GOFUNDME UPDATE!

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Oh, the joys of working at a comic book shop! Steve Schumacher, one of our very generous donors and old school customers, had the opportunity/misfortune of learning what goes on behind the curtain at Zanadu Comics! Boxes! Comics! Comics in boxes! Splinters! Bruised heads! Confusing alphabets! YES, all this and more is awaiting you in the fruitful field of comic book retailing!! Seriously though, big thanks to Steve for braving the rainy day ferry ride to spend the day with his favorite comic monkeys!

COMICS SHOULD SMELL GOOD!! EP. #373!!

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HYDRA STRIKES AGAIN!!

**Hydra comm tech hacked our previous transmission and distorted audio in an attempt to inundate our viewers with their multi limbed doctrine! But thanks to the endless efforts of everyone's favorite video monkey, your ears are safe from the forces Hordes of Hyrda! Or are they...?** //decoding transmission//--101100101//1--11By the bristling beard of Odin there's a crapload of new comics this week!! Not only do we have the opening shots of both Marvel and DC's next big events, but we've got the return of Shaolin kungfoolery; a sea bound Hellboy and redneck vampires. Cook that sh*t up in a rusty can and whattaya got? Another funky smelling episode from your favorite comic book monkey team on the internets!! Don't wait--GO TO THE SHOP NOW AND GET COMICS!!!!

MANGA MONDAY (ON TUESDAY)

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Manga or Japanese comics, is one of the greatest things to ever happen to the American comic market since the advent of Super-Heroes. While we know a lot of our customers only truck with the 'Merican made books we all know and love, Manga offers a VAST array of subject matter, genres, art/writing styles and situations that appeal to age groups from wee little ones to grumpy old people! Even the most jaded comic book reader will find something new and exciting in the world of MANGA!!

This week we focus on Kenichi Sonada and his loveable, violent, trigger happy and fun lovin GUNSMITH CATS! "Burst," the follow up series to first volume chronicles the further adventures of Rally and Minnie as they blow shit up and try to save enough money to pay rent. Super fun, high flying action adventure comedy from master Manga-Ka SONADA!

GUNSMITH CATS: BURST TP VOL 1-4

(W/A) Kenichi Sonada

Rally Vincent and Minnie-May Hopkins are two regular American girls. Regular American girls who own a gun shop, and might have dabbled in prostituion, respectively. And who happen to be a crack shot and an explosives expert, respectively.

These might be odd skills for American girls, but these two happen to be Chicago's top bounty hunters. Rally can shoot the trigger off a gun from a good distance, and May generally wreaks havoc with explosions and cuteness. And together, with some very useful friends and associates, they make up the Gunsmith Cats.

"Burst" finds our ladies back at work, back in action, and . . . back in trouble. Now presented in the favored Japanese, right-to-left format, Gunsmith Cats: "Burst" aims to please.

SECRET EMPIRE CHECKLIST FOR 4/19!!

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It's here!! The biggest Marvel event of the year starts this week with not one, not two, but 4 Secret Empire tie-ins!

First up is the zero issue of the main book. Totally important and vital to the story. Do not be fooled that it is a #0 and dismiss it. Truly necessary to enjoy Secret Empire.

SECRET EMPIRE #0

(W) Nick Spencer (A) Daniel Acuña, Rod Reis (CA) Mark Brooks

What if your greatest ally was secretly your greatest enemy? What if the most trustworthy, stalwart hero history has ever known has been planning in secret a massive betrayal? That time is now!
The Marvel Universe is under siege from within! Captain America, secretly a true believer in the cause of Hydra, has turned his back on the Super Hero community. Using the trust and respect he has gained over the years he has ascended to a position where he can enacts Hydra's ideals. The death of Jack Flag, the trial of Maria Hill, the second Civil War, the alien Chitauri Queen. All of the dominos of Captain America's plan have been laid out -- and it will take only the slightest push to set them into action!
Now, the Avengers, the Champions, the Defenders, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the X-Men and more will be tested. As Hydra's grip tightens around the Marvel Universe, the heroes stand at the precipice of an unprecedented challenge. How will they Marvel Universe cope with this shattering betrayal by the most trusted among them?

Next up are the three "Opening Salvo" tie-ins that are transitioning the storylines of these titles into Secret Empire. (This list is also organized into suggested reading order if you care about that sort of thing)

CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS #16

(W) Nick Spencer (A) Various (CA) Daniel Acuña

• The stage is set! Everything has been leading to this moment! It's time for Captain America to step out of the shadows to change the very landscape of the Marvel Universe in a massive way!

