DR DOOM MASTERS OF EVIL #2 (OF 4)
DYNAMO 5 #20
EERIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 01
ELEPHANTMEN #16
ENDERS SHADOW BATTLE SCHOOL #3 (OF 5)
FANTASTIC FOUR #564
FEAR AGENT #26
GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH #5 (OF 5)
GIGANTIC #3 (OF 5)
GREEN LANTERN #38 (ORIGINS)
HULK #10
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #126
JACK OF FABLES #31 (MR)
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #24 (ORIGINS)
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #148
LORDS OF AVALON KNIGHTS OF DARKNESS #4 (OF 6)
MAD CLASSICS #24
MAD MAGAZINE #497
MADAME XANADU #8 (MR)
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #35
MARVELS EYE OF CAMERA #4 (OF 6)
MIGHTY AVENGERS #22 DKR
MISTER X CONDEMNED #3 (OF 4)
MS MARVEL #36 DKR
MUNCHKIN BLENDER
NEW AVENGERS #50 DKR
NOVA #22
PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #129
PREVIEWS #246 MARCH 2009
PUSH #6 (OF 6)
REIGN IN HELL #8 (OF 8)
RESISTANCE #3 (OF 6) (MR)
RUNAWAYS 3 #7
SAVAGE DRAGON #145
SCOURGE OF GODS #2 (OF 3) (MR)
SGT ROCK THE LOST BATTALION #4 (OF 6)
SHE-HULK 2 #38
SKAAR SON OF HULK #8
SKYBOX 2008 09 NBA T/C BOX
SONIC UNIVERSE #1
SPAWN #189
STAR TREK COUNTDOWN #2
STAR WARS LEGACY #33
STREET FIGHTER II TURBO #4
SUPERMAN #685 (ORIGINS)
SWORD #15 (MR)
TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #32
TEEN TITANS #68 (ORIGINS)
THUNDERBOLTS #129 DKR
TRINITY #39
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #131
UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #4 (OF 6)
UNKNOWN SOLDIER #5 (MR)
WAR MACHINE #3 DKR
WARHAMMER 40K
WATCHMEN MOVIE AF ASST #2
WILDCATS #8
WIZARD MAGAZINE #210
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #12
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #33 DKR
WONDER WOMAN #29
WORLD OF WARCRAFT ASHBRINGER #4 (OF 4)
X-FORCE #12
YOUNGBLOOD #8
YTHAQ FORSAKEN WORLD #3 (OF 3) (MR)

Anime Benchmark?

Wow. It's rare, in fact it's never happened, that I get to measure a big chainstore competitor sales by a benchmark they themselves have provided.

As you can see in the following article on the site, ICV2, if the local Best Buy puts their anime on a 50% sale on March 1st, I'll know that it is not one of the 'top 500' Best Buys in anime sales.

It also means when the dust settles, that the local store will be carrying only 20 titles.

I have about a 1000 in stock but they are bit long in the tooth. I quit buying all but the most important titles a year ago. Not so much because of Best Buy, but because of online and 'fan subs pirating.'

Time to gear up?

Just slightly. Maybe order two or three a month instead of one a month.

Still, it'll be interesting to see if I get any more inquiries. I suspect I'll just get kids looking for particular titles, and who are too impatient to let me order them.

Oh, well.

ICV2
Best Buy’s New Anime Strategy
Cuts Presence in Many Stores
Published: 02/20/2009 02:59am

Best Buy is about to dramatically change its anime strategy, eliminating most anime from nearly half its stores, according to an industry source. The change will focus Best Buy’s anime efforts on those stores that have historically done best with the category, and nearly eliminate anime in stores that have produced a disproportionate share of anime returns.

The new strategy will kick off March 1st, when 50% off anime closeout sales will begin in over 460 stores nationwide. After the sales end on March 21st, those stores will offer only around 20 core anime SKUs.

