#vintage st. valentine’s day cards | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

aion-rsa · 3 years ago

Text

The Many Saints of Newark Is a Trashy Gangster B-Movie, There’s Nothing Wrong with That

https://ift.tt/3uzeb2V

When I first walked out of The Many Saints of Newark, my initial reaction was to call it a B-movie. What I didn’t say at the time, however, was how much I love B-movies. While I saw the flaws in the film and couldn’t wholly endorse it to cinemagoers spoiled by the perfection of The Godfather, Goodfellas, and New Jack City, I can wholeheartedly recommend it to people like me. Those who appreciate the low-budget gangster movies sometimes because of their warts. A majority of fans of The Sopranos will have the same reaction: Meh, The Many Saints of Newark could have been better. So when’s it playing next? I plan to see it again, more than once, on the big screen.

In one of the film’s quieter moments, the Soprano family is gathered around a TV set, watching the classic Key Largo (1948). The specific scene on the screen begins when Humphrey Bogart’s cynical combat veteran Frank McCloud defuses a tense situation with the gangster Johnny Rocco. Played by Edward G. Robinson, Rocco is very loosely based on Charles “Lucky” Luciano, the godfather of organized crime, who had been deported and barred from American soil. He is suffering the same doubts Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) worries about in the pilot episode of The Sopranos: Are the best days of this “thing” over?

All gangsters want, as the black and white film explains, is more. Will they ever get enough? They never have. I don’t suppose they will. It is the same for gangster genre fans. We want more. And it doesn’t have to be great. “I don’t want it good. I want it Tuesday,” Jack Warner famously said about the gangster films his studio excelled in. Warner Bros. invented the gangster genre, and I felt a thrill when their name came first on the screen during The Many Saints of Newark. WB’s Key Largo is a prestige film. It’s got John Huston directing, he’d go on to make amazing mob movies, culminating with his magnificent Prizzi’s Honor. Key Largo boasts an A-list offering with top stars like Lauren Bacall, Claire Trevor, and Lionel Barrymore. And it’s a pairing of two legends who take their performances seriously, and believe in the art of acting: Bogart and Robinson.

But Bogart and Robinson made four B-movie gangster classics before they made the prestigious Key Largo: Bullets or Ballots, Kid Galahad, Brother Orchid, and The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse, which was so badly scripted that the two leads took to calling it “The Amazing Dr. Clitoris.” I’ve seen it eight times. Are there holes in the story? Of course. And they don’t get any better after the third viewing. What does get better is watching the performances of two professional actors in films they are on record as saying they did not like. Twice, as it turns out, because it was revived as a radio play a few years later, according to the book Bogart, by A.M. Sperber and Eric Lax.

Robinson played a psychiatrist, studying Bogart’s gangster, and the two characters bond while keeping a wary distance. This is very similar to the dynamic between Tony Soprano and Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) on The Sopranos. She even worried the mob boss was using their therapeutic sessions in the furtherance of crime, something Bogart’s character did in the B-movie gangster film, King of the Underworld, which is awful and I never miss. I love that movie, not in spite of Bogie’s misunderstanding of the meaning of “the moronic type,” but because of it. He doesn’t do that in other movies, even in the masterful B-movie gangster comedies, It All Came True and All Through the Night.

But Bogart also made Dead End (1937), a quality piece, which happens to be my favorite film, ever. Based on the play by Sidney Kingsley, it spends a lot of its time in the same way The Many Saints of Newark does: teaching the young generation how to be gangsters. This is seen even more blatantly in the film Angels With Dirty Faces (1938), which paired James Cagney with the Dead End Kids. But threads of this even reach the juvenile delinquent movie Blackboard Jungle, also not a big-budget film, but realistic enough to show the teenagers were actually moving swag for bigger names.

It happens in real life, the mob looks to street gangs for promising young movers. Future dons make their bones wearing colors. Gangster films capture this. From Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes) in Mario Van Peebles’ New Jack City to Spike Lee’s Clockers, original gangstas groom carbon copies. Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola) sees potential in young Tony Soprano (Michael Gandolfini) during The Many Saints of Newark. Great potential.

When Tony and his young gang hijack the Mr. Softee truck and give out ice cream to kids for free, it feels like The Sopranos creator and The Many Saints of Newark co-screenwriter, David Chase, was chasing the feel of the East Side Kids. Old Bowery Boys movies were aired weekly in the New York/New Jersey area when Tony was growing up, and all those movies were made by the icon of B-Movie studios, Monogram Pictures.

Monogram Pictures sat on Hollywood’s “poverty row,” and churned out pictures as fast as Detroit made cars. The Bowery Boys comedy troupe made almost a picture a month alone. But just like the Warner Brothers assembly line occasionally manufactured transcendent art, some of the cheapies are magnificently crafted. Sopranos fans should watch Angels in Disguise, one of the lesser-known gangster comedies, directed by Jean Yarbrough in 1949. It is, if not the first, one of the first mock-documentaries, and it is a good bet David Chase saw it, more than once. Leo Gorcey is even more of a master of the malaprop than Carmine Lupertazzi Jr. (Ray Abruzzo) on The Sopranos.