THUNDERBOLTS #12

(W) Jim Zub (A/CA) Jon Malin

The Masters of Evil, the fate of Kobik, betrayal, destruction and the future of the Thunderbolts - "Return of the Masters" concludes here. Don't miss it!

U.S. AVENGERS #5

(W) Al Ewing (A) Paco Diaz (CA) Paco Medina

• The time for goofy solicits is over. A.I.M. is getting serious - and Steve Rogers is here to make sure of it.
• But where does this leave Roberto Da Costa?
• Meanwhile, Sam Guthrie is a man of two worlds. Which will he choose?

Check back next week for another report from behind enemy lines. HAIL HYDRA!

EMPLOYEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 4/19!!

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BATMAN #21

(W) Tom King (A/CA) Jason Fabok

"THE BUTTON" part one! The cataclysmic events of DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH #1 continue here! The Dark Knight and The Fastest Man Alive, the two greatest detectives on any world, unite to explore the mystery behind a certain blood-stained smiley button embedded in the Batcave wall. What starts as a simple investigation turns deadly when the secrets of the button prove irresistible to an unwelcome third party-and it's not who anyone suspects! It's a mystery woven through time, and the ticking clock starts here!

RECOMMENDED BY THE ZANADU CREW!

EMPLOYEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 4/19!!

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SHAOLIN COWBOY: WHO'LL STOP THE REIGN #1

(W/A) Geoff Darrow

Who doesn't like Surf and Turf? Well, what do you do when Surf and Turf doesn't like YOU??? The Eisner Award-losing and -winning drawing room talkfest, The Shaolin Cowboy, returns and will try to answer those questions as the titular hero of the series finds that his road to hell is paved not with good intentions but old nemeses hell bent on bloody revenge... AGAIN!!!

RECOMMENDED BY CASEY!

EMPLOYEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 4/19!!

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SUPER SONS #3

(W) Peter J. Tomasi (A/CA) Jorge Jimenez

"When I Grow Up" part three! It's Super-Son vs Bat-Son as the exciting new series continues! Kid Amazo is ready to rip the hearts out of the world's not-so-finest super duo. Face to face with their newest-and first-villain, Jonathan and Damian strike out the only way they know how...at each other!

RECOMMENDED BY SAM THE VIDEO MONKEY!

EMPLOYEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 4/19!!

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REDNECK #1

(W) Donny Cates (A/CA) Lisandro Estherren

SERIES PREMIERE
The Bowmans are VAMPIRES who have quietly run the local barbecue joint in their small town for years, living off cow's blood. Their peaceful coexistence ends as generations of hate, fear, and bad blood bubble to the surface--making it impossible to separate man from monster!
 
Critically acclaimed writer DONNY CATES (GOD COUNTRY) and artist LISANDRO ESTHERREN serve up the tale of a DIFFERENT kind of family just trying to get by, deep in the heart of Texas.

EMPLOYEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 4/19!!

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WORLD READER #1

(W) Jeff Loveness (A/CA) Juan Doe

NEW SERIES! Meet Sarah, an astronaut traveling from dead planet to dead planet, talking to the ghosts of the dead worlds... as she fights to discover the secret that's killing the universe.  But Death doesn't give up its secrets so easily, and as Death hunts her from planet to planet, Sarah struggles to maintain the trust of her crew and her own sanity in the endless ocean of lives. Every world has a story, and if she can find the secret tying them all together, she can save Earth from being the next world to die. From GROOT and THE JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW writer Jeff Loveness and AMERICAN MONSTER, ANIMOSITY: THE RISE artist Juan Doe, comes the chilling, epic new series that will be sure to appeal to fans of THE ARRIVAL, INTERSTELLAR, and THE EXPANSE.

RECOMMENDED BY HOWARD!

EMPLOYEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 4/19!!