Over 500 Best Buy stores will continue to carry over 100 anime SKUs, and roughly the top 200 anime stores in the Best Buy chain will carry large scale anime assortments similar to what they’re carrying now. The move is expected to retain most of the chain’s anime sales, and perhaps even improve sales in the stores with larger assortments due to fewer stock-outs and deeper inventory. Of national mass merchants, Best Buy carries the largest anime assortments now, and that won’t change. And Best Buy is easily the largest single seller of most anime titles not carried by Walmart, and that also won't change as a result of these moves.

For fans in those areas served by Best Buy stores that are cutting their anime assortments, there are a lot fewer alternatives than there were when Best Buy started carrying more anime a few years back. Many comic and game stores have cut their anime offerings and video stores have been closing at a rapid rate. So unless other brick and mortar retailers increase their selections in areas where Best Buy is cutting back, online retailers may be the only option for fans wanting a broader selection of anime in some areas.

Product arriving Feb. 18, 2009

I restocked all the Virgin Graphic Novels, since they are soon to be out of print (and on sale.)

Also got the Tintin in the Congo, which was delayed for over a year because of the very politically incorrect content.

Starting this week, since I'm starting to do Direct Ship reorders again, I'll be including those whenever I do them.

A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #98 (A)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #587
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #4
ANGEL SMILE TIME #2
ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #196
BARRONS GRAPHIC CLASSICS TALE TWO CITIES SC
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CYLON WAR #2 (OF 4)
BETTY & VERONICA #240
BIRDS OF PREY #127 (ORIGINS)
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #4 (OF 6)
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #22
CARNIVAL THE WORLD OF KATSU AKI
CENTURY OF STOP MOTION ANIMATION HC
COMPLETE ACE TRUCKING TP VOL 01
COMPLETE X FILES BEHIND SERIES MYTHS & MOVIES HC
CYBLADE #3
DAN DARE OVERSIZED UK HC VOL 01
DANIEL X ALIEN HUNTER GN
DARK AVENGERS #2 DKR
DEATH DEFYING DEVIL #3
DEICIDE VOL 1 RAGE AGAINST THE GODS HC
DEVI TP VOL 01 (C: 0-1-2)
DEVI TP VOL 02
DEVI TP VOL 04
DOCK WALLOPER TP VOL 01
DR WHO MAGAZINE #405
DYNAMO 5 #0
FOUR EYES #2
FRANK BELLAMYS ROBIN HOOD GN COMPLETE ADVENTURES
GHOST RIDER #32
GI JOE ORIGINS #1
GOLD DIGGER #103
GOLLY #4 (MR)
GOTHIC AND LOLITA BIBLE VOL 01
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #10
HEAVY METAL SPRING 2009 #122 (MR)
HELLBLAZER #252 (MR)
HIGHLANDER ORIGINS KURGAN #2 (OF 2)
INDIA AUTHENTIC TP VOL 01 BOOK OF SHIVA
INDIA AUTHENTIC TP VOL 02
INVINCIBLE #59
JOHN WOOS SEVEN BROTHERS TP VOL 02 (MR)
JUNGLE GIRL SEASON 2 #3
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #30 (ORIGINS)
MOON KNIGHT #27
MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE #2 (OF 6)
NEW EXILES #18
NICOLAS CAGES VOODOO CHILD TP VOL 01
NOBLE CAUSES TP VOL 04 BLOOD & WATER
NYX NO WAY HOME #6 (OF 6)
OUTSIDERS #15 (ORIGINS)
POPBOT #8 (MR)
PUNISHER FRANK CASTLE MAX #67 (MR)
RAMAYAN 3392 AD TP VOL 02 RELOADED
RED SONJA SHE DEVIL WITH A SWORD ANNUAL #2
REELART FRAZETTA SUN GODDESS STATUE
ROBIN #183 (ORIGINS)
SABRINA VOL 2 #100
SADHU TP VOL 01
SADHU TP VOL 02 SILENT ONES (MR)
SIMPSONS COMICS #151
SNAKEWOMAN TP VOL 01 (MR)
SNAKEWOMAN TP VOL 02 (MR)
SNAKEWOMAN TP VOL 03 (MR0
SOLOMON KANE #5 (OF 5)
SPIDER-MAN NOIR #3 (OF 4)
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #8
STAR TREK LAST GENERATION #4
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF OLD REPUBLIC #38
STORMWATCH PHD #19
STRANDED TP VOL 01
STREET FIGHTER IV #1 (OF 4)
SUPERGIRL #38 (ORIGINS)
SUPERMAN BATMAN #55
TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #12 (OF 12)
TINTIN IN THE CONGO HC
TOYFARE #140
TRANSFORMERS REVENGE FALLEN MOVIE PREQ ALLIANCE #3
TRINITY #38
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #60
UNCANNY X-MEN #506
VIGILANTE #3
WHATMEN (ONE SHOT)
WIZARD ANIME INSIDER #66
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #16
X-FACTOR #40
X-FILES #4 (OF 6)
X-MEN KINGBREAKER #3 (OF 4)
X-MEN LEGACY #221
YOUNG X-MEN #11
ZOMBIES THAT ATE THE WORLD #1

