Episode 167: Second Banana

TOPIC: Ubi Sunt, LCS?

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the uneasy future of local comic shops—especially in light of Amazon's announced acquisition of comiXology.

Links for this episode:

• [SPONSOR] lynda.com
  
• Favorite Podcasts for Writers | The Star-Dusted Sirens
  "But some episodes also cover more esoteric issues like agency or creativity. Merlin excels at taking all those nebulous ideas about work that we’ve all had, and then nailing down the core of them so they can’t wiggle off the examining table and back into the dark recesses of our minds before we’ve at least identified the problem. Dan will then diffidently explain how the Buddha approached the same issue. And did I mention the comic books? They talk about comic books. A LOT."
  
• Interview: Martin Blaser, Author Of 'Missing Microbes' : NPR
  "He tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross that with the overuse of antibiotics, as well as some other now-common practices like cesarean sections, we've entered a danger zone — a no man's land between the world of our ancient microbiome and an uncharted modern world."
  
• Monsters Inside Me: Animal Planet
  
• The Amazing Spider-Man - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  The Amazing Spider-Man has been the character's flagship series for his first fifty years in publication, and was the only monthly series to star Spider-Man until Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man in 1976 (although 1972 saw the debut of Marvel Team-Up, with the vast majority of issues featuring Spider-Man along with a rotating cast of other Marvel characters). Most of the major characters and villains of the Spider-Man saga have been introduced in Amazing, and with few exceptions, it is where most key events in the character's history have occurred. The title was published continuously until
  
• comiXology - Pull, Rate, Preview, Discuss
  
• Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to the Comic Book Universe: Tim Leong: 9781452113883: Amazon.com: Books
  The comic book universe is adventurous, mystifying, and filled with heroes, villains, and cosplaying Comic-Con attendees. This book by one of Wired magazine's art directors traverses the graphic world through a collection of pie charts, bar graphs, timelines, scatter plots, and more.
  
• Secret Wars - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  A cosmic entity called the Beyonder observes the mainstream Marvel universe. Fascinated by the presence of superheroes on Earth and their potential, this entity chooses a group of both heroes and supervillains and teleports characters against their will to "Battleworld", a planet created by the Beyonder in a distant galaxy. This world has also been stocked with alien weapons and technology. The Beyonder then declares: "I am from beyond! Slay your enemies and all that you desire shall be yours! Nothing you dream of is impossible for me to accomplish!"
  
• Secret Wars II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  Secret Wars II is a nine-issue comic book limited series and crossover published from 1985 to 1986 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Marvel's then Editor-in-chief Jim Shooter and primarily pencilled by Al Milgrom.
  
• Dynamite (magazine) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  Dynamite was a magazine for children founded by Jenette Kahn and published by Scholastic Inc. from 1974 until 1992. The magazine changed the fortunes of the company, becoming the most successful publication in its history[1] and inspiring two similar periodicals for Scholastic, Wow and Bananas.
  
• New Avengers Vol. 1: Breakout - Comics by comiXology
  In the wake of the systematic destruction of the original Avengers, just what sort of threat to the world could persuade Captain America to assemble an all-new team? And following the events of AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED, who could possibly be on this team?
  
• comiXology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  ComiXology is a cloud-based digital comics platform with over 200 million comic downloads as of September 2013.
  
• Secret Avengers (2014-) Digital Comics - Comics by comiXology
  The all-new Secret Avengers are ready to get started. Are they going to be the world's most effective secret squad? Or will their personal issues tear them apart? Featuring Hawkeye, Black Widow and other of your favorite clandestine heroes.
  
• [VIDEO] Federal Express commercial with John Moschitta - YouTube
  "Pittsburgh's perefct, Peter. May I call you 'Pete?'"
  
• Showbot
  Listener-submitted title suggestions for episode 167
  
• Dry drowning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Merlin's Amazon Wishlist
  There's a Black Cat in there somewhere.
  
• Adventures of Superman (2013-) #50 - Comics by comiXology
  

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