Comic Book Resources

Let R. Crumb keep you warm on the slopes

It looks so comfy

Looking for a good snowboarding jacket? Want to wear something that shows your reverence for the underground comics movement? Or at least for Mr. Natural? Then behold: Burton has just the thing for you:

Check out the print by cartoonist Robert Crumb. A prominent figure in the 60s and 70s counter culture, Crumb is world-renowned for his subversive voice and controversial artwork. We’re only producing 500 pieces in this print, and shipping it in a black bag so you can look sketchy when taking it to the register. Beyond that, the Burton Restricted Dyer Jacket keeps riders like Mikey Rencz and Mark Sollors dry and warm when rooping around the British Columbian backcountry with the help of a hopped up DRYRIDE Durashell™ 2L fabric and strategically placed expedition weight Thermacore™ insulation.

I have no idea what that last sentence means, but I assume it translates as "keeps you warm." The whole thing costs between $250-$270, depending on how much Thermacore you stuff it with I suppose (found via Mike Lynch).

Bloomingdale's to offer DC Comics merchandise

Bloomingdale's Batman shirt

Bloomingdale's is teaming up with DC Comics to offer high-end clothing and accessories in its stores nationwide this holiday season. Bloomingdale’s will launch the line with a series of customer events on Oct. 14, including the one in San Francisco with James Robinson I mentioned last week.

Items they plan to carry include T-shirts, socks, scarves, tote bags, wallets, ties, cuff links and pocket squares. Per the press release, the DC Comics collection will range in price from $30 for a pair of Psycho Bunny socks to $225 for a JACK SPADE tote. The above Batman shirt retails for $62. That's more than I'd probably pay for a T-shirt, but I'm guessing I'm not the target audience here.

You can find more shirts here. And I've posted pics of some of the other items after the jump ...

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Apparently chicks dig the suit, too

Replica Dark Knight Motorcycle Suit

Universal Designs has released more information and few more promo images for the replica Dark Knight Motorcycle Suit that Larry Young linked to a few months back. According to the press release, the suit includes "a full-leather jacket that includes lightweight interior lining, as well as molded-leather and Kevlar armor sections; pants that include heavy-duty, four-way stretch Spandex inserts and CE-approved armor; authentic gloves and boots that replicate the amazing on-screen design."

They only plan to create 1,000 of them, and they cost $998. You can order one -- and check out all their Dark Knight-themed merchandise -- here. It's pricey, but takes cosplay to a whole other level. More promo images and a video of the suit can be found after the jump.

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Quick, into the Rastermobile!

The Filter Heroes!

Want to declare your love for superheroes and graphic design programs in one fell swoop? No problem! Chop Shop's Filter Heroes T-shirt has what you need. I'm particularly impressed by Halftone Pattern Maker. That's a rather unique super power. (found via Comics Alliance)

Yes, this is real DOT-approved, licensed motorcycle gear

Send Us Your Shelf Porn!

Welcome to Send Us Your Shelf Porn and again, no we are not changing the name. We like it. So there.

Anyway, a few weeks ago we featured the growing collection of a devout Batman fan. This week we're looking at the other end of the DC stable, by way of confessed "Superman fanatic" Paolo Valente.

Just how serious is Paolo's Kal-El jones? Click on the link to find out ...

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Keep on trucking ... I guess

The Mr. Natural shoe

I'm not sure how I feel about this: Vans Shoes has, according to the Los Angeles Times, teamed up with legendary cartoonist Robert Crumb to release special edition footwear with some of his more famous characters emblazoned on them:

Four different R. Crumb shoes are due to hit store shelves on Oct. 1; two in the Vans Classics collections -- including the Mr. Natural deconstructed SK8-Hi pictured above ($60) and a classic slip-on featuring Fritz the Cat ($52) -- will be available through regular Vans vendors.

Two additional higher-end styles (using suede and leather) will be sold through Vans Vault accounts; a "Modern America" Chukka boot ($95) and a "Keep on Truckin' " Authentic ($90).

I hate to sound like a grumpy old man here or accuse Crumb of being a sell-out -- if this deal nets him much-earned coin or helps him bring his work in front of the eyes of younger consumers, more power to him. I guess I'm just a bit surprised that someone who's been as protective of his material as Crumb has been (t-shirts and Devil Girl candy bars aside), not to mention bitter toward those big-industry types to tried to ride on the R.Crumb gravy train, would join forces with an international clothing firm like this. But perhaps that just underscores my own naiveté and half-baked assumptions. (found via Tom)

Just Past the Horizon: This is not an auspicious start.

Women's Wear Daily published an article last week about Marvel's new line of women's apparel and cosmetics that featured this image:

Admittedly, the image itself is cute.

The shirt itself doesn't harm anything by existing. I don't object to it any more than I'd object to seeing a T-shirt featuring Jenny Sparks, the Engineer, and Swift that says "I love to see women in Authority." It's a cute idea. I do have serious problems with it being alone in that article. Well, not alone. It's on display with some heart pendants featuring Spider-man/Gwen Stacy and Spider-Man/Green Goblin (which I predict will be a surprisingly good seller) and lip gloss tubes featuring unrecognizable characters kissing. And that begs the question... Where are the female superheroes in this superhero merchandise aimed at female people?
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