Monogram Pictures also caught the attention of French directors François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, who structured films based on their model, according to the book The Films of Jean-Luc Godard by Wheeler W. Dixon. It is no wonder, the studio’s almost-no-budget 1947 quickie Dillinger turned RKO contract player Lawrence Tierney into an icon of film noir. The Fall Guy, from the same year, dared to coke up the star Leonard Penn, and we’re not talking soda pop.

Also in 1947, 20th Century Fox’s low budget Kiss of Death introduced the screen audiences to the sadistic Tommy Udo. The role earned Richard Widmark an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and the admiration of “Crazy” Joe Gallo, whose insurrection against the Five Families of New York crime was the basis for Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather.

Low budget studio production paved the way for the independent film movement in America, which The Many Saints of Newark proudly emulates. Director Alan Taylor recently admitted to Den of Geek that he’s “drunk deep at the well of Scorsese,” and we can see Mean Streets all over the Sopranos prequel. Also in evidence is Barry Shear’s Across 110th Street (1972), which pitted the Italian mob against Black gangsters; John Cassavetes’s 1976 indie classic, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie; The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), directed by Stuart Rosenberg; and Abel Ferraro’s King of New York (1990).

The Many Saints of Newark is also too closely related to Wim Wenders’ 1977 gangster film, The American Friend, which cut corners on plot points as much as it did on budget. Logic is replaced by street smarts, and continuity is a game of three card monte in B-movie gangster films. The Many Saints of Newark is not exempt. There is a scene where one mobster’s mistress is sleeping with the rival for his turf. Except for one rude stare, the audience doesn’t see it coming. But how it turns out, with the convenient surf and turf to cover the evidence, is telegraphed from a mile away.

Movies

Once Upon a Time in America Is Every Bit as Great a Gangster Movie as The Godfather

By Tony Sokol

Culture

The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in Real-Life and Pop Culture

By Tony Sokol

Arthur Penn’s genre-redefining Bonnie and Clyde came out in 1967, the same year as The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Roger Corman spared every expense for his B-movie mobsterpiece. There are scenes where it is visibly apparent that a fleet of vintage background cars are just the same few automobiles driven in circles around the set. I’ve seen both movies multiple times, and enjoy them equally each time.

Just because The Many Saints of Newark isn’t a perfect film does not make it less of a classic. It certainly doesn’t make it less appealing for repeated viewings. The film follows a grand tradition of gangster filmmaking: street legal over mainstream currency, it could have fallen off the back of a truck. I would love to see whatever scenes were cut to make it fit into a two-hour viewing, because the film felt rushed. But I will watch it again.

The Many Saints of Newark premieres in theaters and on HBO Max on Friday, Oct. 1.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

The post The Many Saints of Newark Is a Trashy Gangster B-Movie, There’s Nothing Wrong with That appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3itcyz8

#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

3 notes · View notes

collectorscorner · 5 years ago

Photo

CC Blogger - New Arrivals @ Collectors Corner : Wednesday 2/12/2020

Complete list of items shipping to the stores, some items may be limited in availability. If you see anything you want to purchase on the list and are not a subscription member at Collectors Corner, just contact us and let us know if you want an item held at the stores. email - [email protected]

Subscription Membership & Free Membership Card : Collectors Corner's No Obligation (FREE) Membership Card or FREE (In Store) & ONLINE Subscription Membership saves you 10% Off ALL Bagged & Boarded Comic Book Back Issues, Board Games, Graphic Novels, Manga & Special Orders. Plus Never miss a comic again!

Computerized and organized + you can add and cancel titles on your subscription list from home on your own time, or in the store when you pick up your comics at :

Maryland's Coolest Stores! Since 2001.

3 Convenient Locations -

CC PARKVILLE HQ 7911 Harford Rd Parkville, MD 21234

CC BALTIMORE - OUTPOST 403 North Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201

CC BEL AIR - OUTPOST 17 N. Main St. Bel Air, MD 21014

www.collectorscornermd.com

AFTERSHOCK COMICS Pestilence The Complete Series HC, $39.99 Undone By Blood #1 (Cover A Sami Kivela), $4.99 Undone By Blood #1 (Cover B Andrew Robinson), $4.99

AHOY COMICS Dragonfly And Dragonflyman #4 (Of 5), $3.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS Archie 1955 #5 (Of 5)(Cover A Laura Braga), $3.99 Archie 1955 #5 (Of 5)(Cover B Rick Burchett), $3.99 Archie 1955 #5 (Of 5)(Cover C Cary Nord), $3.99 B & V Friends Jumbo Comics Digest #278, $7.99 Jughead The Hunger Vs Vampironica TP, $14.99

ARTHUR A. LEVINE BOOKS Agony House SC, $10.99

ASPEN COMICS Lola XOXO Volume 3 #5 (Cover A Siya Oum), $3.99 Lola XOXO Volume 3 #5 (Cover B Michael Sta. Maria), $3.99 Lola XOXO Volume 3 #5 (Cover C Siya Oum), AR

