- From Las Vegas... The Pinball Hall of Fame! - (Top Photo:)  On New Year's Eve, Tina and I stayed closer to Las Vegas, and took in a few museums.  Would you believe there is a Pinball Hall of Fame in Vegas! - (At the Top Right:) One of the Indiana Jones pinball machines that we saw.   - (At the Second Right:) One of the Superman pinball machines found in this very large warehouse used as a museum! - (At the Third Right:)  Tina and I took turns playing Dunk 'n' Alien.  It was so much fun listening to this sassy alien berate us for not dunking him. See photo of the bowling game at the bottom right of this post! - (At the Fourth Right:) KISS was just one of the rock bands with pinball machines in this museum! Also included were Ted Nugent, and Guns 'n Roses! - (At the Fifth  Right:) Michael couldn't go pass the Elvira pinball machine without having a photo taken! - (At the Sixth Right Photo:) Of course, Tina couldn't go past the '24' TV Show pinball machine without doing the same!  - (At The Seventh Right:) Dr. Dude reminded me so much of an underground comix pinball machine with all of the comix artwork!  - (At the Eighth Right:) Yeah, there were several western themed pinball machines there also.  This one was called 'Lawman' which I had to play! - NOTE: You can see a larger view of the pics shown at the right, if you 'right click' on the above photos using the Firefox browser - 'view image'! - - - - - -   -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3316:

Tina and I stayed close to our hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve.  Which was good because we had driven earlier in the week, several hundreds of miles going as far West as Pahrump to see a winery, and as far Southeast as Kingman, Arizona to see the Andy Devine collection and the Route 66 Museum, which I haven't blogged about yet.

So I blogged about seeing the Atomic Testing Museum yesterday, and how dissapointed I was in not being able to shoot photos inside...

Today, I'm blogging about a different museum... One that is a lot friendlier to its patrons!

That would be the Pinball Hall of Fame, that recently moved to its new location, almost across the street from what was the Liberace Museum and shopping center!

Tina and I spent a couple of hours in this living / working museum, and even she found it quite enjoyable!  When I say even she... That's because we usually don't stop to play pinball machines anywhere on vacations or around our own hometown for that matter!

But here in this warehouse atmosphere, there was so much history and the chance to play such classic games that we both had to put in quarters to play machines we had never seen before, but enjoyed the characters on the boards and windows that enticed us to play!

We both had a great time here, especially after having a rough day so far that morning of the December 31st, with the Atomic Testing Museum being stodgy on taking photos, and the Liberace Museum being closed / out of business with no notice!

The Pinball Hall of Fame museum was just what the doctor ordered for us... Fun!

We both highly suggest that if YOU are in Las Vegas, to check out this fun place!

Here's the link to the Pinball Hall of Fame - Las Vegas.

What they say on that page is true:  "The Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas is the world's largest display of working pinball machines. Admission is free. Play your way through history with a pocket full of quarters".

My understanding from talking with the manager there, (pictured to the left here), is that the owner only has room to show 1/5 of his collection in this warehouse!  Whew!  That is a BIG Collection!

So, with the Free Admission, the ability to take photos of all the machines, and to have 'Fun'... I can't help but give 'Two Thumbs Up' for this museum!  Check it out when you are next in Vegas! The Hall of Fame is at: 1610 E. Tropicana, Las Vegas, NV, 89119!

That's it for today's blog post.  I still have several blogs to post in the days to come about our Las Vegas trip, but Tina and I both caught bad colds this trip, which are keeping us somewhat 'down'.

So there will be more on the trip in the days / weeks to follow!

Again, Our Best Wishes to YOU for the 2011 Year!

--------------

Plus... My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,316 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,130 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below.

Holidays Note: The online store is closed till the 1st week of January 2011. So none of the listings are showing at this time.  

http://www.comicbookscircus.com/

 

---

 

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works! To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:   Make It So Marketing Inc. PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013   ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today... I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)!   You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'. Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page!.     Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, I would have liked to have sent you a Friend Request.  However,  I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages 'limit' already, so I have now added on a personal Facebook Fan Page of my own! Just click this link to be taken to 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics' where you can click the 'Like' button there! And Thanks!         ------------------- Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently, sorry about that! The screen display x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer. NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

From Las Vegas... The ATOMIC BOMB! Well... Actually From The Atomic Testing Site Museum In Las Vegas! - Top Photo:  Tina LoSasso & Michael D Hamersky 'with' Miss Atomic Bomb 1957! - At the Top Left: Tina and Michael at the Ticket Booth of the Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada!  - At the Middle Left: From 1946 - The #1 and only 'Atomic Bomb' comic book! - At the Bottom Left: From October 1946 - Action Comics #101 Featuring Superman photographing the Atomic Bomb! -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3315:

Tina and I arrived back home last night from Las Vegas, after a 6 & 3/4 hour drive... We hit rain and snow and a lot of trafic, but I understood that it took another person who left Vegas on Sunday, 14 hours to get to Los Angeles!  So traffic had to be crawling on Sunday.  Definitely NOT a good way to start of the New Year with a Bang!

