Midtown Comics
National Organization for Marriage grapples with ‘sanctity’ of gay comic book wedding
Taking a cue from One Million Moms, the president of the National Organization for Marriage has responded to this week’s Astonishing X-Men #51 with a fundraising message voicing concerns about “the sanctity of a comic book gay wedding.”
Brian S. Brown, whose five-year-old nonprofit group is dedicated to fighting same-sex marriage, is troubled not just by the Marvel comic depicting the wedding of Northstar and Kyle Jinadu but by the real-life ceremony it inspired at Midtown Comics in New York City. However, Brown, whose job is to help ensure state legislatures don’t pass marriage-equality laws — or if they do, that they’re overturned by ballot measures — isn’t bothered by the wedding of two men, either fictional or real. Heck, he even wishes Midtown couple Scott Everhart and Jason Welker well, offering a not-at-all-condescending “bless him” to the former.
So it’s not that; oh, no. It’s the crass commercialization of the whole thing.
“… Something is wrong when huge companies push gay marriage into children’s literature in order to make money. Something is wrong when a comic book store decides to host a wedding, again for commercial purposes,” Brown writes in a message that ends by thanking NOM supporters for their financial contributions. “And something is really wrong when a man proposes because, well, somebody else is going to help pay for the wedding and it might mean a cool trip to New York City. Somewhere there may be some foolish man and woman getting married in a comic book store. But nobody else is paying for it and nobody in the media is covering it. Are we really supposed to believe in the ‘sanctity’ of gay comic book weddings?”
Comics A.M. | Wedding bells ring for Northstar — and for comics fans
Astonishing X-Men #51
Comics | With the release today of Marvel’s heavily publicized Astonishing X-Men #51, which features the wedding of Northstar and Kyle, writer Marjorie Liu and associate editor Daniel Ketchum reiterate that “their story is just beginning.” When asked whether he’d be interested in a Northstar solo series, Ketchum replied, “Is that even a question? I can have a pitch ready by the end of the day. Spoiler alert: Storm and Dazzler will be recurring guest stars.” The New York Times, meanwhile, spotlights Ohio couple Scott Everhart and Jason Welker, who were set to be married this morning in a ceremony at Midtown Comics in Manhattan. Unlike Northstar and Kyle, however, Scott and Jason can’t count Mayor Michael Bloomberg among their wedding guests. [The Advocate]
Publishing | Todd Allen turns an analytical eye on Marvel’s twice-a-month releases as well as the cover prices of the publisher’s comics. Overall, prices are down a bit and frequency is up, but Allen isn’t sure if that’s an actual trend. [The Beat]
Midtown Comics opens boutique inside FAO Schwarz
Manhattan retailer Midtown Comics is opening a boutique inside the Fifth Avenue flagship location of FAO Schwarz, the oldest toy store in the United States. According to the announcement on the Midtown website, the shop will sell graphic novels, collectibles and apparel.
“We are very pleased to be invited to bring our brand to FAO Schwarz, and to share the excitement of the world of comics, graphic novels, and related collectibles with those who might not often come across them,” Midtown co-owner Gerry Gladston said.
In addition, Midtown Comics will be featured July 13 in a National Geographic special called Comic Store Heroes that follows the lives of “staffers as they deal with all manner of geek and enthusiast comic book customers while simultaneously planning their mega-booth for New York Comic Con.”
Midtown Comics opened its first store in 1997, and now boasts three locations in Manhattan.
And there was nothing left of the nursery but rubble
by Skottie Young
Artist Skottie Young makes our dreams come true with the above variant Avengers vs. X-Men #1 cover he created for New York retailer Midtown Comics. Their online site has it available for pre-order for $5.10, which isn’t a bad price for all that cuteness.
By Blackest (Friday) Night, no bargain shall escape my sight …
If you’re like me, instead of heading out to the mall to face the hectic Black Friday crowds (some of whom are apparently armed with pepper spray), you’re sitting at home nursing a turkey hangover and looking for good deals on the internet. Here are a few places you may want to check out for your gift-giving or personal shopping needs, and if you’re up for adventuring outdoors, Bleeding Cool has a great roundup of shops holding sales today.
Blackest Friday
ComiXology has a bunch of digital comics for 99 cents today. DC Comics is holding a Blackest Friday sale, allowing you to buy each issue of the Blackest Night crossover for 99 cents each. Marvel has Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four issues on sale for 99 cents, while IDW has their Star Trek comics on sale.
With this ring, I say thee ‘Yay!’
Michelle and Arune
Most people’s engagement pictures probably consist of a loving couple holding hands in the park or maybe sharing a kiss on a bridge. Kind of like this.
But for the guy who popped the question with the help of a comic created by artist Francis Manapul, you might expect something a little different, which is what Arune Singh, director of marketing communications for Marvel, delivered. The photographer for the couple in question, Kyo Morishima, has posted a few of Singh with his fiance, Michelle, as they skip the park and head to a comic shop; instead of a bridge, they gaze lovingly under a Superman emblem on the steps at Midtown Comics. The photographer also apparently caught the couple’s first argument (above) … advantage: Michelle.
Once again, best of luck to the happy couple.