DIRECT SHIP REORDERS.

ASTOUNDING WOLF MAN TP VOL 01
BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL TP VOL 19
BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL TP VOL 20
BOMB QUEEN TP VOL 03 BOMBSHELL (MR)
BOMB QUEEN TP VOL 04 SUICIDE BOMBER (MR)
BONE COLOR ED SC VOL 02 GREAT COW RACE
BOYS TP VOL 01 NAME OF THE GAME (MR)
COMPLETE UNDERWORLD TP (MR)
CREEPY ARCHIVES HC VOL 02
DRAGONBALL Z SHONEN J ED TP VOL 15
HACK SLASH TP VOL 01 FIRST CUT
HACK SLASH TP VOL 02 DEATH BY SEQUEL
HACK SLASH TP VOL 04 REVENGE OF THE RETURN (MR)
PRINCE OF TENNIS GN VOL 28
PRINCE OF TENNIS GN VOL 29
SANDMAN TP VOL 05 A GAME OF YOU
SKIP BEAT TP VOL 08
SKIP BEAT TP VOL 09
SKIP BEAT TP VOL 10
SKIP BEAT TP VOL 11
SKIP BEAT TP VOL 12
STAR WARS CLONE WARS TP VOL 02
STAR WARS KNIGHTS O/T OLD REPUBLIC TP VOL 04
STAR WARS LEGACY TP VOL 03
THOR TP VOL 01
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 21
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07
WOLVERINE ORIGIN PREMIERE HC
ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE

Indy comics, anyone?

Best evidence of my wilderness status as an indy comic store.

Scott Pilgrim is being made into a movie. Scott Pilgrim book 5 is a sell-out nationwide.

My single copy sits lonely and forlorn.

But hey, if I had the Obama Spidey comic, I could sell it all day.

Sigh.

