Comic Store Heroes: A Look Inside Midtown Comics

Attention National Geographic Channel: You have a mission should you choose to accept it. The mission is to give Comic Store Heroes a pickup for more episodes. Should you choose not to accept, then you will have scores of disappointed fans.

Before I go any further, I have a confession to make: I cannot write this without being somewhat biased. Midtown Comics has been my main comic book store for nearly a decade. During a time when it wasn't as acceptable to be a "geek girl," they treated me wonderfully and barring my leaving the state or some bizarre circumstance I can't think of, they have a life-long customer in me. We also happen to know a few of the people who work for Midtown and think they're great. Now, onwards.

Friday, July 13, 2012 saw the premiere of Comic Store Heroes, a hour viewing, that exposed us to the inner workings of the largest comic book retailer in America, Midtown Comics. It followed the adventures of Midtown crew members, Alex "The Negotiator" Roe, Thor "The Marketeer" Parker, and co-owner Gerry "The Boss" Gladston as they prepared for last year's New York Comic Con.

What I liked most about is the feeling of pulling the curtain back and letting us, the viewers, into the world of Midtown. It was fun to see how Thor and Alex related to each other and how they handled their jobs and the people.

Alex was given two missions from Gerry. The first was to get an additional 10,000 back issues for NYCC, and the second, which I found to be the most suspenseful part of the show, was to track down a near mint copy of "Hot Stuff the Little Devil #1." It came out in 1957. This was Gerry's very first comic, and it's what started him down his path towards to creation of Midtown. I can definitely relate to that. I spent years trying to find the very first Nancy Drew book I ever read because it was the book that made me go from a casual reader to hardcore book nerd. I just wish I had a someone like Alex to help me find the book because you can see how good he is at his job.

Thor's big mission was to book the one and only Frank Miller for a signing at the Midtown booth. I wish we could have seen more of what he went through, but instead we were treated to seeing some of the other aspects of his job, such as getting people hyped up for NYCC.

Last year, Midtown threw a "Not at Comic-Con" party for those of us who couldn't make it out west for SDCC. Wilderowens and I went and had tons of fun. I knew there was filming going on, but I didn't know it was for this. You can tell by watching that fun was had by all. I think Thor told me he had downed a few too many energy drinks, so he could get his "swag" on. An extra treat for me while watching this is Wilderowens appears a few times in a "blink and you miss her" kind of way, and I also got to see a few other people I know pop up. Special thanks to Ted and the Midtown Downtown crew for helping make it a great time.

Another aspect of Thor's job is working with new creators. In this case, it's Christopher Notarelli. He is the creator of The Protector. He went to Thor and asked what does he need to do to get on the shelves at Midtown. Thor gives him the info and off he goes.

Christopher is followed as he not only finishes his comic, but also as he creates a short film to help sell Thor on The Protector. I really admired Christopher's drive and determination and ambition. I thought he put everything into the book, but of all the different elements of this show, he was the one element that I found a little off-putting. He was a little intense. It might have been how the show was edited, but he wanted to be in Midtown so badly, he came across as a little desperate, and when that's added to his intensity... well, let's just say I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley. That said I think Thor handled him incredibly well and that, more than anything I've seen Thor do, and if you read us, you know we go to a lot of events Thor's put together, showed me how good he is at his job. It made me appreciate him more. (That's right, Thor. I think you're great. Please don't let that go to your head. ^_^) While I might not have connected with Christopher as a person, I thought his story was handled well. As to whether he made it onto the coveted Midtown shelves, you should watch the encore presentation of Comic Store Heroes.

