Back in the U.S.A.

I've returned from my annual visit overseas, and an enjoyable and fruitful trip to the United Kingdom it was. Whilst enjoying the sights and experiences that London Town has to offer -- with no less than three trips to see Superman Returns, including one memorable visit to the BFI Imax 3D Cinema -- I was also able to pick up an array of Flash back issues at the city's various comic shops.

My favorite comic store has to be the subterranean Orbital Comics in central London, near Tottenham Court Road tube station. Blink whilst walking down Charing Cross Road and you'll miss it, but they have a good selection of modern and silver age issues and decent prices. (Plus, the place has character. They always have an amusing Top Ten List posted. You can find photos on their MySpace listing.) Of course, it takes more than one comic supplier to fill the gaps in someone's collection. I also stopped in at Forbidden Planet, naturally, and Comicana on Shaftesbury Avenue, and though I didn't pay a visit to Krypton Comics their website proved helpful in tracking down some of the more elusive installments.

On top of all this, there was a noteworthy visit to London's Cartoon Museum. The collection focuses primarily on political cartoon of the past several centuries, but their second floor offers an array of comic book related art including original pages by the likes of Dave Gibbons and Jack Kirby. It was certainly worth the visit.

Not only do I hope to return to daily updates for this blog, but the back issues I've picked up will help me to fill in some slight gaps in the Crimson Lightning issue guide and series index. I've already posted an entry for The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #2 in an effort to keep up with the scarlet speedster. I'll simply say that you should watch the site. Some significant updates are on the way.

Hail Britannia! God save the Queen.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program...