Talking about going out with a bang, or in with a bang, Tina and I visited the Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas this trip!

Although I've been to Las Vegas several times before, I had never stopped in at this museum...

Of course I know there are comic book collectors who collect by subject, in this case... Comic Book Covers with Atomic Bombs... So I wondered if there would be any comic books in the museum? 

Well, I wonder no longer! Instead of the two comic book covers I chose to print here, (at the top left), the Atomic Testing Museum had copies of Superboy #115 from September 1964, and Li'L Abner in 'Operation Survival' from 1957!  The  latter was a promo comic where Li'L Abner just appeared on the front cover.  The story takes place in 'Centerville', which happens to be disaster-prone! In this case an atomic bomb is being threatened to be set off!

You may notice the lack of photos from inside the Atomic Bomb Testing Museum... Well, it wasn't until we arrived there that we were immediately told that the Museum did not allow photos inside!

It cost us $12 each to see the insides of this museum.  Some of the items I wanted to take photos of are shown on the museum's own web site.  Yet we were told no photos due to copyright infringements...

This 'no photos' policy extended to their 'gift shop' area also.  So to take a photo of something, you would have to buy it and then take it out to the expansive lobby to photograph it?!  Go figure!

Very poor photo policy on this museum's part, IMO!  I normally do not write negative reviews in this Blog of mine.  

But in this case, it is well deserved!  What items are inside this museum that would impose a 'copyright infringement'?  This policy is inane, IMO.

The musuem's exhibits are very interesting, and held our attention, but the frustration of not being able to take photos even in the gift shop is taking the 'no photos' policy way too far!

The museum is five years old, and when we were there, was poorly attended. I see nowhere on the museum's web site about a 'no photos' policy, nor do I see it mentioned on their Facebook Fan Page...

Although I enjoyed seeing the exhibits inside this museum... As I'm a history 'nut'... Save YOUR money for the other museums in Las Vegas that allow you to take photos... That's all I have to say here...

Michael D Hamersky, of 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics' - my New Facebook Fan Page, and Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing - my Facebook Group Page which is under the 'virtual umbrella' of 'Facebook Comic Con'! Plus of course this blog, ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com! 

--------------

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,315 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,100 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below.

Holidays Note: The online store is closed till the 1st week of January 2011. So none of the listings are showing at this time.  

http://www.comicbookscircus.com/

 

---

 

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works! To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:   Make It So Marketing Inc. PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013   ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today... I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)!   You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'. Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page!.     Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, I would have liked to have sent you a Friend Request.  However,  I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages 'limit' already, so I have now added on a personal Facebook Fan Page of my own! Just click this link to be taken to 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics' where you can click the 'Like' button there! And Thanks!         ------------------- Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently, sorry about that! The screen display x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer. NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

- Happy New Year... From Las Vegas! - (Top Photo:)  Starting off the Year 2011 with three sets of fireworks that we could easily see! Above is Planet Hollywood's! - (At the Top Right:) Tina and Michael taking elevator down to 'The (closed) Strip' in Las Vegas.   - (At the Second Right:) Paris, France... No... Paris, Las Vegas, Nevada! - (At the Third Right:)  Tina told me that attendees at the Coldplay Concert in the Cosmopolitan paid up to 5K to see it in person. It was shown on a large screen with sound for Free on The Strip! - (At the Fourth Right:) Tina and Michael on 'The Strip' before we were joined by 280,000 others in attendance! - (At the Fifth  Right:) All kinds of neon signs were displaying why all 280,000 people were out in 28 degree weather! - (At the Sixth Right Photo:) 19 seconds countdown to the New Year 2011!  - (At The Seventh Right:) Just one shot I took of the fireworks shot off the rooftop of the Aria.  We were right in front of Planet Hollywood, and could see Aria very well also, and MGM Grand.  But for me...The Planet Hollywood Fireworks were best!  - (At the Eighth Right:) Tina taking photo of Michael videotaping about 4 minutes of the 8+ minutes fireworks!  After I upload it to my Facebook page(s), I'll post a link to it here! - - NOTE: You can see a much larger view of the photos if you 'right click' on the photos using the Firefox browser - using option 'view image'! - - - - -   -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3314:

Tina and I want to wish ALL of our Blog readers, Facebook Fan Page fans, Facebook Group Page members, and everyone else that reads this blog post...

