Some News and Tales of my Melancholy Stores, part 2
Alright, so time moves on and we are slowly gaining momentum. Tonight at 10 PM there should be a nice little segment on Cerebus TV, it'll probably just be edits of the video on the site with a few unused elements that got left on the cutting room floor, but the exposure is good.
Speaking of exposure, I did interviews with both The Tavern's Vault and The Outhousers this week, so look for those soon.
Both of the interviewers pretty much started by asking how it is that I know Neil Gaiman and though this installment of Tales... doesn't answer that directly, it does explain how Neil had an intense impact on me in my teens.
Those of you who haven't read part 1 can do so HERE (it starts about halfway down, by the picture of the Ninja Turtles Comic)
High school brought with it many changes. I, who as a child had weeped for my parents whenever I was baby-sat, was now living away from home. The teenage years are fraught with changes and emotions and I was no exception. The Aunt whose house I lived in became my mortal enemy and my uncle’s library of science fiction collections became my best friend. I fought less, got along with peers better, but I was still a nerd. In Elementary School I always had one or two fellow nerds to talk comics with, but in my new school no one cared for them. Seinfeld and Magic: The Gathering were the order of the day. I would troop out on the bus, alone, to the comic shop my brother used to go to and get my books, but how could Spider-Man compare to Dangerous Visions or the works of Bradbury, Asimov and Clarke? The store I went to was nice, the employees mostly pleasant and helpful, but no one there was ready to help a 15 year old transition from super-heroes to other kinds of comics. Founded in the late 70s as a used bookstore, the owner had made it into a comic shop within a decade, the shelves were well stocked and the back issues went much farther back than any I had seen before. But the helpful staff would only suggest books similar to the ones I bought, and the ones I bought weren’t really doing it for me any more.
I found my tastes changing. Girls took up a lot more of my time, both in reality and fantasy. I started collecting all the Superman titles, and not much else, suddenly finding much more interest in the Man of Steel’s complex world and multiple side-characters’ back-stories Something that I hadn’t known I’d been missing from comics before. My brother, living at home while attending a Manhattan college, let me read his one or two Sandman books and Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics, but all those books did for me was to make me realize that comics were more complicated than I knew, and my interest waned. Sure there were comics I had never read, but there were even more books! Ursula K. LeGuin beckoned, Jack Williamson seduced and countless other writers I was unaware of up until then were just luring me in and taking up my time!
The final death-knell of my fandom came when I discovered that there was yet another shop in the area I was boarding. A shop owned and operated by none other than Wizard, the comic magazine that I had read on-and-off for years. Most of you probably remember Wizard, but for those who don’t, it was a glossy, thick magazine that featured “hot” lists, price guides and small synopsis of new story-lines and authors. Think Entertainment Weekly for the comic set. Well, Wizard was good stuff, I thought at the time, so maybe the people in the store would be helpful to me. My infrequent trips to the comic store became two stops on the bus line longer to go to Wizard’s World, a gleaming mecca of nerdhood. Sadly, it was not a mecca of comic nerdhood only. A second floor was devoted to Warhammer, Magic, and every other kind of game in between with large tables and tournaments held every weekend. The comic racks were set opposite flashing arcade games, which hungrily glowed for my quarters. They held my books for me, but seemed less interested in what I read than I did. Slowly, without even noticing it, I stopped caring.
I remember trying to explain to a friend why it was so cool that Superman had suddenly become a being of energy and why his subsequent split into two beings (red and blue) was cool. For the life of me, I can’t remember what I said, but I recall not convincing him and this being the last straw. The next time I went to Wizard’s World (some 2 months+ since I had last visited) The guy behind the counter told me that they had almost put my paltry stash of books back on the shelf. He asked if I was going to keep getting them or if they shouldn’t bother, seemingly uninterested in what I answered. So I told them to forget it and walked out of there.
Magic cards, movies, Golden Age and New Wave SF, and girls all filled the space comics had left. Literature would come rushing in and knock everything else aside for a time and I was sure I would become a writer. I would re-read my old comics and whatever my brother had lying around (and, by this point, that was A LOT) but I just didn’t have the same interest. I skipped a lot of school to read and thought I was growing as a person, but despite going to about 2 movies a week and reading 4-5 novels in the same time, I felt a lack. I felt like there was something I was missing, something I had once had that I couldn’t remember.
