We’re continuing with our revisit of the DC NEW 52! It’s been 6 months, and most stories have finished their first parts, so let’s take a look at the New 52 so far!

BATMAN

One of the best books of the New 52. Scott Snyder really knows Batman. This story sort of builds on Snyder’s “Gates of Gotham” mini-series. An ancient order, known as the Court of Owls, runs Gotham from the shadows, and now they’re after Bruce Wayne for his ideas to renovate Gotham. It looks like a fight that Batman might actually lose! The story isn’t done yet, but go grab the issues while you can!

BIRDS OF PREY

I had mixed feelings about this series: I loved Gail Simone writing Babs, Black Canary, Huntress and Zinda. You really got a sense of their friendship and their characters really stood out. On the other hand, Duane Sweircynski is a good writer, particularly for street-level characters. The result? A book that surprised me. The Birds remind me of the A-Team, a group of highly trained specialists on the run from the law trying to clear their names. Throw in Poison Ivy, and this Gotham-centric book is one of the more fun of the bunch.

BLUE BEETLE

Blue Beetle is one of my favorites. Jaime Reyes was from that initiative DC had to make multi-cultural legacy characters. Only he and Jason Rusch remained (they make reference to Ryan Choi, but he never became Atom in the new 52), and I’m glad to see at least one of them has a decent book. The book stays pretty faithful to the mythos of the pre-new 52 Jaime, but they cut out the original Blue Beetle and jump straight to the scarab being a death weapon, and Jaime’s best friend’s aunt wants it for some nefarious purpose. It’s still a fun series, and I’m glad Jaime is still around.

CAPTAIN ATOM

Captain Atom is an interesting one… it seems like writer JT Krul has gone and taken a character derived from Captain Atom, Doctor Manhattan, and incorporated his powers and part of his persona into the Captain Atom character. He’s losing his humanity, and gaining a scary powerful set of skills. I’m all for characters that are ridiculously powerful, but I can understand others not finding that particularly appealing. It’s an exploration of humanity and what it means to lose it… not the lightest of subject matter.

CATWOMAN

The definition of a guilty pleasure book, Catwoman, the book and the character, are not afraid of what they are. Yes, there was a little controversy in the first issue as the last scene with Batman was one of the more outrageous of the relaunch, but the book definitely has fun with itself. Selina has fun being Catwoman, until things get bad for her and her associates, but she manages to get through it by the skin of her teeth, and Judd Winick and Guillem March really do a great job of making Catwoman the best anti-heroine book out there.

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS

An anthology that covers the nooks and crannies of the DCU, the first story re-examined the origin of Deadman, which was highly entertaining. The ideas of life and death, oblivion and destiny are explored. A little out there, but with Deadman as our guide, the story stays grounded. Up next is the Challengers of the Unknown!

GREEN LANTERN CORPS

Another Peter Tomasi series, Green Lantern Corps was the book Tomasi transitioned from editor to writer on. In the new 52, Tomasi comes up with another great piece of GL lore: the keepers of the Lanterns! When the Guardians remove the Lanterns, the planet’s inhabitants strike back. The story has been one of the best of the new 52, highly recommended!

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES

This is one of the other series that didn’t get fully rebooted by the New 52, but the continuity isn’t AS bad. Paul Levitz is still writing it, and he’s an old, capable hand at all things Legion. There’s a lot of Legionnaires, and a long history, but Levitz limits the exposition and explanation, the series is a steady read, good for fans of team dynamics and team soap opera.

NIGHTWING

Another character I’ve missed, Dick Grayson goes back to being Nightwing. I know a lot of people liked him as Batman, but Bruce Wayne is Batman, and Dick Grayson is Nightwing. The new series revisits Dick’s old circus, and a mystery that leaves the original owner dead, and Dick in charge of the circus! Not only this, but Dick is being hunted by an assassin who knows he’s Nightwing! The book is very good, and if I had to recommend a Batman family book that didn’t star Batman, it’d be this one or Catwoman.