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SECRET EMPIRE #0

(W) Nick Spencer (A) Daniel Acuña, Rod Reis (CA) Mark Brooks

What if your greatest ally was secretly your greatest enemy? What if the most trustworthy, stalwart hero history has ever known has been planning in secret a massive betrayal? That time is now!
The Marvel Universe is under siege from within! Captain America, secretly a true believer in the cause of Hydra, has turned his back on the Super Hero community. Using the trust and respect he has gained over the years he has ascended to a position where he can enacts Hydra's ideals. The death of Jack Flag, the trial of Maria Hill, the second Civil War, the alien Chitauri Queen. All of the dominos of Captain America's plan have been laid out -- and it will take only the slightest push to set them into action!
Now, the Avengers, the Champions, the Defenders, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the X-Men and more will be tested. As Hydra's grip tightens around the Marvel Universe, the heroes stand at the precipice of an unprecedented challenge. How will they Marvel Universe cope with this shattering betrayal by the most trusted among them?

RECOMMENDED BY PERRY!

TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE SECRET EMPIRE!

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Comics Should Smell Good Presents a very special, very secret transmission from Prof Will! In a daring move, he has gone undercover behind the lines of HYDRA to bring you the latest top secret news about Marvel's summer blockbuster--SECRET EMPIRE!! Secret Empire starts this Wednesday 4/19!!

**The end of this transmission was cut off by Hyrda, but thanks to our talented team of hacker monkeys, we now bring you the full, unedited transmission from super spy Will!**

SECRET EMPIRE IS ALMOST UPON US! HAIL HYDRA!!

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Marvel's next blockbuster event SECRET EMPIRE begins next Wednesday (4/19) so it's time to roll out the HYDRA HYPE MACHINE and get our customers up to date with what YOU need to know to enjoy this spectacular new epic! Be on the lookout for a special CSSG video from Prof Will and crew in the next week or so, but for now, here's a special promotion from the new Marvel Insider program! Marvel is awarding fans with bonus points throughout the duration of Marvel’s Secret Empire comic event for those who redeem the digital codes found inside the print editions of each comic. Marvel Insider points can be redeemed for cool rewards, limited-edition collectables and more! Marvel Insider members who purchase Secret Empire comics at their local stores can rack up major Marvel Insider bonus points for redeeming the digital codes for each issue! Currently, Marvel Insiders can already earn up to 2,000 points per week for redeeming 10 digital codes at 200 points each. For each Secret Empire issue, Marvel Insiders will also earn an additional 1,000 bonus points on top of the regular 200 points for their digital code redeem – that’s a total of 1,200 points per issue! As a special reward for “completing the set,” Marvel Insiders who redeem digital codes for all 9 issues of Secret Empire will earn a whopping 10,000 points bonus!

Are you a Marvel Insider yet? Go to marvel.com/insider to join and start getting rewarded for the things you’re already doing as a Marvel fan!* Earn points for things like purchasing comics, connecting with Marvel on social, checking out the latest and greatest original content on Marvel.com, playing Marvel mobile games, and more! Then, redeem your points for cool rewards like bestselling digital comics, collectible merchandise, exclusive Marvel mobile game rewards and unforgettable experiences! Check back frequently for new opportunities to earn and spend points, especially around major Marvel events!

And for now, get HYPED with this official SECRET EMPIRE trailer!

GRAPHIC NOVEL SPOTLIGHT!!

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PAYBACKS TP VOL 01 PAYBACK'S A BITCH

(W) Donny Cates, Eliot Rahal (A/CA) Geoff Shaw

Heroism doesn't come cheap, so when superheroes borrow money to finance their genetic enhancements or crime-fighting supercomputers, their debts make student loans look like IOUs. Enter the Paybacks, a repo squad composed of bankrupt former heroes here to foreclose on everybody's secret lairs! Collects issues #1-#4 of the superhero comedy series from the team that delivered the acclaimed Buzzkill!

And don't forget to check out Donny Cates' new books--God Country and Redneck! Both from Image Comics!

EMPLOYEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 4/8!!

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ALL TIME COMICS: BULLWHIP #1

(W) Josh Bayer, Benjamin Marra (A) Al Milgrom, Benjamin Marra

Behold Bullwhip: the mysterious crimefighter sworn to keep Metro City's streets safe from villainy and violence! Writer Josh Bayer, acclaimed artist Ben Marra (TERROR ASSAULTER: O.M.W.O.T.), and Firestorm co-creator Al Milgrom team up for the startling story "Web of Oblivion!", which pits our hero against The Misogynist, Raingod, and the Time Vampire. Don't miss the most unexpected, fanta*tastic superhero comics of the year - and be sure to collect the stunning variant covers by legendary artists Gilbert Hernandez and Tony Millionaire!

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY CASEY!!