Every year Dark Horse Comics puts together one hell of a package for the Mercury‘s charity auction, but this year they went all out—donating so much kickass, valuable, and rare stuff that we couldn’t even list it all in the paper. The package is currently going for $152.50, which isn’t too bad, but… FUCKING A, have you guys not realized how much amazing stuff is in this package? It’s worth like $500!
The whole list is here, but one of the coolest things in this package—in my humble opinion—is the first issue of Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, signed by writer Gerard Way (who also happens to be in a somewhat popular band you might’ve heard of). The fantastic Umbrella Academy is one of my favorite comics at the moment—I mean, look at that panel I posted above! it’s little kids! fighting the Eiffel Tower!—which is great, ’cause there are a slew of trade collections in the package too, headed up by Umbrella Academy but also including three excellent Buffy the Vampire Slayer collections, collections of Fray, Serenity, and Hellboy, hardcover editions of Wondermark and Achewood, and more. Plus: toys, figures, candles, buttons, a DVD, a t-shirt, and even a goddamn Buffy the Vampire Slayer Ouija board. NOW YOU CAN FINALLY ASK ANYA HOW SHE’S BEEN DOING SINCE SHE UNCEREMONIOUSLY GOT CHOPPED IN HALF IN THE SERIES FINALE.
Anyway, bid away, Blogtown readers. Selfish admission: Every year I bid on the Dark Horse package, and while I’m inevitably disappointed when the bidding rises above the balance in my checking account, it’s still a pretty kickass feeling to realize how much money is going to charity because of it. It’d be great to win this thing, but it’d make me feel even better if I got outbid, if that makes any sense.
Aw man the Umbrella Academy? I was super stoked to read that and after getting the first TPB from the library, I was ready to enjoy it on the plane from LA/PDX…
After the first four issues, I put it away and checked out the Horizon in-flight catalog instead!
However — If the Drinky Crow has a build-in moonshine dispenser, then I’ll be on that package like white on rice!
Wow. I don’t usually say stuff like this, but you’re pretty much 100 percent wrong. The first series, Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, is fantastic (there’s a reason it won the 2008 Eisner for best limited series!), and from the looks of things, the second storyline that just kicked off is gonna be even better.
You might be insane.
Yeah, I know it won the Eisner, which is why I was totally interested in checking it out (not to mention Gerard = SQUEE)… but I thought the action sequences were poorly staged/paced and the artwork not up my alley.
I might be 100 percent wrong, but only if you’re counting in the metric system…
ApoSuite was certainly good, but asked a lot of its readers. I’ve heard a lot of people (smart people with good taste in comics) comment about the pacing being clunky and often distractingly slow. It showed a lot of promise (and I suspect Dallas will fix a lot of the problems), but still quiet far from a “great” maxi. Plus, the Mignola derived artwork is pretty fucking take-or-leave.
Bring on the awesome, Gerard. Please.