Its about that time of year that studios start shopping around for the next big thing for the fall. You’re probably asking yourselves “But Marc, you handsome devil, what does this have to do with comics?” and to that I respond “Thank you for the compliment, but damn you are impatient!” Well folks, it seems like superheroes are making the rounds for television once again, and this time we’ve lucked out.

The CW has signed the order on a pilot for a new series called Arrow. This new series will be starring Green Arrow, but perhaps not the Arrow you’re familiar with. Over at Spinoff Online, there have been some stirrings. Details regarding this new pilot reveal that the general elements of the show will be similar to the source material but not entirely the same. I’ve spotted a few myself, for one thing I’m not entirely sure that Oliver’s mom would still be around once he’s come back from his island life, nor do I remember a sister! However,I’m not saying that these new elements will do anything to hurt the show at all! I’m personally just glad that the description of Green Arrow/Oliver Queen seems to do justice to the character. Sounds much better than the more Tony Stark-like GA we’ve been given by the New 52 (I went with the first three issues but I just couldn’t stay with it, he was no longer the man I once knew *stare longly out the window*).

All in all these series shows a lot of promise and I’m personally excited. The team working on it seems fairly solid (the screenwriters having worked on Green Lantern and the director having done the pilot for Smallville and having worked on Game of Thrones!). Granted like any comic book fan I’ve got some things that I’ll need to see and wait for before getting too excited A goatee, a decent looking costume, and at least one punching glove arrow (used either seriously or as a gag!). But only the future will tell, as its to soon to even tell if the pilot will see the light of day (ala Wonder Woman from NBC).

Until next time comic fans, happy reading!

So time to dismantle the lie, there is no real darkness ascending onto our store BUT it kind of is ascending on our partner store, Gamers’ Vault, on Queen Marry. They are  hosting a special event this weekend (Both Saturday and Sunday). Gamers’ will be having a Pre-Release of a Magic the Gathering Expansion called Dark Ascension.

Registration starts at 10 AM on both Saturday and Sunday and the main event starts at 11 AM. They will be hosting multiple types of games, including sealed and two headed giant.

Come have some gaming fun then swing by our store for some reading material.

Cheers and have a good weekend.

Js signing of from the 4th Wall East on Queen Marry.

The 4th Wall is planning an Avengers vs. X-Men Launch Party on Tuesday, April 3 from 8:00 pm-10:00pm to make sure you can get your hands on Issue #1 as soon as possible! Plus, some special goodies:

• Avengers vs. X-Men #1 Avengers Store Allegiance Party Variants!
• Free Store Allegiance Avengers vs. X-Men Party Lithographs !
• Free Store Allegiance Buttons, Coasters and Mini-Posters!

Plus oh, so much more!

To participate, retailers must choose whether their store will be an X-Men or an Avenger store by February 5, 2012. So, we turn to you: Avengers or X-Men? Which side are you on?

Vote for your choice via the “Have Your Say” poll at the top of the page and you can decide the theme of this X-travaganza!

Yeah, I said that.

Voting closes Feb 5th, 2012 so vote early, and often!!

-Moss

With the debut of the new 52, a character started to appear. She was in every single first issue of the new 52. In fact, she existed prior to these appearances at the end of Flashpoint, explaining to The Flash what was going on around him exactly (e.g the merging of Vertigo, Wildstorm and DC Comics). The appearance and possible explanations behind this woman can be found all over the internet. Sites like Comics Alliance, Comic Book Resources, and Bleeding Cool have supplied their theories. It was even covered by The Gutters (by none other than Ryan Sohmer and by our very own loveable Jeff Moss!).

So you’re probably asking yourself why I’m discussing this at all. Hell, she hasn’t been seen since the #1 issues of the new 52 and presumably everyone forgot. Why are you so behind on news Marc?!?!

Firstly, please stop shouting. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Secondly, the reason I’ve brought her up again, my verbally abusive reader, is because she now has a name.

And that’s all DC wants to say for now. There’s two things I could say about this. The first being “Way to be slow on that one guys”. I’m sure many of you, much like my pretend angry reader, think that this is pointless and kind of slow on DC’s part. I mean, no one cared once we hit month #2 of the new 52.

The second thing I could say is, I care! There are two reasons I care and they are admittedly kind of dumb reasons but I’m sticking by them! Reason #1 is the same reason anyone else cared initially: I’m a huge nerd. We all like when there’s a little challenge or something that only we can catch. There’s a thrill to the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? aspect of looking for the “woman in pink”. Reason #2 is that I really like a mystery no matter how small. I’m like Batman in that way. (I’ll get Batman put on my name tag, just you wait!). The whole not knowing who she is, theorizing about her identity and role in the overall DC Universe is like piecing a giant puzzle. It’s exciting, to a degree.

