The New World Disorder of Marvel Distribution – Wednesday, October 6th, 2021

Wonder Woman is 80, and DC Celebrates with a 100-pager for $9.99. We might have one left. (Ooops.) Spider-Man (Amazing) must be 58-1/2 because we had #74 last week, and #75 this week,  and that’s all that happened. Kidding. Lots more. 

I’m going to pull back the curtain and talk about over our heads industry, meta type stuff. In the wake of the early pandemic, DC pulled it’s products away from Diamond Distribution, who from around 1997 to 2020, was really the only way to get any and all comics and related merchandise in the U.S. and beyond. They were a monopoly, were frustrating, and of course had their problems, but distributing comics was all they did, and they understood retailers and customers like you, more or less, and were dependable, getting most things here mostly on time more or less 52 times a year for over 20 years. DC chose some small operation outside of New York had ever heard of outside the East Coast called Lunar. If you remember when comics came back, it was ugly with our DC’s. Things have evened out, and they haven’t screwed up badly for quite a while (now watch out for next week!) 

As of this week, Marvels are being shipped by Penguin Random House Books. They are a giant, who ship books to stores where the words “Mint Condition” have never been uttered. Where bags and boards are a mystery.  They have ZERO idea what comic retailers want and even less idea what some of our customers want. Cover Variants?  Oh, you mean hardcover/softcover. They proudly announced that they ordered special boxes that would hold exactly 100 comics in one stack.  Wow. That was someone’s idea of how to adapt to their new clientele. Thin cardboard. EVERY corner of every comic exposed to careless handlers and drivers. The damage on Wednesday was epic. Small week. Three boxes. The damage report is almost 80 comics, including some 1/25 pricey variants, so that’s nearly 30%. I could have made it 150, but we wanted some comics to sell. Look carefully at Marvels if that matters to you. About 2 hours of listening to retailers could have made big difference. 

I don’t think anyone cares about comic retailers anymore, but someone upstairs MIGHT care what fans and buyers think. If you feel like it, and want to tell them condition is important to you, their customer service number is 1-800-733-3000

Maybe don’t tell them what store put you up to this (although they may see your phone number, so, oh well.)

We are enforcing a Mask Rule.  We are concerned and frankly afraid of the Delsantis Variant’s effectiveness and apparent success in younger people and children. So, please, take one for team America and get a vaccine. Wednesday is STILL New Comic Day, no matter what you read on the internets. We can’t clear the new rack to just have 10 DC’s  surrounded by empty space.  We do it once, Wednesday morning.

We encourage everyone to be careful, make your trip to our store quick and efficient, and try to come in to shop in smaller groups, and reduce your own exposure to ALL public places indoors, including ours. If you like, you can browse the list and make an order to [email protected] for a quicker pick up. It might also help to put in a time window when you would be in the neighborhood, to give Bob a chance to get them together, and include a phone number for good measure.

Watch this space and our Facebook page for latest news about the rest of the month, season, year, millenium, etc. (And text messages from 5-Star.) The complete list is found below. If you want to know about the next sale or store event, or whether or not WE ARE EVEN OPEN click here. Sign in here to get an email reminder for ALL sales and other events. Also, you can go to     fb.fantasybooksandgames.com and you’ll be taken to our Facebook page. We also use our in-store 5-Star Rewards system to text similar announcements to your phone.

Had to find a new source for images this week. (Still don’t have any for DC Comics.) Thanks to Time Warp for this week’s images, which include many of the comics and a few of the books and other items we received today, and may have pics of things we didn’t and/or won’t get. Use the list, and maybe the pictures.  

