When expansion is good

John Robinson, photo courtesy Graham Crackers Comics

John Robinson started from humble retail beginnings, but is now the co-owner of 11 Graham Crackers Comics stores located across Illinois and Wisconsin. Find out how he got there, and what he's done right and wrong, over at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

The Future of Event Security

Inflatable props such as the above might be the future of comic conventions

Event security changed rapidly over the course of three days in May. The bombing at an Ariana Grande concert and the arrest of a man with loaded weapons at Phoenix Comicon made event planners—and more importantly, venues and law enforcement—examine their methods.

For a full look at comic convention and event security and where it's headed, truck over to Newsarama.

Jim McLauchlin

Kenneth Johnson, Man of Legends

Kenneth Johnson, surrounded by his works.

It says "Kenneth Johnson" on the cover of his new novel, The Man of Legends, but he's just "Kenny."

You may not know the name, but you DEFINITELY know the work. Johnson is the creator and/or producer and/or director and/or writer of famed TV shows and movies such as The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, The Incredible Hulk, V, Short Circuit, and more. And he does a spot-on Lee Majors impression.

Johnson reveals a little peek into his new novel and a DEEP dive into his amazing memorabilia collection over at Newsarama. Give it a peep; you'll be glad you did.

Jim McLauchlin

Foot. Comparison. Andre the Giant was BIG.

Crazy-cool memorabilia from a long career.

Why asking Why is important, with Joe Quesada

Joe Quesada, courtesy Joe Quesada

Joe Quesada has been an award-winning artist, a self-publisher, editor in chief of Marvel Comics, and now the chief creative officer of Marvel Entertainment. Along the way, he's learned a lot, in particular, why asking "Why?" is one of the most important things you can do.

Read all about it over at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

Chuck Klosterman, Cultural Observer of our Time

Chuck Klosterman's tenth book, Chuck Klosterman X, is out. It's a collection of his recent articles from GQ, Billboard, Grantland, and more. You can get a taste and read the interview with Klosterman at the mighty Los Angeles Times.

Jim McLauchlin

After 14 years of dinner, a store

Photo courtesy Rob Young

It took Rob Young at Borderlands Comics and Games 14 years of buying a man dinner to finally get a shot at owning his own store. He's made the most of it, and says his REAL job is "creating a memory" for customers, his staff, and himself. Read all about it at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

Bill Willingham goes sword-and-sorcery again with Lark's Killer

Art from Lark's Killer #1

Bill Willingham, a longtime Dungeons & Dragons and comic book vet, is returning to those sword-and-sorcery roots with Lark's Killer, the story off a teenage runaway who mysteriously winds up in a violent, medieval world.

You can read all about it over at Newsarama.

Jim McLauchlin