BENITEZ PRODUCTIONS Lady Mechanika Sangre #5 (Of 5)(Cover A Joe Benitez), $3.99 Lady Mechanika Sangre #5 (Of 5)(Cover B Brian Ching), $3.99 Lady Mechanika Sangre #5 (Of 5)(Cover C Joe Benitez), AR

BLACK MASK COMICS Lab Raider Volume 1 TP, $16.99 Loud GN, $16.99

BOOM! STUDIOS Alienated #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Chris Wildgoose), $3.99 Alienated #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Bengal), $3.99 Alienated #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Jamie McKelvie), AR Alienated #1 (Of 6)(Cover D Jamie McKelvie)(not verified by Diamond), AR Avant-Guards Volume 2 TP, $14.99 Big Black Stand At Attica GN, $19.99 Ghosted In L.A. #8 (Of 12)(Cover A Siobhan Keenan), $3.99 Ghosted In L.A. #8 (Of 12)(Cover B Sina Grace), $3.99 Hellmouth #5 (Cover A Jenny Frison), $3.99 Hellmouth #5 (Cover B Vanesa R. Del Rey Hellmouth Connecting Variant), $3.99 Hellmouth #5 (Cover C Jenny Frison)(not verified by Diamond), AR Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (Of 5)(Ibrahem Swaid 3rd Printing Variant Cover), $4.99 Ronin Island #10 (Cover A Giannis Milonogiannis), $3.99 Ronin Island #10 (Cover B Ethan Young), $3.99 Saban's Go Go Power Rangers #29 (Cover A Eleonora Carlini), $3.99 Saban's Go Go Power Rangers #29 (Cover B Miguel Mercado), $3.99 Saban's Go Go Power Rangers #29 (Cover C Amelia Vidal Album Variant), AR Saban's Go Go Power Rangers #29 (Cover D Johanna The Mad)(not verified by Diamond), AR Saban's Go Go Power Rangers Volume 6 TP, $16.99

COMIC SHOP NEWS Comic Shop News #1704, AR

DARK HORSE COMICS Art Of Mana HC, $39.99 Blackwood The Mourning After #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Veronica Fish), $3.99 Blackwood The Mourning After #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Evan Dorkin), $3.99 Criminal Macabre The Big Bleed Out #3 (Of 4), $3.99 Disney Cinderella The Story Of Movies In Comics HC, $10.99 Dreadful Ed And Mary Scary HC, $19.99 Stranger Things Into The Fire #2 (Of 4)(Cover A Viktor Kalvachev), $3.99 Stranger Things Into The Fire #2 (Of 4)(Cover B Claire Roe), $3.99 Stranger Things Into The Fire #2 (Of 4)(Cover C Jonathan Case), $3.99 Tales From Harrow County Death's Choir #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Naomi Franquiz), $3.99 Tales From Harrow County Death's Choir #3 (Of 4)(Cover B Tyler Crook), $3.99 Wes Anderson's Isle Of Dogs HC, $19.99 What's Michael Fatcat Collection Volume 1 TP, $19.99

DC COMICS Animal Man By Grant Morrison Volume 1 TP, $29.99 Batman And The Outsiders #10 (Cover A Tyler Kirkham), $3.99 Batman And The Outsiders #10 (Cover B Chris Burnham), AR Batman Pennyworth R.I.P. #1, $4.99 Batman The Dark Knight Detective Volume 3 TP, $34.99 Batman Vs Ra's al Ghul #4 (Of 6), $3.99 Batman's Grave #5 (Of 12)(Cover A Bryan Hitch), $3.99 Batman's Grave #5 (Of 12)(Cover B Jee-Hyung Lee), AR Billy Batson And The Magic Of Shazam Volume 1 TP, $19.99 Blackhawk Blood And Iron HC, $49.99 Catwoman #20 (Cover A Joelle Jones), $3.99 Catwoman #20 (Cover B Ian MacDonald), AR DC Poster Portfolio By Joshua Middleton TP, $24.99 Dollar Comics Batman #567, $1.00 Dollar Comics Green Lantern Rebirth #1, $1.00 Dollhouse Family #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Jessica Dalva), $3.99 Dollhouse Family #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Jay Anacleto), AR Flash #88 (Cover A Rafa Sandoval & Howard Porter), $3.99 Flash #88 (Cover B Michael Golden Card Stock Variant, AR Flash Giant #3, $4.99 Gotham City Monsters #6 (Of 6), $3.99 Green Lantern Season Two #1 (Cover A Liam Sharp), $4.99 Green Lantern Season Two #1 (Cover B Gerald Parel), AR Green Lantern Season Two #1 (Cover C Blank Variant), AR Harley Quinn And Poison Ivy #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Mikel Janin), $3.99 Harley Quinn And Poison Ivy #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Mark Brooks Harley Quinn Card Stock Variant), AR Harley Quinn And Poison Ivy #6 (Of 6)(Cover C Mark Brooks Poison Ivy Card Stock Variant), AR Harley Quinn And The Birds Of Prey #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Amanda Conner), $5.99 Harley Quinn And The Birds Of Prey #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Derrick Chew), AR Harley Quinn And The Gotham Girls TP, $16.99 Hawkman #21 (Cover A Raymund Bermudez), $3.99 Hawkman #21 (Cover B Trevor Hairsine), AR House Of Whispers #18, $3.99 Justice League Corporate Maneuvers TP, $24.99 RWBY #5 (Of 7)(Cover A Sarah Stone), $3.99 RWBY #5 (Of 7)(Cover B Stanley Artgerm Lau Card Stock Variant), AR Supergirl #39 (Cover A Kevin Maguire), $3.99 Supergirl #39 (Cover B Derrick Chew Card Stock Variant), AR Superman #20 (Cover A Ivan Reis & Joe Prado), $3.99 Superman #20 (Cover B Bryan Hitch Card Stock Variant), AR Superman Heroes #1, $5.99 Swamp Thing Tales From The Bayou TP, $16.99 Terrifics #25 (Cover A Dan Mora), $4.99 Terrifics #25 (Cover B Michael Cho), AR Wonder Woman #751 (Cover A Aaron Lopresti), $3.99 Wonder Woman #751 (Cover B Jenny Frison), AR Wonder Woman By George Perez Volume 4 TP, $34.99 Zatanna And The House Of Secrets TP, $9.99