ALMOST AMERICAN #2 $ 3.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 75 $ 5.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 75 COELLO STORMBREAKERS VARIANT $ 5.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 75 DITKO HIDDEN GEM VARIANT (1/50) $ ???
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 75 FRENZ VARIANT (1/25) $ ???
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 75 GLEASON WEBHEAD VARIANT $ 5.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 75 INHYUK LEE VARIANT $ 5.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 75 JUSKO MARVEL MASTERPIECES VARIANT $ 5.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 75 OGLE VARIANT $ 5.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 75 RON LIM VARIANT $ 5.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 75 YOUNG VARIANT $ 5.99
AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY MONSTERS VOL 2 #2 CVR A VOKES (MR) $ 3.99
ARCHIE SHOWCASE DIGEST #5 WORLD TOUR $ 7.99
ARCHIES HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR #1 $ 2.99
ARE YOU AFRAID OF DARKSEID #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR A DAN HIPP $ 9.99
ARKHAM CITY THE ORDER OF THE WORLD #1 (OF 6) CVR A SAM WOLFE CONNELLY (FEAR STATE) $ 3.99
ARKHAM CITY THE ORDER OF THE WORLD #1 (OF 6) CVR B FRANCESCO MATTINA CARD STOCK VAR (FEAR STATE) $ 4.99
AVENGERS: TECH-ON 3 $ 3.99
AVENGERS: TECH-ON 3 MOMOKO VARIANT $ 3.99
BATMAN #114 CVR A JORGE JIMENEZ (FEAR STATE) $ 4.99
BATMAN #114 CVR B JORGE MOLINA CARD STORK VAR (FEAR STATE) $ 5.99
BATMAN #114 CVR C 1:25 DYLAN TEAGUE CARD STOCK VAR (FEAR STATE) $ ???
BATMAN SECRET FILES MIRACLE MOLLY #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR A LITTLE THUNDER (FEAR STATE) $ 4.99
BATMAN SECRET FILES MIRACLE MOLLY #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR B JUSTINE FRANY CARD STOCK VAR (FEAR STATE) $ 5.99
BATMAN THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE SEASON II #5 (OF 7) CVR A JAMAL CAMPBELL $ 3.99
BATMAN THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE SEASON II #5 (OF 7) CVR B JUNI BA CARD STOCK VAR $ 4.99
BELLE HEADLESS HORSEMAN ONE SHOT CVR A VITORINO $ 5.99
BELLE HEADLESS HORSEMAN ONE SHOT CVR B TOLIBAO $ 5.99
BELLE HEADLESS HORSEMAN ONESHOT CVR C BURNS $ 5.99
BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR #2 CVR A RANALDI $ 3.99
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #30 CVR A FRANY $ 3.99
BY THE HORNS #6 JASON MUHR $ 3.99
CAPTAIN MARVEL 33 $ 3.99
CAPTAIN MARVEL 33 JUSKO MARVEL MASTERPIECES VARIANT $ 3.99
CAPTAIN MARVEL 33 PAREL TEASER VARIANT $ 3.99
CATWOMAN #35 CVR A YANICK PAQUETTE (FEAR STATE) $ 3.99
CHAMPIONS 10 $ 3.99
CHERRY BLACKBIRD #3 (OF 5) $ 3.99
CHICKEN DEVIL #1 CVR A HAYDEN SHERMAN $ 4.99
CIMMERIAN BEYOND THE BLACK RIVER #1 CVR A CLARA TESSIER (MR) $ 3.99
CIMMERIAN BEYOND THE BLACK RIVER #1 CVR B JEAN (MR) $ 3.99
CORSET #1 $ 4.99
CRUSH & LOBO #5 (OF 8) CVR A SWEENEY BOO $ 3.99
CRUSH & LOBO #5 (OF 8) CVR B BRIAN STELFREEZE CARD STOCK VAR $ 4.99
DARK AGES 2 $ 3.99
DARK AGES 2 HETRICK VARIANT Maybe Next Week $ 3.99
DARK AGES 2 HITCH VARIANT (1/25) Maybe Next Week $ ???
DARK AGES 2 STEGMAN VARIANT (1/50) $ ???
DARKHOLD ALPHA #1 (RES) $ 4.99
DARKHOLD ALPHA #1 SMALLWOOD VAR (RES) $ 4.99
DC HORROR PRESENTS SOUL PLUMBER #1 (OF 6) CVR A JOHN MCCREA (MR) $ 3.99
DC HORROR PRESENTS SOUL PLUMBER #1 (OF 6) CVR B TOM NEELEY CARD STOCK VAR (MR) $ 4.99
DC HORROR PRESENTS THE CONJURING THE LOVER #5 (OF 5) CVR A BILL SIENKIEWICZ (MR) $ 3.99
DC HORROR PRESENTS THE CONJURING THE LOVER #5 (OF 5) CVR B RYAN BROWN MOVIE POSTER CARD STOCK VAR (MR) $ 4.99
DEADPOOL: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD 3 $ 4.99
DEADPOOL: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD 3 LARROCA VARIANT $ 4.99
DEFENDERS 3 $ 3.99
DEFENDERS 3 JUSKO MARVEL MASTERPIECES VARIANT $ 3.99
DEFENDERS 3 NOWLAN VARIANT $ 3.99
DIRTBAG RAPTURE #1 CVR A GOODE $ 3.99
DIRTBAG RAPTURE #1 CVR B WARD $ 3.99
DIRTBAG RAPTURE #1 CVR C LEVEL $ 3.99
EDGAR ALLAN POE’S SNIFTER OF DEATH #1 (OF 6) $ 4.99
ETERNALS: CELESTIA 1 $ 3.99
ETERNALS: CELESTIA 1 BLAKE VARIANT $ 3.99
ETERNALS: CELESTIA 1 LIEFELD DEADPOOL 30TH VARIANT $ 3.99
EXCALIBUR 24 $ 3.99
EXCALIBUR 24 GONZALES VARIANT $ 3.99
EXCALIBUR 24 JUSKO MARVEL MASTERPIECES VARIANT $ 3.99
FIRE POWER BY KIRKMAN & SAMNEE #16 $ 3.99
HELLIONS 16 $ 3.99
HELLIONS 16 JUSKO MARVEL MASTERPIECES VARIANT $ 3.99
HELLIONS 16 NAUCK VARIANT $ 3.99
IMPURE #1 2ND PRINT $ 3.99
JENNIFER BLOOD #1 CVR A PARRILLO (MR) $ 3.99
JENNIFER BLOOD #1 CVR B LINSNER (MR) $ 3.99