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS

Another series that was controversial, Red Hood and the Outlaws has actually become a very good series. Fans protestations over the portrayal of Starfire notwithstanding, writer Scott Lobdell took his time establishing the characters and reintroducing Jason Todd. The plot involving ancient orders of assassins notwithstanding, Lobdell does a good job of humanizing one of the least liked Robins, along with establishing a new status quo for Speedy and reintroducing Starfire. If you were turned off by her being an alien slut, continue with the series, she gets a better personality.

SUPERGIRL

The Superman/Batman team of Michael Green and Mike Johnson tackle the Girl of Steel in the New 52, and it’s hard for me to really say anything. I’ve seen Kara Zor-El’s origin, but the difference is that Supergirl has her own burgeoning rogues gallery, replete with her own mad genius villain. It’d good for people not familiar with the character or new to comics. She’s always been a good character for young women, and that hasn’t changed!

WONDER WOMAN

The world’s most popular female superhero, Wonder Woman’s new series is terrific. Brian Azzarello has a really good handle of Diana, revitalizing her origin and modifying the gods. Cliff Chiang’s style is also very distinct when it comes to the gods, and he gives them an almost creepy feel, and in actuality the gods are manipulative, conniving sleazebags, so it works for the story. Each writer has tried to put their own stamp on Wonder Woman, and Azzarello is leaving a clear one. His run reminds me of Greg Rucka’s, in that they both bring out the Amazon Warrior in Diana. Wonder Woman makes Xena look like a little girl playing in kindergarten. A highly recommended!

That’s it for this week, we’ll have more next week, until then—

STAY BLOGGY MY FRIENDS!

-          Raph

PART TIME SHIPPING HELP WANTED AT MIDTOWN COMICS’ WAREHOUSE IN L.I.C. QUEENS!

Enter the fabulous world of comics and work for the premiere retailer.  In addition to your natural born love of comics, your role and requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Must Be Detail Oriented
• Some Comic Knowledge Preferred
• Part Time Help Must Be Available To Work Friday Nights, Saturdays and Sundays

Our warehouse is very accessible via MTA, including the 7 and E lines.  If you’d like to be considered for the position PLEASE E-MAIL YOUR RESUME TO INFO@MIDTOWNCOMICS.COM and have “Midtown Comics Shipping Job Opening” in the subject line.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Thank you,

Your friends at Midtown Comics

New York, NY, February 14, 2012- Midtown Comics in New York City will have its first Open Buying Day at Midtown Comics Downtown on Saturday, February 18th from 1:00PM to 4:00PM.

Special note: A camera crew will be taping this event for a major cable TV network, and your presence will indicate your consent to be videotaped.

We’re buying back issues in a big way, and we’re especially looking for Silver and Golden Age comics, along with key issues of ANY age. We also need LOTS of vintage toys and collectibles, so don’t be shy, bring everything, and be prepared to meet Midtown’s back issue man Alex Rae. Who knows? You may walk away with an Uncle Scrooge-size haul of money!! Our first ever open buying day takes place at Midtown Comics Downtown, at 64 Fulton Street (corner of Ryder Alley, just a few blocks east of Broadway), from 1:00 to 4:00PM, Saturday, February 18th.

We’re also looking for one particular book, HOT STUFF THE LITTLE DEVIL #1 (1957). WE WILL PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR THIS BOOK!

Check out our hilarious We Buy Comics commercial!  

RSVP to this event on Midtown Comics’ Facebook page!

MIDTOWN COMICS opened its first store in 1997, and is now the industry’s leading retailer of comic books, graphic novels, and manga, with its online store as well as three landmark NYC locations in Times Square, Grand Central and Downtown.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and the Midtown blog! More information available online at:  http://www.midtowncomics.com

We’re buying back issues in a big way, and we’re especially looking for Silver and Golden Age comics, along with key issues of ANY age. We also need LOTS of vintage toys and collectibles, so don’t be shy, bring everything, and be prepared to meet Midtown’s back issue man Alex Rae. Who knows? You may walk away with an Uncle Scrooge-size haul of money!! Our first ever open buying day takes place at Midtown Comics Downtown, at 64 Fulton Street (corner of Ryder Alley, just a few blocks east of Broadway), from 1:00 to 4:00PM, Saturday, February 18th.

