Nerding 101: Cycle Counting

It's that time of year again! The time of year where the days are getting longer and hotter, and the kids are home from school. Over here in our household, that means only one thing- cycle counting time! I don't know how I did it, but I just managed to make that sound waaaaaay more exciting than it is.

Cycle counting is when you take alllllll of the comic books you own and go through each and every one. Since The Editor and I have our super spiffy database, we start by printing out a summary of all of the comics we own, and then try to make the summary match what is in the boxes.

We generally do the cycle twice a year. It takes close to five hours for us to do completely, but this time will vary depending on how many comics you own. The Editor and I have somewhere around 8-10k, I believe. Cycle counting is a perfect time to pull any comics that you don't want anymore. Some people have a hard time getting rid of comics, but if you have a series you didn't like as much as you thought you would, or some oddball numbered comics just hanging around, it's better to weed out the old to make room for the new. Nobody likes a hoarder.

After you've pulled out the comics that you would like to get rid of, you can put together a list of what you have and put it up for auction on Atomic Avenue to make a little cash, so you can buy MORE comics. ;-)

Cycle counting is also the perfect time to check the conditions of your bags and boards. If the comics are looking a little beaten, perhaps it's time to get some new protection for them. And if you're one of those people who has unprotected comics, you might as well just put them ALL on Atomic Avenue and start to collect digital comics, because Carly is disappointed in you (I'm sure you're soooooo heartbroken about that).

Anyhoo, that about sums it up. As a comic collector, cycle counting just makes life a little easier knowing what you have in stock. If you have any questions, or are totally lost on what I'm talking about, let me know in the comments! :-)

P.S. Since it's new comic book day, if you're interested in what I'm reading or if you'd like to see some of the new titles for the week, click HERE.

Nerding 101: Translating British Slang (T-Z)

Hello everyone! Today we're going to wrap up the last session of translating British slang! Away we go!

ta - thank you

tailback - traffic jam

take away - carry out

taking the piss - making fun

the beeb - the BBC

till - cash register

top banana - first rate

trainers - sneakers

tram - train

trolley - shopping cart

trollop - slut

tube - subway

up the duff - pregnant

up the spout - not working
veras - cigarette papers

waistcoat - vest

wank - masturbate

wanker - jerk off

wardrobe - Closet

washing-up liquid - dish soap

wellies - boots

wonky - not quite right

yank - american

yankee - American

yardie - mobster

zebra crossing - pedestrian crossing

zed - "z"

zimmer - walker

zip-fastener - zipper

Nerding 101: Translating British Slang (O-S)

Welcome back class! Can you believe that next Monday is the last day of our lecture on British slang? Me either! Hope you all had a nice weekend! Without further adieu, here is your British slang for the week!

off license - liquor store

oggy - pasty

oi - hey

on the dole - unemployed

one off - something that happens once

parcel - package

parritch - porridge

pastie - meat pie

pensioner - old person

petrol - gas

phone box - phone booth

polo neck - turtle neck

poppycock - unbelievable

porter - doorman

posh - well to do

post - mail

postage & packing - shipping & handling

postbox - mailbox

postcode - zip code

pram - baby carriage

pub - bar

pudding - dessert

queue - line

quid - currency

removal van - moving van

restroom - staff room

return ticket - round trip ticket

reverse charge call - collect call

reversing lights - back-up lights

sacked - fired

sarnie - sandwich

scallywag - rascal

scone - biscuit 

sellotape - scotch tape

semi housing - duplex

septic - American

shandy - beer and lemonade
sixes and sevens - crazy

skip - trash can

smart dress - formal attire

smashing - good

snog - kiss

snooker - pool

sod all - nothing

sod it - forget it

sod off - get lost

sod you - bite me

sodding - annoying

solicitor - lawyer

splendid - excellent

spotted dick - sponge cake with raisins

surname - last name

sweets - candy

sweetshop - candy store

swizz - con

Nerding 101: Tanslating British Slang (H-N)

Hello again class! This week we will be exploring British slang from the letter H to the letter Q. Buckle yourselves in!

haddaway and shite - I do not believe you, sir!