JENNIFER BLOOD #1 CVR C LI (MR) $ 3.99
JENNIFER BLOOD #1 CVR K 1:30 COSPLAY VIRGIN VAR(MR) $ ???
JENNIFER BLOOD #1 CVR L 1:40 LINSNER B&W VIRGIN VAR(MR) $ ???
JENNIFER BLOOD #1 CVR M 1:50 LI VIRGIN VAR. (MR) $ ???
JOKER PRESENTS A PUZZLEBOX #3 (OF 7) CVR A CHIP ZDARSKY $ 4.99
JOKER PRESENTS A PUZZLEBOX #3 (OF 7) CVR B WILLIAM REILLY BROWN CARD STOCK VAR $ 5.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE INFINITY #4 (OF 7) $ 3.99
LAST BOOK YOULL EVER READ #3 CVR A LEIZ $ 3.99
LAST BOOK YOULL EVER READ #3 CVR B HICKMAN $ 3.99
LAST BOOK YOULL EVER READ #3 CVR C BLACK BAG VAR $ 5.99
LAST FLIGHT OUT #2 (OF 6) $ 3.99
LUCKY DEVIL #3 (OF 4) $ 3.99
MAGIC THE GATHERING (MTG) #7 CVR A KHALIDAH $ 4.99
MAGIC THE GATHERING (MTG) #7 CVR B VILLA $ 4.99
MAGIC THE GATHERING (MTG) #7 CVR C HIDDEN SPARK VAR $ 4.99
MAGIC THE GATHERING (MTG) #7 CVR D 1:10 GUARA VAR $ ???
MARVEL ACTION ORIGINS #4 (OF 5) 1:10 GARBOWSKA VAR $ ???
MARVEL ACTION ORIGINS #4 (OF 5) CVR A SOUVANNY $ 4.99
MARVEL ACTION ORIGINS #4 (OF 5) CVR B SOUVANNY $ 4.99
ME YOU LOVE IN THE DARK #3 (OF 5) (MR) $ 3.99
MIGHTY MORPHIN #12 CVR A LEE $ 3.99
MIGHTY MORPHIN #12 CVR B LEGACY VAR CARLINI $ 3.99
MONDAY MONDAY RIVERS OF LONDON #4 CVR A HARDING (MR) $ 3.99
MONEY SHOT #15 CVR A LAYNE (MR) $ 3.99
MONEY SHOT #15 CVR B BLACK BAG VAR (MR) $ 5.99
NEW MUTANTS 22 $ 3.99
NEW MUTANTS 22 DAVID LOPEZ VARIANT $ 3.99
NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE #5 (OF 12) CVR A ALVARO MARTINEZ BUENO (MR) $ 3.99
NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE #5 (OF 12) CVR B DAVID LAFUENTE CARD STOCK VAR (MR) $ 4.99
NIGHT OF THE CADILLACS #1 CVR A ROB PRIOR $ 3.99
OUT #1 CVR A BRADSTREET (MR) $ 3.99
OUT #1 CVR B DEODATO JR (MR) $ 3.99
RED SONJA (2021) #2 CVR B ANACLETO $ 3.99
RED SONJA (2021) #2 CVR C LINSNER $ 3.99
RED SONJA (2021) #2 CVR E COSPLAY $ 3.99
RED SONJA (2021) #2 CVR N FOC BONUS LI ORIGINAL ART $ 3.99
REDSHIFT #3 (OF 6) $ 3.99
RICK & MORTY PRESENTS SNUFFLES GOES TO WAR #1 CVR A DOWDY $ 4.99
RICK & MORTY PRESENTS SNUFFLES GOES TO WAR #1 CVR B HUANG $ 4.99
RICK AND MORTY RICKS NEW HAT #3 CVR A STRESING $ 3.99
RICK AND MORTY RICKS NEW HAT #3 CVR B STERN $ 3.99
RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE #1 CVR A ARAUJO & OHALLORAN $ 3.99
RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE #1 CVR B BENGAL (MR) $ 3.99
RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE #1 CVR C DALRYMPLE (MR) $ 3.99
RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE #1 CVR D 1:10 GREENE VAR $ ???
RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE #1 CVR E 1:25 LOTAY VAR $ ???
SAVAGE AVENGERS 25 $ 3.99
SAVAGE AVENGERS 25 SMITH VARIANT $ 3.99
SEVEN SWORDS #4 $ 3.99
SNATCHED #2 $ 3.99
STAR TREK YEAR FIVE #25 CVR A STEPHEN THOMPSON $ 4.99
STAR WARS ADV GHOST VADERS CASTLE #3 (OF 5) CVR A FRANCAVILL $ 3.99
STAR WARS HIGH REPUBLIC ADVENTURES #9 CVR A TOLIBAO $ 3.99
STAR WARS HIGH REPUBLIC ADVENTURES #9 CVR B 1:10 LEV VAR $ ???
SWAMP THING #8 (OF 10) CVR A MIKE PERKINS $ 3.99
SWAMP THING #8 (OF 10) CVR B FRANCESCO MATTINA CARD STOCK VAR $ 4.99
VAN HELSING BEAST OF EXMOOR ONE SHOT CVR A CHEN $ 5.99
VAN HELSING BEAST OF EXMOOR ONE SHOT CVR B VITORINO $ 5.99
VAN HELSING BEAST OF EXMOOR ONESHOT CVR C THOMPSON $ 5.99
WALKING DEAD DLX #24 CVR A FINCH & MCCAIG (MR) $ 3.99
WALKING DEAD DLX #24 CVR B MOORE & MCCAIG (MR) $ 3.99
WALKING DEAD DLX #24 CVR C TEDESCO (MR) $ 3.99
WALKING DEAD DLX #24 CVR D COMIC SHOPS VAR (MR) $ 3.99
WONDER WOMAN 80TH ANNIVERSARY 100-PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR B WILL MURAI FILM INSPIRED VAR $ 9.99
WONDER WOMAN 80TH ANNIV 100-PG SUPER SPECT #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR C CAT STAGGS TV VAR $ 9.99
WONDER WOMAN 80TH ANNIV 100-PG SUPER SPECT #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR D BRUCE TIMM ANIMATION VAR $ 9.99
WONDER WOMAN 80TH ANNIV 100-PG SUPER SPECT #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR E JEN BARTEL COSTUME CELEBRATION WRAP VAR $ 9.99
WONDER WOMAN 80TH ANNIV 100-PG SUPER SPECT #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR F AMY REEDER GOLDEN AGE VAR $ 9.99
WONDER WOMAN 80TH ANNIV 100-PG SUPER SPECT #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR G MICHAEL CHO SILVER AGE VAR $ 9.99
WONDER WOMAN 80TH ANNIV 100-PG SUPER SPECT #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR H TRAVIS MOORE BRONZE AGE VAR $ 9.99
WONDER WOMAN 80TH ANNIV 100-PG SUPER SPECT #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR I CLIFF CHIANG MODERN AGE VAR $ 9.99
ZORRO FLIGHTS #1 CVR A MARTINEZ $ 3.99