So, what lies in the future of the DCU with this Pandora character? Some say it’s going to be the lead into the first big crossover event. Some even believe it might have just been DC’s fail-safe, a way to bring back the old continuity if the New 52 happened to fail (which it clearly didn’t). All this to say, who knows what this means. Apparently DC does and they aren’t telling! I guess we’ll just have to wait and see for more information right from the source.

Later guys!

EDIT: Nostradamnit, I can tell the future! Obscure reference to SmodCast aside, it looks like our good friends over at the Gutters posted another comic on this very topic, not long after I wrote this very blog post! You can find that here! So if you’ve read my take and you’re curious on what Moss or Sohmer have to say on the subject, head on over there!

I trust you all had a pleasant holiday season? Well now that we’ve all broken our New Years’ Resolutions on the first day (Damn you Double Pizza! The aroma of your meat lover’s pizza was too much to overcome!) and had a great time to relax and enjoy ourselves, let’s talk about what’s coming up in this brand new year!

Now “End of the World” aside, it’s going to be an exciting year in the world of comics. Marvel’s biggest event of the new year will be Avengers vs. X-Men! Something is going to pit these two mega-teams against each other and it’s going to take over the Marvel universe  in a 12-issue monthly series! No one’s really sure what will cause the event but there are some theories based on Marvel Teasers. It’s going to have something to do with Avengers X-Sanction for sure, as well as involvement by Scarlett Witch and Hope, the mutant messiah. And of course, the Phoenix (anyone who’s read Uncanny X-Men #3 knows what I’m talking about!). What’s got me interested in this book is the incredible team of writers! Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Jason Aaron, Jonathan Hickman, and Ed Brubaker. Not to mention the artists, Adam Kubert, Olivier Coipel and the always great John Romita Jr. This is Marvel’s best of the best on this book so it’s sure to be exciting so look for this here in April when it starts!

As always, DC’s new 52 is continuing this year, with promises of much more interconnected story lines as well as something for the more patient of us. While I have made a significant shift from collecting graphic novels to collecting single issues because of the new 52, not everyone has gone for this route. Well good news! The first batch of hardcover graphic novels from the new 52 will be arriving this year! Starting in May, DC New 52 hardcovers will be released covering the initial story lines of the reboot. This is great for those of us who missed the first couple of issues and decided to wait for them to be collected in a sturdier form!

Obviously this new year means a bunch of new comic releases and exciting events. As always, both of the shops will be here to help you get the books you want and venture into the waters of the new year with a smile on your face rather than a scowl of confusion! Happy New Years to all of you from all of us at the 4th Wall and may 2012 treat you well!

I’d like to take a moment from the jokes and the carefully crafted posts that make me look wittier than I actually am, to wish you all a Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, and Happy Holidays! It’s time for giving and celebrating what we have, and those around us who make our lives fuller and worth living. Make sure to spend some time with your loved ones, watch some holiday specials, drink some eggnog and enjoy the festivities. It only comes around once a year, and it goes by in a blink, so make the the best of it while you can. I for one can’t wait to get home and watch Muppet Family Christmas, open up some gifts, and enjoy the company of those around me.

Once again, from all of us here at The 4th Wall, Happy Holidays and have a safe and wonderful Christmas!

Did you love Captain America or another one of this summer’s blockbuster movies, but don’t know where to begin reading with the books?

Are you looking for a special or different holiday gift for someone you love that’s entertaining, but not the usual media like DVD’s or Video Games?

The 4th Wall has you covered.

On Saturday December 17th, it’s Comics 101 Day at The 4th Wall East!

We will be providing a full day of programming with numerous guests and staff members on hand to answer all your questions about comics like:

How do Comics work and where do I begin? Do I have to read everything?
If I introduce a loved one to comics, how will they know what’s going on?
What’s the difference between a book and a graphic novel?
What about Online and digital comics?

And any other question you might have! Plus members of The Artistic Society of The 4th Wall will be on hand to sketch and talk about the art of comics, writer Jeff Moss (No Reason Comics, Virga: Sun of Suns) will be here to talk about the writing of comics and the staff of The 4th Wall will be able provide great ideas for unique gifts that will bring a smile to your loved one’s face!

Plus, we will be giving away FREE comics* to get you even more excited about the fun and entertaining stories that we love, and that we know you will too!

So drop by The 4th Wall East anytime between 1pm-5pm on Saturday, December 17th for Comics 101 Day!

*With purchase, while supplies last.

All December long at both 4th Wall Locations, DC Comics New 52 back issues (#1-3) are on sale for just $2 each!* Why that’s 30% off! 2/3rds the Cover Price! $1 Cheaper on the issues you’ve missed!

AND If you buy 5 New 52 issues at just $2 each, you get one New 52 back issue FREE!

What a great time to check out Aquaman or Swamp Thing! Stuff a stocking with Batman or Supergirl! Fill out that Red Hood & The Outlaws story!

