• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

RVA Mag

Richmond, VA Culture & Politics Since 2005

Menu RVA Mag Logo
  • NEWS
  • MUSIC
  • ART
  • POLITICS
  • EAT DRINK
  • PHOTO
  • WATCH
  • EVENTS
  • MAGAZINE
RVA Mag Logo
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contributors
  • Sponsors

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 10

Ash Griffith | January 8, 2019

Topics: comics, DC, Die, Heroes In Crisis, Image, Immortal Hulk, Marvel, Miles Morales, RVA Comics X-Change, Spider-Man, Stranger Things, third eye comics, Venom Unleashed, Web of Venom

Good afternoon, comics fans! Welcome to not only the first Comic X-Change issue of the new year, but the big whopper – Issue Number 10! For such a special issue, and to kick this brand new year off right, I decided to reach out to one of my very best comic friends and gurus, Kevin Smith of Third Eye Comics in Mechanicsville.

This issue, we’ve got some good hearty amuse-bouches for you to appetize your palate after the holidays. Kevin is bring us some big hitters to watch for in the lands of Marvel and DC, and then I’m going to close us out with the big topic my brain can’t shut up about – Stranger Things Season 3. Let’s get down to business, y’all.

“Miles Morales: Spider-Man #2” by Saladin Ahmed and Javier Garron

“Previously [Miles Morales] had taken over one of the Spider-Man books that Peter had started years ago, but now he has one all to himself.” said Smith.

“The Immortal Hulk #12” by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett

“[Bruce] Banner was killed about three years ago in Civil War II, and thought to have been gone for awhile, and had been brought back,” said Smith. “Marvel’s taking The Hulk back to his origins, the way he was back in the 60s when he was created, where Banner and Hulk are more of a Jekyll and Hyde creature now.”

“Web Of Venom: Venom Unleashed #1” by Ryan Stegman, Juan Gedeon, and Kyle Hotz

“I’m really enjoying this because [Venom writer Donny] Cates has decided to take Venom and, instead of just being one character, [write] the mythology and the history of the symbiotes,” said Smith. “[He’s] taking them back literally to the dawn of time.”

“Heroes in Crisis #5” by Tom King and Clay Mann

“DC has created this super secret place called Sanctuary,” said Smith. “Someone has gone into the Sanctuary, somebody has found the video files of the heroes where they take their masks off and confess what happened.”

“Die #2” by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans

“This is something best described as the kids from Stranger Things, mixed with the kids from IT, mixed with Jumanji,” said Smith.

On January 1st, Stranger Things fans were gifted not one but two wonderful presents, and just as we thought the holidays were winding down to a close. Both the official release date poster artwork (above), and a new trailer that also confirmed the official release date, were released as we rung in the new year. We still have just under another six months to go before all of our questions are answered in eight new episodes, but let’s take a look at some things.

“One summer can change everything.” So the new season will take course over the course of the summer of 1985, which we kind of figured when the first teaser came out and showed Mother of the Year Steve Harrington working his new summer mall job. The final episode title is “The Battle of Starcourt,” so while it’s safe to assume that the mall is where the showdown with the big-bad is going to play, is it centered around July 4th? What specifically about July 4th is so crucial?

Also, why are four of the kids stoked for the fireworks, while El and Mike are the only ones wigging out?

Let’s also backtrack a little bit more and dig deeper into theory land. A month or two ago, David Harbour posted on his instagram about shaving his mustache. While this in and of itself is innocuous enough given that he has been filming Hellboy and probably has a new project to work on, something else feels weird. He did go into a long speech about how Hopper was the greatest role of his life…

Now granted, he could just be generally excited that filming is over, and ready to see how fans react to the new season. Or you could be me, dig much deeper, and question if Harbour just released a backdoor spoiler. Is it a possibility that beloved asshole sheriff Chief Jim Hopper dies this season?

Guess we’ll find out in another one hundred and seventy-seven days. But who’s counting?

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 3

Ash Griffith | October 2, 2018

Topics: Captain Marvel, comics, Comics X-Change, DC comics, Doctor Who, Heroes In Crisis, Stranger Things, third eye comics, Wolverine

Afternoon, comic fans! Welcome on back to issue #3 of RVA Magzine’s Comic X-Change. We are your biweekly comics information hub on what is new, and you need to keep your lazer focused eye on in the world of comics and nerd culture.

This week I had the joy of talking to Kevin Smith from Third Eye Comics in Mechanicsville about what the hottest titles are for this week and upcoming. We even took the time to talk about the recently released Captain Marvel teaser trailer as well. Kevin kept it short and sweet for us this week with his top four picks.