AVENGERS MECH STRIKE TPB $ 15.99
BATMAN CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT TP (MR) $ 24.99
BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT TP $ 19.99
KILLRAVEN EPIC COLLECTION: WARRIOR OF THE WORLDS TPB $ 44.99
MIGHTY MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE MIGHTY THOR VOL. 1 – THE VENGEANCE OF LOKI GN-TPB ORIGINAL COVER [DM ONLY] $ 15.99
RUNAWAYS BY RAINBOW ROWELL VOL. 6: COME AWAY WITH ME TPB $ 24.99
SENSATIONAL WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 01 $ 16.99
SPIDER-MAN: SPIDER’S SHADOW TPB $ 17.99
Y THE LAST MAN TP BOOK 02 (MR) $ 19.99
ABBOTT 1973 TP $ 17.99
ASCENDER TP VOL 04 (MR) $ 12.99
BLUE EXORCIST GN VOL2 26 $ 9.99
CARDCAPTOR SAKURA CLEAR CARD GN VOL 10 $ 10.99
CHAINSAW MAN GN VOL 07 (MR) $ 9.99
GANTZ OMNIBUS TP VOL 07 $ 24.99
INKBLOT TP VOL 02 $ 16.99
INVESTIGATORS BOXED SET (Re/CR) $ 29.97
JUJUTSU KAISEN GN VOL 12 $ 9.99
MANGA CLASSICS SENSE AND SENSIBILITY GN NEW PTG $ 19.99
MY LOVE MIX UP GN VOL 01 $ 9.99
ONE PUNCH MAN GN VOL 23 $ 9.99
SILVER COIN TP VOL 01 (MR) $ 16.99
STAR WARS ADVENTURES SMUGGLERS RUN TP $ 9.99
VAMPIRE HUNTER D OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 $ 19.99
YONA OF THE DAWN GN VOL 32 $ 9.99

