So I just came back from the SCAD Mini-Comics Expo (where I dropped off a few flyers for TRO) and thought I’d share what I found.

My budget was pretty limited but I still got some great stuff.

The first is Another Stupid Cat Comic by Alyssa Ciaccio (lisserbliss.blogspot.com). It’s actually a little handmade flipbook with an adorably animated cat and some scatological humor.

Though it must be reprinted, it still somehow looked like it was drawn with pencil right in the book.

The second book, Boogers #1 by Kevin Burkhalter (kevinsjournalcomic.com) was a bit of unexpected high fantasy with low.. well, high in the nostril… er, characters. I made sure to get #1, since you guys know what a continuity freak I am. Don’t want to accidentally read Boogers out of order.

I liked how the pages counted with little boogers in this one.

The last one there is Inkdick #5, where I felt ok getting out of order since I also read the comic online. Pranas T. Naujokaitis (ghostcarpress.com/inkdick/) has been doing his journal comic for a long time and it was kind of weird getting this one, which contains a bit about the Obama election, and realizing it’s the happiest thing in the book.

Such a feeling of hope, something it doesn’t seem has stuck with us. In any case, I always enjoy Pranas’ work because his honest depictions of down times help keep me from feeling really alone when I’m sad.

Finally, I also picked up a bitchin’ shirt from Nate Marsh (www.obscureanimals.com), who also had some awesome books that were a little out of my price range… well, if I wanted the shirt that is.

I always love these kinds of things and I always feel bad that I don’t plan ahead to bring more to support the indie peeps. There was a lot of other interesting looking stuff there, but I ran out of the cash in my pocket quick.

I like that I came home with little books featuring three different binding techniques. There was even more ingenuity on display at the tables. It just goes to show – if you wanna make comics, you’re gonna make comics. No reason to let anything stand in your way.

Like many artists, I highly doubt any of these guys are breaking even on the printed stuff shown at the actual expo, but I hope they do well through their websites.

So check em out, show em some love!

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The site might not have seemed very busy to you lately, but that’s probably because you’re not watching the forum.

Along with a lot of tough-going updating to new backend code, some very big changes you may have noticed on reading order and individual blog pages, we’ve also had a lot of content updates!

Marc, Chris, and Simon (now among official TRO contributors, with the forum badges to prove it) have been uploading tons of header images for the character, creator, and series reading orders.

They’ve also been learning how to add books to the database, so there are a few new additions and a bunch of pending items, especially in the Self Contained Comics section.

We’re also currently working on the Wildstorm and 2000AD books.

As for me, after I finished the reading order page redesign (which I hope you like), I started going through the newly uploaded marvel list, filling holes and checking for errors.

I’ve uploaded over 308 new cover images in the last week (just getting the ones where Amazon isn’t currently supplying something or it’s dreadful.)

I added and placed Wolverine By Jason Aaron Omnibus Vol. 1, and these are today’s cover updates:

Dazzler: The Movie
Fantastic Four: The Trial Of Galactus
Hawkeye
Captain America: Deathlok Lives
New Mutants Classic Vol. 1
Dr. Strange Vs. Dracula: The Montesi Formula
The Very Best Of Marvel Comics
Backpack Marvels: X-Men: Target: Angel
Killraven: Warrior Of The Worlds
Uncanny X-Men: Beyond The Farthest Star
Magneto Ascendant
Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 2
Fantastic Four Chronicles
New Mutants
Hercules: Prince Of Power (1982 Edition)
Best Of What If?
Uncanny X-Men: Night Screams
Incredible Hulk Vol. 5
Incredible Hulk Vol. 4
Incredible Hulk Vol. 3
Incredible Hulk Vol. 2
Incredible Hulk Vol. 1
Incredible Hulk: A Man-Brute Berserk
Sensational Spider-Man: Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut

That brings us through page 7, 700 books that all have an image!

As for all the rest of the books with new images, you’ll have to check out the new simple “recent updates” list. This page won’t be linked around much on the site, as I’ll be mainly using it to keep track of what we’ve all been working on.

We’re going to keep moving forward with these database and structural updates for a little bit (probably at least until I’m done checking through the Marvel books) and then once we’re settled in the blog will become more active with the variety of reviews and features you’re used to. For now, enjoy all the new database content! There’s a lot!

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Big News, True Believers!

Strap your cap on and grab your hammer, ’cause the Marvel Reading Order is fully functional!

