Comic Book Resources

A Visit to Henk Comics in Amsterdam

On May 13th I embarked on my first vacation in almost four years. Where’d I go? Cities I’ve wanted to visit for a long time, Paris and Amsterdam. Now while I could have done a bunch of business while on the trip, this was vacation so we kept the business out of it entirely, but I still couldn’t resist the chance to visit a comic shop or two while in Europe.

On the afternoon of May 16th, I decided to stop by Henk Lie’s Comics and Mangastore in Amsterdam. It was about a 15 minute walk from my hotel near the Red Light District and pretty easily found. Here’s a picture of the storefront.

As you can probably tell by the Transformers, Batman, Spider-Man and Superman stained glass pieces above the door and window, this is an American centric comic shop. It’s tiny, but that’s really not fair to say considering the size of the shops I’m used to in Los Angeles. For Amsterdam, it’s about an average size for a store, but the low ceilings and packed confines of the store meant it was a bit cramped inside.

There was a large selection of Manga, American comics, toys, graphic novels and more back issues than you generally find in an American comic shop these days. The new weekly periodicals could be found on the left hand side of the store, as you walk in. I imagine if I spent an extended period of time in Amsterdam for some reason, this would become my store of choice to pick up my American comic needs. There was a small love seat at the front of the store.

As I walked out of the store, I noticed something interesting.

The store directly next door to Henk’s was a coffee shop named The Jolly Joker, where marijuana and hash and the like can be purchased. I could see New Comics Wednesdays being a far more interesting experience in Amsterdam, that’s for sure.

While I didn’t get the name of the two guys working the register that day (was one of them Henk?), they did point me in the direction of a more European centric comic shop just about five blocks down the road named Go Joker. I’ll share some pictures from that visit tomorrow.

Thanks to CBR Twitter follower @xclame for the suggestion to visit Henk.

Third (and Final) Lichtenstein Poster in Amsterdam

Here’s the third photo I took of this series of billboards found in Amsterdam this past weekend. Question is, can you tell which is Lichtenstein?
In the coming days I’ll post photos of some of my other comics findings in Amsterdam and Paris. I visited two comic shops in Amsterdam and today plan on visiting a few in Paris — in fact, just one block over from my hotel are FIVE manga stores on the same street, plus one American comics shop. And two streets over is another more European centric comic shop. Apparently the Bastille area of Paris really needs their comics.

Another Great Lichtenstein Poster in Amsterdam

Here’s #2 of 3 posters I took photos of. I’ve actually got quite a number of great photos of comics or comics influences in Amsterdam. I’ll post one a day for the next week. I’m back in Paris on Monday and plan on visiting.

Amazing Lichtenstein Poster in Amsterdam

Saw this in the Amsterdam Central Train station this afternoon. I’ve got two more photos of different billboards. I love this one particularly because of the Captain America on the bottom right. More good ones to come on Monday and Tuesday and maybe some photos of Parisian comic shops.

Link is to The Stedelijkindestad Museum Web Site, except if I’m reading this correctly it appears it doesn’t open until June 26th.  Too bad.  I’d love to check this out.  If any of CBR’s visitors are from Amsterdam or will be in Amsterdam during this exhibit, please write me.

– Jonah Weiland

The CBR Logo Looms Large over Shatner

First video up tomorrow. Here’s a sneak peak.

Free Comic Book Day Was Awesome

Wow, what a great day, huh?

I’ll be totally honest, I was a bit late to the Free Comic Book Day party, embracing it fully for the first time in 2008. Last year, Atomic Comics‘ Mike Malve (who’s been mobile blogging on this here CBR Live! all day) called me up and asked if I’d come out to Phoenix for FCBD 2008 as they had all seven Image Comics creators signing at their Mesa super store. That’s a piece of comics history and no way was I going to miss out on that. So I went and had a total blast. I owe Mike a big debt of thanks for showing me the light.

Last year was also the first year we used CBR Live! to mobile blog FCBD events from across the country. It was so incredible watching all these different events transpire across the country. It gave you a very real sense of just how amazing this party is.

And here we are, FCBD 2009, and it’s just as good as last year. This year I stayed here in Los Angeles to manage the team and to interview William Shatner in our video studio above Golden Apple Comics on Melrose. The interview went amazing and I can’t wait for you all to see it. Special thanks to Darren @ Blue Water Productions for setting it up.

But as much fun as that was, have a look at all these photos and reports from around the country! WOW! From the East Coast to the West Coast! From Southern California to the Pacific Northwest! From California to Connecticut! How cool is that?

I’m already thinking about how we can do this even better next year and I think the most immediate answer is — more mobile bloggers! And we have to get Canada and England in on the action!

Thanks to our entire crew. Can’t wait for next year!

Golden Apple’s Ryan Liebowitz

I wonder what store he owns.

Shatner Signing at GA

Here’s the man himself signing for fans.

The Line for Shatner

The line for William Shatner at Golden Apple went WAY down Melrose Ave. Crazy. He signed about 500 comics today.

Shatner and the CBR Crew

From Left to Right, CBR Video Editor Seth Sherwood, Me, Mr. William Shatner and CBR Video Director Lincoln Morrison.

William Shatner in the CBR Studio

You know it’s a very special day when William Shatner drops by — CBR loves FCBD!  He’s signing for Blue Water Productions at Golden Apple on Melrose until 3:00 — stop by and say hi!

William Shatner Has Arrived at Golden Apple

The line is way down the street for William Shatner at Golden Apple Comics in Hollywood. Pretty wild over here. He just dropped by to say hi and is headed down to begin signing now.

The new DC Animated mural @ WB

There’s going to be a formal unveiling of a new mural on the Warner Bros. back lot in Burbank tomorrow evening, but this weekend I drove by the lot as workers were putting the final touches on it. We’ll have better, non-obscured shots tomorrow, but in the mean time enjoy.

ROBOT 6’s JK Parkin Ponders The Future

I had dinner with ROBOT 6’s JK Parkin last Thursday during my trip to San Francisco. We ate at a delicious tapas place in the Mission and talked comics, CBR, life and secret, secret plans! (Muhahahaha!) Here’s a shot I snapped of Mr. Parkin, clearly pondering the fate of the future of comics.

Hibbs Celebrates 20

TILTING AT WINDMILLS author and Comix Experience (http://comixexperience.com/) owner Brian Hibbs celebrated 20 years in business this past Wednesday. I stopped by his San Francisco store to enjoy some fun and, well, scotch. Here’s the man on his 20th!

Image’s Joe Keatinge Commands All

I’m up in San Francisco this week on some business and stopped by the Image Comics offices in Berkley for the lunch with the gang (possibly the best mission burrito I’ve ever had). Here’s Image’s Marketing dude Joe Keatinge, sitting at his desk, commanding all.

Tony Lee Visits the CBR Studio

Had a surprise visit from comic writer (”Doctor Who”) Tony Lee today in the CBR Studio. Especially surprising since, ya know, he lives in England!

Me In The Skybox

The power is awesome.

Dark Reign Panel

The blurry photo mean su can’t make anyone out, but there it is. My camera phone sucks.

The Madness Has Begun