Marvel Celebrates Historic Inauguration with Special Story in Amazing Spider-Man #583
(Excerpt from Lead Stories, Diamond Daily, 1/8/09)

To celebrate the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama, Marvel is proud to present an all-new story teaming up one of the world's most recognizable political figures with the world's greatest super-hero as President-Elect Obama joins Spider-Man in Spidey Meets the President, a special addition to AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583 (NOV082358D)!

This all-new story written by Zeb Wells and art by Todd Nauck and Frank D'Armata takes place in Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day and finds one of Spider-Man's oldest foes attempting to thwart the swearing in ceremony of the 44th President of the United States. The story will be featured as a bonus story in Marvel Comics' Amazing Spider-Man #583, available in comic book shops nationwide on January 14. A special variant cover by artist Phil Jimenez, OBAMA VARIANT (OCT08 8192D) (shown above right), featuring the President-Elect and Spider-Man will be available for this issue.

"When we heard that President-Elect Obama is a collector of Spider-Man comics, we knew that these two historic figures had to meet in our comics' Marvel Universe," said Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. "Historic moments such as this one can be reflected in our comics because the Marvel Universe is set in the real world. A Spider-Man fan moving into the Oval Office is an event that must be commemorated in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man."

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583 (NOV082358D)
Writer: MARK WAID
Pencils: BARRY KITSON
Cover: JOHN ROMITA SR. (shown on the right)

YOU ASKED FOR IT, YOU GOT IT!
PETER PARKER ON A DATE!

After the revelations of "Mind on Fire", love is in the air for more than one member of the cast and Pete finally gets some time out with the ladies. (and who better to bring it to you than two men who both had dates as recently as 1987!) Amidst the romance though, forces are gathering that will spell trouble for Peter in the months to come.

Join us here at Amazing Spiral on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 from 12:30pm-7pm. Chat with and get books signed by comics creators/
illustrators Michael S. Bracco and H.C. Noel!

NOVO Volume Two: THE PRIDE
Writer/Art/Cover: Michael S. Bracco
Publisher: Alterna Comics
TPB: 88 pages

Story: Novo finds himself stranded on a new and foreign world, populated by a powerful feline tribe known as the Xennons. Finding an immediate connection with a species whose women and children are threatened by horrid beasts known only as The Enemy, Novo realizes that he may be able to help this world in a way he could never help his own.

MR. SCOOTLES
Writer/Art/Cover: H.C. Noel
Publisher: Alterna Comics
TPB: 160 pages

Story: When two college students watch a cursed film reel starring the forgotten 1930's cartoon character Mr. Scootles, they unknow-
ingly set off a chain of events that could lead to Hell on Earth. Featuring a cast that includes a beautiful skirt-wearing demon, a bloodthirsty professor, a warrior angel, Judas, and the Devil herself. Mr. Scootles is a mystery-filled tale that is a tribute to the art of animation and its creators.

ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 AMAZING SPIRAL HOSTED IT'S FIRST GROUP BOOK SIGNING WITH:

JONATHAN C. AKIN, author of WINNER’S CHOICE and INTERRATIONS, an emerging contemporary novelist and friend of proprietors Sheldon and Driana Pearlman. Jonathan lives, writes, and works in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is wrapping up his 2008 book signing tour with appearances at Amazing Spiral and The BALTIMORE BOOK FESTIVAL (Authors’ Tent – Saturday, September 27, 2008) in order to finish his latest novel, NOW ENTERING OBSCURITY.

DAN NOKES writer, artist, editor and publisher is the head of the small press comic outfit 21st Century Sandshark Studios. To date, Dan (21CSS) has created and published a 67 page graphic novel THE REPTILE & MISTER AMAZING and a 12 issue limited series THE PARANORMALS. Dan will release the first issue of his upcoming Western THE PISTOLEERS at BALTIMORE COMICON!

MONICA GALLAGHER is a 28-year-old, Maryland-based, indie comic creator. Her long-running web comic, "Gods and Undergrads," which combines modern college life with Greek mythology, has recently been collected into a trade paperback. Monica created the autobiographical mini-comics "Boobage", which tackles body self-image issues, and "Middle School" her dramatic coming-of-age tale.