We’re also looking for one particular book, HOT STUFF THE LITTLE DEVIL #1 (1957). WE WILL PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR THIS BOOK!

Special note: a camera crew will be taping this event for a major cable TV network, and your presence will indicate your acceptance to be videotaped.

Check out our awesome We Buy Comics commercial!

GREETINGS MIDTOWN BLOG GIANTS! This is the 2^nd part of our 4 part look at the New 52, six months later. If you missed part, you can find it here. Why are we doing this, Bloggerbowl Champeen? Because most opening story arcs have wrapped at this point and now we have a better idea of the direction of the book. So on with week 2!

BATGIRL

One of the more controversial books of the New 52, fandom was divided by the idea of bringing Barbara Gordon back. From a personal standpoint, I really had come to love Stephanie Brown as Batgirl, and Cassandra Cain is my favorite DC heroine period, but Barbara’s story hasn’t been a disappointment. She got shot, she got better, now she’s trying to do the caped crusading gig all over again. It’s not easy, and she’s had some road bumps along the way, but Gail Simone has an understanding of who Barbara is (from her days on Birds of Prey) and makes Barbara a vulnerable, human protagonist without making her helpless or dependent on the Bat-Family to help her. A good book, and a recommended buy!

BATMAN AND ROBIN

I’ve long been a fan of Peter Tomasi. His run on Green Lantern Corps was terrific, and he’s one of those guys I’ll follow to a book. With that said, Tomasi’s current Batman and Robin run is arguably one of my Top 10 of the New 52. The arc revolves around Bruce Wayne retaking the mantle of Batman and trying to train his son Damian to be Robin. A non-lethal Robin. Enter an old colleague-turned-enemy from the past who doesn’t mind killing a few bad guys, and the battle for Damian’s soul begins. The story isn’t done yet, but I highly recommend picking it up whenever you can, it’s my favorite Bat-book besides Batman!

BATWOMAN

The series that’s been anticipated since BEFORE the New 52, Batwoman stars in her own series as she tries to solve a crime involving a mysterious woman made of water. JH Williams’ art is gorgeous, but I think a little overt. Kate Kane is pale as a ghost, and so is Batwoman, if you saw the two of them side by side, it doesn’t take a detective to figure out the two are the same person. It’s a minor gripe, the story is solid, and artist Amy Reeder jumps on board with this month’s issue 6.

DEATHSTROKE

Deathstroke’s been an interesting one. The last time he had a series, they played him as more of an anti-hero,  and that’s where you’re thinking this series might go… and it doesn’t. He’s not heroic at all, he’s the ultimate mercenary: the definition of a hired gun. The entire series has been about him facing off against other mercenaries and trying to prove he’s still the best in the world. Whether it means robbing a weapons cache or facing off against metahumans, you sort of get behind Deathstroke, because all he wants to do is his job and get paid very well for it.

DEMON KNIGHTS

Another one of my personal favorites and a surprise hit, Demon Knights is what you get when you take Arthurian legend, DC’s historical characters, mix them up and let them go. The ragtag team is pretty much the Justice  League of DC’s Medieval Age, with period specific morality and values as well. Etrigan, Shining Knight and Xanadu all make appearances, as well as an Amazon and an Assassin! Paul Cornell does a great job, and I can tell this is a pet project for him. Highly recommended!

FRANKENSTEIN: AGENT OF SHADE

This book has it’s origins in Flashpoint, with the 3 issue mini-series written by Jeff Lemire. Lemire continues his work in this ongoing, with Frankenstein being the field commander for S.H.A.D.E.’s monstrous task force. Father Time runs operations and Ray Palmer (the shrinking Atom) supplies the technology. You can consider Frankenstein the original science-fiction story, and the series draws from that, as well as the horrific and occult, Lemire’s wheelhouse is horror, with books like Animal Man and Sweet Tooth and Frankenstein, and if you like the occult and the offbeat, you’ll like Frankenstein!