A Very Happy New Year from Las Vegas!!

Tina and I have closed the book promotion service, and the online comic book shop / social media promotions, long enough to take in a Holidays Excursion to Las Vegas / Kingman areas, as I blogged about yesterday in Blog #3313.

The photos at the top and the top right are just a few of the 1810 pics taken with our new camera from Christmas, but No... I'm not going to bore you with family vacation photos in this blog post.  Well, just 9 of them, as shown above, LOL!

We both thank all of YOU that have read this Blog during the past year, and look forward to sharing with you more pics from this trip, which include stopping at Local Comic Book Shops, like 'Velvet Underground' and 'Alternate Reality Comics' in Las Vegas, plus one more named 'Comic Oasis', and another one that is brand new in Kingman, Arizona!

I'll be sharing more pics and info from our trip including photos from the Andy Devine Collection in Kingman, Route 66 Museum also in Kingman, plus museums in Las Vegas that you wouldn't think would have a 'comics' connection!

But more on that in the days / weeks to follow!

Again, Our Best Wishes to YOU for the 2011 Year!

--------------

Plus... My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,314 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,100 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below.

Holidays Note: The online store is closed till the 1st week of January 2011. So none of the listings are showing at this time.  

http://www.comicbookscircus.com/

 

---

 

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works! To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:   Make It So Marketing Inc. PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013   ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today... I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)!   You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'. Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page!.     Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, I would have liked to have sent you a Friend Request.  However,  I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages 'limit' already, so I have now added on a personal Facebook Fan Page of my own! Just click this link to be taken to 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics' where you can click the 'Like' button there! And Thanks!         ------------------- Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently, sorry about that! The screen display x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer. NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

- Ringing In The New Year... - (Top Photo:)  ...'With' Roy Rogers,as seen on the front cover of Roy Rogers Comics #85 - January 1955! - (At the Top Right:) ...On Roy Rogers Drive in Victorville. Close to where the Original Roy Rogers Museum was in Apple Valley... Sadly the Branson, Missouri Museum where the Original was moved to,  closed this year...   - (At the Second Right:) ...From Stateline / Primm, Nevada. Enroute to Las Vegas for our Holidays Excursion! - (At the Third Right:)  ...From Pahrump Winery in where else(?)... Pahrump, NV! We do take in more than just LCBS on our vacation trips! LOL. - (At the Fourth Right:) ...From the only 'disappointment' so far this trip, Blue Diamond, NV.  Contrary to the travel guides, there isn't anything to see there! - (At the Fifth  Right:) ...From Spring Mountain Ranch Park.  Excellent diversion for us, at the Ranch that Vera Krupp owned, and then Howard Hughes! - (At the Sixth Right Photo:) ...From Red Rock Canyon. Tina LoSasso and Michael D Hamersky at the visitor center's outlook to this area, which reminded us of Sedona, Arizona!  - (At The Seventh Right:) ...From the Velvet Underground LCBS in Las Vegas, where we met my Facebook Friend and his wife! (L-R) Michael D Hamersky, Tina LoSasso, Diane Okano, Patrick Okano.  - (At the Eighth Right:) ...From the Hoover Dam in Boulder City, Nevada. Very windy day.  You should see some of the shots taken! - Please Note: Our Online Comic Book Shop Is Closed Until the 1st Week of the New Year.  The Store Aisles will be refilled at that time with 'goodies' that we pick up on this Holidays Trip! - - - - - -   - NOTE: You can see a larger view of the pics if you right click on the above photos using the Firefox browser - 'view image'!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3313:

Tina and I want to wish ALL of our Blog readers, Facebook Fan Page fans, Facebook Group Page members, and everyone else that reads this blog post...

A Very Happy New Year from Las Vegas!!

Tina and I have closed the book promotion services, and the online comic book shop / social media promotions, long enough to take in a Holidays Excursion to Las Vegas / Kingman areas.

The photos at the top right are just a few of the over 1450 pics taken with our new camera from Christmas, but No... I'm not going to bore you with family photos in this blog post.  Well, just 8 of them, as shown above, LOL!

We both thank all of YOU that have read this Blog during the past year, and look forward to sharing with you more pics from this trip, which include stopping at Local Comic Book Shops, like 'Velvet Underground' and 'Alternate Reality Comics' in Las Vegas, and another one that is brand new in Kingman, Arizona that we just visited last night!