hand luggage - carry on baggage

handbrake - parking brake

harry potter and the philosopher's stone - Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone

head boy - valedictorian

headmaster - Principal

hen night - bachelorette party

higgledy piggledy - jumbled up

high flier - important person

high street - main street

hill walking - hiking

ice lolly - popsicle

ironmonger - hardware store

jacket potato - baked potato

jim-jams - Undergarments

jings - gosh

john thomas - penis

kecks - pants

kerfuffle - big fuss

khasi - toilet

kitchen roll - paper towel

kiwi - new zealander

knackered - tired

knickers - underwear

knob - penis

lad - guy

ladybird - ladybug

lager - pale ale

lass - girl

leg over - sex

lodger - renter

lolly - money

loo - bathroom

lorrie - truck

made redundant - laid off

manky - gross

mate - friend

mick - irishman

miffed - upset

mince - ground beef

motorbike - motorcycle

motorcar - automobile

motorway - highway

muck about - mess around

muggle - non magic folk

nackered - tired
nancy - homosexual

nappies - diapers

nickers - underwear

ninny - idiot

nip round the local - go to the bar

nutter - insane person

Nerding 101: Translating British Slang (A-G)

 Good afternoon! So, I've become obsessed with a number of British television shows. "Dr. Who", "Being Human", "How Clean is Your House", and "Torchwood" just to name a few. Before that there was "Extras" and "The Office". While watching these shows, there were a few words that I wasn't familiar with. I figured since I'm not the only British TV loving nerd out there, I'd translate a few words for you in part one of an ongoing "Nerding 101" series. Away we go!

across the pond - in America

answerphone - answering machine

apple and pears - stairs

arse - ass

arse over tit - Head over heels

aye - yeah

back tickler - homosexual

bangers - sausages

barking - crazy

barrister - lawyer

biscuit - cookie

blimey - wow

bob's your uncle - and there you have it

bobbie - policeman

boggart - bogeyman

bollocks - testicles

boxing day - day after Christmas

candy floss - cotton candy

cheeky - rude

cheerio - goodbye

cheers - thank you

chips - fries

cooker - oven

crikey - wow

crisps - chips

daft - absent minded

dodgy - shady
  
dressing gown - bathrobe

dual carriageway - divided highway

durex - condom

dust-bin-trolley - trash-truck

dustbin - trashcan

dustman - garbage man

fag - cigarette

fanny - ass

fizzy drink - soda

flyover - overpass

footballer - soccer player

footpath - sidewalk

fortnight - two weeks

fringe - bangs

frock - dress

fuzz - police

gearbox - transmission

git - bastard

gob - mouth

gobbing - spitting

gobsmacked - surprised

Hope you enjoyed today's installment! There will be more coming at ya next Monday!

Nerding 101: Holiday Gift Guide Pt. 4 - Stocking Stuffers

Still looking to get a few stocking stuffers for that non-geek? Here are a few suggestions to try to bring them to the dark side:

For the movie buff...

Kevin Smith's Green Hornet Vol. 1
This collects the first five issues of the "reboot" of the Green Hornet by Dynamite Entertainment. Written by Kevin Smith, the storyline is based on his script that the 2011 movie DIDN'T use. Includes a cover gallery, which is really nice given each issue of the floppies shipped with 5+ covers for EACH issue....


For the person who doesn't do "superheroes"...

Scalped TPBs (Vol. 1 - 6)
This one has no super powers and arguably no "heroes", but is fantastic! Set on a modern-day Indian reservation this is a gritty, realistic western-y drama. Far from the standard spandex & capes, nothing says Christmas like a trip to the casino...


For the comic fan who's been out of it for a while...

Wolverine Weapon X TPB Vol. 1 & 2
Great choice for Wolverine kicking ass! This one doesn't require you to have read 30 other books to understand the storyline. Written by Jason Aaron, (who also happens to write Scalped) its Wolverine doing what he does best! Yes, shish kebab is a perfectly acceptable Holiday meal...


For that new reader and future geek...

Tiny Titans TPBs
Perfect introduction to comics for kids, this is sure to get them hooked! (Even 20 something chicks love it!) No need to find the first volume, this is a title you can jump on board at any point.

