Hello from inside the Vortex. We’ve got a ton of updates and breaking news for you, so let’s get right into it.
NEW COMIC BOOKS: We will have new comic books in stock beginning next Wednesday, March 13th. At first, our shelf stock will be limited to titles from DC, Image, and some of the other indies. By April, we should have Marvel and the others in stock, as well. We apologize for the delay, but are beholden to the whims of the various distributors and their sign-up priocesses (some of which take longer than others).
If you wish to become a subscriber and have a pull list at the store, we are happy to sign you up. Just ask for Brian when you come in, and I’ll take care of you. However, if you have a pull list at another store, as I said, it may be end of April before we can fulfill Marvel, etc. So we understand if you want to hold off for a while longer. We can immediately begin fulfilling DC and Image, though.
SUPPLIES: We should have supplies (bags, boards, boxes, etc.) in stock and for sale by this weekend. In addition to Modern/Current and Silver Age bags and boards, we’ll also have bags and boards for books, magazines, digests, manga, as well.
And speaking of…
MANGA: We’ve got two big shipments of new manga coming in this week and next — Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaimen, Blue Angel, Fire Punch, Attack on Titan, and much more.
GAMING: We’ve heard you! By popular demand, Vortex Books & Comics will begin carrying roleplaying and collectible card games. Pokemon, D&D, Magic the Gathering, Vampire the Masquerade, and more. We’ll begin getting them in stock this month, and should have full inventory by next month.
With that in mind, we are looking for a knowledgeable, personable person to DM D&D once per week, and an equally knowledgeable person to run and oversee Pokemon games. A few caveats to this — just like we do with Magic the Gathering on Sundays, we intend these to be fun and welcoming to all. If you are an experienced Dungeon Master who would like to run a weekly campaign for both new and veteran players, or if you are an experienced Pokemon player who would like to oversee weekly casual play, stop in the store and ask for Brian. Please note — for the safety of our customers, we may require references and a local, state, and federal background check. (This will be done at no cost to you).
BOOKS: Horror fans — last week we received a massive shipment of signed books from Steve Rasnic Tem, including many rare and hard to find titles. Thanks to Steve for those! And thanks to Overlook Connection, who gifted us with a hefty supply of The Stephen King Catalog for this year and last. If you’ve never seen these beauties, they are hardcover nonfiction collections. Each year focuses on a different work. The 2023 catalog has everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Creepshow. The 2024 catalog is all about The Mist. These are the operfect gift for the King fan in your life, and something they probably don’t already have.
UPCOMING EVENT CALENDAR
Remember that we host Magic the Gathering every Sunday from noon until 4pm. This is casual play. Cards from any set and any era are welcome. Banned cards are welcome. The only house rules are minimum 60 card deck, no more than 4 cards of the same type (excluding lands) in a deck, be kind and considerate to other players, and have fun.
Also happening in the coming weeks:
Vortex Writer Group
Friday, March 8th
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Writers of all levels (from aspiring to professional) and all genres are invited to join us for an informal gathering. Bring your friends or make new ones! Talk shop! Network! Meet local peers! Be among people who get you!Open Mic Night
Friday, March 22nd7:00pm PM 9:00pm
Join us for our very first open mic night. How does it work? You show up and sign up. Then, when it’s your turn, you can read your story or poem, spit some verses, do your stand-up routine… whatever you want. Each person is limited to ten minutes maximum, so that all participants get a turn. While we don’t censor, we would remind you that this is a public event space, so please keep material to an R-rating. And no, you are not required to perform. Feel free to just be part of the audience!Signing: Somer Canon, Stephen Kozeniewski, Wesley Southard, and Wile E. Young
Saturday, March 30th
1:00pm to 4:00pm
Join us for our inaugural book signing event! We’ll be joined by award-winning authors Somer Canon, Stephen Kozeniewski, Wesley Southard, and Wile E. Young. There will be a Q&A with them from 1pm until 2pm, and then they will sign books from 2pm until 4pm. We will have books for purchase at the store. You may also bring books from home to be signed (although we ask that if you do, you also make a purchase while at the store as a courtesy).Vortex Writer Group
Friday, April 5th
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Writers of all levels (from aspiring to professional) and all genres are invited to join us for an informal gathering. Bring your friends or make new ones! Talk shop! Network! Meet local peers! Be among people who get you!Signing: Sarah Langan, Cynthia Pelayo, and Todd Keisling
Sunday, April 7th12:00pm to 4:00pm
Best-seller Sarah Langan, Chicago’s Bram Stoker Award-winner Cynthia Pelayo, and Central Pennsylvania’s Bram Stoker Award-nominee Todd Keisling are in the house! There will be a Q&A with them from 1pm until 2pm, and then they will sign books from 2pm until 4pm. We will have books for purchase at the store. You may also bring books from home to be signed (although we ask that if you do, you also make a purchase while at the store as a courtesy).
And a reminder regarding the signings — even if you live on the other side of the world, you can still get your book signed. Just order it from our online store, let us know how you’d like it inscribed, and we’ll mail it to you.
VORTEX BESTSELLER LIST
Our Top Five Best-Selling Titles For Week Ending 3/2/24
1. The Perfectly Fine Neighborhood edited by Stephen Kozeniewski, Wile E. Young, and Kaleigh Dobbs
2. Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Vol. 1 by AidaIro
3. Beyond the Seventh Gate by Timothy Renner
4. Devil’s Creek by Todd Keisling
5. Fairy Tale by Stephen King
We had some distinguished visitors at the store last week.
Greg Cox, who worked as an editor at TOR for years (including on some of Richard Matheson’s books) stopped by for a visit.
So did novelist and comic book writer for Marvel and Dark Horse, Clay McLeod Chapman, who was driving home from Indiana and took a detour at the store. You can watch his video of it on Twitter and Instagram.
And finally, we also got a visit from Mike Slater, author of The Necronomnomnom, Lovecraft Cocktails, and more. Mike was gracious enough tio sign some books for us, which are available for purchase at the store (and don’t worry, we’ll be ordering more and setting up a signing for Mike soon).
Thanks to Greg, Clay, and Mike. And look for all three of them to sign at the store at some point down the road.
THE J.F. GONZALEZ AND DAVE THOMAS MEMORIAL
J.F. Gonzalez was a best-selling horror novelist and renowned editor who lived in Lititz. His novels include Survivor, Screaming to Get Out, Primitive, The Corporation, and the Clickers series. He was also involved with films such as Clive Barker’s Nightbreed and various movies by Mike Lombardo.
Dave Thomas was a writer and podcaster born and raised is Harrisburg. He wrote steadily for Theme Park Review, as well as various nonfiction for science fiction, comic book, and horror magazines. He was also the cohost of the award-winning podcast The Horror Show with Brian Keene, and a contributor and behind-the-scenes fix-it man for the venerable Prog Power music festival.
The two were dear friends, and also our dear friends, and their families have graciously and lovingly allowed a portion of each of their ashes to reside side-by-side in the store, along with memorabilia from their careers.
We’re almost done setting all of that up. We will have a private dedication ceremony for friends and family once it is complete, and after that, it will be available to the public. As with the statue of Hylinus, you are very welcome to take selfies. We ask only that you treat them and the memorabilia with respect and don’t touch, same as you would with any other museum piece.
And that does it for this time. Thanks again for your patronage and support. Hope to see you soon!
— Brian and Mary