Including 2956 entries, many with links and information for softcover and hardcover printings, the list is sorted and tagged and all ready to help you get your collection in order. I’ve already got mine added, which you can see here!

Ultimate Marvel has its own separate list, but this list includes stuff like Marvel MAX, Marvel All Ages, What If? stories and even Companion Volumes. If you just want to see primary continuity books (IE, no companion volumes or kid’s stuff) go to the Primary Continuity list.

Every book is tagged with a Character and Creator and many also have a Series or Event – all of which can be used to generate a reading order just on that topic! Plus, don’t forget you can use the filter tool on the secondary sidebar to create your own specific lists or search the database. The ability to filter by Marvel Character as well as DC Character is coming soon.

I’ve added the new sub-categories to the filter tool, so you can now choose to see only books in the Marvel Modern Age, or if you want, you could search for books in just “Golden Age” which would give you Marvel and DC results. Or create a reading order for books just collecting “Uncanny X-Men” issues. Whatever you want!

The list is packed with all the Marvel favorites: X-Men, Spider-Man, The Avengers, Fantastic Four, Wolverine, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Daredevil, Punisher, Deadpool, Nick Fury, She-Hulk, Doctor Strange, the Silver Surfer, the Sub-Mariner, Ghost Rider. And a lot more.

Once you’ve found the books you’re looking for, you can add them to your collection which will automatically be sorted alphabetically and by reading order – just click that little green plus button next to the book! Remember, you’ve got to be logged in to add books to your collection. (If you’re not registered yet, it only takes a second, and you can even use a fake name – accounts are only used for collection management and forum posting.)

The Age Of Conan

In addition to the Marvel list, there’s also an offshoot – the Conan Universe Reading Order containing comics for all of the Robert E. Howard inspired characters such as Conan The Barbarian, Red Sonja, Kull, Thulsa Doom, and Solomon Kane.

Conan comics were originally published by Marvel (and Conan does exist in the Marvel Universe!) but because there are so many books published by Dark Horse and Dynamite, the list has been given its own home on this website.

For Marvel continuity purposes, these books take place between Thor’s Age Of Myth and before the Marvel Westerns.

Major Structural Updates

The site is now running on an updated backend and the forum has also been redone. The amount of memory available has been increased as well.

The DC Quicklist and Marvel Quicklist are fully functional and all the new pages are now linked from the sidebar. In case you haven’t noticed, simple index views are now available for Primary List Reading Orders, DC Series Reading Orders, DC Character Reading Orders, Marvel Series Reading Orders, Marvel Character Reading Orders, and Creator Reading Orders.

The site has gained a ridiculously large amount of content in the past few days, but our work is never finished. Moving forward, I’ll be adding covers to every book and filling out the character tags. As always, you can leave a comment on any book with questions or advice, either on placement or about the information in the database.

We’ll also be getting back on the daily review schedule starting this weekend!

Stay tuned, dear readers!

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The Marvel list is up! And what better way to celebrate than with some retro Spidey?

Today’s Link:

http://marvel.com/videos/browse/movietv/98/spider-man_1967

Spider-Man started airing in 1967 and was produced until 1970. Featuring the best TV theme song ever made (seriously, try to get that one out of your head!), Space Ghost and Scooby Doo style voice-over and plots, and some strange (at times even psychedelic) animation, it’s a show with a lasting legacy that’s still fun today.

In fact, I think it’s a lot more fun than most modern cartoons. It’s zany and crazy without making me feel like ADHD in overdrive. And the music is just tops. Groovy!

Paul Soles as Spider-Man is something you’ve got to hear, with a deep dramatic voice often slipping into unintentionally(?) hilarious deadpan.

Every episode is now up for free at Marvel.com, looking and sounding as good as ever. (Much better than that Youtube clip!)

I’ll be back tomorrow to make the official rundown for the Marvel list and all the related site updates, for now, have a great night! Enjoy the show!

Still Bored? Visit Uncle Gorby’s Archive for More Links or Visit Uncle Gorby’s Corner in the Forum!

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We’re currently in the middle of upgrading to wordpress 3.1, which will cause some difficulties. Most of the site should still work, but the individual book views and some other information may not. Feel free to let me know if you encounter a problem, otherwise everything should be set soon!

Update: Core update, plugins, and forum updates all complete. Everything should be working fine (with some small changes in link structure) but let me know if you run into any issues!

Comment!