Plus more pics and info from our trip including photos from the Andy Devine Collection in Kingman, Route 66 in Kingman, plus museums in Las Vegas that you wouldn't think would have a 'comics' connection!

But more on that Next Year!  Starting tomorrow!  WoW!

Again, Our Best Wishes to YOU for the Upcoming 2011 Year!

I'm posting this blog a 'little early' this last day of 2010, as we will be checking out more museums in Las Vegas today, and then be on 'The Strip' tonight, which closes down several hours before midnight to traffic.  Only pedestrians are allowed on 'The Strip', so we have to be back to our room before then in the early evening!

--------------

Plus... My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,313 total posts in number! The number '13' is my 'lucky number', so I find it strange to end the 2010 year with blog #3313... I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,100 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below.

Holidays Note: The online store is closed till the 1st week of January 2011. So none of the listings are showing at this time.  

http://www.comicbookscircus.com/

 

---

 

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works! To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:   Make It So Marketing Inc. PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013   ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today... I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)!   You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'. Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page!.     Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, I would have liked to have sent you a Friend Request.  However,  I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages 'limit' already, so I have now added on a personal Facebook Fan Page of my own! Just click this link to be taken to 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics' where you can click the 'Like' button there! And Thanks!         ------------------- Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently, sorry about that! The screen display x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer. NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

Alternate Reality Comics In Vegas  "An Alternate Universe Comic Book Shop!"* 4110 S Maryland Pkwy #8 Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 736-3673 * Per Tina LoSasso! - - - Top Photo:  Ralph Mathieu, Owner of 'Alternate Reality Comics' LCBS In Las Vegas, with Michael D Hamersky! - At the Top Left: The exterior photo shot of this LCBS!  - At the Second Left: From the front door... The 1st interior shot of this LCBS! - At the Third Left:  Ralph has had this LCBS for 16 years! He starting reading comics in 1975. - At the Fourth Left: Ralph showing us where the comic book signing events are held. The area is normally stocked with the Dollar Bin Comics & Comics Supplies. - At the Fifth (Bottom) Left: Michael and Tina at the LCBS. - Note: You can see a larger view of the pics if you right click on the photos using the Firefox browser. And then left click 'view image'. -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3312:

Tina and I had another great day yesterday... Traveling to Hoover Dam in Boulder City, Nevada, but that's a story for another blog!

On the way back to our hotel we stopped in Las Vegas at the #1 recommended Local Comic Book Shop by my Facebook Friends!

When I say the #1 recommended... I'm talking about the responses I received when I queried my Facebook Friends on what 2 - 3 stores I should stop in at during our holiday vacation in the Las Vegas Metro Area.

This LCBS really interested my wife, Tina LoSasso, enough that I asked her on her opinion of this LCBS.  For those of you that don't know, Tina is a 'mainstream' reader, and only reads graphic novels TPBs, and a few floppy comics that would interest the general public. She has her own business promoting non-fiction books and conducting Amazon Book Launches.  I'm the comic book fanboy!

Here's Tina's post:

There are a ton of positives for Alternative Reality Comics:

-- Owner Ralph is extremely customer service oriented. He greeted us the moment we walked in. He seemed to know everyone else and greeted them by name. The store is set up with customers in mind. Here's how:

-- Displays of comics, books, and graphic novels are themed: horror, crime, humor, Alan Moore (Ralph's fav), you get the picture. This makes it easy for readers of one genre to find more great stuff that they're sure to love. It's also super easy to find what you're looking for.

-- The inventory is wide ranging. I discovered a bunch of indie and small press books by people that Michael and I know like Batton Lash (Wolff & Bryd), Derek McCulloch (Pug), and the team at Archaia Entertainment(Syndrome).

-- Like a great bookstore, there were small signs with "Recommended" or "New" next to some books, in addition to the genre designations. Another great way to help shoppers find something they might otherwise miss.

-- It's a comic book shop - not a gaming or toy shop. There are some toys, but not tons of dusty boxes piled to the ceiling as in many shops.

-- The store is clean and well-lit with aisles you can walk through easily without having to squeeze past other shoppers. There's even a table for people perusing the $1 boxes.

-- I also enjoyed the movie and comic book posters that lined the walls.

One "negative"

-- The $1 boxes are hard to navigate. There's no rhyme or reason to how they are organized, at least that I could see.

All in all, Alternate Reality Comics is like being in an Alternative Universe where the comic book stores are CLEAN, the salespeople friendly and helpful AND, there's no dust! Don't miss it the next time you're in Vegas!!

