It’s new comic book day tomorrow! For those over 21, check out the interesting pairings of various comics with their respective comics.

A Guide to Pairing Your Comics & Beer

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a spotlight article. This time, I’ll cover something a bit friendlier- Sleeping Queens!

Once upon a time, every queen was left at the mercy of an evil sleeping spell… that is, until you came along! With a hand of cards, your task is to wake up the queens using kings. But be careful! Knights can steal your queens, and potions can put them back to sleep!

Sleeping Queens is the perfect game. Seriously. You can play and play again in any setting, with any people, and at any age. Featuring characters like the ‘Pancake Queen’ and the ‘Bubble Gum King’ it’s quirky and fun. The playing time is very fast, it’s easy to learn, and the cards are portable (perfect for restaurants, airports, waiting rooms, or even family game night). I personally love the game, but come see for yourself!

Ages: 8 and older; 2-5 players

November 26 marks American Express’s second annual “Small Business Saturday.” If you make a purchase with your registered Amex card at any small business, you get a $25 credit from Amex toward that purchase.

And we’re one of those small businesses! Join us on Saturday, and grab your $25 worth of free stuff! Keep in mind, Tanksgiving and the Pokéleague are on Saturday, and it’s never too early to start holiday shopping!

If you want to help your family and friends choose your favorite Toy Soldier gifts, download and complete the Toy Soldier Wishlist form!

Happy shopping!

xoxo Colleen

I’ve made it my mission to, every week or so, post a spotlight on one of the games or books in our store. This week, I’d like to highlight one of the newer miniature games in the store: Dystopian Wars. Spartan Games (creator of Uncharted Seas and Firestorm Armada) debuted the game in 2010 and, since then, Dystopian Wars has earned a solid Toy Soldier fan base.

Stylistically, Dystopian Wars is one of the most beautiful games in the store. Set in the Steampunk age, it tells the story of an alternate 1870s reality. In this world, Tesla’s electrical inventions are viewed as more than an eccentric man’s ravings. In this world, Darwin is a successful biological engineer whose experiments accidentally produce bloodthirsty monsters (whoops). In this world, Zeppelins still travel the air and the countries we know are unrecognizable.

The fictional Lord Barnabas Draynes Sturgeon produces the greatest technological discovery of the era when, in 1845, he stumbles upon a series of intimidating crevasses (“Wells Chasm”) during an Antarctic expedition. This finding leads to Sturgeon’s Element 270, which has the extraordinary ability to create dynamic metals. However, like all well-intentioned efforts, Element 270 results in nothing but death. Suddenly, armies can create fleets of incredible strength, skill, and dexterity. With more fuel and fervor, the Dystopian Wars rage on.

Sound interesting? Even the play is unlike other miniature wargames. In Dystopian Wars, there’s always a chance of doing something. One of the greatest benefits of Dystopian Wars is that it’s still growing. Unlike larger games that have to keep reinventing themselves (I’m looking at you, 40K), Dystopian Wars is able to produce completely new models, armies, and stories that augment the Steampunk world. However, the game does have its drawbacks. As a new system, Dystopian Wars has a number of kinks in its rulebook (e.g. consulting specific rules is a lengthy process) and a limited number of models and customizations. In addition, it has a steep learning curve and is difficult to play without the help of a seasoned player. However, many of these issues will be addressed in further releases and, in time, the game will have a larger acceptance rate.

The best way to start playing the game is with a naval starter box, a carrier, and a rulebook. The models are made of resin, and any of our paints, primers, and washes will suit Dystopian Wars figures (Mick recommends P3 paints and GW washes). If you’re interested, the store has a British starter fleet, carrier, and rulebook in the case for a discounted price.

Unsure of which army to look at or simply interested in more fluff? I’ve provided a breakdown of the major armies. There are more soon to follow (look for France next!). You can read my descriptions by clicking the arrow next to the army’s name or, to find more detailed descriptions and get updates on new models, check out the Dystopian Wars website.

Federated States of America (FSA)

Kingdom of Britannia (KoB)

Prussian Empire

Empire of the Blazing Sun (EBS)

Covenant of Antarctica (CoA) 

So ask yourself: are you a robot squid or a Zeppelin pilot? Hope you enjoyed the first Toy Soldier spotlight.

xoxo Colleen

There is no shortage of wartime memoir graphic novels. Art Spiegelman’s Maus, which depicts a Jewish family’s struggles during the Holocaust as a game of cat & mouse, won the 1992 Pulitzer prize. Yossel, by Joe Kubert, is another haunting depiction of the Holocaust, and Marjane Satrapi’s memoir of the Islamic Revolution in Iran (Persepolis) is critically acclaimed and has a recent film adaptation. As moving as those novels are, they’re tough reads. From the first words of Maus to the last panel, you know you’re reading about the Holocaust. Those mice taunt you with a terrible story you already know the end to.

