Black 7 Comics is a new face in Lewisville

I happened to be out running errands the other day when I decided to run through this little shopping center that used to house a comic book shop and a used book store. The comic/game shop had changed names once before going under and it may have been more before I came along, but I was sad to see both disappear. Every once in a while I would drive through hoping that someone would give it another go and Friday it looked like someone had.

Terry Black moved in and opened about six weeks ago. Though the sign says comics, like all comics stores out there, he does carry games. He has the basic RPGs like D&D 4E and Pathfinder, but his main crowd is Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon! and Yugi-oh! He is definitely interested in building an RPG crowd, maybe doing a Wednesday Night Encounters group, but so far, no dice. No pun intended . . . well, okay a little. If you are an experienced DM and would like to run some games, it wouldn’t hurt to check him out.

It would seem that I wasn’t the only one to find him. Check out this article by Lewisville Public Library Roleplaying. If you do decide to go in, be sure and bring this coupon and get some change knocked off your purchase. Oh, and be sure to tell him you read about it here!

Armadillocon 33 underway this weekend!

Due to a death in the family, this will be just a quick blurb. Armadillocon 33 will be this weekend, August 26 – 28, in Austin Texas. Check it, lots of great authors including some of my local favorites and Bruce Sterling. Check it out at Armadillocon 33!

Bad movies or just not great movies

I'm testing my phone app to see how easy it is to post. So far, the only drawback is that my carpal tunnel kicks in way too soon.

Big question! Friends have told me to stay away from Conan on the big screen. Is it that bad or just a good movie that failed the hype? Give your opinions for a follow up post next week.

Cowboys and Aliens and Aurora Texas!

First order of business is the Lewisville Book Club meeting this Friday night, August 12th, at the IHOP. Kick-off is at 7:30 P.M. and we will be discussing Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris. Excellent book! I’ll try to find time to review it. This is the first book that I’ve actually finished on time for the meeting, so that’s a testament to how much I enjoyed it. See this previous post for the book trailer.

 

So, following our last book discussion we were talking movies. Cowboys and Aliens came up and no, I haven’t seen it yet, but plan on going. I wondered out loud where the guy came up with the idea for the comic on which the movie is based when I remembered a story in the news about an alien crash here in Texas. Doing a little research, I found that we were only 40 miles from where it supposedly happened.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find the video below before we went, so we may be making a return trip. I want to find that well and that tree. Here’s a link to the photos that we took. No evidence of extraterrestrial life but maybe on the next visit. You can also see Aurora in season 3 episode 1 of Ancient Aliens on the History Channel.

Channel 13 out of Houston talking aliens in Texas

If you happen to make the trip out there be sure to have an appetite. There is a little restaurant called Tater Junction and they have got some of the best home cooking you’ll ever get this side of your grandma. The ladies there are the sweetest things and love to converse with the customers.

You’ll also find the DNAlien series of novels by Jim West at the register. Mr. West is a native of Texas and has written a story of a government-grown alien on the run. Using the local area as setting, it sounds like a good read and I will eventually get to it as soon as I knock my stack down a little more. If anyone has read it, shoot me a review and give me your take on it.

Has anyone been to Aurora before and if so, what did you find? Is there life out there? Let me know what you think!

Studio Movie Grill offers up some great viewing options

If you’ve never been to a Studio Movie Grill or a theater like it, then you need to crawl out from under that rock. The concept is to offer food and drink while you watch your movie and now Studio Movie Grill is offering up some great options for your viewing pleasure.

One of the first things you need to do is to join their email list because sometimes these things are not offered on the website. They are pretty good about sending about one a week, so it doesn’t flood your inbox.

One of the first offers that I saw in my email this week is a code for a $6.25 ticket to see Transformers: Dark of the Moon plus a free soda. And sodas get free refills! If you opt for the 3-D ticket there will be an upcharge but I’m not sure how much. If Michael Bay ‘splosions in your face are your thing then 3-D it up! Oh, and if you’ve got friends, I think your able to print out more than one but there is a special way of doing it so that you get a unique barcode each time. Just read the instructions on the coupon. I’m not sure how long the promotion is going on, but the link still works.

Next goodie from the email is the SMG with a Twist night. July 21st for only a dollar . . . wait for it . . .  wait for it . . . . GOONIES! Okay, so I’m a big kid, but this movie is awesome and I love it and I get to see it on the big screen AGAIN and for only a dollar! See Samwise Gamgee and Jonah Hex as brothers! Did I mention that it was only a dollar! And you’ll still be out in time to stand in line for the midnight showing of Captain America!

And last, but not least, and this is not in this week’s email, FUNimation hosts an anime viewing every second Tuesday of the month. Best of all is that it’s free! That’s right, free. BUT, you do have to RSVP through their Meetup.com account. You can find that here and register for the next showing on August 9th. You can enjoy episodes 1-4 of BAKA & TEST – SUMMON THE BEASTS.