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The first of the month used to mean that rent was due, bills needed to be paid, and you were one month older. Now the first of the month means a double shot of Animal Man and Swamp Thing fresh off the ramifications of this week's Animal Man Annual, a tag team of alternate realities with Earth 2 and World's Finest, and Darwyn Cooke's return to monthly work on Minutemen. Marvel brings back Avengers vs. X-Men after an extra week off for the start of Act 2 and it brings along Amazing Spider-man in Motion variants with it. Then there's Hickman's Secret, Grist's Mud Man and Creator Owned Heroes from people that own their own books.

It's a good time to be into comics.

Orders are due today for comics shipping in July. Even more than seeing a series that started well after I began working at the store hit issue 50 or 60, it's the ever present remind on our Point of Sale program that another Previews order is upon us that reminds me of the constant passage of time.

Living Wednesday to Wednesday. Comics are life.

Much better Thursday than last week, when I was slowly sliding into the depths of the Con Crud. I'm almost fully recovered now and happy to be planning out a summer that includes three more cons, three Yankee games, two plane rides, a first anniversary and a birthday.

Maybe I spoke too soon. The Con-Fluence from Free Comic Book Day is finally catching up. Scratchy throat. Swollen eyes. Stuffy nose. And at the same time I take a bit of pride knowing that we brought enough people together that a tangible epidemic was able to spreading with the gathering as ground zero.

I'll bet you all thought I forgot about you, didn't you? Nope! Just been a busy day preparing for Free Comic Book Day 2012! Everyone's been asking me if we're all set. My answer has usually been, "As close to all set as we're going to be." Maybe I should change it to, "Ask me on Monday."

Things started out with a bang as I did an interview for WFMY News 2, featuring none other than the Black Widow! Want to see more? Watch the Good Morning Show tomorrow! Afterwards, be sure to download Acmecast #76 to find out what we thought of the Avengers movie, the New 52 Second Wave #1's and X-O Manowar!

Tuesday morning I was feeling pretty daunted. Like the Free Comic Book Day pressure was going to crush me. But you guys pulled me right up. Your enthusiasm for the day and for lending a hand has inspired me to the point where I feel like we can get anything done! Not even the clouds rolling in can dampen my spirits.

Ready to stay excited about DC? Good! Then pay special attention to Dial H, Earth 2, G.I. Combat and World's Finest, the first shot of the New 52's Second Wave, as well as Detective Comics and Batwing, continuing the blockbuster Night of Owl's crossover!

Thanks to everyone that's come by to help out readying the books for Free Comic Book Day! It's been a truly overwhelming bunch of orders lately, but the folks that plant their butts in a seat with a stamp in their hands make everything that much more manageable!

Now the real fun starts...BAG STUFFING!

The plan to leave at 7 AM yesterday worked! Even though we still arrived just after dark (10:00 Central Time), it's better than last year's 4 AM. We're well rested and ready for a full day of retailer enrichment!

I also want to give a shout-out to Downtown Comics North in Indianapolis. We had a nice stop there after dinner and I picked up two sets of long out-of-print pulse trades for a few very lucky customers back home!

To follow along with all of our adventures (and eating habits), follow me, Frank and Adam on Twitter!

See you guys at the City Council Meeting on Monday! I must say, we saw a lot of towns on the way up here boasting some pretty big things, but none so bold as "Comic Book City, USA"!

We recorded a great show last night, with customer guest stars and an interview with Avengers Earth's Mightiest Heroes head writer Christopher Yost! Be sure to tune in tomorrow morning at 9 AM!

This afternoon I'm heading up to New Jersey with my parents to visit family (and hopefully some friends as well). My favorite thing to do while traveling (yes, even moreso than trying great local food) is stopping at other comic shops. We've talked at length about Stories Comics in Richmond, which I'm going to try to hit on my way back on Monday, a mecha of back issues and out of print trades. Just three miles from my grandparents' house in Howell, NJ is the Record Store, great for older toys and new issues. I might even make the trip up to Red Bank to see how fame has changed the face of Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash, headquarters of AMC's Comic Book Men.

Next week, when me, Frank, Adam and Adrian got up to Chicago, we're gonna be sure to stop in at Art Baltazar and Franco's brand new Aw Yeah Comics!

Still dwelling on my burnt finger from last night. We were at Pablano's on North Battleground. They were running a $7.75 fajita special, so most of us partook. When our sizzling pans came out, Adam, who did not get a fajita platter, wondered aloud if the plates were hot. Frank feigned touching his. I did touch mine. They were indeed hot.

In my defense, I was expecting the pan to be a more tempered temperature, like what you get in the hot stone bowls at the Don. But, nope, piping hot.

At least it doesn't hurt too badly when I type.

Make sure to read down past the new comics list since there are a ton of reprints coming out for series that you might have missed on the first go-round!