Marzi, however, isn’t like other wartime memoirs. Marzi isn’t about communist Poland; Marzi is about Marzi, a young girl who doesn’t like waiting in line for sugar rations every month. Revolution and social unrest are only backdrops for sleigh rides and “Let’s pretend.” However, as Marzi fights for a rare orange or is tested for radiation poisoning after Chernobyl, you become haunted by her innocence.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Written by Marzena Sowa with art by Sylvain Savoia, Marzi is cute and precocious and worth it.

“In this country, everyone is supposed to say yes, to smile even if it hurts, smile even though you’re suffering. Live unhappily but put on a happy face to be okay with it. I love waiting in line!! And especially when, the moment I get to the counter, there’s nothing left to buy! It’s simply a new challenge for me! I’m thrilled!! I’m having a great time!”

Now that all of the New 52 first issues have been released, DC Comics has fully established its new world order. This is an exciting time for all, but especially for my heroic gal pals. In this nascent universe, we women must decide our fate and design our feminine environment.

Luckily, DC has helped us with our choices. Behold the DC Comics Pyramid of Women.

Breathtaking, isn’t it? Luckily, most of us won’t be actual women. What’s the fun in interesting, confident, feminine yet sexually liberated characters? You may think, “But, Colleen, I’m pretty normal. How could I possibly fit into this new environment?” For you, Miss Confused, I have provided a personality quiz to determine your chunk of pyramid o’ girls real estate.

1. What are you best at?

a.) Kicking ass and taking names

b.) Angst

c.) Smashing skulls

d.) Posing seductively, tossing my hair, and alleviating sexual frustration

2. Apart from your super heroine alter ego, what do you do for a living?

a.) Who needs an alter ego when you have a divine dad?

b.) I’ve heard people needed jobs, but I thought it was just conjecture.

c.) I used to be a psychiatrist, but now I’ve made the natural segue into assassination.

d.) I’m a stripper, a thief who acts like a stripper, an alien who looks like a stripper, a goddess who dresses like a stripper, or anything that involves seduction and a serious lack of clothing.

3. How do you spend your free time?

a.) Trying to sleep.

b.) Dodging my father, insulting my friend, and mourning my drowned twin sister/arch enemy

c.) Laughing maniacally

d.) Lounging around in nothing but lingerie and thigh holsters

4. Do you have any serious love interests?

a.) Men tend to be intimidated by my size

b.) A detective with a badge, a gun, and breasts.

c.) The Joker, but he’s not a serious guy.

d.) Anyone with money (including a certain Bruce Wayne)

5. How about best friends?

a.) I like my alone time

b.) Best friend or “breast” friend?

c.) A metal-faced marksman, a demon, a rookie, a spider, and a hammerhead shark

d.) Anyone with access to an ATM and/or cape.

6. In your opinion, what are your best personality traits?

a.) My mental restraint and stability

b.) My sleuthing skills and emotional coldness

c.) My mental recklessness and instability

d.) Hmmm, wow. Good question. Personality? That’s a tough one. Probably my chest.

7. Are you comfortable wearing nothing but underwear?

a.) Yes

b.) Yes

c.) Yes

d.) Do they make other clothing?

8. Do you have an inspirational quote or creedo?

a.) “Diana. And you’re safe here. I give you my word.”

b.) “I don’t know, but I will find them. I’ll save them all.”

c.) “Relax. I have a giant hammer.”

d.) “Do you want to ask me questions or watch me take my clothes off?”

Time for your results!

If you chose mostly A answers…

Congratulations! You are an Amazon princess. Grab your lasso, spear, and crown and kick ass. Please consult Wonder Woman for further assistance.

If you chose mostly B answers…

Congratulations! You are a lesbian. It’s time to put on your best red wig and visit your local precinct to woo a detective. If you need a few fantastic pick-up lines, consult Batwoman.

If you chose mostly C answers…

Congratulations! You are insane. Unleash your inner dark side and blood thirst to avoid death row. Need some ideas? Look no further than Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad.

If you chose mostly D answers…

You are no longer a D but a DD. Congratulations! You are a stripper. Stretch out your G-String and practice your favorite dancing moves because why earn dignity when you can earn dollar bills? For super-sexy poses and tips on ensnaring innocent fellas, consult Catwoman, Men of War, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Resurrection Man, Voodoo, and almost every other DC comic.

Enjoy and embrace your new life!

xoxo Colleen

I love October. Once a year, I get to bring out all of our zombies from the dregs of the shelves and feature them in a window display. Both beautiful and disgusting, it’s ZOMBIE AWARENESS MONTH.

This year during Zombie Awareness Month, please ask yourself the following question: “Are you ready for the Zombie Apocalypse?” This is a question of life and death… and living death.

First, “know thy enemy.”

The idea of zombies can be traced back to the Haitian religion Voduo. According to believers, a shaman can resurrect the dead with a spell and put them under his control.  This, however, is a myth. In reality, zombies are created by a (un)deadly pathogen. While there are many names for the disease, one thing is clear: zombies are after your brains. Maybe they like the taste. Maybe they have a gray matter deficiency. Either way, they’re coming for you. While they’re not smart and they’re not fast, they have an acute sense of smell and a supernatural sense of your whereabouts.

