IsotopeLounge

This Week The Isotope Staff Is Reading...

2008-03-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

Pictures of the IsoStaff from last weekend's in-store event with the terminally cute Whitney Matheson...

Matt Silady - Creative Catalyst
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Al- Star Superman #10
That Salty Air TPB
Flight Explorer Vol 1 TPB

Kirsten Baldock - Special Projects Director
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Fritz Lang's M HC
Transhuman #1
Dave Stewart's Zombie Broadway One-Shot

James Sime - Proprietor
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Transhuman #1
All-Star Superman #10
Iron Man: Doomquest HC

Matheson & Sale - We Adore You

2008-03-25T14:07:00.000-07:00

Could any of us have asked for a better event last weekend than Whitney Matheson and Tim Sale's amazing Pop Candy Meet-Up?

This was an event we'll always remember, as we jam-packed the shop with a wild mash-up of super nice Pop Candy readers, Heroes fans, and our usual fare of local comic personalities and sexy nerds and nerdettes. Whitney turned on tons of folks who are new to the world of comics to armloads of great reads while Tim wowed the crowds with jaw-dropping original inkwash sketches. The event felt a bit like watching 4th of July fireworks as people let out the "oohs" and "ahs" at our gallery which was filled with 16 pages of original art from the Heroes tv show. And the big surprise hit of the night was these jaw-dropping souvenirs and the cocktails that came in them. I'll treasure mine forever!

I honestly can't think of a better way we could have possibly celebrated two of my favorite comic people in the world. Both Mr. Sale and Ms. Matheson are two of the most fun and sincere people you could ever ask to meet and quite literally brought tears of joy to my eyes while I read their write-ups on their respective websites. Check them out:

Whitney Matheson's Event Photos & Write-Up #1
Whitney Matheson's Event Photos & Write-Up #2

Tim Sale's Event Write-Up

I want to express my thanks to the wonderful crowds of cool people who came out to the event. My staff and I met so many friendly new people and from the look of my in-box they had as much fun with us as we did had having them in. Thanks to one and all!

Want more?

Check out the Isotope's event photos c/o Matt Silady here

And for those of you who aren't subscribed to Twitter, you can check out the micro-blog of minutiae during Tim and Whitney's stay over the past weekend from my feed here:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

And you can read Whitney's micro-updates here:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Honestly, this year has been amazing so far... have I died and gone to heaven or what?

Tonight: Whitney Matheson w/ Tim Sale

2008-03-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

Tim Sale's Original Heroes Art

2008-03-22T16:14:00.000-07:00

Going up in the Isotope's gallery as we speak!

Let's Talk Whitney Matheson!

2008-03-19T18:18:00.001-07:00

Not a Pop Candy Addict Yet?
Let Us Introduce You To Whitney

This Saturday night, the Isotope will be filled to the rafters with scores of comic book fans and friends all raising a glass to our favorite pop culture queen, Whitney Matheson. For those of you who are already addicted to her daily Pop Candy blog on USAToday, you know exactly why we're so thrilled to have her in. For those among you who are asking yourself "who is this person?" allow me to give you the 411.

Known for unwrapping pop culture’s hidden gems with a taste for Andy Warhol, Converse low-tops, Battlestar Galactica, documentary film fests, Y The Last Man, mustaches, weird places to go on vacation, Jane Birkin movies, the theme song to the Garry Shandling Show, Joss Whedon, and countless nifty new bands to get all obsessive over, Whitney always serves up the perfect daily dose of the eclectic and the sublime. Between her Pop Candy blog and her oh-so sexy book about modern living in the 1950's Atomic Home, Ms. Matheson helps direct her readers to all that which is truly tasty.

One of the things I like best about her blog is the fact that over the last couple years she's been subversively turning her massive fanbase into the next generation of comic book aficionados. This is undoubtedly why she was selected to be an Eisner Judge last year, where we first met. I was totally blown away by her excellent taste in funnybooks!

Want proof? Check out this awesome series of Comics Crash Course columns she wrote recently. Personally, I think this just might be the single best list of 100 suggested comics I have ever seen.

Part 1: Must-Reads

Part 2: Family Friendly

Part 3: Series

Part 4: Whitney's Favorites

Of course, this Saturday we'll be throwing a rollicking event with both Ms. Matheson and comics legend Tim Sale. Stop on in to say 'hi' and find out why everyone here at the Isotope adores her so much!

popcandy.usatoday.com

This Week The Isotope Staff Is Reading...

2008-03-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

It's new comics day, join the Isotope staff for breakfast and then stop on in for another week of wonderful comic reads!