 GREEN LANTERN  

Green Lantern is another one of those controversial books. Not because it’s got anything graphic and horrific in it, but because it’s continuity has continued from the old universe. Critics argue that this isn’t in the spirit of the New 52: You have to know what happened in the previous volume of GL to know what’s going on. Luckily, everything from the previous volume is available in collections and in print. I happen to enjoy the Geoff Johns run on Green Lantern, and I would recommend the previous series, but if you want to jump onto something fresh with GL, I suggest GL Corps, which I’ll write about more in a later post.

GRIFTER

Grifter is one of the characters DC brought back from the Wildstorm universe for the New 52. He was a member of a team called WildC.A.T.S., and he’s arguably one of the most recognizable Wildstorm characters. In his series, written by the wonderful Nathan Edmonson (Olympus, The Light) Cole Cash is being hunted by the US Government, but all isn’t what it seems. There’s a mysterious group manipulating events against Cole, and he has to use all the resources available to him to combat this menace, even though no one else sees it! It’s got a lot of that action movie pizzazz that you enjoy in the summer, and I consider it a guilty pleasure read.

LEGION LOST

A cult favorite series with Legion fans in the 90’s, the title got brought back, but the concept’s a little different. This group of Legionnaires find themselves lost in time, the present to be precise. One of their enemies has released a virus in the past, in order to change the future, and the Legion must figure out a way to fix things, without any way to get help from the future! Originally written by Abnett and Lanning, two of my favorite writers, Fabian Nicieza and Tom DeFalco have jumped on board. The story is entertaining, and it’s one of the first books I pick up off the shelves to read… at lunch of course!

MISTER TERRIFIC

One of the series that was recently cancelled, Mister Terrific was an odd duck. It had a semi-coherent plot, involving aliens and extra-dimensional beings. It was mildly entertaining, but there’s a lack of a plot and Mr. Terrific is out in space too much. It was just too abstract for a new comics reader.

RESURRECTION MAN

Another DnA (Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning) title, Resurrection Man was also a 90’s cult hit. Mitch Shelley can’t die. Every time he does, he comes back with a different power. There are a lot of people after Mitch, who can’t remember his past that well, and among his pursuers are the forces of Heaven and Hell! A soul just doesn’t escape death, and his soul has become valuable! It’s another book I like to read at lunch, it keeps you on the edge of your seat as they give you little bits of Mitch’s past piecemeal, while everything around him comes crashing down…  a great read!

SUICIDE SQUAD

This one is another one that has divided fandom; this time it’s over the New 52 rendition of Harley Quinn. That’s what happens when you change a beloved character like Harley or Barbara. Suicide Squad is a classic DC concept: supervillains serving jail time get a reprieve from prison by serving on a special task force that completes missions for the US government… but you don’t leave the Squad unless it’s in a body bag. Harley’s changes aside, the book is actually a very good read. For those of you upset by the changes to Ms. Quinn, check out issues 6 and 7 as writer Adam Glass details the new origin of Harley Quinn. I say give it a shot, and if it doesn’t suit you, then don’t read it.

SUPERBOY

Written by Scott Lobdell, Superboy ties in closely with Teen Titans. Lobdell introduces a new group, N.O.W.H.E.R.E., that seeks to capture and manipulate teenage metahumans. For this purpose, they stole Superboy out from under Cadmus and have been training him to be a one-man retrieval force. It’s been a surprisingly good story, and if you’re reading Teen Titans, you should definitely pick up Superboy. I personally enjoy that Connor is not a bad stereotype like he was when he first debuted! Connor’s different from most of the other characters, and seeing his point of view is interesting, he was grown in a lab, he doesn’t have the same connections and morality that we do… so can Connor become a hero like the man he was cloned from? Only one way to find out!

That’s it for now, until next time—

Stay Bloggy My Friends!

