Month: May 2022

Hey, Folks!

 

Short EDitorial this week as it is also a short week for me. Hillman and I have concert tickets to see AJR at Pine Knob tomorrow so I will not be in the store on Friday. I might be in for a bit on Saturday to catch up on some stuff, but I wouldn’t bank on it. Additionally, Monarch Comics WILL be closed on Memorial Day, but we are closed EVERY Monday so it really isn’t much of an announcement! It will be an incredibly small shipment next week, but I still hope to see everyone stop by the store. Brian and I are working feverishly to get new back issue stock out on the floor so keep an eye on the Facebook page for announcements.

 

Okily dokily…that’s about it! Have a fun and safe holiday weekend and we will talk again next week!

 

Eddie

Hey, Folks!

 

Just a quick note this week as there is frankly not much to talk about at the store. I would like to send out tons of hugs and kisses to all of you as I finally got to see the new Doctor Strange movie and not only did I love the movie, but I was extremely pleased that not one of you spoiled a single blessed thing! Honestly, I think I was maybe more floored by the fact that I encountered no spoilers then the actual events of the movie which were incredibly thrilling. I know that there are some naysayers, but any film that is the result of an MCU film making sweet, sweet love to the Evil Dead movies is quite alright with me.

 

I also wanted to let everyone know that if you are thinking that current release schedules are a bit…off that you are not losing your minds. I know I’ve had this discussion with a few of you but I do want to let everyone know that many companies publishing schedules are going a bit pear-shaped these days (particularly Marvel Comics) due to our old friends, Supply Chain Issues and Paper Shortages. I am trying to keep on top of the schedule changes, but it is proving nearly impossible as things are fluid and changing on a week to week basis. Always feel free to ask when you are in the store if you have any scheduling questions.

 

Brian and I (well, mostly Brian) are getting closer to catching up with our back issue restock that was put on hold while preparing for FCBD. I will continue to publish Facebook posts regarding higher priced  books as well as keys, but please be aware that we have a ton of new back issues from D.C.’s New 52 as well as some X-Titles. The Dollar Boxes have been similarly “restocked” so make sure you take the time to go for a nice, comfortable dive into them! We still have a couple of collections to go through and I still have a ton of stuff to retrieve from deep storage so stayed tuned!

 

That’s it for me, Folks! Have a great weekend and enjoy the warmer weather…😊

 

Eddie

Hey, Folks!

 

Free Comic Book Day has come and gone and I have to say that I am somewhat relieved it is over until next year…lol. I mean, the amount of work and resources that I plow into the BIG event every year can be a bit staggering, but I have to admit that when it comes off as well as it did this year then it is all worth it! Thanks go out to everyone who participated in making FCBD 2022 so fun, including the Monarch Avengers cosplayers, Shivers Ice Cream, the Monarch Comics staff, Kurt Nielson’s Photography, and, of course, all of my terrific customer base who showed up for the event! Let’s hope it goes as well next year!

 

Now comes the aftermath part of the program…lol. I am currently working hard at restocking the store of all of the trade paperbacks and hard covers that went out the door. I will also be reposting a bunch of the cool cosplaying photos that were taken during the event, so keep your eyes open on the Facebook page for some truly awesome stuff!

 

Additionally, Brian and I have been working hard over the last several months at getting Monarch’s back issue stock up to snuff. Because of FCBD there were a couple of collections that we hadn’t gotten around to sorting through and Brian is now hip deep into that particular job. There were around 8 boxes of Dollar Books that we were holding for FCBD and those are now out on the tables, so if “dumpster diving” for cheap back issue stuff is your thing we are ready for you! Those of you who monitor the Facebook page know that there are some choice key back issues that we have recently put out for sale and it always worth a quick look in the showcase to see what may have been added recently! A lot of back issue stock has also made it out into the boxes, including huge amounts of DC New 52 titles, Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Thor, and much more. Since Brian is actually the one doing all of the work on the back issue boxes then he is the one to actually direct your questions to about specifics…😊

 

Additionally, I have decided to keep all of the FCBD titles that we have left out on the counter for the rest of the week in order to cover anyone who either missed the day or wanted a couple of extra comics and couldn’t get them because of the title limit I imposed at the beginning of the event. Well, feel free to grab a couple of extra titles when you are in the shop before they all get boxed up and put back into storage for the year!

