30 Songs in 30 Days: Day 06 – A song that reminds you of somewhere

One of my fondest high school memories involves driving around Rutland with a distinct group of friends, listening to and belting out this song. I don't think I ever understood the lyrics at the time. In retrospect....

Enjoy!

Billy Joel "Say Goodbye To Hollywood"

Blogging From A To Z: F is for...

Fantastic Four....this was one of the only comics my two best friends and I all read growing up....John Byrne's era was incredible....and I still have the poster below!

30 Days Of Comics: Day 14: A Comic You Own But Haven’t Read

Shadow #2

Again there are many comics that could fit in this category. I have a huge stack of recently purchased comics on my desk that I could explain why I bought them, but I expect them to be read in short order.

Also, my collection is littered with lots of freebies and giveaways from my days of ordering my monthlies on-line.

But the above comic has a little bit of a story and I don't think I will EVER read it.

Back around the time that Batman: The Dark Knight Returns came out, DC Comics announced Howard Chaykin was going to revamp The Shadow, moving him to contemporary times and making him "gritty". The series was going to only be available on the Direct Market and therefore, as I mentioned previously, it was only going to be available where my grandfather lived.

Once again David, Chris and I sent Gramps to Earth Prime Comics and he did his best, but we had missed issue #1. He got us each a copy of the only issue they had. It was a dark time for collector's in Vermont, as there were (and really still aren't) any competing stores. We had only a vague understanding of mail order options and obviously no internet so we all dropped the series.

But I kept this issue. I have gotten rid of other strays throughout the years and completed other series, but this one holds a special status and will always remain in my collection and remain an orphan.

30 Days of Comics: Day 5: A Comic That Reminds You Of A Person

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1

While I was growing up, Rutland, Vermont was the second largest city in the state. However, we did not have a comic book store. The largest city, Burlington, did and that was where my grandparents lived.

My friends, Dave and Chris, and I had heard that this comic was coming. However, it was going to be made available only to comic book stores. I do not exactly remember how it all came about, but we arranged to have my grandfather pick up three copies of this issue (plus the following ones).

Burlington's store, Earth Prime Comics, was interesting back in the day. Not really the "stereotypical" shop, but slightly off the beaten path and filled with comic books and toys. The owners and employees were so very nice but still, it was not the place one would expect to find a 63 year old former Lieutenant Colonel from the Air Force.

To this day, the image of my grandfather getting in his green Volkswagen Rabbit and driving down to the store's old location, going in and buying this issue makes me smile.