Nerding 101: Holiday Gift Guide Pt. 3- Evan T.'s Holiday Picks!

http://www.ultrasabers.com/DominixV2_p/qs-aeon.htm A less expensive model of lightsaber found at Ultra Sabers, the Aeon gives you the ability to have you own lightsaber. Not Obi-Wans. Not Vaders. Yours. And it has a bunch of upgradable stuff if you want to spend even more moneys!


http://www.scifigenre.com/itemDetail.aspx?nItemID=3304 Nothing says baller, nothing says bling bling like some gold dice. When you are rolling damage with these bad boys, people know!


http://www.hasbro.com/nerf/en_US/shop/details.cfm?guid=5598FF2F-5056-900B-10A3-7C917202BF8A&product_id=27683&src=endeca The Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV-10 is the newest battery operated ten shot Nerf weapon. Let the poor and the stupid cock their guns, you have automatic fire!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/index.shtml A gift certificate to think geek is a fantastic geek gift. I mean, if you cannot find something to buy there, at any price point, then you are not a geek.


http://store.penny-arcade.com/products/papodc08002 Penny Arcade is the premiere web comic and to have five prints hand picked by one of the creators is awesome. Merch from these guys definitely lets people know of your true geek nature. Display them proudly!


http://www.dacardworld.com/gaming/neca-dc-heroclix-75th-anniversary-booster-pack The new DC themed Heroclix set has just been released. Some of the old school characters are being remade and it's a great set to start on for new players.


BONUS! http://www.avatarfleshlight.net/ Yea, they can't actually call it an Avatar fleshlight but it's the "blue alien" fleshlight. Nothing says Merry Christmas like blue alien vagina replicators.

Nerding 101: Holiday Gift Guide Pt. 2

Uber Goober-- This documentary about RPG gamers will please any D&D fan. It follows several groups of live action roll players (LARPers) while interviewing different people and religious groups about their feelings on RPG's and LARPers. $20 or less

How to Survive a Lawn Gnome Attack by Chuck Sambuchino-- I read this phenomenal book last night. Move over vampires and werewolves! There is a much bigger threat at hand. The lawn gnome. This book will walk you through what to do if you feel you're under attack. $15 or less

All my Friends are Dead by Avery Monsen and Jory John-- Another fantastic book. If you’re a dinosaur, all of your friends are dead. If you’re a pirate, all of your friends have scurvy. If you’re a tree, all of your friends are end tables. Each page of this laugh-out-loud illustrated humor book showcases the downside of being everything from a clown to a cassette tape to a zombie. Cute and dark all at once, this hilarious children’s book for adults teaches valuable lessons about life while exploring each cartoon character’s unique grievance and wide-eyed predicament. Less than $15

 Trailer Park Boys Seasons 1-2-- This is by far my favorite Canadian TV show. It's filmed documentary style, and follows two guys trying to get their lives together after an 18 month prison stint. Set in a Canadian trailer park, it features a great cast, and hilarious dialogue. It'll set you back about $20.

$h!t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern-- When Justin finds himself laid off, he has to move back in with his parents. Justin has used his Twitter account to keep a record of all of the funnv, ridiculous shit his dad says on a daily basis. This book is a collection of his dad's best quotes. It's the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for dad! Less than $15.

Nerding 101: Holiday Gift Guide Pt. 1

Hello! Welcome to Carly on Comic's first ever Holiday Gift Guide! Below are a few ideas for that nerd (or nerdette) in your life. Enjoy!

1) Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall-- This book is the perfect gift for mom, or that special lady in your life. It gives you a lot of the "Fables" story lines in one book. It's a prequel to the "Fables" series, and tells all sorts of origin stories about your favorite characters. The best part is that you don't have to have read ANY of the ongoing series to enjoy it. Bill Willingham delivers a wonderful story, while a variety of different artists take on the illustration of the book. It is an absolutely amazing gift.

2) Kick-Ass vol 2, issue 1. Ultimate Comics Edition.- The guys over at Ultimate Comics make some pretty amazing scores. They had their own custom issue on "The Walking Dead" #75 made, and they also have their own edition of "Kick-Ass" vol 2, issue 1. This rare comic is a great addition to any collection, and I guarantee if you send Alan, or any of the guys over at Ultimate an e-mail, or give them a calll, they'd be more than happy to help you out. This is the perfect score when you're looking for a present for the guy who has everything.