Product arriving, Feb. 11, '09

ACTION COMICS #874 (ORIGINS)
ADAM LEGEND OF BLUE MARVEL #4 (OF 5)
ALL STAR SUPERMAN HC VOL 02
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #29
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #586
ANGEL #17
ARCHIE & FRIENDS #128
ASHLEY WOODS 96 NUDES HC (MR)
AVENGERS INVADERS #8 (OF 12)
BATMAN #686
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS SPECIAL #1
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #26
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT #9 (OF 12)
BATMAN RIP DELUXE EDITION HC
BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #168
BLACK LAGOON GN VOL 04 (MR)
BOOSTER GOLD #17 (ORIGINS)
BPRD BLACK GODDESS #2 (OF 5)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #22
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #10
DARK IVORY #4 (OF 4)
DARKNESS #75
DARKNESS ACCURSED TP VOL 01
DMZ #39 (MR)
DMZ TP VOL 06 BLOOD IN THE GAME (MR)
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #3
DR WHO MAGAZINE #404
ETERNALS #8
FABLES #81 (MR)
FANGORIA #281 MAR 2009
GEARS OF WAR #4 (MR)
GEN 13 #27
GI JOE #2
GOLD DIGGER #102
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #17 (ORIGINS)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #33 (ORIGINS)
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #35
HELLBOY WILD HUNT #3 (OF 8)
HEXED #2 (OF 4)
HULK TP VOL 01 RED HULK
INCOGNITO #2 (MR)
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED ODYSSEY #6 (OF 8)
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED TP TREASURE ISLAND
MASQUERADE #1
MIKE HOFFMAN BLACK MAGIC ART BOOK (MR)
MIRRORS EDGE #4 (OF 6)
MISTER X CONDEMNED #2 (OF 4)
MTG TCG CONFLUX BOOSTER DIS
MTG TCG CONFLUX FAT PACK
MTG TCG CONFLUX INTRO DECK DIS
NEW WARRIORS #20
NIGHTWING #153 (ORIGINS)
PATSY WALKER HELLCAT #5 (OF 5)
REBELS #1
SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING HC BOOK 01 (MR)
SCALPED #25 (MR)
SIMON DARK #17
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #197
SPIRIT #26
STAR WARS CLONE WARS #4 (OF 6)
STEPHEN COLBERTS TEK JANSEN #4 (OF 5) (MR)
TERMINATOR SALVATION MOVIE PREQ #2 (OF 4)
THOR #600
TITANS #10 (ORIGINS)
TOYFARE #140
TRINITY #37
UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #3 (OF 6)
VIXEN RETURN OF THE LION #5
WALKING DEAD #58 (MR)
WOLVERINE MANIFEST DESTINY #4 (OF 4)
WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #3 (OF 8)
X-INFERNUS #3 (OF 4)
X-MEN ORIGINS SABRETOOTH

Eat Lead, KId Buyer!

Recently, I had a visit from the manager of Leapin' Lizards (Sorry, I didn't ask the requisite 3 times for her name so that it would penetrate my thick skull.)

She asked, "What are you doing about the new lead law?"

I was surprised. It never occurred to me that it applied to my store. Most of the toys I sell are designed and sold to adults; most are big name brand name manufacturers.

Frankly, I think the fear of this law is totally out of bounds.

I doubt it's going to be enforced the way it appears every 'kids' store thinks it's going to be enforced.

But you know what? I would have no trouble just not selling to anyone 12 years old or younger. They are such a small part of my business.

To end on a more positive note: I appreciate Leapin' Lizards sending customers my way, and I will return the favor.

Speaking of referrals; I also finally met Hayley of Between the Covers bookstore. She'd been sending people my way, often because I had a copy of one of the Twilight books still in stock. Which was greatly appreciated.

When my sister needed 17 copies of the same book, which my distributor Baker and Taylor had none, I sent her to Between the Covers because I figured they had an account with Ingrams, the biggest distributor. I'm not picking favorites; I also always try to mention Camilla Bookstore, too.

But cooperation is oh, so much more pleasant than ruthless competition.

Product arriving Wed., Feb. 4, 2009

This week, I've decided (am emboldened) to BOLD all games, toys, books, cards, dvds, and graphic novels.


