C O M I C S LAWRENCE NEADEL

On Long Island, NY lies Collectors Kingdom, a small neighborhood comic store. The store sells everything from comic books, toys, sports, and even magic cards.

At the entrance of the store lies the cash register and the store employee. The front of the store features mint edition comic books that are still in their packaging and are not normally available for sale.

Past the entrance of the store, two very large models of Marvel characters Sentinel and X-Men Hank McCoy (Beast) stand next to the front counter. These characters are very rarely seen anymore.

Down one of the isles lies many copies of recent and good condition comic books. Most on this wall are from Marvel and DC Comics. All other new issues in the store are out of their packaging.

In front of Marvel Legends Sabretooth action figure lies a large figure of Star Wars intergalactic bounty hunter Boba Fett. Fett figure includes blaster and shredded cape from Episode IV, V, and VI of the Star Wars Saga. Also available is a Darth Vader Piggy bank and Yoda Head.

Most of the Star Wars merchandise featured on the wall has never been open. Here the Jolly Orange “Thing” (notice The Thing is on his T-shirt) is examining what may make a fine edition to his collection. This section also includes some vintage Simpson merchandise.

Attached to strings lies a puppet of Batman’s archenemy The Joker. His strings are attached to the bat symbol while in back of him lies some uncommon action figures.

While looking through the poster wall, we come upon A Nightmare on Elm Street Poster (1984). The poster depicts Nancy Thompson suffering from bad dreams with Freddy Krueger. Collectors Kingdom does sell some Nightmare on Elm Street memorabilia.

Collectors Kingdom has one isle filled with all sorts of toys. The stores collection includes Jack Skeleton’s head (Top left shelf), Hell Boy’s stone hand (top right counter), another statue of Boba Fett (top left counter), boxed Han Solo toys (right), and a Dracula picture (top middle).

Before leaving Collectors Kingdom, a customer is waiting to receive change for a comic book he purchased. Also available for sale is the Marvel Vault book and some other recent comics that are at the entrance for impulse buyers to consider buying.

On a sunny day we approach Earthworld Comics which is located on Central Avenue in Albany, New York. This store is a great place to find comics and trading cards for baseball and comic book collectors.

While there is the exchange of goods from the employee on the left and customer on the right, behind them is a poster of President Bill Clinton from the 1992 presidential election. Earthwold collects vintage memorabilia from Old movie posters to antique add campaigns.

Sometimes the deliveries to Earthworld are less than Enthusiastic. Sometimes however the store receives great graphic novels such as Superman and Hawkgirl.

The outside light gleams into the store as a customer anxiously inspects new released issues of his favorite comics. They range from Spider-man, Avengers, and the Atom. The store receives issues of these comics weekly.

This middle aged man is inspecting a later comic that he found in periodicals. Little does he know that X-Men Wolverine is floating above his head in case the forces of evil enter the store.

With what the store brings in, John the assistant manager has to manually price check store merchandise. Here he is checking the price of Gibson and Steven King graphic novels.

As this customer examines what the store has received, notice that in back of him lies the store supply of mint edition comic books that range from X-Men to it’s companion brand Mutants.

In back of the front counter, the store supplies sealed collector t-shirts. One of them includes a black T-shirt that depicts the Joker with his Henchwench Harley Quinn. The shirt does not include the light that is strangling Ms. Quinn’s throat.

Both the Customer with the hat and blond hair employee seem unenthused with what the store has received in its weekly shipment. However the store does supply a shipment of x-rated comic books.

As two students enter the store, the light is able to hide most of their faces. The front of the store does not contain a lot of lights due to the sun coming through the posters and glass windows.

On 40 th Street between 7 th and 8 th Avenue of New York City lies Midtown Comics. The store itself occupies two floors that are located over a Pizzeria that serves New York Style Pizza.

The First Floor of Midtown Comics features many brands of Comic Books and Graphic Novels. The store has enough space for people to stretch out and catch up on their reading.