3) Dr Who, The Complete Fifth Series- This is the most current incarnation of The Doctor. Starring Karen Gillan and Matt Smith, this season will get you right where you need to be. Matt Smith is NOT Evan T.'s number one choice for The Doctor, so if you want to explore Evan T.'s favorite Doctor, pick up series 2-4 for the David Tennant incarnation of the time lord. With plenty of twists and turns, Dr Who will soon become one of your favorite new shows.

4) DC Comic Plushes- These ADORABLE doll versions of your favorite DC characters are a GREAT stocking stuffer. Once unwrapped, there will surely be an "AWWWWWW" to follow.

5) The Walking Dead Compendium One- Now this one is one everyone can enjoy. It's the story that the TV show was based on. Robert Kirkman delivers an amazing story of humanity and zombies and what happens when the world is cut off. It's a story about survival and human nature. and zombies, of course! The compendium collects 1-48 of the comic series, and from what I understand it also includes a bonus story cannot be found anywhere else. This gift will not disappoint.

That's all I've got this week, but I'll be posting more next week with opinions from Evan T. and The Editor as well!

Nerding 101: Guide to Nerdy TV

There are quite a few nerd essentials you should be, or should have watched. I'm going to break it down for ya!

Current Nerdy TV Shows


The Walking Dead- If you're a comic book fanatic, chances are, you've read this. Chances are if you read it, you loved it. The television adaptation of one of the biggest comics ever written does not disappoint. This show has everything. Violence, drama, you name it. There are heart wrenching scenes of people trying to survive and there are also nasty zombies tearing people limb from limb. Its the hottest new show of the season, and you should DEFINITELY be watching.

Fringe- As mentioned before, if you're not watching Fringe, you should be. The show follows FBI agent Olivia Dunham as she and her team try and figure out answers to cases that are seemingly unsolvable. While solving these cases Olivia gains insight into exactly WHO and WHAT she is. This show features grotesque cases and alternate universes. Also, I dare you not to love Walter Bishop. 

Big Bang Theory- Sure, this TV makes stereotypes come to life, but these guys are downright loveable. The show follows two guys living next door to a hot blonde, and all of the trials they go though to make her notice. It's a very cute show, and extremely funny. 

 30 Rock- This show appeals to everyone. The writers on this show (most notably Donald Glover and Tina Fey) are both huge nerds themselves, so there is a lot of hidden nerd humor in the show. Especially from Tina Fey's character, Liz. This show works on every level, so if you're looking for something new and hilarious, I highly suggest 30 Rock.

 Smallville- Now in it's 10th and final season, this series follows Clark Kent from a high school freshman to a full fledged adult. The show features characters like Green Arrow, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Supergirl, The Wonder Twins, Aquaman, Zatanna, Zod and Doomsday. Not every show is a winner, but overall, it's got my vote!

 The League- As discussed between The Editor and myself, this is easily the funniest show out there. It revolves around a group of guys who play fantasy football. It's a little raunchy at times, but all funny. I guarantee you will LOL numerous times in each episode. 

 True Blood- Yeah, it's a vampire show. But it's the BEST vampire show in the world! Based on "The Southern Vampire Mysteries" by Charlaine Harris, this witty, sexy, scary show shows what happens when vampires "come out of the closet". It leaves you wondering what else there is out there in the world. 

BBC Current Nerdy TV Shows

Dr Who- Dr Who was a show that began way back in the 60's, but don't worry about that! The series of the show began 5 years ago, and there's not much you need to know to catch up. They change doctors quite frequently, so you're good to jump on board whenever. I had time to go back and watch the newest series in its entirety, but if you don't have that kind of time you can just watch the season previous to this. Basically, Dr Who is a time lord who travels through time with his companion. It's full of action and adventure, and sometimes it is downright frightening. If you want a good place to start with British TV, this is where to begin.

Being Human- Being Human is a television show based around a ghost, a vampire and a werewolf that live together. It sounds completely ridiculous, but it's a truly great show. The ghost is very needy, and sad, the werewolf struggles with what he is, and the vampire is a sex addict who through a series of events has to lead the vampires into the new age. It's a very suspenseful, touching, funny show.

  
Torchwood- This show will soon be in the "Current" for American television as Showtime has picked it up. This show is a spin off from Dr. Who that follows Captain Jack Harkness. Captain Jack is special because he can't die. Captain Jack and his team protect Earth from aliens.