Matt Silady - Creative Catalyst
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War Is Hell #1
Wasteland #15
North World Vol 1 TPB

Kirsten Baldock - Special Projects Director
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Fables #71
Fear Agent #19
Strangeways: Murder Moon TPB

James Sime - Proprietor
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Captain America #36
Strangeways: Murder Moon TPB
The Monster That Ate Stars Mini-Comic

This Week The Isotope Staff Is Reading...

2008-03-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

Always planning for the future, the IsoStaff starts gearing up for Saint Patty's Day a couple days early...

Matt Silady - Creative Catalyst
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Serenity: Better Days #1
DMZ #29
Palookaville #19

Kirsten Baldock - Special Projects Director
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Serenity: Better Days #1
BPRD: 1946 #3
DMZ vol 4: Friendly Fire TPB

James Sime - Proprietor
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Fantastic Four #555
Gutsville #3
Showcase Presents: The Phantom Stranger vol 2 TPB

You'll Be Missed Dave Stevens

2008-03-11T13:26:00.001-07:00

Wow, what terrible news... one of the Isotope's most beloved comic artists has passed away. RIP Mister Stevens, you've brought a lot of joy to our lives over the years, here's hoping that heaven if full of days and nights like this for you.

www.davestevens.com

Whitney Matheson & Tim Sale @ Isotope!

2008-03-07T12:11:00.000-08:00

Most of you have probably already heard about this event over at USAToday and Newsarama...

USAToday's ultra-cool pop-culture goddess Whitney Matheson is bringing her popular Pop Candy Meet-Ups to San Francisco for the first time, and I'm just thrilled to get to play host to Ms. Matheson and her armies of super-friendly pop culture loving readers. If you aren't already a regular daily reader of Pop Candy like I am, you're definitely missing out.

And if that wasn't enough event to get pumped up about, we're also bringing in Ms. Matheson's person-she'd-most-like-to-meet artist Tim Sale! Mister Sale is the artist who did all the work on the Heroes tv show as well as a ton of some of the most beautiful comics I have ever seen like Batman: Long Halloween, Superman For All Seasons, and Daredevil Yellow,

It's a dream come true event. Honestly, what could be better?

Read more about this event here

This Week The Isotope Staff Is Reading...

2008-03-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

Depending on who you ask, these are either the best or the worst tattoos ever...
(Matt thinks they're the best)

Matt Silady - Creative Catalyst
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Echo #1
The New Dynamix #1
Northlanders #4

Kirsten Baldock - Special Projects Director
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Young Liars #1
Nikolai Dante Vol 6: Hell and High Water TPB
The End League #2

James Sime - Proprietor
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Justice League: The New Frontier Special
Young Liars #1
Atom #21

Photos: Darwyn Cooke @ Isotope

2008-02-29T12:23:00.000-08:00

from the Isotope & iFanboy's legendary Darwyn Cooke's New Frontier After-Party, featuring director Dave Bullock, designer J. Bone, and Mister Darwyn Cooke himself.

Click here for more photos from this event
We packed in several hundred comic loving folks and many industry superstars into the Isotope over the course of the night. What an amazing time! Additional photos by DJ Bearzbub, Storm, and the lovely newlyweds Chris Vaccaro and Maranda Lee.

Read about this event on Newsarama here

This Week The Isotope Staff Is Reading...

2008-02-27T16:58:00.000-08:00

It is with heavy heart this week that we bid a fond farewell to the Isotope's beloved Cultural Attaché, Josh Richardson. And while Mister Richardson isn't leaving us, you'll still see him working Special Ops during many of our future events (and co-hosting on our tiki tours)... he won't be gracing the Communique with his smiling face during our weekly staff photos for the foreseeable future.

But we're sending him out on the highest note we know how, with a private dinner and staff pictures with Josh's favorite comic creator, Darwyn Cooke!

Josh, thanks for your enthusiasm, hard work, and for promoting the Isotope culture so wonderfully over the years. And we look forward to having cocktails and good cheer whenever your schedule permits. You've always got friends and family here at the Isotope!

Matt Silady - Creative Catalyst

The Nearly Infamous Zango #1
Nexus #100
Kick-Ass #1

Josh Richardson - Cultural Attaché

Justice League: New Frontier DVD Liner Notes
Absolute New Fontier HC
Darwyn Cooke's Personalized Note to Josh

Kirsten Baldock - Special Projects Director

Criminal 2 #1
The Nearly Infamous Zango #1
Rasl #1

James Sime - Proprietor

Rasl #1
Savage Sword of Conan Vol 2 TPB
The Nearly Infamous Zango #1

The Weekend Was Biblical

2008-02-25T13:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came out for the truly great weekend we hosted, to our co-sponsors iFanboy, and especially to our special guests from both Saturday (Darwyn Cooke, J. Bone, Dave Bullock,) and Friday (Ben Templesmith, Antony Johnston).

For those folks who couldn't attend we've got hundreds more photographs and hours of video still to be declassified. Not to mention what Ron, Conner, and Josh from iFanboy scored. Watch this space over the next few days for lots more!