One other great part of the show was the customers. Geek girl extraordinaire, Jill Pantozzi, was followed and interviewed about what comics meant to her. It also showed how Midtown customers come in all shapes and sizes and personalities. You had males, females, kids, adults, people in costume and others in business attire. Comics appeal to all types of people, and it was great seeing that realized onscreen. On a bittersweet note, at various points in the show, the late C.C. Banana kept popping up. I only got to meet him once at last year's NYCC, but I heard he was a Midtown regular, and he seemed like a really good guy. It was nice to see him again, if only for a few moments.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. I liked seeing Alex haggle for comics and getting to meet a few hardcore collectors like Vincent Pei and Don Corrado, who had an evil villain mustache. I"m not saying he's evil, far from it, but he actually twirled his 'stache. That alone should make you want to see it. I enjoyed watching Thor be Thor, and I loved getting to relive some of the great moments from last year's NYCC. Even in the NYCC footage, there were people we knew showing up (I mean non-Midtown people).

I thought the show was well constructed, entertaining, interesting, and my biggest complaint about it is that there wasn't more. I would have liked to learn more about Gerry and seen more of the inner workings of Midtown. One hour was not enough. I don't watch a lot of reality television because it's not appealing to me. It doesn't hold my interest. I've watched the episode on my DVR three times already. I think there's an audience for the gang at Midtown.

If you don't believe me, see it for yourself when NatGeo presents it again today, July 20th, at 4 pm EST. Watch and find out if Christopher 's comic made it into the store or if Thor booked Frank Miller, or more importantly if Alex found "Hot Stuff the Little Devil #1. You can also just watch it because it's a great show. You can find more information about it here.

Interview with a Real-Life Comic Store Hero!

Courtesy of Midtown Comics & National Geographic

That's no typo kids, I got a chance to chat with Thor Parker, one of the stars of Comic Store Heroes!  That's right, I got a chance to chat with the Events Director of Midtown Comics, one of the biggest comic stores in the world.


Unlike other shows, Comic Store Heroes tries not to focus on the in-store sales and trades. Gerry is one of the owners, while Thor runs events and Alex handles major buys. So they spend more time focusing on their customer stories and how comics can change lives. Thor really expressed his caring side (that's a new side) about how Midtown Comics can bring people together, and I have to admit he is right. I have met so many geeks that are now good friends in their stores.


If you have been to the Midtown stores then you will know that the show takes place in all three, despite only showing the front of the Times Sq store. Fun Easter egg! Filming stretched out over a year, so there is even a chance you might see someone you know!


Thor said he hopes no one judges this show based on Comic Book Men, and that it is a different store in a similar setting. I asked for some feelings about the lack of women on CBM, which Thor said is not an issue with CSH. Midtown staffer Zoe Gulliksen appears along with customer and blogger Jill Pantozzi. I'm sure some of the other store employees also make some quick cameos. Thor said that the CSH producers tried to take the complaints about CBM into account when planning the show. Thor's wish is that this show promotes a positive view of fans and who we are to the world.

Courtesy of Midtown Comics & National Geographic

Knowing Thor, I was quick to ask for embarrassing stories from the show. While he didn't divulge anything, he did promise that he is very comfortable making a fool of himself on camera and that I will be pleased. Thor did say he would love it if they did a blooper reel so he could see all the stuff that was cut. I also made a point to see how big Thor's ego had grown. Thor said with a laugh "My ego is already huge, so [the show] hasn't affected it at all."


While this is a one episode deal, there is potential for more if enough viewers tune into National Geographic at 8pm est to watch! Yes, a lot of geeks are at SDCC tonight but as Thor put it, everyone is focused on comics now. Get your non-geek friends to watch too!


Just remember, tune into National Geographic Channel at 8pm est to watch!


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Sunday Links for June 12

DC finished announcing all 52 new series, with some very suspiciously missing titles.  C'mon guys, don't take away my Terry McGinnis!  

(via Bleeding Cool)

With all of the announcement from DC this week, the biggest shocker was Barbara Gordon returning as Batgirl.  Jill Pantozzi wrote a very personal and touching argument to the switch from Orcale to Batgirl.  Gail Simone immediately sat down with Jill for a in-depth interview that gave away no details but showed how much Simone cares about this character.

