Ash Ave Comic Book Club RETURNS!

After a four year hiatus, the Ash Ave Comic Book Club returns on Sunday, April 21st to discuss Tom King and Mitch Gerads’ latest work, The Winning Card. Originally serialized in the DC Comics anthology series Batman: The Brave and the Bold, King and Gerads pick up where their Riddler graphic novel left off, with a pivot to the Clown Prince of Crime. The Winning Card is a re-imagination of the first Joker story from Batman #1 in 1940, setting out to create a comic book that, as Mitch Gerads has stated, “actually scares you,” the reader.

In one day we sold through the initial dozen copies we received, and we have more copies on the way for anyone looking to read it. Now, when it comes to how the Comic Book Club works, the main sticking point is that you need to purchase the graphic novel from us to attend the meetup. If you have already purchased a copy from the shop last week and would like to attend the meetup, then please reach out ASAP to claim your spot. If you want to attend Comic Book Club, your purchase of the graphic novel and your verbal or written commitment to attend the meetup is what we need. After all, seating is limited. And we have to have one extra open seat, as artist Mitch Gerads will be sitting in and joining us for our meetup… just like the good old days. (Mitch is a great sport, and loves to talk comics. Back in the day, he previously attended the Ash Ave Comic Book Club meetups for his maxi-series Sheriff of Baghdad and Mister Miracle).

Looking forward to seeing old and new faces for the first Comic Book Club in a long while. Shoot the shop a DM or email with any specific questions, or to reserve a seat and copy of the book. We do recommend that you get the book as soon as our restock arrives, and get to reading ASAP so you will have had some time in the week leading up to the event to think it over, and maybe put together some questions, analysis, or criticism to share with our discussion group.

Ultimate Invasion 1 (1:50 Bryan Hitch Black and White Variant) | Marvel Comics | Ash Avenue Comics | Ultimate Invasion Marvel

Weekly Shout-Out: June 21, 2023

by Drew

SPOTLIGHT TITLES

Ultimate Invasion #1 (Marvel) from Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch: That is all. Ok, that’s not all. This is the event book of the summer from Marvel, and they’ve brought back some heavyweight talent to reintroduce the characters from the Ultimate universe, including the Maker, the diabolically evil alternate universe Reed Richards.

Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons #1 by Inaki Miranda and Frank Tieri (IDW): Here there be Kaiju! Godzilla on the high seas, battling many a mariner, and sinking many a ship. First appearance of the 16th century sub-mariner (only after the ship sinks, of course).

Incredible Hulk #1 by Nic Klein and Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Marvel) brings the latest iteration of the Hulk to readers, this time from writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson, hot off his run on DC’s Action Comics and Superman War World stories. Who is the Mother of Horrors, and what is her plan for the Hulk? Find out in this mother of issues 1s.

AT A GLANCE

Bone Orchard: Tenement #1 (Image): Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino’s horror series is back with the third storyline in this new shared universe. Tenement can be read without having read any of the other series released thus far, so if you are craving a healthy dose of cosmic nihilism and haven’t gotten around to the other stories, this is a fine place to dig in.

Wonder Woman #800 (DC): Cloonan and Walsh’s run comes to an end, and Tom King’s new storyline begins. An extra oversized 800th issue celebrating the world’s most famous woman of wonder!

Batman: One Bad Day—The Riddler HC | DC Comics | Ash Avenue Comics
Batman: One Bad Day—The Riddler

Batman: One Bad Day—The Riddler HC by Mitch Gerads and Tom King (DC): One of the best Batman stories of the decade, and the best Riddler comic… ever? This Eisner-nominated one-shot is back in print, and in a spiffy hardcover. Perfect for those readers who like their comics in a bookshelf ready format.

Scarlet Witch Annual #1 by Carlos Nieto and Steve Orlando (Marvel): This fall’s Contest of Chaos kicks off with this issue, this is a great jumping in point for one of Marvel’s most acclaimed monthly series.

Mitch Gerads

Join us for an IN-STORE EVENT with artist MITCH GERADS!

We’re excited to announce that MITCH GERADS, celebrated Eisner award-winning artist of Strange Adventures, Mister Miracle, and Sheriff of Babylon, will be joining us for an in-store event on SATURDAY, 1/29 from 2:00-4:00 pm! Mr. Gerads’ visit coincides with the release of his latest work, the Batman/Catwoman Holiday Special, for which he stepped in to complete the story begun by his friend John Paul Leon before Mr. Leon’s tragic passing last year. Mr. Gerads will be signing copies of that issue and other books featuring his art.

Mitch Gerads
Mitch Gerads.

This will be our first in-store event since the onset of the global pandemic, and we hope to see you all there. Please note that if you plan to attend, we ask that you please respect the following requests:

      1.  All attendees must wear masks. This is not up for debate. Guests without masks will be barred from entry. If we can see your nose, you are wearing your mask wrong.
      2. You may bring books from your collection for Mr. Gerads to sign, but all attendees are required to purchase a copy of the Batman/Catwoman Holiday Special to participate. Pre-orders are available here.
      3. All attendees must challenge and defeat Mr. Gerads in a contest of wrestling before he will autograph your books. You must pin Mr. Gerads until the count of three atop a makeshift mat we have constructed out of old Deathmate back issues before you are deemed worthy of his signature. Edit: Owner Drew has just informed us that there will be no mandatory wrestling match requirement as a condition of an audience with Mr. Gerads, and, indeed, any attendees who challenge Mr. Gerads physically or otherwise will be ejected from the store immediately. We regret this error.
      4. The event will end promptly at 4:00 pm, or at Mr. Gerads’ discretion. Don’t be late!