To Do Tonight:

2008-02-23T16:35:00.000-08:00

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Yes tonight is the night, ladies and gents.

Our post convention bash kicks off at 9pm tonight in celebration of what was no doubt a huge reception and world-premiere screening of Darwyn Cooke's Justice League: The New Frontier. We suggest grabbing yourself something wonderful to eat before hand at one of the following awesome Isotope-approved restaurants.

Thanks to some brilliant co-scheduling, while you're waiting for the Isotope shindig to get happening I'm also going to suggest you all go check out the annual Prism Comics reading and mixer with queer comics creators starting at 7pm tonight only a few blocks away from our front door. Featuring readings from some of our favorite cartoonists Justin Hall, Paige Braddock, Andy Hartzell, Brian Anderson, and more. Very cool!

And then, starting at 9pm tonight...

Darwyn Cooke, Dave Bullock, and J. Bone arrive in high style at the Isotope for the Isotope's New Frontier After-Party! Co-sponsored by our super cool amigos at iFanboy. Featuring exclusive Darwyn Cooke art prints and jaw dropping glassware! Lots of original art for us to get all obsessive over! Delicious adult beverages by Kirsten Baldock! Swinging ultra-lounge from SF's own DJ Bearzbub!

But I don't have to sell you guys on this event at all, do I? It's Darwyn Cooke, baby, you know you wouldn't miss this for the world!

It's just a short walk between the convention and the Isotope's front door! No doubt we'll be seeing several hundreds of you out tonight and tomorrow, so for your event attending convenience, here's where the Isotope is located, and here's a map of available Isotope SF public transportation options.

And for our East Bay amigos, here's a handy walking from BART to Isotope map. Bring your IDs and your significant others.

This Makes The Isotope Smile

2008-02-23T16:24:00.000-08:00

The Templesmith/Johnston Report

2008-02-23T12:20:00.000-08:00

The first photos from last night's Ben Templesmith and Antony Johnston event are up...

click here for more

Direct links to all sorts of great and even a couple scandalous moments from the event c/o my Twitter feed: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Got some photos from this event? Send 'em in and I'll post 'em up. Thanks to everyone who attended and made that party such an incredible blast!

And now to prepare the shop for tonight...!

Isotope & WonderCon

2008-02-22T11:37:00.000-08:00

It's just a short walk between the convention and the Isotope's front door! No doubt we'll be seeing several hundreds of you out tonight and tomorrow, so for your event attending convenience, here's where the Isotope is located, and here's a map of available Isotope SF public transportation options.

And for our East Bay amigos, here's a handy walking from BART to Isotope map. Bring your IDs and your significant others. Looking forward

Tonight

Tomorrow Night

(more info here)

WonderCon Weekend @ the Isotope

2008-02-18T18:10:00.000-08:00

Fri: Ben Templesmith and Antony Johnston
Sat: Darwyn Cooke's New Frontier After-Party

Coming up is one of my favorite weekends of the entire year, WonderCon Weekend!

And I'm sure you all know how much we like quietly surprising the comics world by throwing the biggest, craziest events all year long in celebration of it. Like last year we're teaming up with our pod and video-casting amigos at iFanboy and we've all been stealthily working behind the scenes to set up two of the most glorious Isotope events we've ever had the pleasure to host.

Friday Night:

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Australian artist of 30 Days of Night and Fell, Ben Templesmith, and the British writing sensation Antony Johnston, author of the excellent Wasteland and a personal favorite of mine The Long Haul, hit the Isotope in high style from 8pm until the witching hour.

Templesmith is bringing in several armloads of original art from Wormwood: Gentlemen Corpse for sale and Johnston will have limited edition printings of his Wasteand scripts created just for this event on hand. Truly an event not to be missed!

Saturday Night:

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In honor of WonderCon's biggest event of 2008, the world premiere screening of Darwyn Cooke's Justice League: The New Frontier, the Isotope will be throwing a massive after-party along with Mister Cooke, Director David Bullock, and designer of the gods J. Bone.

And we (of course) have a few special surprises up our Isotopic sleeves, including the jaw-dropping Darwyn Cooke pint glass made just for this event, and a teeny tiny run of available nowhere else art prints. And in keeping with the event's theme, bartender Kirsten Baldock will be shaking up wonderful cocktails from yesteryear while San Francisco's famous DJ Bearzbub spins classic retro-future lounge over the Isotope's hi-fi.

These events are both 21 and up, please.

News of the Good

2008-02-18T17:43:00.000-08:00

Ask, Dear Friends, And You Shall Receive It...
Morrison & Porter's JLA Gets Deluxe Treatment

First it was the release of the Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibii, then the announcement of the drool-inducing Starman Hardcovers, and now we're getting Deluxe hardcovers of Grant Morrison & Howard Porter's JLA run?

