Empire's Graphic Novel Reading Club

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George Warren, KXTV News 10; John Marcotte
with Stella and Anya

Thank You, John Marcotte

We can't talk about the graphic novel reading club without first talking about John Marcotte. He's one of our amazing customers.

We can't thank him enough for first bringing the graphic novel reading club idea to us and then for bringing to life the Explicitly Graphic Novel Reading Club.

Watch for him at the shop and at discussions and be sure to meet him. There's a good chance you've already seen or heard about his daughters. In addition to raising two wonderful little girls, he's doing a lot of other amazing things.

Read Bill Willingham's Fables and Let's Talk


Therefore, we're pleased to announce that, starting Thursday, September 18, Empire's Comics Vault will bring back the graphic novel reading club.

Our first graphic novel selection is Bill Willingham's magical series, Fables. This first volume is a self contained murder mystery that introduces you too a host of fables, shown in a whole new light, living in New York City.

We will talk about the art, the story, the delivery, the characters and anything else that pops up about the selected Graphic Novel.

How To Participate

  1. Check out the line-up below to see which graphic novel or collected edition titles we'll be reading and discussing each month.
  2. If there's a title you're interested in, talk to Ben at the shop or message him via Facebook or Twitter, and he'll make sure there's a copy of the book for you.
  3. You may participate in one or all of the discussions or whichever ones interest you. Also, you can get the book at the shop or the library or the one that's already in your collection.
  4. Show up by 6:30 p.m. on discussion night, and we'll take over Empire's Lounge and get into the book! Feel free to bring something for yourself to eat and drink or something to share. There are decent food options on Fulton Avenue and a convenience store in the shopping center.
  5. Check our events schedule regularly for new and updated entries.

Graphic Novel Reading Selection by Month

Here's what we've selected to get started. If there's something we should consider, please let us know and we'll add it to our growing list of titles.

Community Connections at Empire's

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Looking to make some community connections with comic book creators or sci-fi enthusiasts? Then you've come to the right place. Entre vous, s'il vous plaît.

Welcome Farscape Fan Group


We're pleased to have Sac Scapers use the Empire's Lounge for a meetup on Saturday, September 6, starting at 2 p.m. They'll be meeting in the Empire's Lounge on the first Saturday of each month.

About Sac Scapers


Sac Scapers is a meetup group built around the sci-fi show Farscape. The group was started in early 2003 and has been going strong ever since. Naturally, the group enjoys other sci-fi entertainment as well. Their meetups include good conversation and sci-fi television. Bring your own food and beverage or something to share. New and old fans are welcome.

For more information, check the Sac Scaper's FB group.

Sacramento Comicbook Creators Group


The SCCG meets every Tuesday night from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and provides feedback, support, and instruction for local artists and comic book creators. It's a fine community to meet and work with.

To join, visit the SCCG Facebook page or just come on in and meet these fine folks.

For a complete list of Empire's events, check our FB Events page.


Transformers: Windblade Artist Sarah Stone at Creative Women Mini-Con 2014

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Sarah Stone, Artist
We're over-the-top excited to announce that Sarah Stone, the phenomenal artist on the Transformers: Windblade mini-series, will be a guest at our Creative Women Mini-Con on Saturday, September 20, 2014.

Meet Sarah Stone


Sarah is a new comic artist and illustrator currently working for IDW's Transformers series. Her first work can be seen on the Transformers: Windblade series, and her continued work can be found on covers for Transformers: PRIMACY, Legends of Baldur's Gate, and more.

Her next project will be the next Windblade series coming out in 2015.

Transformers cover art by Sarah Stone
September 2014 Previews cover by Sarah Stone

Before her comic work Sarah worked in the game industry, most recently serving as an Art Director for Gaia Online's mobile and web departments where she did concept art and character illustrations for games such as Monster Galaxy Exile, Heralds of Chaos, and Hordes of Nords.

To view Sarah's artwork, visit her blog, Monster Boys & Robots, or connect with Ms. Stone on Twitter, @fayren.

Date: Saturday, September 20, 2014
Time: 11 am - 4 pm (the store will be open until 8pm)
Location: Empire's Comics Vault, Sacramento (Map | Yelp)
Artist Sarah Stone with cosplayers
Sarah with Transformers cosplayers
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Food On Fulton: Field House American Sports Pub

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Field House American Sports Pub nachos
Steak nachos and beer
Restaurant: Field House American Sports Pub, 1310 Fulton Ave., Suite D, Sacramento, CA 95825, 916-487-1045

 Distance: 5 min. walking distance

 Best Features: 12 TVs, darts, shuffleboard table, good food, mix of favorite and local beers, Happy Hour Mon - Fri 3-6pm, good food.