~Tina!

--------------------------------

Thanks, Tina, for the above review of this LCBS!

Here's my 'take' on this LCBS:

As stated above at the beginning of this post, this LCBS in Las Vegas was the #1 recommended LCBS by my Facebook Friends for us to stop in at during our holidays vacation. 

Traveling in the dark from Hoover Dam in the Southeast to the LCBS for the 1st time, I drove into this LCBS's old location parking lot, and found a deserted store, which had the neon signage and graphics on the windows.  That was surprising! I had no knowledge of this and was a little 'put off' that it would be closed during what would be normal operating hours!  Thank goodness for the small paper sign on the window that it had moved further North up the same street!

So I was pleasantly surprised to find the LCBS had moved from a location that was run down, to a better shopping center strip, as seen in the top left photo.

I could see from the front door as I entered, (second photo), that this would be a LCBS that Tina would probably like. I was definitely right in this thought, as seen by Tina's review above!

I found that the sections that were in their own racks and physically separated from other sections, had their own genre of comics / graphic novels / TPBs.  Humour in one section, HoRRoR in another, and in the photo immediately above these paragraphs of mine... comics classics collections, like 'The Art of Steve Ditko' that I am shown holding.

The Dollar Bins area was very well lit and the table placed there so that the customer could pull down or out a box and then place on that table was a cool idea! 

The fact that the comic supplies were placed on its own table was great merchandising! Too many times I have to ask where comics supplies are in a store!

Ralph was very knowledgable on new (Modern Age) comics and graphic novels.  He had two showcases of Silver Age Comics, which he is just getting into selling at this LCBS.

As Tina stated, Ralph is very customer oriented.  Would you believe that for the Last Wednesday New Comics Day of 2010, (yesterday when we visited), he had Free Vegan Ronald's Donuts near the check out counter for customers?!   Plus a new club sheet for titles coming out the next three months!  I noticed his 'pull' sections for subscribing customers were pretty large also, behind the check out counter...

There was a steady stream of customers coming in last night.  Of course it was the Last Wednesday New Comics Day of the year, but Ralph called each customer by name, picked their 'pulls' from behind the counter, and still had a lively conversation with us!

I found that Ralph knew his 'stuff', and had the most organized store I've seen in ages, (Tina called it the Barnes & Nobles of comic book shops!), and knew the merchandising of comics very well.

He should, as he has been doing for 16 years now, and has been reading comics since 1975! 

Matter of fact, his LCBS was one of the finalists in 1998 for the The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award!

That award is "presented under the auspices of Comic-Con International: San Diego, is given to an individual retailer who has done an outstanding job of supporting the comics art medium both in the community and within the industry at large".

I can see why this store was nominated for this award, after visting Ralph Mathieu's newly re-located LCBS!

 All in all, I would agree with the Facebook Friends of mine that suggested that this should be one of the two to three LCBS that I should visit in the Las Vegas Metro Area!  Thanks Facebook Friends!

Plus many thanks to Ralph Mathieu, owner, who even though it was a busy Last Wednesday New Comics Day of the 2010 Year, spent a lot of time with both Tina and myself talking about his store.

I would have to agree with Tina, and my Facebook Friends.  When YOU next go to Las Vegas, and want that 'new comics fix', this is so close to The Strip that I would also personally recommend it for those looking for 'NEW comics / graphic novels / TPBs', while on vacation in Vegas!

YOU can find Ralph's Facebook Fan Page for Alternate Reality Comics Las Vegas here. (The Alternate Reality Comics LCBS in Chicago is NOT affiliated with Ralph's LCBS).

YOU can find his shop's web site here.

Happy Holidays to all reading this blog post during the last days of 2010!  New Year's Eve is coming up fast!

~Michael D Hamersky, of 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics' - my New Facebook Fan Page, and Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing - my Facebook Group Page which is under the 'virtual umbrella' of 'Facebook Comic Con'! Plus of course this blog, ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com! 

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My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 3,310 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,100 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below.

Holidays Note: The online store is closed till the 1st week of January 2011. So none of the listings are showing at this time.  

http://www.comicbookscircus.com/

 

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"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works! To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:   Make It So Marketing Inc. PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013   ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today... I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)!   You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'. Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page!.     Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, I would have liked to have sent you a Friend Request.  However,  I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages 'limit' already, so I have now added on a personal Facebook Fan Page of my own! Just click this link to be taken to 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics' where you can click the 'Like' button there! And Thanks!         ------------------- Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently, sorry about that! The screen display x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer. NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.