Senior year: While working on the yearbook with an alumni of the school as our graphic designer, he asked if I knew anyone who read comics. I wanted to know why, mentioning that I used to read them. Well, as it turned out, he had in his possession a complete set of The Sandman trades and was looking to sell them. He had bought them after learning about comics in design school but he really didn’t need them anymore. I asked how much and he said $75. The deal seemed too good to pass up, so I scrapped together the cash and bought them.
THIS! This is what I had been missing! I had read some Sandman books when my brother got them, but I had never read all of them straight through. Everything I had loved about literature was here! Shakespeare made appearances and there were themes and motifs that swooped and dived, gently pulling the reader through the story as only the best writers could. The art was ever shifting, yet always true to the core of the characters. The Sandman gave me new hope, new drive and when I finally went off to college to major in English literature, I set up an independent study in “the Graphic Novel.”
While I had been busy growing up, comics had changed vastly. The success of the Vertigo line meant that comics had to not just be grim and gritty or hopeful and nostalgic; they could cover all manners of things. As I delved into comics I learned that this was nothing new, that it was only my childish perspective that had limited my view of the medium. Comics like these had been in existence since the 40s, even longer, and I rushed to catch up! Sadly, there was no one to guide me. My brother had fallen hard into the world of Super-heroes and while he could explain all the various incarnations of Superman, Batman and make jokes about Archie Goodwin that went over my head, the sort of things I was getting into just didn’t interest him that much. The comic shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn he steered me too were even worse. I recall one owner, when I asked that he put anything new by Neil Gaiman on the my brother’s pull list, sneering at me and saying something to the effect of “One of those, eh?” I tried to learn on my own but the embryonic Internet message boards were too daunting and, it turned out, English Literature was not as easy a degree as I thought it would be. Couple that with a growing affinity for video games, bad habits and (once again, or maybe still) girls and I couldn’t keep up. I loved comics again, that was for sure, and read and re-read my brother’s copy of Understanding Comics so much that he gave it to me, but I just couldn’t keep up with all the new stuff coming out and all the good old stuff that just seemed to cost too much money.
So there I was, living in a studio apartment in a Flatbush basement, claiming I loved comics while trying to read through the complete works of Philip K. Dick and write a senior thesis that was to be the outline and treatment for a coming of age novel. If I hadn’t fallen in love with Sarah, I’m not sure what would have happened.
Next update: Tale of my Melancholy Stores Part 3: Libraries, Computers and Rocketships
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Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on August 11, 2012.
Funding period
Jun 12, 2012 -
Aug 11, 2012
(60 days)
- First created · 47 backed
- Menachem Luchins 288 friends
- Website: funnyshortscomic.com
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18 backers
Your name on the Thank You page in the back of "Our Comic Year", a 24 page comic book by co-owner and cartoonist Sarah Luchins about the creation of the store. Weekly updates on our progress, special for backers only. See the nitty gritty details that go into creating a new kind of comic shop. PLUS: Access to a Live stream of the store's grand opening in November.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $5 or more
13 backers
The $1 rewards + Digital copy (PDF) of "Our Comic Year" , a 24 page comic book by co-owner and cartoonist Sarah Luchins about the creation of the store.
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6 backers
MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL- All the $5 rewards + store membership! Membership includes regular discounts on pre-ordered comics, early announcements of special events and classes before the general public and access to our LIVE and archived Streaming classes and workshops plus, a nifty membership card.
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9 backers
All the $5 rewards + An exclusive Escape Pod Comics Logo pin designed and hand-pressed by Brooklyn artist Chloe Kasnett.
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2 backers
All the $5 rewards + 8 1/2 by 11 print of co-owner Sarah Luchins's "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex" comic.
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4 backers
MEMBERSHIP PLUS- Everything in the $8 membership level (regular discounts on pre-ordered comics, early announcements of special events and classes before the general public and access to our LIVE and archived Streaming classes and workshops plus, a nifty membership card.) PLUS a custom Black and watch artist sketch card of your favorite character, drawn by store co-owner and webcomic creator Sarah Luchins. Don Draper, Marceline the Vampire Queen, Superman, Phone Bone. ANYONE YOU WANT penciled and inked on a standard sized trading card. (See update #10 for examples)
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0 backers
ALTERNATIVE ESCAPE POD PRINT- designed by Reginald Thomas, this slick, futuristic logo/design is a totally different take on our name and brand. (Includes Membership and Membership card.)