Yes!

Somebody at DC Comics must be reading our secret wish diary. Now if only they would remember to get this, this, and and this back in print too. Maybe they haven't gotten to those diary pages just yet...?

Anyway, for having the good sense to give us exactly what we've all been hoping for recently, thank you, DC!

To Do Tonight

2008-02-15T15:49:00.000-08:00

More info here

This Week The Isotope Staff Is Reading...

2008-02-14T21:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day from the Isotope!

Matt Silady - Creative Catalyst

Tiny Titans #1
DMZ #28
Fantastic Comics #24

Josh Richardson - Cultural Attaché

Walking Dead #46
Wolverine #62
Tiny Titans #1

Kirsten Baldock - Special Projects Director

Crossing Midnight vol 2: A Map of Midnight TPB
BPRD: 1946 #2
Fantastic Four #554

James Sime - Proprietor

Fantastic Four #554
Fantastic Four: The Lost Adventure One Shot
Alex Raymond - His Life and Art HC

Indepenents an Indy Comics Documentary

2008-02-12T18:24:00.000-08:00

Catch Chris Brandt's Comics Doc
Tonight @ Cartoon Art Museum

It's movie night, people! Because really, who doesn't need another reason to visit San Francisco's delightful Cartoon Art Museum?

If you're reading this website you probably like comics just as much as I do. And if you happen to also like watching documentaries as well (my current doc obsessions include Dark Days, Incident at Oglala, King of Kong, and American Hardcore), you're probably going to want to check this out.

Film-maker Chris Brandt travels the country to capture interviews with great independent comic folks like Jessica Abel, Eric Powell, Jim Woodring, Craig Thompson, Johnny Ryan, Carla Speed McNeil, Scott McCloud, Robert Williams, and many more people behind the indy books you know and love. And heck, Brandt even throws in an interview with a certain proprietor of Isotope - the comic book lounge in too!

Want to know more? Check out this review and interview to get a taste of what to expect. And then get out to the Cartoon Art Museum tonight and see the film for yourself!

Independents: A Guide For The Creative Spirit
@ Cartoon Art Museum
655 Mission Street
Tuesday, February 12th
7pm to 9pm

www.independentsdoc.com

Copyright? Marvel Don't Give a Foo!

2008-02-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

Wolverine & the X-Men
Where Are They Now?

Remember that cool trailer for the new Wolverine & the X-Men cartoon that went up earlier this week? I liked it quite a bit actually, it had a cool old-school feel and I was surprised to see that it featured some pretty rocking tunes to boot. Including Best of You by the Foo Fighters.

Well, looks like I wasn't the only one who was surprised!

Because today when I went to show it to a couple customers it was no longer on the company's website. In fact, it wasn't anywhere to be found on the internet anymore. Oh, but I didn't come away empty handed, because when I tried to watch it on YouTube I found this:

Seriously? They didn't get around to getting music cleared for use in their new cartoon? Marvel just don't give a Foo, do they?

(cracks knuckles) Heard it here first, boys and girls!

This Week The Isotope Staff Is Reading...

2008-02-06T18:01:00.000-08:00

The Isotope staff believes that when the polls are open everyone should get out and do some voting. We're such fans of the democratic process that we once threw this voter registration drive and also threw an election day party with Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. In the spirit of this week's staff showing off our recently acquired "I voted" stickers...

Matt Silady - Creative Catalyst

Northlanders #3
Fables #69
Ubu Bubu #1

Josh Richardson - Cultural Attaché

Buffy Season Eight #11
Scud The Disposable Assassin #21
Abe Sapien: The Drowning #1

Kirsten Baldock - Special Projects Director

Abe Sapien: The Drowning #1
Scud The Disposable Assassin #21
Northlanders #3

James Sime - Proprietor

Scud The Disposable Assassin #21
Uncanny X-Men #495
Ubu Bubu #1

The News You've Been Waiting For...

2008-01-31T22:01:00.001-08:00

February 15th begins what I can only promise is jaw-dropping 2008 in-store event schedule. Come join us as we team up with the fine folks at Notemine to kick off San Francisco's famed Animation On Display convention with a bang of atom-splicing proportions!

Animania-A-Go-Go features DJ MacMini spinning a selection of the sexiest nerdiest tracks to get your backsides in gear! Superstar Tommy Yune who you know from his work on Robotech and Speed Racer! The writer of Happy Tree Friends, LazyTown and classic CG cartoon ReBoot , madman Ken Pontac! And the beyond-legendary comics authoring architect of Teen Titans, Tomb of Dracula and Crisis on Infinite Earths... the one, the only... Marv Wolfman!

Nice!

Now go watch some cute and violent fuzzy critters get bloody: Happy Tree Friends.