With the sales of Merchandise, Midtown Comics also collects large statues of fictional characters which include sexy female warriors. These statues are in viewing distance of people from down on the New York Streets.

Before heading up the stairs to the second floor, we can’t help but notice all the colorful graphic novels that are featured on the first floor. This guy is seen reading a graphic novel of Spiderman.

Both the first and second floor features cardboard cutouts of famous characters. Here we see a cardboard cutout of Batman’s head, featuring the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents on it.

The staircase that leads to the second floor is where all the toys and collectibles are located. Before getting onto the second floor, a person is distracted with a life size Spiderman.

When examining older comics in the periodical sections, customers are able to get a great view of the streets of Midtown Manhattan.

B A T M A N Young Bruce Wayne’s parents are killed by the criminals of Gotham City. Determined that this never happens to anyone again, Bruce Wayne trains himself to become the Dark Knight.

Including Comics and all the collectibles, Customers are sometimes caught off guard as characters such as Wolverine are able to jump straight through the glass.

This boy is located in the graphic novel section. Not only does this section include graphic novels, but is also home to video game reviews and walkthroughs.

At the wall next to the staircase lies a colorful assortment of PEZ dispensers. Their heads range from Spiderman to Homer J. Simpson. These Dispensers do not include the PEZ candy upon purchase. Still these characters are rarely seen in convenient stores.

The New York Comic Con at New York’s Jacob Javitz Center brings together all groups of the comic book world. Here guests are able to purchase comic books, merchandise, and meet celebrities such as Stan Lee, creator of characters such as X-Men and the Amazing Spiderman.

Guests are also permitted to dress up as their favorite characters from films and comic books. Here both Stormtroopers (Left) and Princess Leia (Right) represent the 501 st Legion.

Not only can people dress up as characters that they know and love, they are also able to perform live for audiences. Some characters may not be as familiar as others.

Sales counters at Comic Con not only feature comic books from the DC and Marvel Universe, but also other brands. They range from Horror comics such as Halloween to anti-hero comics such as Hellboy.

Guests to Comic Con are able to associate with many groups of people. Comic Con played as host to many hundreds of comic book fans including a giant marshmallow man.

With all the entertainment that is featured at Comic Con, sometimes even Superheroes need to get a drink of water at the refreshment counter. Refreshments ranged from Dasani Water to Chinese Food.

Since Comic Con is featured in a very large complex, the convention is organized into about thirty aisles. However, Jango Fett still may need help in asking direction.

Fans are also able to get front close and personal with film stars and their character counterpart. The convention played host to the Incredible Hulk and Lou Ferrengo, the actor who played the Hulk.

When leaving the autograph area, Humans and Wookies are able to meet members of the 501 Legion. A group that dedicates themselves to the Galactic Empire of the Star Wars Saga.

Not only does Comic Con welcome superheroes, they also permit villains to enter the premises. Even the likes of the Joker, Two -Face, and Penguin can stay to entertain fans.

Fans are able to enjoy watching artists bring their favorite characters to life. Their tools range from pastels to pencils.

Comic Con has a section that is dedicated to fans who wish to learn the art of using a lightsaber, the weapon of a Jedi or Sith.

Fans who are dedicated to their favorite characters care about the smallest detail of their costume. It includes wearing a slave outfit (left), to changing the color of their hair to look like X-Men Rogue (right), or putting in blue contact lenses to look like Superman (middle).

Artists at Comic Con enjoy making artwork that is dedicated to films inspired by comic books. Batman (1989) and Spiderman are rarely seen in artwork together.

Comic Con is also known for having sections that sell reasonably priced comic books. Sometimes dealers can make a deal for three comic books for $5.00 Dollars, depending on what the comic book is and how old it is.

Even after leaving the Javitz Center, New York City still plays host to comic book fans that are walking the street. Fortunately the forces of good are there to protect the fair citizens of Manhattan.