Hey, there, comic book fans, we have a place we think you'll like for food and beer and good times, and it's right here on Fulton Avenue. Enjoy.

Everything You Need in a Sports Bar

This is a place you can take a bunch of friends to hang out, have some beers, some good eats, and one bang up good time. Whether you want a booth, a high table, a low table, a bar stool, a bench, indoor or outdoor, or a long-high-table, it's there. Make your self at home.
Field House Sports Bar Arden-Arcade
Darts room + couches
If you want lower prices, go at happy hour. The regular prices aren't outrageous. It's what you'd expect to pay, and best of all, the food is delicious and playful.

Lots o'Nachos


 Even in Ben's blurry picture you can tell that the nachos present well. It's pretty. And pretty delicious. None of our usual complaints here. The bean to chip ratio was excellent. The steak to chip ratio was good; although more steak is always better.

 And we enjoyed a dark brew to boot. Well, at least two. 
Field House American Sports Pub Arden-Arcade
Shuffleboard table

 Overall, our experience matches what we see and read on Field House's Yelp page. They own a solid average of four stars out of 50 reviews. Keep in touch with them on Facebook. We're looking forward to trying more from the menu.


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Doctor Who Premiere Party in Sacramento at Stirling Bridges Pub and Restaurant

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Painting of Peter Capaldi as Doctor Who
Peter Capaldi as Doctor Who
by Jeremy Rathbone, 2014
On Saturday, August 23, SacGeeks.com takes over Stirling Bridges Restaurant and Pub for a viewing of the Doctor Who premiere, featuring Doctor no. 12, Peter Capaldi.

It'll be a night of fun and games and adventure and food and drink and vendors and fundraising for Shriner's Children's Hospital. More than 100 people are expected. Maximum capacity is 300.

For complete details visit SacGeeks.com's event listing on Meetup or Facebook.

Note: If you can't make that, or if you want to see it again, check it out on the big screen at local theaters on Monday, August 25, 2014. Here's a link to the Doctor Who premiere at Century Theaters  on Ethan Way. It's the theater nearest Empire's Comics Vault.



Doctor Who Premiere Party in Sacramento

Date: Saturday, August 23, 2014

Time: Arrive early to get a seat; table sharing in effect to maximize space; first come, first served

Showtime: 8pm

 Location:
Stirling Bridges (Map)
5220 Manzanita Avenue
Carmichael, CA 95608

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Stocktoncon features Ben Schwartz, indie panel and Sacramento creatives

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Empire's Comics Vault's owner, Ben Schwartz, will participate in an Indy Publishing Panel discussion with Justin Orr, Jusscope Press, and Hainanu Saulque, aka, Nooligan, at this weekend's Stocktoncon.

In addition to running Empire's Comics Vault, Ben also publishes comics via ECV Press.

From what we've read on the Recordnet.com article,
"Pop culture event grows to two days in third year", this is going to be two days of pop culture awesomeness -- yes, we said, "AWESOMENESS."

Break Into Indy Publishing

Attend the panel discussion, and meet and speak with Justin, Nu, and Ben on Saturday, August 9th at 12 pm in the hotel board room.


DETAILS
Location: Stockoncon, Stockton, CA
Date: Saturday, August 9, 2014
Time: 12:00 p.m.

Sacramento Region Local Creatives at Stocktoncon

You'll also find Empire's Comic Vault's Artist of the Month, Jeremy Rathbone, exhibiting at Stocktoncon this weekend.

Ben and Eben, writers
Ben and Eben Burgoon
Then, at 2 pm on Saturday, in the same room as Ben's panel, shop favorite Eben Burgoon will teach on the topic, "Writing with Pictures."

Saturday at 4pm be sure to check out the 501st Legion (favorites at our annual Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con) in the University Plaza Hotel Ballroom.

Jason Dube, founder of Scattered Comics and the Sacramento Comicbook Creators Group (which meets in the shop every Tuesday night at 6pm) will also host a panel at Stocktoncon. Jason and Scattered Comics are also regular favorites at our annual Free Comic Book Day Mini-Con.