Nerdy Shows of the Past

Firefly- This sci-fi space cowboy show focuses on Mal Reynolds and his crew. Swaying on the edge of the law, Mal and his crew are simply trying to survive, while avoiding run ins with the law and "Reavers". It's full of action, and will make you wish you lived in 2517.

  
Heroes- You really only need to watch season 1.

Reaper- Reaper is a show about a kid whose parents sold his sold to the devil before he was born (in their defense, they were told they couldn't have kids). Now their son has turned 21, and the devil wants to cash in. Sam, now has to hold down his job at The Work Bench, while also trapping souls that have escaped from hell for the devil. Sam and his two friends have crazy adventures while trying to capture the souls and save Sam's once and for all.

Now these are just a few of my personal favorites. I know I'm probably forgetting a few, or there are a few I haven't watched yet (Chuck, Psych, Battlestar Gallactica, The Event), or a few I PERSONALLY wouldn't recommend (V),  but these are my current recommendations. I'll post more if I come up with another post worth, but until then, enjoy!

Nerding 101: CGC Comics

Hello everyone! HUGE apologies for the lack of post last night, it was my birthday, so I took the evening off to have dinner in a castle with my friends! That's right, a castle. And it was awesome. :-)

Tonight we will be discussing the CGC. CGC (which stands for Certified Guarantee Comapany) is a comic book grading company who will help protect your super rare comics. Well, they'll give you a grade on comic, it just makes more sense to do it when the comic is worth a a lot. The comic book in question is rated on a scale from 1-10. 1 being the lowest grade, 10 being the highest. Most comic books that you pick up at a store, especially if they were freshly bagged and boarded and virtually untouched would be between a 9 and 9.5. The more scratches, folds, dents, tears and fingerprints are on the comic the lower the grade is.

Below the CGC describes the investment you'll make with them:

Professional comic book grading eliminates concerns about grade misrepresentations by providing an expert assessment of condition and quality. Every comic book certified by CGC is graded by the hobby’s most experienced and trusted team, according to well-established grading standards. Furthermore, every CGC-certified comic book undergoes a thorough restoration check by leading professionals during the certification process. When restoration is detected, it is fully noted on the certification label.

Once certified by CGC, a comic book is encapsulated in a state-of-the art, tamper-evident holder, providing superior protection and stability for long-term preservation.

CGC employees are prohibited from commercially buying or selling comic books, eliminating any potential conflicts of interest. CGC is the only expert, impartial, third-party certification service.

Over one hundred thousand comic books are submitted to CGC each year. Books are carefully handled and tracked through the grading process, and always fully insured while on our premises. You can explore comic book grading by tracing through the grading process.

After your comic book is carefully inspected by a number of different professional graders, the comic is then encapsulated in plastic, and the grade of the comic is encapsulated with the comic for all time. Once the comic is graded and encapsulated, you'd better hope you read it before it went in there, because there is no reading a comic once it had been CGC'd (unless you crack open the case that you just paid allll that money for).

If you have one of these laying around, congratulations, you're a millionaire!

So, if you have an Action Comics #1 or just a Walking Dead #1 laying around, it would probably be worth your while to contact the CGC!

For more information on CGC, check out their website here.

Nerding 101: Comic Data Base

Good evening class! Tonight I will be discussing what comic book archiving software you should be using to catalog your comic book stash.

If you're like me, you have what seems like a bazillion comic books. You're constantly rebagging and reboarding, and filing. The last thing you want to have to do after all that work is worry whether or not you have a certain issue of something when you go to the comic book store or a con. I mean, sure, you could go through every single comic you have and see if there are any books missing, but wouldn't you rather just have something on your phone telling you what you need?

The software that The Editor and I use is called Comic Base. It's a wonderful system. You just catalog your collection as you go, and you're able to generate tons of reports! The reports include things like: what comics you're missing in a particular run, whether or not you have any multiple comics, the current value of your comics, variant covers, etc. The program will even give you little pictures next to each comic that you have (or need) so there is no second guessing when you're at a con! These reports can be printed out, or saved on your smart phone for easy access. This way, you don't have to be carrying a notebook full of chicken scratch around with you!

At $40 I personally think that this is the best investment you can have for your comic collection. Class dismissed!

Learn more about Comic Base here.