-          Raph

• Win a copy of the Walking Dead Volume 1 Omnibus, a $100.00 value!
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A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. The Midtown Comics Facebook Contest (“Sweepstakes”) is by internet entry only. The sponsor of this Sweepstakes is Midtown Comics, 200 West 40th Street, NY, NY 10018 (the “Sponsor”). The Sweepstakes shall be subject to these Official Rules, and by entering, all participants agree to be bound by the terms and conditions herein.
ELIGIBILITY: THE MIDTOWN COMICS FACEBOOK SWEEPSTAKES (“Sweepstakes”) IS OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE CONTIGUOUS CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AS OF ENTRY DATE. Employees and their families of Sponsors, their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies, agencies and those living in the household of same are not eligible to enter or win. All U.S. Federal, state and local rules and regulations apply. By entering this Sweepstakes, entrants agree to abide by all terms of these Official Rules.
HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: You may enter via the Internet by logging onto www.facebook.com/midtowncomics (the “Entry Site”) and following the Sweepstakes entry directions. ALL ONLINE ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY February 14, 2012 11:59:00 pm (EST) on the deadline stated in the posting. The Promotion Parties, prize suppliers, and any and all Internet server(s) and access provider(s), and each of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent corporations, retailers and advertising and promotional agencies, and all of their officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents (collectively, “Releasees”) are not responsible for: any incorrect or inaccurate entry information; human errors; technical malfunctions; failures, omissions, interruptions, deletions or defects of any telephone network, computer online systems, computer equipment, servers, providers, or software, including without limitation any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participation in the Sweepstakes; inability to access the Entry Site; theft, tampering, destruction, or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries; data that is processed late or incorrectly or is incomplete or lost due to telephone, computer or electronic malfunction or traffic congestion on telephone lines or the Internet or any web site (including the Entry Site) or for any other reason whatsoever; changes in schedule of the Event; typographical, printing or other errors; any deposited or mailed entries which are late, lost, incomplete, misdirected, stolen, mutilated, illegible, or postage due, or any combination thereof. Proof of mailing entry, depositing entry in display at Event or entering information at the Entry Site is not considered proof of delivery or receipt. Illegible, incomplete, and mechanically reproduced entries will be disqualified. All entries become the property of the Sponsors and will not be acknowledged or returned. False, fraudulent or deceptive entries or acts shall render entrants ineligible. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants affirm that they have read and accepted these Official Rules. The Sweepstakes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts of the United States and waive the right to have disputes arising out of the subject matter hereof adjudicated in any other forum. The information obtained via the entry will be used by Sponsors and their affiliates for marketing purposes. Sponsors and their affiliates would like to use this information to contact you either by mail or email with updates about special promotions or offers.
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Midtown Comics loves doing free giveaways for all of our fabulous fans!

One lucky @midtowncomics twitter follower will have the chance to win the GIGANTIC Walking Dead Volume 1 Omnibus! A $100.00 value!

How to Enter:

1) Follow Midtown Comics on Twitter.com, winners must be following Midtown Comics to be eligible.

2) Tweet or Retweet this message AND link:

WIN @RobertKirkman’s #WalkingDead Vol. 1 Omnibus from @MidtownComics! RT & Follow to enter! http://bit.ly/xamNzF

3) Wait and see who wins! Winners will be picked, contacted via Direct Message and sent their prize!

WINNER WILL BE PICKED AT 5 p.m. Wednesday Feb . 15th!

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THE MIDTOWN COMICS TWITTER SWEEPSTAKES

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NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. The Midtown Comics Twitter Contest (“Sweepstakes”) is by internet entry only. The sponsor of this Sweepstakes is Midtown Comics, 200 West 40th Street, NY, NY 10018 (the “Sponsor”). The Sweepstakes shall be subject to these Official Rules, and by entering, all participants agree to be bound by the terms and conditions herein.