The Scattered Comics panel takes place Sunday at 12 pm in the University Plaza Hotel Board Rooms. Artist Krysten Reis, a favorite at Empire's Comics Vault's annual Creative Women Mini-Con, will be a panelist in addition to several others. More information at ScatteredComics.com.

Stocktoncon Programming Schedule

Source: Stocktoncon's Facebook Page

 SATURDAY

SATURDAY -- Kings Room 1 (Stockton Arena)
10am CLOSED
11am Comics Road Show (A-1 Comics) 10:30am
12pm Garage Art Studio
1pm Cosplay/Nerd Business Panel
2pm Cosplay and Acceptance
3pm Telltale Games Voice Actors
4pm Body Painting and Cosplay (Lee Kohse)

SATURDAY Kings Room 2 (Stockton Arena)
11am -Sac Horror Film Festival
12pm - Comics in Education - John Bultena
1pm - Star Trek - Daryl Frazetti
2pm - Davidson L. Haworth
3pm - Trivia w/Zombie vs. Shark
The "Marvel Masterpiece Theater" panel scheduled for 4pm has been cancelled.

SATURDAY University Plaza Hotel Ballroom
11am - Q&A with Billy Zabka/Marty Kove
12pm - League of Legends Voice Actors
1pm -Q&A with Danny Glover
2pm - Q&A with Denise Crosby
3pm - Geek Fashion
4pm - 501st Legion/Rebel Forces/Mandolorians
5pm-7pm - Costume Contest
7pm - StocktonCon Rockage Showcase

SATURDAY University Plaza Hotel Board Rooms
11am - Lazy Bones Studios (Ken Thomas)
12pm - Independent Creators with Justin Orr, Hainanu Saulque and ECVPress' Ben Schwartz
1pm - Collecting at Cons - Shawn Marshall
2pm - Writing the Pictures with Eben Burgoon
3pm - House of Doodle
4pm - Action Lab Comics Presents

SUNDAY

SUNDAY Kings Room 1 (Stockton Arena)
11am - JLI - Jon Guerzon
12pm - Draw Simpsons/Futurama with Tone/Bill
1pm - Draw My Little Pony with Tony Fleecs
2pm-4pm - STOCKTONCON AUCTION

SUNDAY Kings Room 2 (Stockton Arena)
11am Creatures & Characters of Star Trek/Star Wars
12pm Creatures & Characters of Star Trek/Star Wars
1pm Drawing Star Wars (Lee Kohse/Dan Parsons)

SUNDAY University Plaza Hotel Ballroom
11am - Kevin Gill Show w/Hacksaw Jim Duggan
12pm - Building Cosplay
1pm - Meet the StocktonCon Cosplay Guests
2pm-4pm -Kids Costume Contest

SUNDAY University Plaza Hotel Board Rooms
11am - Image Comics with Landry Walker and Justin Greenwood
12pm - Scattered Comics Presents
1pm - Go Genius Go with Michael Aushenker/Marcus Collar

Empire's Art Gallery features Jeremy Rathbone in August

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Artist Jeremy Rathbone
Artist Jeremy Rathbone and Boba Fett.

Artist of the Month: August 2014

Artist Jeremy Rathbone, from Sacramento, CA, will be featured in Empire’s Art Gallery for the month of August 2014, starting Tuesday, August 12.

Jeremy works in digital and acrylics and is well known for his Zombot collection. He enjoys science fiction and horror themes or a mashup of the two. He frequently displays at local galleries and conventions.

At Stocktoncon

This Saturday and Sunday he’ll exhibit at Stocktoncon, taking place at Stockton Arena. 

View more of Jeremy’s art in Empire’s Art Gallery or via @JeremyRathbone on Instagram. 

Watch EmpiresComics.com for more information about Stocktoncon. 
One of four new prints available at Stocktoncon.
Batman by Jeremy Rathbone

Rumluck Release Party on Friday, August 8

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Our Captain Dylan Hunt Welcome Party is this Friday, August 8, 2014 from 5-8 pm. 

That same night, right on top of that event, we're hosting a Rumluck Release Party in the shop, starting at 6 p.m.

If you supported local artist Hainanu Salque's Rumluck project, you'll be able to come by and pick up your copy. 

Please note that copies will *not* be on sale. ONLY those who supported the project and qualified for a book will be able to obtain one. Prints by the artist will be on sale to the public.