And with more issues coming in every week, what better time to jump in?

The 4th Wall’s New 52-Nie Sale! All December long at both 4th Wall Locations!

*In Store purchases only, does not include ComicPull purchases or Variant Cover issues

We’ll be having Fun & Games all day including:

10% off All books and issues in the store!
(Except ComicPull purchases)

An Original Art Silent Auction & Raffles!

-For Auction: An original cover by Montreal’s own Eisner-winning Karl Kerschl (Abominable Charles Christopher, Assassin’s Creed)!!
-For Raffle: A framed print of some famed Lar deSouza (Least I Could Do, Looking For Group) pinups!

Proceeds from the auction and raffle to be donated to The Montreal Children’s Hospital.

An exclusive, Limited Edition print by Lar DeSouza available!

-Costing less than a Happy Meal, these prints will be limited to 20 copies!

Writer/Owner Ryan Sohmer (Least I Could Do, Looking For Group, Gutters) will be in attendance for signing and shenanigans!

-Including an EXCLUSIVE Darrick Robertson (Transmetropolitain, The Boys) Gutters Poster that will be a must-have for any Comics fan

Gaming demos and tournaments courtesy of our friends at Gamer’s Vault, with great prizes!

-Heroclix! Demos and Games from 11:30-4:30! Become your favourite comics character and maybe even take on Moss or Sohmer!

Plus: The debut of the newest Comic Book project from Blind Ferret Entertainment! It’s brand new and we’ll have it here first!

So set aside Saturday the 19th of November for a party that you will not want to miss!

4th Wall East Info:

Phone: (514) 564-0454

Address:
4986A ch Queen-Mary
Montréal, QC
H3W 1X2

www.the4thwall.ca

It’s Marc again, and now that we’ve been reacquainted let’s get down to business shall we?

If you’re anything like me, you’ve had a passionate and sometimes fleeting romance with the X-Men. Once upon a time, this was the only Marvel title I would read. Anything involving the X-Men would captivate me because of the depth and meaning to the X-Men’s problems. They’re outcasts who deal with racism, homophobia and various other higher social messages that made them a captivating team. That being said, they were always one of the more topsy turvy titles that went all over the place and got kinda confusing for me personally.

But recently, with the releases of Uncanny X-Men #1 and Wolverine and the X-Men #1, I’ve decided to dip my toes back into the material, something I haven’t done since the Messiah Complex book. So let’s get up to speed together. From what I’ve been able to understand, there was a Schism between Wolverine and Cyclops(Wolverine kept leaving the toilet seat up and Cyclops just couldn’t take it anymore). This split isn’t entirely unexpected considering the tense relationship they’ve always shared. They decided to separate into two teams that can do as they choose (and Marvel gets to make two new #1s, very shrewd).

Wolverine and the X-Men #1 was released first and I have to say I really enjoyed this book. It was fantastical and interesting, especially since our resident bad-a** Wolverine is now the headmaster of an institute similar to Xavier’s. The way in which we are introduced to the school and its students is sweeping and very well done. I may not know who any of these characters are, other than those formerly of the Original X-Men, but I felt that the roster at the back of the book and the fairly simple introductions are good for a start. It also ends on a good note, throwing in some general chaos to start the series off. All in all it’s a great intro book and I’m very excited to see what direction this takes. Verdict: Definitely worth picking up.

Uncanny X-Men #1 is recently released and this follows Cyclops and those who decided to stay with him. This includes such dubious characters as Magneto, Namor and the nearly naked Emma Frost (seriously, she’s always rocking like 3 pieces of fabric?). I was pretty confused by the whole situation, and especially this “other self” that apparently occupies Colossus, which turned out to be Juggernaut which is pretty damn cool. A quick wikipedia search cleared that up for me, so in the end it’s not all that confusing. It just requires a little extra research if you weren’t already privy to the little details. On the whole, this book was definitely interesting, and Cyclops’ new attitude is interesting. He adresses the fact that the X-Men’s original goal of mutant acceptance by society has been on the back-burner for too long and they need to do something about it. This serious tone is what will have me returning next issue. This book is also much more in the nitty gritty than Wolverine and the X-Men, so if you want to se the team gets elbow thick in fighting and a familiar enemy then this is what you should buy. Verdict: As with Wolverine and the X-Men, you should definitely pick this up.

Ultimately, I think you should check out both books. If you’re a bigger fan of Wolverine, it still might be worth checking out Uncanny X-Men and vice versa if you’re a bigger fan of Cyclops. Both books have their merits and in my opinion, they both seem like they’re going to lead to interesting things. And of course, there’s always the possibility that the two teams are gonna duke it out, which would be awesome.

Well that’s it for this post, come on down to your nearest 4th Wall (they’re both pretty dang awesome) and pick up one or both of these books! If you’re a fan of the X-Men, you won’t be disappointed.

-Marc