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover A Lucio Parrillo), $3.99 Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover B Kunkka), $3.99 Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover C Joseph Michael Linsner), $3.99 Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover D Sanya Anwar Valentine Variant), $3.99 Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover E Mai S. Cosplay Variant), $3.99 Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover F Roberto Castro Bonus Variant), AR Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover G Roberto Castro Black & White Variant), AR Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover H Lucio Parrillo Black & White Variant), AR Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover I Roberto Castro Black & White Virgin Variant), AR Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover J Sanya Anwar Black & White Virgin Variant), AR Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover K Kunkka Color Tint Variant), AR Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover L Kunkka Black & White Virgin Variant), AR Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover M Lucio Parrillo Tint Virgin Variant), AR Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover N Joseph Michael Linsner Black & White Variant), AR Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover O Mai S. Cosplay Virgin Variant), AR Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover P Joseph Michael Linsner Black & White Virgin Variant), AR Dejah Thoris #3 (Cover Q Sanya Anwar Black & White Variant), AR James Bond #3 (Cover A Jim Cheung Fold Out Variant), $3.99 James Bond #3 (Cover B Jim Cheung Black & White Variant), AR James Bond #3 (Cover C Jim Cheung Tint Dressed Variant), AR James Bond #3 (Cover D Jim Cheung Tint Virgin Variant), AR James Bond #3 (Cover E Jim Cheung Pencil Variant), AR James Bond #3 (Cover F Jim Cheung Vintage Paperback Variant), AR Vampirella #1 (1969 Replica Edition)(New Printing), $6.99 Vampirella #1 (Adam Hughes CGC Graded Cover), AR Vampirella #3 (1969 Replica Edition)(Cover A Vaughn Bode & Larry S. Todd), $6.99 Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover A Babs Tarr), $3.99 Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover B Clayton Henry), $3.99 Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover C Leonardo Romero), $3.99 Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover D Lynne Yoshii Valentine Variant), $3.99 Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover E Shannon Kingston Cosplay Variant), $3.99 Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover F Drew Moss Then And Now Variant), $3.99 Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover G Roberto Castro Bonus Variant), AR Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover H Roberto Castro Black &White Variant), AR Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover I Drew Moss Black & White Variant), AR Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover J Drew Moss Black & White Virgin Variant), AR Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover K Drew Moss Tint Virgin Variant), AR Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover L Leonardo Romero Virgin Variant), AR Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover M Leonardo Romero Tint Virgin Variant), AR Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover N Leonardo Romero Black & White Virgin Variant), AR Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover O Drew Moss Virgin Variant), AR Vampirella Red Sonja #6 (Cover P Leonardo Romero Black & White Variant), AR

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS Comics Journal #305, $14.99 Cryptoid HC, $19.99 Original Art Daniel Clowes The Fantagraphics Studio Edition HC (not verified by Diamond), $175.00