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19 backers
All the $5 rewards + PRINT copy of "Our Comic Year", a 24 page comic book by co-owner and cartoonist Sarah Luchins about the creation of the store. ALSO: Store membership, which entitles you to special announcements about sales. Members also receive a nifty Membership card and an exclusive membership number as well as pre-order for special events and announcements before the general public.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $24 or more
5 backers Limited (495 of 500 left)
TECHNICOLOR MEMBERSHIP- Everything in the $8 membership level (regular discounts on pre-ordered comics, early announcements of special events and classes before the general public and access to our LIVE and archived Streaming classes and workshops plus, a nifty membership card.) PLUS a custom, hand-colored artist sketch card of your favorite character, drawn by store co-owner and webcomic creator Sarah Luchins. Don Draper, Marceline the Vampire Queen, Superman, Phone Bone. ANYONE YOU WANT penciled, inked and colored on a standard sized trading card. (See update #10 for examples)
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $25 or more
9 backers Limited (191 of 200 left)
All the $5 rewards + COMIC BOOK GRAB BAG! A selection of random comics from our vaults with a price guide total of Thirty Dollars. Just like those plastic sealed bundles you used to get at your local corner store. NOTE: THIS LEVEL DOES NOT INCLUDE STORE MEMBERSHIP.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $30 or more
37 backers Limited (963 of 1000 left)
All the $20 rewards+ A COMIC STARTER KIT! Interested in comics but not sure what you'd like? Well, choose this reward and after you take a brief survey about likes and dislikes we'll send you out $25 worth of comics custom-selected for your tastes!
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $35 or more
4 backers
All the $20 rewards+ 6 x 6 print of our Black and White store logo designed by co-owner Sarah Luchins. NOTE: B&W LOGO IS DIFFERENT FROM COLOR. VERY DIFFERENT.
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2 backers
KIDS' SUPER-HERO CAPE! Custom made by Cape & Cowl productions, THE premiere cosplay coutre creators, this special last0ditch effort reward is a full-sized cape made of Peackskin fabric, hefty enough to stay close and look real while still being light enough to billow out behind you in a breeze. We are offering these capes in both Dark Crusader Black (which comes with a batwing style cut at the bottom) and Superguy Red. (Includes Membership and Membership card.) We also have them in adult sizes at the $100 level
Estimated delivery: May 2013Pledge $50 or more
0 backers Limited (95 of 95 left)
All the $20 rewards+ Exclusive 8 1/2 x11 Comics for All "Humour" print by Footloose Webcomic creator Emily Brady featuring characters from the acclaimed comic.
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1 backer Limited (94 of 95 left)
All the $20 rewards+ Exclusive 8 1/2 x11 Comics for All "Fantasy" print by Chicago artist Hilary Jirka.
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0 backers Limited (95 of 95 left)
All the $20 rewards+ Exclusive 8 1/2 x11 Comics for All "Experimental" print by Brooklyn artist Chloe Kasnett.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $50 or more
3 backers Limited (92 of 95 left)
All the $20 rewards+ Exclusive 8 1/2 x11 Comics for All "Horror" print by NYC designer and webcomic creator Kelly Kotulak.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $50 or more
3 backers Limited (997 of 1000 left)
All the $20 rewards+ 6 x 6 print of our store logo designed by co-owner Sarah Luchins, in color AND a Escape Pod tote bag, perfect for holding your comics on the go.
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3 backers Limited (92 of 95 left)
All the $20 rewards+ Exclusive 8 1/2 x11 Comics for All "Science Fiction" print by NYC artist Yao Xiao.
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4 backers Limited (146 of 150 left)
All the $50 rewards+ Escape Pod Pin in Brass, hand-crafted by Junior Partner Simcha Schoenbrun of Helios Jewelry.