Dylan Update: Our poor pup has been sick, so we're not sure she'll make it. If she's up for it, however, then she will be there. We will continue with the refreshments and the sale. Also, Rolly will be present.

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Guardians of the Galaxy Movie Crew

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Thank you, Empire's fans! You really made a showing at last night's movie! Wow. And from the looks of the video we made you really loved it. Here's a photo from the night as a souvenir. Can't wait for Guardians 2, but there are so many great movies ahead for us before that.

Guardians of the Galaxy on July 31, 2014. Thanks for a great time.

If you are reading this and didn't make it last night, we hope you'll seriously consider joining us next time.

p.s. If you're in this picture, stop by to pick up the Rolly Buttons you earned!


Captain Dylan Hunt Welcome Party and Sale

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Yes, we're talking about Captain Dylan Hunt the pug! And we're throwing a party to officially welcome her.

Visit our comic shop for fun, pugs and savings


Mark your calendar for Friday, August 8. The party starts at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m.

We'll have snacks, drinks, pugs, couches, comic book and movie talk -- we'll probably still be talking about seeing Guardians of the Galaxy on 7/31! (are you joining us??) -- and, of course, a 3-hour sale... 'a threeee hour saaaale...'


The Dylan Welcome Sale


  • Bring the kids in for the sale and they'll receive pricing from Rolly's Comic Book Reading Club for Children! In this new program, new and back issues on the children's shelf are always available at 20% off cover price. Get more details and sign up your children at the shop!
  • 15% off trades, toys, back issues, variants. And if you sign up for Rolly’s Comic Book Savings Club, get 15% off any new comics you buy that night (instead of the regular 10% bonus).
  • Savings Club Members, aka, "Savers," will also receive 15% off anything in their saver.

Earn Rolly Buttons


Take a picture with Dylan or Rolly and post it on Instagram with the tag #EmpiresComics and #ThisPugNeedsAHug to receive double the usual Rolly Buttons! So, instead of one Rolly Button you'll earn TWO!

Recap

Date: Friday, August 8, 2014
Time: 5-8 pm
Recap: Sale, snacks, drink, pugs, couches, good times. Kids get 20% off cover price on kids comics on kid's shelf. Savings Club Members get 15% off books in their savers. Everyone gets 15% off trades, toys, back issues, and variants. Note: New books on the new books shelf are not on sale.


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Creative Women Mini-Con 2014 is Saturday, September 20

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UPDATE: Meet the complete line-up of Creative Women Mini-Con 2014.

This year marks our second year of showcasing the talents of local, creative women in the Sacramento and greater Northern California region. We're excited to lead the way in celebrating these creative women, and we hope you'll join us for this year's event on Saturday, September 20, 2014.

Looking back at Creative Women Mini-Con 2013


In 2013, we held our inaugural Creative Women Mini-Con. We featured twelve local, creative women and their creative works at our event. You took pictures with them. You talked to them about their craft -- from art to make-up to costuming to writing. This year it will happen again with creatives you may not have yet met.


2nd Annual Creative Women Mini-Con


Mark your calendars so that you don't miss this event, and watch our website for announcements of this year's guests.

Date: Saturday, September 20, 2014
Time: 11 am - 4 pm (the store will be open until 8pm)

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Members Only Game Night

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There was nothing but video games and smiles for miles at our last members only game night. Once a month we get together to play games -- board games, card games, dice games, video games, etc. We served pizza too! Yum.

Game night fun. View all photos in FB album.

Becoming A Member Is Easy


To become a member, just start a saver. What's a saver you ask? It's basically an in-store subscription list. You give us a list of the comics that you'd like us to set aside for you. We set them aside, and you pick them up when you come in. You can add titles and remove titles any time you want to start reading or stop reading something.

To start a saver and become a member, only 1 current comic book title is required. For complete program details, visit our Savings Programs page.

Let's talk benefits

Besides members only game nights, there's a year-end member appreciation party, monthly discounts and/or free comics. The savings plus freebies can add up, making membership even more lucrative.

We're a dog friendly shopPlus, best of all, if you sign up as a member by the end of the current year and keep your account in good standing through May of the following year, you'll qualify for special members only benefits at Free Comic Book Day, including a VIP line, a power-up on the FCBD sale, FCBD title pre-selection and more.

Pictured: Store mascot Rolly, the Gaming Pug

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