HUMANOIDS Ignited #7, $3.99

IDW PUBLISHING Dungeons And Dragons Infernal Tides #2 (Of 5)(Cover A Max Dunbar), $3.99 Dungeons And Dragons Infernal Tides #2 (Of 5)(Cover B Max Dunbar & Jim Zub Character Sheet Variant), $3.99 Dungeons And Dragons Infernal Tides #2 (Of 5)(Cover C Max Dunbar Black & White Variant), AR G.I. Joe #5 (Cover A Chris Evenhuis), $3.99 G.I. Joe #5 (Cover B Ryan Kelly), AR Marvel Action Avengers Volume 3 The Fear Eaters TP, $9.99 Marvel Action Spider-Man Volume 3 Bad Luck TP, $9.99 Marvel Action Spider-Man Volume 2 #1 (Cover A Fico Ossio), $3.99 Marvel Action Spider-Man Volume 2 #1 (Cover B Sanford Greene), AR Napoleon Dynamite Valentine's Day Special (Cover A Christine Larsen), $3.99 Napoleon Dynamite Valentine's Day Special (Cover B Sara Richard), $3.99 Napoleon Dynamite Valentine's Day Special (Cover C Kate Sherron Valentine's Day Card Variant), AR Rising Sun #2 (Of 3)(Cover A Martin Coccolo), $4.99 Rising Sun #2 (Of 3)(Cover B Chieh Ying Yu), AR Sonic The Hedgehog #25 (Cover A Tyson Hesse), $4.99 Sonic The Hedgehog #25 (Cover B Adam Bryce Thomas), $4.99 Sonic The Hedgehog #25 (Cover C Nathalie Fourdraine), AR Sonic The Hedgehog #25 (Cover D Jonathan Gray & Reggie Graham), AR Sonic The Hedgehog Volume 5 Crisis City TP, $15.99 Star Trek Picard Countdown #2 (Of 3)(Sara Pitre-Durocher 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $4.99 Star Trek Year Five Valentine's Day Special (Cover A Christopher Jones), $3.99 Star Trek Year Five Valentine's Day Special (Cover B Derek Charm Valentine's Day Card Variant), AR Star Wars Adventures Volume 8 Defend The Republic TP, $9.99 Transformers 100-Page Giant Power Of The Predacons (Cover A Don Figueroa), $5.99 Transformers Valentine's Day Special (Cover A Jack Lawrence), $3.99 Transformers Valentine's Day Special (Cover B Sara Pitre-Durocher), AR Uncle Scrooge #54 (Cover A Marco Mazzarello), $4.99 Uncle Scrooge #54 (Cover B Marco Mazzarello), AR

IMAGE COMICS 20XX #3, $3.99 Ascender #9, $3.99 Clock #2 (Of 4), $3.99 Moonshine #16, $3.99 Postal Deliverance #7, $3.99 Rat Queens Volume 7 The Once And Future King TP (not verified by Diamond), $16.99 Reaver Volume 1 Hell's Half-Dozen TP (not verified by Diamond), $16.99 SFSX Safe Sex #6, $3.99 Sonata #8 (Cover A Brian Haberlin & Geirrod Van Dyke), $3.99 Sonata #8 (Cover B Brian Haberlin & Geirrod Van Dyke), $3.99 Space Bandits TP (not verified by Diamond), $16.99 Tartarus #1 (Cover A Jack T. Cole), $5.99 Tartarus #1 (Cover B Johnnie Christmas), $5.99