(via Newsarama / Newsarama)

Green Lantern opens next weekend but if you want to get in the spirit, look for your closest Green Lantern party.  They are holding secret events in major markets all over the US tomorrow, with a chance to join the Green Lantern Corps.  Just look for the Green Lantern symbol shining in the sky at dusk.  For all of you NYCers, a clue was released for the location, which leads you to Rockefeller Center.  If you go, try to find me!

(via Bleeding Cool)

Marvel was not going to be outdone this week in the news department, so they announced that they were canceling Uncanny X-Men.  I'm a little upset since I just started reading this series but it should be an interesting read.

(via Newsarama)

This week, the BBFC proved that sometimes a little oversight is a good thing.  They decided to ban Human Centipide II from British theaters. If you had desired to see this, don't worry.  I am sure that it will be streaming on Netflix in no time.

(via Den of Geek)

In the ever-growing amount of reboots, the newest one is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  No word yet on whether this will be live-action or animation.

(via Cinema Blend)

Finally, I am excited to see some of the first images from the second season of The Walking Dead.  While they don't include any main characters, it just looks cool. 

(via The Beat)

Have a great week!

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The NY Times Doesn't Believe in Geek Girls

You know what I like? I like sword fights and explosions and battles and basically anything that involves a lot of violence. I also really like big sweeping epics with lots of characters and intricate plots. So, imagine my surprise when this review about Game of Thrones from the New York Times came out essentially putting down women like me.

The author of this piece, Ginia Bellafante, is not a geek girl. If she were, she would not have made comments such as, “While I do not doubt that there are women in the world who read books like Mr. Martin’s, I can honestly say that I have never met a single woman who has stood up in indignation at her book club and refused to read the latest from Lorrie Moore unless everyone agreed to “The Hobbit” first. “Game of Thrones” is boy fiction patronizingly turned out to reach the population’s other half.”

All I could think about when reading this was how much I would like to either show the author just how much I enjoy violence or in a “less likely to land me in jail" approach, talk to her and tell her why I am a geek girl. It is apparent that this woman is completely ignorant of the thousands of women who love this type of story. Someone(s) needs to educate her. Then again, maybe she can’t be educated. After all, she even puts down people who like Sex in the City by implying that it is a show for dumb people.

Ms. Bellafante, this is what I have to say to you:

Forgetting that your review is not much of an actual review (where are the critiques of the actors or writing), and looking past your odd comments about the sex being added to entice the women (isn't that traditionally done for the men), who are you to speak for womankind? You don’t like the show? That’s fine. Don’t like it. But, do not presume to think you know what everyone likes, and do not act so damn condescending. I like violence, just ask my friends. I like comics and sci-fi and collecting action figures, but I also like makeup and romantic comedies and Private Practice, so in your eyes what does that make me? Am I an anomaly to you? Do I confuse you? Well, what about the thousands of women all across the world that are like me too? Do we all confuse you?

You clearly have issues with the sci-fi, fantasy, and supernatural genres. I saw your article about Supernatural. Even when you were complimenting it, you were also talking it down. You seem to think the show is the Detroit automobile industry or about how parents aren’t everything. You have clearly missed the point of the entire show, and for the record, while the show is on the CW, which is generally marketed towards young people, Supernatural has a very strong adult fan base.

Having read a few more of your articles, I see that you prefer your genre shows simple. Given your comments about how intricate the plotlines are in both the Supernatural and Game of Thrones articles, I cannot help but conclude that you would like the writers to dumb down these shows. I don’t understand why. If you can follow even a fraction of what happens in politics or the world, then you should easily be able to follow these. Would it be wrong of me to assume you don’t like soap operas too? Some of those plots are far more complicated than these could ever be.

The article is ridiculous. Maybe if you had done even a small amount of research, you would not have written it. Maybe you would have been forced to rewatch the show with new eyes. I don’t know. I doubt it, but I am an optimist who believes in the power of education. Though right now, I’d rather be educating with my fists or a bat than the other way.

If you don't believe me, please check out the many people across the web, female AND male, who are saying the same thing. To get you started, here are a few.