“Heroes in Crisis #1” by Tom King and Clay Mann

Cover by Clay Mann & Tomeu Morey

“What about supeheroes who have PTSD? I find out there is this ultra hush hush place called Sanctuary where they can get help.” said Smith. “It’s up to DC’s trinity to find out what has happened to this place.”

“Stranger Things #1” by Jody Houser, Stefano Martino, & Keith Champagne

Cover by Aleksi Briclot

“Back during season one Will was trapped in the alternate dimension, so now we’re seeing what happened to him. This is what he saw when his mom was trying to contact him,” said Smith.

“The Return of Wolverine #1” by Charles Soule & Steve McNiven

Cover by Steve McNiven

“He has returned, and we’re trying to figure out how he returned and what is going on since he died,” said Smith.

“Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor #0” by Richard Dinnick & Various Artists

Cover by Claudia Ianniciello

Of this 64-page special, subtitled “The Many Lives Of Doctor Who,” Smith said, “These are little mini vignette stories that are leading up to the new thirteenth doctor, and how they tie up to the Thirteenth Doctor’s adventures.”

This week I don’t have any specific comics to recommend, as the biggest one I was looking forward to is the Stranger Things release. However, I do have a trailer to recommend for you. One of the most anticipated trailers of the year, Captain Marvel, released both a teaser trailer and a poster this past week, and there are so may questions.

While naturally we won’t have any definitive answers to anything until the March 2019 release, both Smith and myself had plenty of questions and debate ourselves. The Nerdist also released a discussion video on their channel after the trailer dropped, and brought up an important question to fans of the Captain Marvel franchise.

Is the unnamed character Jude Law is playing the actual Captain Mar-Vell, the alien hero who originally carried the Captain Marvel title? Or is he Yon-Rogg, Captain Marvel’s nemesis (who was responsible for giving Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers her powers so she’d become Captain Marvel)? Disney has been pretty quiet about this since his casting.

“It’s been talked about that Mar-Vell is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed man, so yeah: Jude Law [is not that]. But not that the MCU always sticks tried and true to the comics, ” said Smith. “Even in that one clip in the trailer, he looks surprised, he has that ‘Oh crap’ face. That’s when Carol takes over, is when [Mar-Vell] dies.”

My personal favorite takeaways from the trailer, aside from finally seeing Carol Danvers in movement, are all of the 90s references. So many high school flashbacks smacked me in the face when I saw the Blockbuster building intact. Sigh.

What are your thoughts on comics this week? Have you watched the Captain Marvel trailer yet? What are your thoughts on it so far?

RVA Mag Comics X-Change is a bi-weekly comic column which dives into the latest and upcoming releases, along with insider info from local and regional comic book shop owners. 

Inside Richmond’s Newest “Friendly, Neighborhood” Comic Shop

Ash Griffith | August 21, 2018

Topics: comic books, graphic novels, manga, retail opening, third eye comics

From Archie to Scott Pilgrim, Wonder Woman to Sailor Moon, lunch boxes to Pop! Figures, comic book stores have undoubtedly stood the test of time and only become cooler as they’ve aged. Richmond, ever the epicenter of what’s rad and nerdy, already has several go-to shops, from Velocity Comics on Broad Street to Alpha Comics and Games at Willow Lawn. The newest addition to the market just opened up the street in Mechanicsville, and it’s worth the drive.

It’s the third location for Third Eye Comics, which first opened 10 years ago in Annapolis, Maryland, as the culmination of a long-time dream of the store owner, Steve Anderson. His love for comics blossomed at 12, and since then, it’s all he’s been able to think about.

“I decided when I was getting into my mid-20s, well screw it,” said Anderson. “I started selling my collection when I was 24, and I was doing conventions and still working at [another comic shop] seven days a week at that point. I was delivering pizzas and just saving any money I could.”

Kevin Smith, center, manages Third Eye Richmond

In a lucky coincidence, the proprietor of another comic shop in Annapolis that was closing heard about Anderson’s dream and reached out with a deal. After that store closed, Anderson and his friends and family started gutting the building to get it ready for the next Monday morning. The company has since grown and expanded, operating two stores in Maryland. With the upward trajectory of the shop, the Third Eye fanbase was rallying for a Baltimore location to be next, but Anderson had his eye on Richmond as next in line. After falling in love with the city and its comic book fan base, it felt like a natural decision.