MICHAEL S. BRACCO, 28 year old comic creator and Baltimore middle school art teacher has agreed to join us again! He is the writer/artist of the graphic novel BIRTH and the trade paperback NOVO Vol. 1: THE BIRTH OF NOVO. Michael started in comics with his self published title, Atty & Max back in 2004. He also runs an apparel design company called Spaghetti Kiss. Michael visited our previous location to sign & sketch for fans on March 19, 2008 and June 18, 2008. We're delighted to have him back!

From JOSS WHEDON, creator of "Buffy" and "Serenity"...

Watch the teaser for Joss Whedon's three episode internet musical "DOCTOR HORRIBLE'S SING-ALONG BLOG"!

It tells the story of a low-rent super-villain, Dr. Horrible (played by Neil Patrick Harris), who maintains a video blog to chronicle his efforts to be accepted by the Evil League of Evil.  Dr. Horrible also has a softer side seen when he battles his arch-nemesis, the two-faced Captain Hammer (played by Nathan Fillion), for the heart of Penny (played by Felicia Day), a cute girl from the laundromat, that he's too shy to talk to.

Michael S. Bracco  BOOK SIGNING!
Wed, June 18, 2008    11AM - 7 PM

NOVO Volume One: THE BIRTH OF NOVO
Writer/Art/Cover: Michael S. Bracco
Publisher: Alterna Comics
Trade Paperback AVAILABLE NOW
B&W /Fantasy/ Young Adult / 88 pages

Story: The Aquans and Terans spent their existences blaming each other for their own faults, warring until there was only one Aquan, a male, and one Teran, a female. Together in love and desperation, they created Novo - a savior born to a world that no longer had use for one. Now trying to discover a history he will never be a part of, can the mystery of his past give him the clues to his future?

On Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Michael S. Bracco visited Comics Kingdom to celebrate the release of NOVO Vol. 1: THE BIRTH OF NOVO, the sequel to his debut graphic novel BIRTH. Throughout the day Michael signed and sketched in copies of his new book, which collects issues 1, 2 and 3 of NOVO!

Michael Bracco BOOK SIGNING!
Wed, March 19, 2008    11am - 7 pm

BIRTH (Graphic Novel, SC)
Writer/Art/Cover: Michael S. Bracco
Publisher: Alterna Comics
B&W, 88 pages

On Wednesday, March 19, 2008 from 11am to 7 pm, Michael S. Bracco will be at Comics Kingdom to celebrate the release of his debut graphic novel BIRTH, with a signing. Michael started in comics with his self published title, Atty & Max back in 2004. Now he runs an Apparel design company called Spaghetti Kiss and is working on the series to follow BIRTH called NOVO (Volume 1 is due out in June).

Below are a few review quotes:

"Fans of A DISTANT SOIL, PRIDE OF BAGHDAD and any kind of war fiction will enjoy this book. BIRTH isn't so much about war but about the price of conflict and in my view is one of the best gems of the year. Pick it up. You won't regret it." - Joshua Pantalleresco (ComicBloc.com)

"In both its visuals and its writing, this title is absolutely stunning." - 5 star Review from Alex Haas (Indycomicreview.com)

"No matter how much you don't want yet another comic to add to your pull list, you'll be wanting whatever Bracco cooks up to spin out on a plate for us hungry hungry hippos. Satisfying, filling, more to come. Eats don't get better than this." -Dave Baxter (BrokenFrontier.com)

First Place: CHRIS MINETREE
City Paper 2006 Comics Contest

Congratulations to our own CHRIS MINETREE (new Sunday guy) for winning First Place in the City Paper's 2006 Annual Comics Contest for his
GFY COMIX!

Judges for the Sixth Annual City Paper Comics Contest were Whitney Sherman, chair of Maryland Institute College of Art's illustration department; Christopher Skokna, editor of the CP 9/12/2007 SPECIAL ISSUE (Comics Issue 2007); and Atomic Books co-owner Benn Ray.

The Prize— Chris's GFY Comix will run weekly, with pay, for the next year in the City Paper!

Of GFY, Ray says, "Chris Minetree has a good, fundamental understanding of what makes a comic a comic. That paired with fresh ideas and a funny delivery make for a winner..."