MAD CAVE STUDIOS RV9 #4 (Of 5), $3.99

MARVEL COMICS Aero #8, $3.99 Aero Volume 1 Before The Storm TP, $17.99 Age Of Conan Valeria TP, $15.99 Amazing Spider-Man #39 (Cover A Patrick Gleason), $3.99 Amazing Spider-Man #39 (Cover B Pepe Larraz Gwen Stacy Variant), AR Amazing Spider-Man #39 (Cover C Jie Yuan Connecting Chinese New Year Variant), AR Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection Volume 5 The Secret Of The Petrified Tablet TP, $39.99 Black Panther And The Agents Of Wakanda #6 (Cover A David Nakayama), $3.99 Black Panther And The Agents Of Wakanda #6 (Cover B Todd Nauck Gwen Stacy Variant), AR Black Panther Visions Of Wakanda HC, $29.99 Black Widow Epic Collection Beware The Black Widow TP, $39.99 Daredevil By Brian Michael Bendis And Alex Maleev Omnibus Volume 2 HC (New Printing), $100.00 Dawn Of X Volume 1 TP, $24.99 Dr. Strange #3 (Cover A Phil Noto), $3.99 Dr. Strange #3 (Cover B Kev Walker), AR Excalibur #7 (Cover A Mahmud A. Asrar), $3.99 Excalibur #7 (Cover B Ben Oliver Gwen Stacy Variant), AR Fantastic Four The TP (New Printing), $15.99 Gwen Stacy #1 (Of 5)(Cover A Adam Hughes), $4.99 Gwen Stacy #1 (Of 5)(Cover B Jee-Hyung Lee), AR Gwen Stacy #1 (Of 5)(Cover C Jee-Hyung Lee Virgin Variant), AR Gwen Stacy #1 (Of 5)(Cover D Todd Nauck Faces Of Gwen Variant), AR Gwen Stacy #1 (Of 5)(Cover E Jie Yuan Connecting Chinese New Year Variant), AR Gwen Stacy #1 (Of 5)(Cover F John Romita Sr. Hidden Gem Variant), AR Gwen Stacy #1 (Of 5)(Cover G J. Scott Campbell), AR Gwen Stacy #1 (Of 5)(Cover H Sara Pichelli), AR Hawkeye Freefall #3, $3.99 Hulk The End TP (New Printing), $17.99 Immortal Hulk #31 (Cover A Alex Ross), $3.99 Immortal Hulk #31 (Cover B Geoff Shaw), AR Immortal Hulk #31 (Cover C David Nakayama Gwen Stacy Variant), AR Iron Man 2020 #2 (Of 6)(Cover A Pete Woods), $4.99 Iron Man 2020 #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Michael Del Mundo), AR Iron Man 2020 #2 (Of 6)(Cover C Superlog Heads Variant), AR Iron Man 2020 #2 (Of 6)(Cover D Ron Lim), AR Iron Man 2020 #2 (Of 6)(Cover E Simone Bianchi Connecting Variant), AR Jessica Jones Blind Spot #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Valerio Giangiordano), $3.99 Jessica Jones Blind Spot #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Martin Simmonds), AR Life Of Captain Marvel Marvel Select HC, $24.99 Magnificent Ms. Marvel #11 (Minkyu Jung 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99 Marvel Tales Wolverine #1 (Cover A In-Hyuk Lee), $7.99 Marvel Tales Wolverine #1 (Cover B In-Hyuk Lee Virgin Variant), AR Marvel's Spider-Man The Black Cat Strikes #2 (Of 5)(Cover A Sana Takeda), $3.99 Marvel's Spider-Man The Black Cat Strikes #2 (Of 5)(Cover B David Nakayama), AR Marvels X #2 (Of 6)(Cover A Alex Ross), $4.99 Marvels X #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Well-Bee), AR Miles Morales Great Responsibility TP, $12.99 Morbius #4 (Cover A Skan), $3.99 Morbius #4 (Cover B Juan Jose Ryp Connecting Variant), AR Nebula #1 (Of 5)(Cover A Jen Bartel), $3.99 Nebula #1 (Of 5)(Cover B Mirka Andolfo), AR Nebula #1 (Of 5)(Cover C Andrew C. Robinson), AR Nebula #1 (Of 5)(Cover D Ron Lim Remastered Variant), AR Nebula #1 (Of 5)(Cover E Skottie Young), AR Ruins Of Ravencroft Carnage #1 (TBD 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $4.99 Savage Avengers #10, $3.99 Spider-Man Miles Morales Omnibus HC, $100.00 Spirits Ghost Rider Mother Of Demons #1 (Cover A Philip Tan), $4.99 Spirits Ghost Rider Mother Of Demons #1 (Cover B Stephanie Hans), AR Spirits Ghost Rider Mother Of Demons #1 (Cover C Aaron Kuder Design Variant), AR Star Wars Doctor Aphra Volume 7 A Rogue's End TP, $17.99 Star Wars Target Vader TP, $17.99 Star Wars The Rise Of Kylo Ren #2 (Of 4)(Will Sliney 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99 Star Wars The Rise Of Kylo Ren #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Clayton Crain), $3.99 Star Wars The Rise Of Kylo Ren #3 (Of 4)(Cover B Stefano Landini), AR Symbiote Spider-Man Alien Reality #3 (Of 5)(Cover A Greg Land), $3.99 Symbiote Spider-Man Alien Reality #3 (Of 5)(Cover B Ron Lim), AR Symbiote Spider-Man Alien Reality #3 (Of 5)(Cover C Alex Saviuk), AR Symbiote Spider-Man Alien Reality #3 (Of 5)(Cover D Phil Noto Gwen Stacy Variant), AR Symbiote Spider-Man Alien Reality #3 (Of 5)(Cover E Gerardo Sandoval), AR Symbiote Spider-Man Alien Reality #3 (Of 5)(Cover F Jie Yuan Connecting Chinese New Year Variant), AR Thor #3 (Cover A Olivier Coipel), $3.99 Thor #3 (Cover B Ryan Brown), AR Thor #3 (Cover C Dale Keown Gwen Stacy Variant), AR True Believers Iron Man 2020 Albert And Elsie-Dee #1, $1.00 True Believers Iron Man 2020 Arno Stark #1, $1.00 Ultimates By Mark Millar And Bryan Hitch Omnibus HC (New Printing), $100.00 Venom #23 (Cover A Mark Bagley), $3.99 Venom #23 (Cover B Skottie Young), AR Venom #23 (Cover C Humberto Ramos Gwen Stacy Variant), AR Wolverine By Claremont And Miller #1 (Facsimile Edition), $3.99 X-Force #7, $3.99 X-Men #6 (Cover A Leinil Francis Yu), $3.99 X-Men #6 (Cover B Philip Tan Marvels X Variant), AR X-Men #6 (Cover C Mark Brooks Dark Phoenix Saga 40th Anniversary Variant), AR

ONI PRESS At The End Of Your Tether TP, $19.99

RED 5 COMICS - STONEBOT Angela Della Morte #4 (Of 4), $3.95

SCOUT COMICS Gutt Ghost Seek Out Sensation #1 (One Shot), $3.99 Midnight Sky #4 (Cover A Scott Van Domelen), $3.99 Midnight Sky #4 (Cover B Scott Van Domelen), $3.99