Amy Ratcliffe - Geek With Curves: Response to the NY Times Game of Thrones Review
Alan Kistler - Newsarama.com: OP/ED: Hey NY Times -Geek Girls Really Do Exist!
Geek Girl Diva: To Ginia Bellafante Regarding Your "Review" Of Game Of Thrones. [Rant]
Jill Pantozzi - Has Boobs, Reads Comics: New York Times insults female readers, they write back. 
Delphine - GeekMom: A Live Woman Who'd Gladly Watch A Game of Thrones (Even Without the Sex Scenes)
ThinkHero: 'Game of Thrones' Is Not 'Boy Fiction'

This is just a small sampling of the people who have spoken out against your article. Within these posts are additional links to articles responding to your close-minded point of view. Read the article, try to learn something, and then pick up The Hobbit or any other fantasy book you have turned your nose up at or deemed "boy fiction" and read it. Who knows, maybe you'll find you like it.

Sunday Links for March 27th

Welcome to the evening edition of Sunday Links. This past week brought some fun and exciting news.


Marvel announced a new team-up this week....with Starbucks. Coming in April to each Starbucks is free streaming access to Marvel's Digital Comics. Do you think they are ready for the geek invasion?


The Egypt revolution changed the world, and now we will get to see what exactly was changed. Magdy El Shafee wrote the graphic novel "Metro" in 2008, but it was banned in Egypt. Now it is going to be published in English and hopefully, it will be allowed to publish again in Egypt.


Jill Pantozzi, aka The Nerdy Bird, announced this week that she will be a judge on the upcoming geek game show, Geek vs. Geek. It's a chance for geeks to put their brains to the test and see who really is the top geek. You can still try out for the show if you think you got what it takes; just be glad that Jill is judging and not competing. ;)


I'm sure every artist wishes they could go back to their early work and make it better, or at least make it go away. That's what Ryan Ottley did, by actually burning original art from his early years. At least some of the pages were from early issues of Invincible, which means he burned a lot of money.


I am already excited for Superman, and this news just makes it even better. Amy Adams is the new Lois Lane. She is a phenomenal actress in every role I have seen her in, from her guest role on Buffy, to her starring roles in Doubt, Julia & Julie, and The Fighter.




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Help out a fellow geek!

At [insertgeekhere], we really do believe in supporting charities we like. So when one of our geek circle wants to support a cause, we want to help!

Jill Pantozzi, aka The Nerdy Bird, formed a team, called the Nerdy Birds, for the MDA Muscle Walk for the Metro NY-NJ area. She is looking for a little financial support from the geek community, and if we all give a little, we could make a big impact.

To learn more about donating to Jill's team, click here.

Any cause that the Nerdy Bird and Batman support is a good cause in my book!

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All New and Improved Video Friday!!!

After taking a break last week and mulling things over (and who doesn't like a good mulling), it's been decided that we're retooling Musical Friday and making it Video Friday instead. This doesn't mean we won't showcase musical videos we come across, but there are so many great non-musical videos out there we want to be able to include them too.


For starters, a much needed dose of Lego violence -





Special shout out to the geeks group on Facebook where this video was thrown up. Not to brag, but our group contains some of the best geeks around. They always share awesome stuff.


Next up is something that made me feel a little silly for including it, but this is something we've all done with our friends, and it's nice to see celebrities goofing off and being silly, especially when it's to The Backstreet Boys. So here's Selena Gomez and The Scene "covering" I Want It That Way.





Hmmm, now that I think of it, maybe I should have put the Lego violence after this one, for anyone who dislikes her. Oh well.


This is one of the cutest and most creative videos I've watched all week. Disney Pixar's Up if it had been made in the '60s.





I can definitely see this as a movie. Can't you?


Finally, a theme song for all the Nerdy Girls out there -





A special thanks to Jill Pantozzi, who introduced Amy Lee Radigan to the geeks group. This is Amy Lee's first youtube video, so I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us.


This concludes our first Video Friday. Let us know what you think and if you see any great videos you want us to share, send them to us at insertgeekhere@gmail.com.


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