Nerding 101: Intro to Protecting Your Comics - Organization and Boxing

Good evening class! It's a snowy, chilly day here in the Northeast! It's the perfect day to write about comics. The topic this evening is about boxing and organizing your comic books.

Generally speaking, there are two sizes of comic book boxes to choose from: Long boxes and short boxes. The long box is about 27.25 inches long, and is ideal if you have many comic books that you'd like to store. Conversely, the short box measures in at 15.75 inches, and is great if you just have a few comics to store. The easiest way to organize them right off the bat, is to go in alphabetical order. Start with numbered comics, and then go from A-Z. For example: "30 Days of Night" goes before "100 Bullets" and "The Avengers" comes after "100 Bullets". You can usually get long and short boxes from any comic book store, however, if you're ordering bags and boards as well, you may want to check out www.BCWSupplies.com, as they have the best pricing.

Size is everything

Comic book boxes can be stacked on top of each other, but you want to be sure that you don't stack them over 3 high, as you do not want too much weight on them. The best thing that I have found, that beats the heck out of a traditional long box is a drawer box. They hold slightly less than a traditional long box, but you can stack them neatly in a corner, and have super easy access to all of your comic books. Instead of having to open and dig through each box to try and find which box is the box you're looking for, with drawer boxes, you can simply open up the box like a drawer, and have organized access to what you need. Also, because of the hard, reinforced shell of the drawer boxes, you are able to stack these higher than traditional boxes without worrying about the comics on the bottom being damaged. The Editor and I order ours from www.collectiondrawer.com. They do cost more money than regular long boxes, but the extra money is well worth it.

Neat and organized is the name of the game in my house!

No matter what type of box suits you best, you want to make sure that the boxes are stored in an area with low moisture. The boxes will protect your comics from the sun and temperature changes, however, they will not protect against moisture. Next week we will be discussing how to archive all of these comic books. We'll be talking about the best organizational software, generating lists and reports, and how to send said reports to your phone, so you can have easy access to them, etc. Class dismissed!

Nerding 101: Intro to Protecting Your Comic Collection-Bags and Boards

Good day class! Hope everyone is on the mend after a raging Halloween! Welcome back! Tonight's topic for discussion is part of an ongoing series starting with bags and boards. This will be an intro class, with more advanced classes coming in the following weeks.

If you want to create a comic book collection, the first most important step is to get some comic books. Now, generally speaking, the comic books that you buy from a shop or online, will be bagged and boarded when you get them. A comic book gets bagged and boarded to protect the book from damage. The board, which is a thin piece of cardboard will protect it from bends, while the plastic bag is used to prevent spills, tears and creases on the pages and cover. Never trust the bags and boards the you get from the comic shop. You never know how long the bags and boards have been on the book, so you want to make sure to get a nice fresh one on it when you get home. I suggest a resealing bag, so that you're not using up all the scotch tape in the house, and you're getting a nice seal across the entire book. Polypropylene bags are the most common and are great for basic storage and protection. However, polypropylene bags deteriorate after a couple of years, so if you have anything that is super important, you may want to get Mylar bags which last longer. Obviously, when buying comic book boards you want to get the "Acid-free" kind.

Exhibit A

There are also different sizes of bags and boards which vary only slightly, but can be a royal pain if you buy the wrong ones. There are "Golden Age" (late 1930's to early 1950's) , "Silver" (1956 to 1970's), "Current"(1970's+) and "Magazine" sizes, as well as "Thick Current" bags for those fancy "Annuals" you'll be buying. When ordering, you are just going to want to match the boards up with the bags. For example, if you buy the "Current" boards, just make sure you have the "Current" bags as well. So unless you come across your parent's (or grandparent's) stash of old comic books in the basement, "Current" size should fit your needs.

Nobody likes a soggy periodical.

Once you have successfully bagged and boarded your comic books, make sure you keep them away from direct sunlight (to prevent sun fading) and in a dry spot (to prevent water damage). Next week we will be discussing different types of boxes, and ways to organize your comics. Until then, keep your comics in a cool, dry dark place. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to e-mail or comment! Class dismissed!

Nerding 101: Points of Articulation

Hello class! Tonight we will be talking about one of my favorite things... ACTION FIGURES! Don't get too excited, because the topic I'm going to discuss is quite dry. Tonight we will be talking about points of articulation.