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4 backers Limited (71 of 75 left)
All the $20 rewards+ Take a quick dive in our back-issue boxes! Select Seventy-Five Dollars worth of comics (Price Guide Prices) before they go on sale in our store! You will be choosing from over 10,000 monthly comics (floppies) and hundreds of Graphic Novels/Collections. Reward will be given on a first come, first serve basis, based on order of backing.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $80 or more
7 backers Limited (93 of 100 left)
All the $50 rewards+ A COMIC STARTER KIT! Interested in comics but not sure what you'd like? Well, choose this reward and after you take a brief survey about likes and dislikes we'll send you out $75 worth of comics custom-selected for your tastes!
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $85 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
All the $50 rewards + a Signed comic! Spawn #12 (with chromium trading card) signed by Todd McFarlane.
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1 backer All gone!
All the $50 rewards + a Signed comic! PBBZ Con 2006 Reprint of TMNT #1 signed by Peter Laird.
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0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
All the $50 rewards + a Signed comic! Black Panther (Vol. 3) #1 signed by Mark Texeria.
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1 backer All gone!
All the $50 rewards + a Signed comic! Spawn #18 signed by Greg Capullo.
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1 backer All gone!
All the $50 rewards + a Signed comic! Batman: Odyssey #2 signed by Neal Adams.
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1 backer All gone!
All the $50 rewards + a Signed comic! Superman #317 signed by Neal Adams.
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0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
All the $50 rewards + a Signed comic! Spawn #16 signed by Greg Capullo.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $100 or more
0 backers
SUPER-HERO CAPE! Custom made by Cape & Cowl productions, THE premiere cosplay coutre creators, this special last0ditch effort reward is a full-sized cape made of Peackskin fabric, hefty enough to stay close and look real while still being light enough to billow out behind you in a breeze. We are offering these capes in both Dark Crusader Black (which comes with a batwing style cut at the bottom) and Superguy Red. (Includes Membership and Membership card.) We also have them in kid sizes at the $40 level
Estimated delivery: May 2013Pledge $115 or more
2 backers Limited (73 of 75 left)
All the $50 rewards+ A COMIC STARTER KIT! Interested in comics but not sure what you'd like? Well, choose this reward and after you take a brief survey about likes and dislikes we'll send you out $100 worth of comics custom-selected for your tastes!
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $125 or more
0 backers Limited (150 of 150 left)
All the $50 rewards + Escape Pod Pendant in brass hand-crafted by Junior Partner Simcha Schoenbrun of Helios Jewelry.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $150 or more
1 backer Limited (99 of 100 left)
All the $50 rewards + Exclusive First printing (12 1/2 x19) of Molly Crabapple's portrait of Stoya which hung in the "Beautiful People" show at Cabinet des Curieux in Paris and is now in the hands of a private collector.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $150 or more
1 backer Limited (29 of 30 left)
FOR CREATORS AND PUBLISHERS- Buy featured shelf space at our store! This reward entitles you to a prime spot on our "featured" table for ONE WEEK of your choosing. Compete with the BIG GUNS or just get a project you love noticed. Longer amounts of time on the "featured" table available at higher levels ($500 for a month, $5000 for the year). Very Limited reward, act fast before they're gone! [Includes all the $50 Color Logo rewards as well]
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $150 or more
1 backer Limited (19 of 20 left)
All the $50 rewards + Signed, numbered and matted prints by SteamCrunk virtuoso Walter Sickert from his UK gallery show, never sold before!
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $175 or more
2 backers Limited (1 of 3 left)
All the $50 rewards + Original pages from Webcomic pioneer Jennie Breeden's Devil's Panties comic, who not only self-publishes her own comics but also worked in a comic shop for years, giving her a unique insight into what we're trying to do here. Each comic is signed and comes with a print of the finished, colored comic as it appeared on the web, also signed.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $200 or more
1 backer Limited (199 of 200 left)
All the $50 rewards+ A COMIC STARTER KIT! Interested in comics but not sure what you'd like? Well, choose this reward and after you take a brief survey about likes and dislikes we'll send you out $200 worth of comics custom-selected for your tastes!
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $200 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
All the $50 rewards + Justice League International, Volume #1, signed and donated by writer J.M. Dematties for Escape Pod Comics.
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0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
All the $50 rewards + All five of the "Comics for All" prints.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $250 or more
1 backer Limited (49 of 50 left)
All the $50 rewards + Orignal pencils from the Amanda Palmer, Jason Webley and Cynthia von Buhler's "Evelyn Evelyn" Graphic Novel, donated by the artist.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $300 or more
2 backers Limited (48 of 50 left)
All the $50 rewards + SILVER membership, which entitles you to special announcements about sales and a $250 shopping spree in the store, any time after our grand opening- Members also receive a unique Membership card available only at the silver level and an exclusive membership number as well as pre-order for special events and announcements before the general public.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $350 or more
1 backer All gone!
