Pulp Notes

by Michael Lerner

3/06/09 - AFTER THE WATCHMEN (movie)

Never read a “graphic novel” before…now’s the time! Get the Watchmen graphic novel at Pulp Fiction and save 20% off the cover price. But the savings don’t stop there. We want to help start you down the graphic novel reading path, so we have put together a sampler package (Vertigo First Taste, Alan Moore’s Americas Best Comics Primer, Fables #1) of some of the best and brightest material for all you new “collectors” - these are all FREE (over $10 value, while supplies last) to everyone who purchases the Watchmen book during the month of March!

VERTIGO FIRST TASTE

Written by Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Azzarello, Warren Ellis, and Si Spencer Art by Chris Bachalo, Eduardo Risso, Darick Robertson and Jerome K. Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben, Mark Buckingham, Pia Guerra and Jose Marzan, Jr., and Dean Ormston

You've heard the VERTIGO buzz but for some reason never took the plunge...well, now you've run out of excuses! VERTIGO FIRST TASTE is a specially priced collection that allows readers entry into the most influential and provocative imprint in comics. Collecting the premiere issues of six different Vertigo series, this special 168-page trade paperback carries a suggested retail price of only $4.99 US, making it easier than ever for the curious to see why Vertigo has become synonymous for quality comics. The six issues included are Y: THE LAST MAN #1 (written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Pia Guerra & José Marzan, Jr.), 100 BULLETS #1 (written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Eduardo Risso), THE BOOKS OF MAGICK: LIFE DURING WARTIME #1 (written by Si Spencer and illustrated by Dean Ormston), SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #21 (the first issue written by Watchmen creator Alan Moore with art by Stephen Bissette & John Totleben), TRANSMETROPOLITAN #1 (written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Darick Robertson & Jerome K. Moore) and DEATH: THE HIGH COST OF LIVING #1 (written by the best-selling co-creator of THE SANDMAN Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Chris Bachalo & Mark Buckingham).

AMERICAS BEST COMICS PRIMER

Written by Alan Moore and Steve Moore
Art by Chris Sprouse, J.H. Williams III, Gene Ha, Rick Veitch, Kevin Nowlan and others. Cover by Chris Sprouse & Karl Story

A special trade paperback priced at just $4.99! Featuring the writing talents of Watchmen creator Alan Moore, this volume collects TOM STRONG #1, PROMETHEA #1, TOP 10 #1, TOMORROW STORIES #1 and TOM STRONG'S TERRIFIC TALES #1, with tales of Jack B. Quick, Greyshirt, First American, Jonni Future, Cobweb and Splash Brannigan.

FABLES

Written by Bill Willingham; Art by Lan Medina, Steve Leialoha and Craig Hamilton; Painted Cover by James Jean

When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile. Disguised among the normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters have created their own peaceful and secret society within an exclusive luxury apartment building called Fabletown. But when Snow White's party-girl sister, Rose Red, is apparently murdered, it is up to Fabletown's sheriff, a reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf, to determine if the killer is Bluebeard, Rose's ex-lover and notorious wife killer, or Jack, her current live-in boyfriend and former beanstalk-climber.

1/20/09 - Behind The Counter

It’s easy to say that’s it was all about Spiderman + President Obama last week because, well, it was. Someday I’ll have to write up all the fun (HaHa) people and phone calls I dealt with last week…look for the second printing this week and the third (yes the third) printing next week - all these will be just $3.99 for your reading pleasure. Batman, what can I say…R.I.P. - well maybe not. Call me a long-time comics reader, but I suspect Grant Morrison has a few hidden storylines left to tell regarding our Bat-friend in Final Crisis #7, which also comes out next week.

So what do we have to look forward to this week…how about Dark Avengers (because the comic book universe needs a darker Avengers title), Flaming Carrot collection (if you don’t know who he is don’t ask), Red, oops Green Lantern, Star Trek Countdown (a prelude to the hit summer movie), Watchmen busts (bring lots of $$$) and more!

1/12/09 - Behind The Counter

Well, big story of the week (sorry Batman) is Amazing Spiderman #583, featuring the Spidey/Obama “team-up”. As soon as the cover of the comic was revealed last week and Joe Quesada hit the news circuit we started to get phone calls, with random, non-collectors offering to pay ridiculous amounts of money for this comic. Was it the “historical significance” or of the chance to get rich quick…

I won’t be setting the price till Wednesday (January 14th), the day the comic (Obama variant cover) comes out but my best guess is that it will be in the $25-$40 range. As of now, we are taking reservations with $10 deposits to hold a copy for you - we are currently limiting families to one apiece (it was one per person until some lady went home and brought her six kids back to the store) - if you really need more than one check back at the end of Wednesday and we will see what we have left.

For those of you that actually want to read the comic, a second printing will be available in a couple of weeks for just $3.99. I also highly recommend the Presidential Material: Barack Obama, a graphical biography of the President-elect; it will be $3.99 (I refuse to raise the price of this as you should all be reading it).

Oh yeah the final fate of Bruce Wayne/Batman can be found in this week’s Final Crisis #6…