TITAN COMICS Doctor Who The Thirteenth Doctor Season Two #2 (Cover A Hannah Templer), $3.99 Doctor Who The Thirteenth Doctor Season Two #2 (Cover B Photo), $3.99 Doctor Who The Thirteenth Doctor Season Two #2 (Cover C Andrew Pepoy), $3.99 Doctor Who The Thirteenth Doctor Season Two #2 (Cover D Claudia SG Iannicello), $3.99 Star Trek Voyager 25th Anniversary Special HC, $19.99 Tank Girl Full Colour Classics #3.2 (1994-1995)(Cover A Jamie Hewlett), $6.99 Tank Girl Full Colour Classics #3.2 (1994-1995)(Cover B Jamie Hewlett), $6.99 Tank Girl Full Colour Classics #3.2 (1994-1995)(Cover C Jamie Hewlett), $6.99

TOKYOPOP Kamo Pact With Spirit World Volume 3 GN, $10.99 Nightmare Before Christmas Zero's Journey #16, $3.99

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT Bloodshot #6 (Cover A Declan Shalvey), $3.99 Bloodshot #6 (Cover B Fritz Casas), $3.99 Bloodshot #6 (Cover C Miguel Sepulveda), $3.99 Bloodshot #6 (Cover D Harvey Tolibao Pre-Order Edition Variant), AR Doctor Mirage Volume 1 TP, $14.99 Rai #4 (Cover A Kael Ngu), $3.99 Rai #4 (Cover B Simon Bisley), $3.99 Rai #4 (Cover C Adam Pollina), $3.99 Rai #4 (Cover D Adam Gorham Pre-Order Edition Variant), AR

VAULT COMICS She Said Destroy Volume 1 TP, $17.99

VIZ MEDIA Fullmetal Alchemist Fullmetal Edition Volume 8 HC (not verified by Diamond), $19.99 Hayate The Combat Butler Volume 35 GN (not verified by Diamond), $9.99 Komi Can't Communicate Volume 5 GN, $9.99 Tropical Fish Yearns For Snow Volume 2 GN, $9.99

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT Belle Oath Of Thorns #5 (Of 6)(Cover A Canaan White), $3.99 Belle Oath Of Thorns #5 (Of 6)(Cover B Sheldon Goh), $3.99 Belle Oath Of Thorns #5 (Of 6)(Cover C Michael DiPascale), $3.99 Belle Oath Of Thorns #5 (Of 6)(Cover D Igor Vitorino), $3.99 Grimm Fairy Tales #35 (Cover A Riveiro), $3.99 Grimm Fairy Tales #35 (Cover B Caanan White), $3.99 Grimm Fairy Tales #35 (Cover C Josh Burns), $3.99 Grimm Fairy Tales #35 (Cover D Sheldon Goh), $3.99 Robyn Hood Vigilante #4 (Cover A Caanan White), $3.99 Robyn Hood Vigilante #4 (Cover B Jason Muhr), $3.99 Robyn Hood Vigilante #4 (Cover C Kevin McCoy), $3.99 Robyn Hood Vigilante #4 (Cover D Riveiro), $3.99

GAMES

WIZARDS OF THE COAST Magic The Gathering TCG Theros Beyond Death Booster Pack, AR Magic The Gathering TCG Theros Beyond Death Planeswalker Deck, AR

TOYS - T-SHIRTS & COLLECTIBLES Batman The Animated Series Batman 1000% Bearbrick, AR DC Comics Gallery Deathstroke PVC Statue, AR POP Animation Dragon Prince Ezran Vinyl Figure, AR POP Animation Dragon Prince Rayla Vinyl Figure, AR POP Disney Mulan Li Shang Vinyl Figure, AR POP Disney Mulan Mulan As Ping Vinyl Figure, AR POP Disney Mulan Mushu With Gong Vinyl Figure, AR POP Disney Mulan Villager Mulan Vinyl Figure, AR POP Disney Mulan Warrior Mulan Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Fortnite Fishstick Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Fortnite Giddy Up Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Fortnite Peely Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Fortnite Wild Card Diamond Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Mortal Kombat Liu Kang Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Mortal Kombat Raiden Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Mortal Kombat Scorpion Vinyl Figure, AR POP Games Mortal Kombat Sub Zero Vinyl Figure, AR POP Icons Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vinyl Figure, AR POP Movies Tombstone Doc Holliday Vinyl Figure, AR POP Movies Tombstone Morgan Earp Vinyl Figure, AR POP Movies Tombstone Virgil Earp Vinyl Figure, AR POP Movies Tombstone Wyatt Earp Vinyl Figure, AR POP Rides Mulan Mulan On Khan Vinyl Figure, AR POP Rocks Iron Maiden Killers Skeleton Eddie Vinyl Figure, AR POP Rocks Iron Maiden Number Of The Beast Vinyl Figure, AR POP Rocks Iron Maiden Piece Of Mind Vinyl Figure, AR POP Rocks Iron Maiden Skeleton Eddie Vinyl Figure, AR POP Specialty Series Marvel 80th 1st Appearance Kingpin Vinyl Figure, AR POP Specialty Series Marvel Fantastic Four Human Torch Vinyl Figure, AR POP Star Wars E9 C-3PO Vinyl Figure, AR Sangoku Soketsuden 29 Tien Ba Cao Cao Wing Gundam SD Model Kit, AR Sangoku Soketsuden 30 Gan Ning Crossbone Gundam SD Model Kit, AR Sangoku Soketsuden 31 Gundam Artemie Xiao Qiao SD Model Kit, AR Tron Select Series 1 Figure Assortment, A