Next, prepare for an attack.

It’s probably best to consult The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks for basic tips and techniques. Your might want to have a copy on-hand for reference, especially when visiting your local firearms store or Wal-Mart to stock up on weapons, wound dressings, Poptarts. Such instruction will also prevent you from joining the pathetic huddled masses that cry for mercy as zombies feast upon their flesh.

Lacking in clothes? I happen to know a small shop in Amesbury, MA that sells ironic “Walken” Dead tee shirts.

It may also help to check out The Walking Dead series by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore. If you, too, find yourself in a caravan with your family and friends fighting for survival, find solace with those in the same situation.

Lastly, attempt to treat your emotional wounds.

A zombie outbreak and its resulting apocalypse will undoubtedly shock and traumatize you. To move on with as few flashbacks and reoccuring nightmares as possible, you might want to read World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. Sure, it’s not intense psychotherapy, but the book does contain haunting accounts of a zombie outbreak.

If you’re a 20-something hipster who’s too good for both oral history and psychotherapy, try reading the Vertigo iZombie series. Or not. Whatever.

It may help to make light of your recovery and play a few zombie-related games. Relive your agonizing horror by playing ZOMBIES!!! or Munchkin Zombies. Still on the run and waiting for relapse? The beauty of Zombie Dice is that is fits into any knapsack.

And so, this Zombie Awareness Month, grab your ear-marked Survival Guide and favorite shotgun and pray that your brains don’t smell as good as your neighbors’.

xoxo Colleen

Hello, all! Has anyone gotten a chance to check out the latest new 52? I’m making a concerted effort to read every #1, and I’ll throw some reviews up here for you to read. All-in-all, I was pleasantly surprised, although I’m still a bit apprehensive of what’s to come. And remember, since they’re all starting at #1, now’s your chance to catch your favorite characters at the beginning! You can swing by each week to find your favorites or give us your weekly pull list (forms are available at the store).

Happy reading!

xoxo Colleen

Batwing

I was actually very surprised with this one. Batwing is the Congo’s newest superhero. Trained by Batman himself, Batwing attempts to deal with the trials and terrors of Africa’s brutal wars. I like Batwing because he’s out of the American city, leaving the traditional superhero comic behind. Batwing deals with with Congolese pressures in a Congolese way… just with Bat Armor. The art is dismal and incredible. I look forward to the next issue (October 5).

Action Comics

Action Comics #1 is, in my opinion, mediocre. It lacks originality and that je ne sais quoi. It’s not Superman, it’s some other angst-ridden mess from Krypton. To me, it’s obvious and trite- why read something I already know the end to? What annoys me most, however, is that attempts to make a political statement but isn’t able to follow-through. It’s worth a try, though.

Detective Comics

I really liked the new Detective Comics. It was my favorite DC title before the New 52, so I was worried it would be disappointing; to my delight, it’s not! In #1, Batman’s battling the horrid Joker, who’s causing his usual insanity and chaos. It’s disgusting and bloody, dark and engaging, and the art is amazing.

Hawk & Dove

Ah, Hawk & Dove. This title is for a very select group of people, namely those who love gimmicky animated after-school specials. But if you’re a member of that group and/or you like people who dress up as birds to examine the dichotomy between peace and force, then by all means, pick it up.

Justice League International

Remember that time in high school when you’d visit a friend’s house and his annoying little brother tried to hang out with you? That’s JLI, JLA’s United Nation’s hand-me-down.

In September, DC Comics is relaunching its entire comics line. Its plan is to come out with a total of 52 #1 comics, a new one for each of the super heroes. Each week in September, there will be 13 new ones.

DC has even gone so far as to introduce a trailer for the event:

DC is one of the oldest comic publishers there is. It began in 1934 and since then has created some of the greats like Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, and more. To some readers, however, this long history is daunting. It gets discouraging to pick up a comic at issue #881 (like Detective Comics!) and know very little about the history of the story.

In an attempt to modernize and gain new generations of readers, DC has thrown EVERY TITLE back to the beginning. It’s a risky move to be sure, but it should be a great time to get into a series you’d like to read. If you’re curious and would like to subscribe, just drop by the store or shoot us an email! Want to know when each is coming out? Look at the checklist!

To find out more about the New 52, check out the embedded links or the teasers at Comics Alliance! You can also watch the video below:

Happy reading!

xoxo Colleen

Pathfinder is now officially our fastest growing roleplaying game. For those of you who don’t know, Pathfinder is a game based on the Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 set of rules. Like in D&D, each player adopts a character and attempts to combat monsters and dungeons in an effort to emerge a hero. However, unlike D&D, Pathfinder is more customizable. We’re also considering starting a chapter of the Pathfinder Society, a thousand-player Pathfinder mega campaign. Pathfinder is here to stay, so check it out! There’s more to come on this topic to be sure.