ELIGIBILITY: THE MIDTOWN COMICS TWITTER SWEEPSTAKES (“Sweepstakes”) IS OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE CONTIGUOUS CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AS OF ENTRY DATE. Employees and their families of Sponsors, their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies, agencies and those living in the household of same are not eligible to enter or win. All U.S. Federal, state and local rules and regulations apply. By entering this Sweepstakes, entrants agree to abide by all terms of these Official Rules.

HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: You may enter via the Internet by logging onto http://bit.ly/xamNzF (the “Entry Site”) and following the Sweepstakes entry directions. ALL ONLINE ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY 05:00:00 pm (EST) on the deadline stated in the posting. The Promotion Parties, prize suppliers, and any and all Internet server(s) and access provider(s), and each of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent corporations, retailers and advertising and promotional agencies, and all of their officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents (collectively, “Releasees”) are not responsible for: any incorrect or inaccurate entry information; human errors; technical malfunctions; failures, omissions, interruptions, deletions or defects of any telephone network, computer online systems, computer equipment, servers, providers, or software, including without limitation any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participation in the Sweepstakes; inability to access the Entry Site; theft, tampering, destruction, or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries; data that is processed late or incorrectly or is incomplete or lost due to telephone, computer or electronic malfunction or traffic congestion on telephone lines or the Internet or any web site (including the Entry Site) or for any other reason whatsoever; changes in schedule of the Event; typographical, printing or other errors; any deposited or mailed entries which are late, lost, incomplete, misdirected, stolen, mutilated, illegible, or postage due, or any combination thereof. Proof of mailing entry, depositing entry in display at Event or entering information at the Entry Site is not considered proof of delivery or receipt. Illegible, incomplete, and mechanically reproduced entries will be disqualified. All entries become the property of the Sponsors and will not be acknowledged or returned. False, fraudulent or deceptive entries or acts shall render entrants ineligible. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants affirm that they have read and accepted these Official Rules. The Sweepstakes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States. By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts of the United States and waive the right to have disputes arising out of the subject matter hereof adjudicated in any other forum. The information obtained via the entry will be used by Sponsors and their affiliates for marketing purposes. Sponsors and their affiliates would like to use this information to contact you either by mail or email with updates about special promotions or offers.

WINNER SELECTION: the winner(s) will be determined by random selection conducted by Midtown Comics from among all eligible entries. If a prize notification or prize is returned as undeliverable for any reason, the prize will be awarded to an alternate winner in a subsequent random drawing. Prize is not transferable, assignable, or redeemable for cash. No substitution for the prize by the winner will be allowed. If necessary, due to unavailability of the prize for any reason, a prize of equal or greater value will be awarded at the sole discretion of the Sponsors.  The odds of winning the prize are determined by the total number of eligible entries received.

All Federal, state and local tax liabilities are the responsibility of the winner. Acceptance of the prize constitutes permission (except where prohibited) for the Sponsors to use the winner’s name, likeness, biography, statements, and any other similar materials for marketing, promotional and publicity purposes without additional compensation or any limitation.

LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY: Releasees shall not be liable to winner or any other person for failure to supply the prize or any part thereof, by reason of any acts of God, any action(s), regulation(s), order(s) or request(s) by any governmental or quasi-governmental entity (whether or not the action(s), regulations(s), order(s) or request(s) prove(s) to be invalid), equipment failure, terrorist acts, earthquake, war, fire, flood, explosion, unusually severe weather, hurricane, embargo, labor dispute or strike (whether legal or illegal), labor or material shortage, transportation interruption of any kind, work slow-down, civil disturbance, insurrection, riot, or any other cause beyond Sponsors’ sole control.

GENERAL: Entrants release and waive any claims they may have against Releasees for any and all injuries, claims, damages, losses, costs, or expenses of any kind (including without limitation attorney’s fees) resulting from acceptance, use, or misuse of any prize or element thereof, or participation in this Sweepstakes.