30 DAYS OF NIGHT 30 DAYS TIL DEATH #3
ADVENTURE COMICS #0 (ORIGINS)
AGE OF SENTRY #5 (OF 6)
AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 DKR
ALIENS ALIEN WARRIOR 7-IN AF
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #585
ANITA BLAKE VH LAUGHING CORPSE #5 (OF 5)
ARCHIE DIGEST #251
ASTONISHING TALES #1
AUTHORITY #7
AXIS & ALLIES CMG BOOSTER PACK
AXIS & ALLIES NAVAL CMG TASK FORCE BOOSTER PACK
BANG TANGO #1 (OF 6) (MR)
BESERK REMASTERED COM COLL DVD BOX SET
BETTY #178
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #3 (OF 6)
BLACK PANTHER 2 #1 DKR
BOYS #27 (MR)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #22
CABLE #11
CLASSIC CLIFFHANGERS VOL 01 1914 - 1940
DARK IVORY #4 (OF 4)
DEAD IRONS #1
DEAD OF NIGHT FEATURING WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #2 (OF 4
DEADPOOL #7 DKR
DISNEY JR GN VOL 04 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
DREAMER #4
DYNAMO 5 #19
EL DIABLO #6 (OF 6)
ENDERS GAME BATTLE SCHOOL #3 (OF 5)
FALL OF CTHULHU APOCALYPSE #3 (OF 4)
FINAL CRISIS LEGION OF THREE WORLDS #3 (OF 5)
FINAL FANTASY VII PLAY ARTS V2 SEPHIROTH AF
FONE BONE PLUSH TOY
FRANK BELLAMY KING ARTHUR & HIS KNIGHTS TP
FREEDOM FORMULA #5
FUTURAMA COMICS #41
GODS OF ASGARD GN
GREAT SPACE RACE
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #34
HARRY POTTER HOGWARTS HOUSE CUP CHALLENGE GAME
HAUNTED TANK #3 (OF 5) (MR)
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #10 (MR)
I AM LEGION #1 (OF 6)
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #22
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #10 DKR
JAMAICA BOARD GAME
JONAH HEX #40
KULL #4 (OF 6)
LOCKE & KEY HEAD GAMES #2
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #13
MAN WITH NO NAME #7
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED KIDNAPPED #4 (OF 5)
MIGHTY #1
MUNCHKIN CHIBITHULHU PLUSH PX ED PINK
MUNCHKIN QUEST 2 LOOKING FOR TROUBLE
NARUTO TP VOL 34
OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #2
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #7 (OF 7)
PS238 #37
PUNISHER #2 DKR
RED SONJA #41
REMNANT #2 (OF 4)
RUNEQUEST DELUXE
SANDMAN DREAM HUNTERS #4 (OF 4) (MR)
SCOTT PILGRIM GN VOL 05 SP VS THE UNIVERSE
SECRET SIX #6 (ORIGINS)
SECRET WARRIORS #1 DKR
SETTLERS OF CATAN NEW ED
SHONEN JUMP MAR 09
SIR APROPOS OF NOTHING #4 (OF 5)
SKELEBUNNIES GN
SOUL KISS #1 (OF 5) (MR)
SPEED RACER NEXT GENERATION BIRTHRIGHT #4
STAR WARS CORUSCANT NIGHTS MMPB VOL 03
Star Wars DARTH VADER JUMBO CHUBBY FIG
Star Wars ROTJ JABBAS PALACE BAND STATUE ($195.00)
TALES OF TMNT #55
TERROR TITANS #5 (OF 6)
TOP DOGS (C: 0-1-2)
TOPPS 2009 SERIES 1 HOBBY MLB T/C BOX
TRANSFORMERS ALL HAIL MEGATRON #7
TRINITY #36
WAR OF KINGS DARKHAWK #1
WARHAMMER FANTASY RPG HC RULEBOOK
WARHAMMER RPG TOME OF SALVATION SC
WATCHMEN TP
WEAPON X FIRST CLASS #3 (OF 3)
WITCHBLADE #124
WIZARD MAGAZINE #209
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #32
X-MEN FIRST CLASS FINALS #1 (OF 4)
X-MEN LIVES AND TIMES OF LUCAS BISHOP #1 (OF 3)
X-MEN MAGNETO TESTAMENT #5 (OF 5)
X-MEN NOIR #3 (OF 4)
X-MEN VS HULK #1
YOUNGBLOOD #7
ZORRO #10