“I’m really stoked on the people down here,” Anderson said. “I worked the counter for a few hours on Saturday morning [along with his wife and one of his store managers from Annapolis], and loved the enthusiasm. I think we’re going to do good down here, people seem to be really into it.”

Comic books at Third Eye

One of the things that makes Third Eye such a comfortable shop is undeniably its staff. At the Richmond location, that’s Kevin Smith, former owner of Blue Marble Comics and Games, who came on as store manager. “The big draw of why we came to Richmond was probably Kevin,” said Anderson. “I knew that Kevin would be an amazing manager and had what it takes to represent our brand down here. We’re so protective of making sure our customers get an awesome experience no matter which store they’re in.”

Richmond already has a lineup of go to shops in the area, from well-known local favorites including Richmond Comix to corporate stores such as 2nd and Charles. Including of course comics themselves, a lot of comic shops tend to offer the same thing. Models, stickers, and of course friendly workers who are huge fans themselves; what makes Third Eye moving down south such a huge deal?

Graphic novels at Third Eye

“We really do more than just comic books,” Anderson said. “Comics are always the lifeblood of the store and they’re always the thing that drives us, but we are always listening and adapting to what our customers want. This weekend we already had a rush on the enamel pins and the Gundam model kits, so I’m already making plans to expand.”

Listening intently to its fanbase and the drive to make Third Eye the comic store for everyone is what Anderson believes sets them apart. He and his staff smiled with pride when they mentioned not having one specific specialty. Being something for everyone is incredibly important to the Third Eye team. The store really does carry a little bit of everything; between the wall of current editions and little Pusheens hiding amongst the graphic novels, it’s easy to get lost.

I ventured in myself on Third Eye’s grand opening day on August 4, and was ecstatic to find the newest edition of Snotgirl by Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung. The trade was released a few months ago, but I had been struggling to find it anywhere not online. When I told him this, Anderson smiled from ear to ear and laughed.

Figures and more

“What I really like to hear is exactly what you just said,” said Anderson. “’I had been looking for that book for weeks, and you guys had it.’ Whatever that book is for the customer, that’s what I like. That right there is it for me.” In a store that strives for mass appeal, this was the closest I came to getting an idea of a speciality; they want to carry whatever you can’t find elsewhere. 

Anderson also took pride in their manga section. He described manga as poorly represented in most comic shops and chain bookstores, and I had to agree with him. To see such an important yet overlooked part of the art form get equal billing established the lengths Third Eye is going to in order to support their customers.

One thing Anderson emphasized about the addition in Richmond was his love for the people of the River City and their enthusiasm. That enthusiasm was on full display on opening day, when the store was bumper-to-bumper with customers, in a congested yet happy crowd of fans. From new release chatter to appreciation for the Gundam models, a steady crowd of customers–and employees–spent the day celebrating their hobbies.

Enamel pins are the newest fad

With so much success already in such a short period, what does the future look like for RVA’s hottest new comic spot? “If the store is supported and we have the business to support it, I could see expansion in a few years,” Anderson said. “We definitely like the audience down here and I think it’s going to do good. We love the people down here.”

Five minutes into a conversation with Anderson and you can already tell that this is a man clearly passionate about comics, but more importantly, he is knowledgeable as well. As much fun as I had talking to him about the shop and his staff, I would be remiss if I didn’t ask him one very important question.

What are the top five comics that he thinks we need to be on the lookout for?

Batman by Tom King

“There is this great subplot about this character, Kite Man. He’s kind of like a loser. That just runs through the book and it’s this perfect blend of a layered Batman story and then you have a little bit of humor.”

Farmhand by Rob Guillory
“It’s about this guy who figures out how to genetically produce organs. He’s growing them, and of course it all goes horribly wrong.”

Head Lopper by Andrew Maclean
“It’s quarterly, about eight issues in. It’s kinda like Rick and Morty meets Conan the Barbarian.”

Venom by Donny Cates
“[Cates’] Venom stuff is really cool because he’s getting into this god of the symbiotes and almost Frank Lozetta fantasy style stuff.”

Ice Cream Man by W. Maxwell Prince
“It’s an anthology series from Image Comics, and its kind of like the old Twilight Zone, Outer Limits kind of thing. The Ice Cream Man is like this existential terror of a character that basically segues you into these stories. It’s really good.”

With friendly staff who strike up a conversation about what you’re reading and offer helpful recommendations, there is no doubt that Third Eye Richmond will carry on Anderson’s vision of connecting comics and their fans. If you need me on Wednesday, I’ll be in the corner, checking out the new Captain Marvel issue over by the “New Girl” Pop! Figures.

sidebar

sidebar-alt