If for any reason this Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned, or if this Sweepstakes or any web site associated therewith (or any portion thereof) becomes corrupted or does not allow the proper playing of the Sweepstakes and processing of entries in accordance with these rules, or if infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, actions by entrants, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes, in the Sponsors’ sole opinion, corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes, the Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual implicated in such action and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend this Sweepstakes or any portion thereof. In the event this Sweepstakes is cancelled, the Sponsors will conduct a random drawing to award all prizes from among all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to the time of the action or event warranting such cancellation. If such cancellation, termination, modification, or suspension occurs, notification will be posted at the Entry Site. ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE (“HACK”) ANY WEB SITE (INCLUDING THE ENTRY SITE) OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND/OR CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. If a dispute arises about who submitted an entry on the Entry Site, the entry will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the e-mail account entered. The authorized account holder is deemed the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, service provider, or other online organization that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. A potential winner may be requested to provide Sponsors with proof that the potential winner is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the winning entry and that all eligibility requirements are met.

NOTE: Internet entry must be made by the entrant only at the Entry Site. Entries made by any other individual or any entity, and/or originating at any other web site or e-mail address, including, but not limited to, commercial sweepstakes subscription notification and/or entering service sites, will be declared invalid and disqualified for this Sweepstakes. The use of any device to automate the entry process is prohibited.

York, NY, February 8, 2012- Midtown Comics in New York City will present artist Amy Reeder signing Batwoman #6  from DC Comics at Midtown Comics Downtown on Thursday, February 9th from 6:00PM to 7:00PM.

Amy Reeder rose to popularity in the Japanese-inspired comic scene, drawing and writing her own graphic novel series Fool’s Gold for Tokyopop.  Her work on Vertigo’s Madame Xanadu earned her three Eisner awards: Best New Series, Best Artist and Best Cover Artist. Supergirl covers marked Amy’s move to the DC Universe, and since then she has focused her time on the greatly anticipated, new Batwoman series.

Batwoman #6: Artist Amy Reeder and inker Richard Friend join the Batwoman team with this new arc, as the epic “To Drown the World” begins!

Six lives, inextricably linked in the past and present, each on a collision course with the others: Batwoman, fighting for duty and vengeance against a threat of arcane power. Detective Maggie Sawyer, investigating a case that could end her career. DEO Agent Cameron Chase, commanding a vigilante she despises. Colonel Jacob Kane, clutching at a life that’s slipping away. Maro, a new villain corrupting Gotham City. And Kate Kane, wrestling with decisions that will test her loyalties.

RSVP to this event on Midtown Comics’ Facebook page!

MIDTOWN COMICS opened its first store in 1997, and is now the industry’s leading retailer of comic books, graphic novels, and manga, with its online store as well as three landmark NYC locations in Times Square, Grand Central and Downtown.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and the Midtown blog! More information available online at:  http://www.midtowncomics.com

New York, NY, February 6, 2012- Midtown Comics in New York City will present Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan signing Conan The Barbarian #1 from Dark Horse Comics at Midtown Comics Downtown on Wednesday, February 8th from 6:00PM to 7:00PM.

Brian Wood is best known for his creator-owned work that includes DMZ, Northlanders, Demo, The New York Four,The Couriers, Channel Zero, Local and Supermarket. Brian is set to release his newest series, The Massive with Dark Horse Comics.

Becky Cloonan is an award-winning cartoonist and illustrator who started self-publishing mini comics in 1999. Since then she has gone on to work with Vertigo, Dark Horse, Harper Collins and Marvel, with editions of her work published in several countries around the world.

Conan The Barbarian #1: In this sweeping adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s fan-favorite “Queen of the Black Coast,” Conan turns his back on the civilized world and takes to the high seas alongside the pirate queen Bêlit, setting the stage for an epic of romance, terror, and swashbuckling. This is Conan as you’ve never seen him, with the combination of one of Robert E. Howard’s greatest tales and the most dynamic creative team in comics!

RSVP to this event on Midtown Comics’ Facebook page!

MIDTOWN COMICS opened its first store in 1997, and is now the industry’s leading retailer of comic books, graphic novels, and manga, with its online store as well as three landmark NYC locations in Times Square, Grand Central and Downtown.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and the Midtown blog! More information available online at:  http://www.midtowncomics.com