All the $50 rewards + Annotated Sandman, Volume #1, signed and donated by writer Neil Gaiman for Escape Pod Comics.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $450 or more
1 backer Limited (24 of 25 left)
All the $50 rewards + Buy our back issues now! Take a rummage through our used books and back issues before we open and select $400 (Price Guide value) worth of material. Reward will be given on a first come, first serve basis, based on order of backing.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $500 or more
0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)
FOR CREATORS AND PUBLISHERS- Buy featured shelf space at our store! This reward entitles you to a prime spot on our "featured" table for ONE MONTH of your choosing. Compete with the BIG GUNS or just get a project you love noticed. Other amounts of time on the "featured" table available at other levels ($150 for a week, $5000 for the year). Very Limited reward, act fast before they're gone! [Includes all the $50 Color Logo rewards as well]
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $500 or more
1 backer All gone!
All the $50 rewards + The Complete run of Cerebus, One of the most seminal works in comics, in trade paper back form. Over 6000 pages! Includes first editions of the collections, some signed by writer/artist Dave Sim and background artist Gerhard.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $750 or more
0 backers Limited (50 of 50 left)
All the $50 rewards+ GOLD Store membership, which entitles you to special announcements about sales and surprise comic related gifts (rare prints,signed comics, first editions, etc) in the mail (5 over the course of a year) for a year!- Members also receive a Membership card unique to the gold level and an exclusive membership number as well as pre-order for special events and announcements before the general public.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
All the $50 rewards + The Original of the Comics for All "Science Fiction" print by NYC artist Yao Xiao- Ink on paper. The lack of color on the original really lets the details that this stunning artist included shine through.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
All the $50 rewards + The Original of the Comics for All "Experimental" art by Brooklyn artist Chloe Kasnett- Pencil and oils on wood. This unique blend of materials makes for a really eye-catching piece.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
All the $50 rewards + The Original of the Comics for All "Humour" print by Footloose Webcomic creator Emily Brady- watercolor on paper. The vibrant colors of the original put the prints, nice as they are, to shame.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
All the $50 rewards + The Original of the Comics for All "Fantasy" print by Chicago artist Hilary Jirka- 10" x 13.25", Ink on Paper. This intricate piece just begs to be studied over and over again.
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0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
All the $50 rewards + A stunning Alex Maleev Batman sketch, signed.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
All the $50 rewards + The Original of the Comics for All "Horror" art by NYC designer and webcomic creator Kelly Kotulak- Scratchboard and colored pencils. Let me tell you, this print is amazing but the original is KILLER, a must have.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $1,500 or more
0 backers Limited (20 of 20 left)
All the $50 rewards+ PLATINUM Store membership, which entitles you to special announcements about sales and surprise comic related gifts (rare prints,signed comics, first editions, etc) in the mail (10 over the course of a year) for a year! - Members also receive a super-rare Membership card unique to the platinum level and an exclusive membership number as well as pre-order for special events and announcements before the general public. Platinum members also get two FREE events a year- signings, classes, release parties, anything.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $2,000 or more
0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
All the $50 rewards + Memorial plaque, dedicated to whomever you wish, on one of our genre bookshelves. Choose from: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Biography, Drama, Crime, Super-Hero, and more.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)
FOR CREATORS AND PUBLISHERS- Buy featured shelf space at our store! This reward entitles you to a prime spot on our "featured" table for our ENTIRE FIRST YEAR . Compete with the BIG GUNS or just get a project you love noticed. Other amounts of time on the "featured" table available at other levels ($150 for a week, $500 for the month). Very Limited reward, act fast before they're gone! [Includes all the $50 Color Logo rewards as well]
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (3 of 3 left)
COMIC PARTY!!! We will shut down the store for the day while you and up to 25 friends just hang out, read comics, drink coffee, listen to music, play music... WHATEVER. As long as it doesn't damage the books on the shelves. Imagine, your own comic store for a day! Do a photo-shoot or just spend a day on your own reading.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013
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