 

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I will admit that I am looking forward to actually getting a day off this week and that I will decidedly not be in the store Saturday. I’m actually hoping to get out of the store earlier than usual Friday, but I can’t do that until I catch up on a few things. Take it easy, Beloved Patrons!

 

Eddie

Hey, Folks!

 

Well, the blessed week has finally arrived and everything is in the box and ready to go! What am I prattling about? Why, FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, of course! After a one year hiatus followed by one year held in August, FREE COMIC BOOK DAY has returned to its regular day on the first Saturday of May, in this case May 7^th. Naturally, we here at Monarch are all very excited about it and can’t wait to welcome the width and breadth of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan into the store to take a look around and get some free stuff!

 

Honestly, this will very much be a return to the days of yore with a couple of slight changes necessitated by the pandemic. There will be a wide range of FREE comics available at the counter as in years past and Brian and I will be racking them with the All Ages selections along the bottom, the Teen+ selections in the middle, and the more Mature content along the tops of the racks. We will be instituting a 5 comic book per patron limit at the beginning of the event although I may relax that once the initial rush is over and I am sure that we have plenty of comics to go around. I still have plenty of free comics left over from last year’s FCBD along with tons of new selections from this year’s offerings so I do believe we will be well stocked! I will, of course, be at the FCBD racks all afternoon welcoming folks and answering any questions you might have so please do not be shy! Despite the amount of complaining I tend to do in the store about FCBD I confess that I am thrilled to welcome such a diverse crowd of fans into my humble shop.

 

The Monarch Avengers, Toledo’s premier cosplaying society, will once again be gracing us with their presence this year and I couldn’t be more excited by the line up! This year’s team will include Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Catwoman, Spider-Man, Storm, Harley Quinn, and Deadpool, as well as new the new additions of the Joker, the Mandalorian, and the Mighty Thor! I have also once again hired the fantastic photographer Kurt Nielson who will be once again joining the cosplayers with his mobile photo booth and will be here to snap your pic with your favorite cosplayer and then add the photo to custom Monarch FCBD frame and e-mail or text you the result! I also want to let any other cosplayers in the area know that you are more than welcome to show up in costume as the more the merrier is the Marvel Way! Also, please be aware that the cosplayers and Mr Nielson will only be here between 11-3 on Saturday!

 

I have also continued Monarch Comics partnership with Shivers Ice Cream this year! Every patron who goes through the line will receive a coupon for a free Junior ice cream cone or small slushy what may be redeemed across the street at Shivers! FREE comics AND FREE ice cream!?! It’s like some beautiful dream! Please be careful walking across the street, however, as Key St can sometimes get busy in the afternoon.

 

Monarch will also once again, weather permitting, be setting up a bunch of new Dollar Boxes in front of the store for customers to check out! Feel free to take your time going through the boxes and know that when you are ready to purchase your selections you do NOT have to wait in the Free Comic Book line! Former employee, Jake Teelander, is joining us again for the big day and will be working the door and he will allow you to right in to the register in order to make your purchase. Of course, there may be a line at the register, but at least you won’t have to stand with a pile of dollar comics in a line halfway down the block…lol. If you are interested in the free comics as well as the dollar books then I suggest going through the lone for the free comics first and then hitting the dollar boxes afterwards…😊

 

And that is pretty much it! Monarch Comics will be open our regular Saturday hours of 11-7 although if we are ready before 11 then I may open the flood gates a few minutes early! Additionally, if you can’t make the event we will also be open our regular Sunday hours of 12-5:30 and any FCBD titles that we have left will still be available for you to grab!

 

Have a great weekend, Folks, and I sincerely hope to see you on Saturday!

 

Eddie