BOWMAN 2021 CHROME BASEBALL T/C BOX $ ???
BOWMAN 2021 CHROME BASEBALL T/C CHOICE BOX $ ???
BOWMAN 2021 CHROME BASEBALL T/C LITE BOX $ ???

COMIC SHOP NEWS #1781 $ FREE
MAD MAGAZINE #22 $ 5.99

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE HE-MAN BLACK T/S Sm-XL $ 19.99
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE HE-MAN BLACK T/S XXL $ 21.99
SHE-RA PRINCESS OF POWER WHITE T/S Sm-XL $ 19.99
SHE-RA PRINCESS OF POWER WHITE T/S XXL $ 21.99

AVP CHOPPER PREDATOR PX 1/18 SCALE FIGURE $ 19.99
POCKET POP SUICIDE SQUAD 2021 HARLEY DAMAGED DRESS KEYCHAIN $ 5.99
POP & BUDDY SPACE JAM SYLVESTER & TWEETY VIN FIG $ 11.99
POP ANIMATION GATCHAMAN JOE ASAKURA VINYL FIG $ 11.99
POP ANIMATION GATCHAMAN JUN VINYL FIG $ 11.99
POP ANIMATION GATCHAMAN KEN WASHIO VINYL FIG $ 11.99
POP HEROES IMPERIAL PALACE FLASH VINYL FIGURE $ 11.99
POP MARVEL WANDAVISION MONICA RAMBEAU VIN FIG $ 11.99
POP MOVIES JLSC DESAAD VINYL FIG $ 11.99
POP MOVIES JLSC DIANA W/ ARROW VINYL FIG $ 11.99
POP MOVIES MANDY W/ CHASE VINYL FIG $ 11.99
VINYL SODA BATMAN WHO LAUGHS PX VIN FIG W/ CHASE $ 13.99
VINYL SODA MOTU STINKOR /W SC CHASE $ 13.99
VINYL SODA RAGNAROK HULK /W MT CHASE $ 13.99
VINYL SODA SUPER CHICKEN W/ GW CHASE $ 13.99
VINYL SODA SUPER FRIENDS JAYNA W/ VAMP CHASE $ 13.99