Points of articulation are basically the "joints" on an action figure. Generally speaking, there are at least 5 points of articulation on every action figure. Those 5 joints being shoulders (2), hips (2) and neck. Now, lets try and keep our heads out of the gutter while the nice naked Barbie shows us exactly what that means.

A few moves.

  See! Barbie has 5 points of articulation. Barbie is at the low end of the articulation spectrum, while the Hasbro Ms. Marvel 3.5 inch action figure is on the high end with 16 points of articulation.

Lotsa moves.

On the one hand, it's really cool that Ms. Marvel can move in so many ways, on the other hand, it's unfortunate that she has to look like she is wearing adult diapers under her spandex. 

An action figure that has no points of articulation is a sculpture. It looks pretty, but you can't really play with it. 

No moves, but awesome to look at.

To wrap things up, points of articulation are anywhere that a movable joint is on a toy. It doesn't get much simpler than that. Final example: Ms. Marvel's knee joints get 2 points of articulation each if they can move two ways. Ms. Marvel's knees can move from hip to knee, and then from knee to ankle, so they get two each. However, most action figures only have one joint in each knee, giving them only one point of articulation each.

I wanted to discuss this topic, because the first time it came up, I have no idea what it meant. Hopefully I just helped make your world a little nerdier!

Nerding 101: The Difference Between a Comic Book and a Graphic Novel

Hello class! Tonight we will be discussing the difference between a graphic novel and a comic book. It's going to get intense, so buckle yourself in, and enjoy the ride!

I've decided to choose this topic for the first "Nerding 101", because there seems to be a bit of confusion about it. I was very proud to hear that Russell H. went toe to toe with someone over the differences. It seems that most people think that a comic book and a graphic novel are two completely different things. Comic books being more childish, and having more to do with "capes" (eg: Superman, Batman, X-Men, etc), whereas graphic novels are more "grown up, with complex story lines". I believe that these people are completely wrong.

In my opinion, the definition a comic book is cut and dry. Whether it is a stand alone issue or part of an ongoing series, you generally get these once a month, or once every other month, and it is part of a larger story. Comic books are generally under thirty pages and can be purchased for the most part either online or in a comic book store.

Comic books = small

I would define a graphic novel as one of two things. Either a collection of comic books or when a writer and an artist get together and create a story that they feel can be told in a format larger than a comic book, but has artwork, so it's not quite a novel.  "Graphic novel" is a term used to smarten up the readership so that the 35 year old person buying it doesn't feel silly asking for a "comic book". Also, you can buy graphic novels at Barnes and Noble.

Graphic novels = medium

Manga = graphic novel

To complicate things further there are trade paperbacks and omnibuses which are compendiums of an ongoing series like "Wolverine" and other Marvel and DC titles which go back years.

Omnibus = LARGE

While consulting Wikipedia for some insight into this, the lines were even blurry there. Because comic books got their start as "The Funnies" in the Sunday paper, most people don't take them as seriously as something like "The Watchmen", which most people consider "the best graphic novel ever written". "The Watchmen" is not a graphic novel. It was a 12 issue comic book series.

When it comes down to it, a graphic novel and a comic book are basically the same thing. One comic book is a part of a larger story, while one graphic novel takes 5 or 6 comic books, puts them together and calls it a graphic novel. I tend to collect comics and read graphic novels (or trade paperbacks) because I love my comics and I'm very clumsy and don't want to spill something on them. It's also nice to read a collection of comics at once, and get the whole story arch in one sitting rather than waiting a month for the next issue to come out.

In regards to the "real" definition of a graphic novel I  think that Alan Moore said it best when he said  "It's a marketing term ... that I never had any sympathy with. The term 'comic' does just as well for me. ... The problem is that 'graphic novel' just came to mean 'expensive comic book' and so what you'd get is people like DC Comics or Marvel Comics — because 'graphic novels' were getting some attention, they'd stick six issues of whatever worthless piece of crap they happened to be publishing lately under a glossy cover and call it The She-Hulk Graphic Novel...". The term "graphic novel" is meant to sound like more than it actually is. So remember all you non-nerds, when you're walking around with your nose in the air and a graphic novel in your hand, don't snicker at us for reading a comic. Because you are too.

Alan Moore: Smartest Man on the Planet