Category: Comics

February 1 / Jon / Comics

Cal Comic Con Preview Night 2019

The Shortboxed Team along with Kihei Comics hosted the first ever, independently produced, Preview Night for Cal Comic Con, the best comics-only comic con in the country.

So what exactly was Preview Night? Well, it’s a little challenging to describe. On the outside, it looks like a bunch of comic book nerds trading and buying comics at a bar. But it was much more than that – we held it at an awesome craft brewery called Stereo Brewing, and instead of regular old common comics, it had some of the rarest and most sought after Golden Age comic books in the hobby. And instead of comic book nerds…well we’re still comic book nerds, but it attracted some of the biggest collectors in the hobby. Oh yeah, and there was also an open bar and food graciously sponsored by legendary Brian Ketterer, or better known as Foolkiller on the CGC boards.

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June 18 / Jon / Comics

The Complete Guide to Haggling at a Comic Con

Haggling is like a game of Texas Hold’em. It’s less about the cards and more about out-playing the player.

In my world, I use these skills to get the best deals on vintage comic books and collectibles at comic conventions, garage sales, etc. But it’s important not to overstep your boundaries and to err on the side of being a polite and respectful person. Remember, sellers have the right to sell any merchandise as they please. Even if their prices are insultingly high. I’m by no means perfect but I’ve experienced both getting great bargains and overpaying that I can probably help others with the Dos and Don’ts.

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July 27 / Jon / Comics

Tips on Finding Treasure in Dollar Bins at a Comic Con

One of the biggest rushes of going through dollar bins is finding those hidden gems. That Defenders #10 or that Moon Knight #1 for $1 are fantastic finds. Some times these books are mis-categorized or overlooked, or the dealer is simply unaware. There are 2 reasons to look through dollar bins – the first is to fill in any missing issues in your collections, a worthy and noble cause, and the second is to find comic books which don’t belong there. We’ll be talking about the latter.

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August 8 / Jon / Comics

Shortboxed Comic Book Swap

The unofficial San Francisco Comic Con after party for comic book collectors to buy, sell and trade.

Join us for the 1st annual Shortboxed Comic Book Swap – the unofficial San Francisco Comic Con after party for comic book collectors to buy, sell and trade.

$20 ticket gets you:
– Admission to private VIP lounge
– Opportunity to bring up to 1 short box of comics to buy, sell, and trade with other collectors
– 1 Shortboxed enamel pin (choose from 5 different designs)
– Appetizers (with vegetarian and vegan options)
– 1 raffle ticket for prizes throughout the evening
– Free-to-play pool table

Purchase tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shortboxed-comic-book-swap-san-francisco-comic-con-after-party-tickets-36885215673

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October 21 / Jon / Comics

Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con 2016 Review

Stan Lee’s ~~Comikaze~~ Los Angeles Comic Con remains the premiere comic con for mid-sized conventions on the west coast. Reporting a record 91,000 fans in attendance, it’s come a long way since it’s inception in 2011.

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March 4 / Jon / Comics

Silicon Valley Comic Con – Think Different

Silicon Valley Comic Con is on March 18th – 20th at the San Jose Convention Center, around the same time last year when Big Wow Comicfest was held and that’s no coincidence. In true Valley fashion, the Silicon Valley Comic Con acquired Big Wow Comicfest, partly for their history of running and planning comic conventions and because they needed to secure a date and venue for the 3 day event. Even though Apple co-founder Steve Wozniack is only lightly involved in the planning, you can bet that his sphere of influence will resonate throughout the entire event. From special guests to technology themed panels, SVCC wants to differentiate itself from every other comic con in the world. The big question is whether or not con-goers will buy into it.

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December 30 / Gene / Comics

Staff Picks: Our 10 Favorite Comics from 2015

2015 has been a great year for comics – we got two reboots from Marvel and DC, Image kept pumping out winners, and some of the best series from 2014 kept going strong.

It’s also been a great year for Shortboxed! We managed to hit lots of cons up and down the California coast, made it up to Seattle for Emerald City Comic Con, visited some comic book shops overseas, and we got to attend the mecca for comic book geeks, San Diego Comic-Con. We also added another member to the Shortboxed crew this year, Jeremy, who’s been crushing it with his reviews and opinion pieces! All this on top of reading some amazing stories from our favorite creators this year! So thank you to all of our readers and followers on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for allowing us to geek out with you and connect over this passion of ours.

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November 30 / Jeremy Dizon / Comics

A Discussion on Canon: Batman

Out of all the properties in the comic book space, I have always gravitated towards Batman; maybe it was seeing Michael Keaton don the cowl when I was growing up or how that Seal song, “Kiss From a Rose,” always got stuck in my head whenever I heard it. Either way, Batman was a part of my life at an early age, from the dark and brooding Tim Burton flicks to even reruns of Adam West’s campy but enjoyable Batman tv show.

It wasn’t until Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy started that I chose to pick up comic titles apart from the current Batman run. There were a lot of non-canon books written and drawn by brilliant writers and artists that ended up becoming part of the Batman legacy; and it’s in these standalone books that I want discuss the impact they’ve had not only on the character but his world as well.

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