5 notes · View notes

stone-cold-groove · 10 months ago

Text

Vintage St. Valentine’s Day card.

#vintage illustration #vintage holiday cards #vintage valentine’s day cards #st. valentine’s day cards #valentine’s day cards #vintage st. valentine’s day cards #holiday cards #valentine’s day #st. valentine’s day #saint valentine’s day #cupid

3 notes · View notes

formlesscopycat · 6 years ago

Text

More than the Roses

A Kuroko no Basuke fanfiction

Summary: Aomine is not into romantic words and gifts. Kise tells himself that it’s okay.

Tags: Established relationship, domestic boyfriends, future fic

Read on Ao3

I’m not one for surprises…

Because Valentine’s Day isn’t really our thing.

...

All I need is him.

Kise knows there aren’t any surprises waiting for him today.

No flowers.

No chocolates.

No cheesy love notes tucked on gifts carefully wrapped in fancy paper.

It just wasn’t their sort of thing, making a big fuss over the so-called day of hearts.

Daiki thinks it’s only a huge-ass gimmickry, the perfect ploy of flower shops and bakeries to wring out bucks from people’s pockets, as if love can be stowed into something too ordinary and tangible, not to mention, something that’s store-bought.

“Besides,” Daiki tells him, midnight-blue eyes serious, unwavering, “...you always knew how I felt for you, these gifts are too overrated, anyway.”

So Kise learns to dismiss all sorts of expectations, when a dash of crimson sneaks into his periphery, a delivery guy bearing a bouquet of roses approaches his desk (guy’s been the fifth one to do so today, because Kise’s desk is closest to the office entrance).

No, it doesn’t affect Kise at all, that the person the delivery guy had asked for is his co-worker, Takao Kazunari, whose head had immediately perked up at the sound of his name. Seated from the far end of the room, Takao is quick on his heels, bouncing beside Kise to meet the delivery guy and claim his gift.

And Kise ignores the slight twinge of jealousy ripping in his chest when Takao sniffs the roses, pulls the note card out from the tiny envelope and claps a hand over his mouth to suppress a laugh at what he just read.

“What did it say?” Kise dares to ask, he’s only curious, and that’s just about it.

Takao turns to him, cheeks aflame, slate-blue eyes practically sparkling. “Oh, it’s just my prudish Shin-chan! I just find it too funny when he’s being sweet like this.”

With lifted chin, Takao shows Kise the message.

Happy Valentine’s Day, gorgeous. Tonight is all ours.

Kise lets out a chuckle, it doesn’t sound like Midorima at all, he probably chose from the message templates that the flower shop had offered, but still, Kise would give him props for being the thoughtful and sweet boyfriend for this occasion.

“Tee-hee, that’s the love of my life! Gotta thank St. Valentine, we get to experience the cheesy side of our emotionally-challenged boyfriends even for once,” Takao remarks.

Kise chews on the corner of his bottom lip and goes quiet with a nod. For years, Daiki and himself hardly do anything special during Valentine’s Day, it just kind of... got obscured by their daily routines and busy schedule, more so because Daiki has been duty-bound and is always on-call as a police officer. It gets to a point where Kise no longer cares about Valentine’s Day too, doesn’t give much thought to it, that it completely slips out of his mind, until he walks to his office today and notice the considerable number of flowers, balloons and other gifts adorning his co-worker’s tables.

It’s even worse when Valentine’s Day falls on his and Daiki’s workday, like today, for instance. It gets ditched from their schedule altogether, in favor of other ludicrous activities such as getting groceries and stuff. Kise recalls not having to greet Daiki Happy Valentine’s earlier this morning before each of them left for work, he recalls that today will be spent just as ordinarily as the day before, there is nothing special, it’s just their laundry day.

So while other couples will be holding each other’s hands inside movie theaters later or having dinner at high-end restaurants or both, Kise can just look forward to... doing chores with Daiki.

How stupidly romantic and domesticated is that, Kise reflects.

Not wanting to be weighed down by such miserable thoughts, Kise schools his emotions just enough, lets up a forced smile to his lips as he turns his attention back to his friend.

“You know us, we just low-key celebrate because we’re both busy,” Kise tells Takao as he leans back against his chair, not quite sure if he just imagined the bitter aftertaste of the words in his mouth. “Just dinner at home and that’s it.”

“And wild sex,” Takao adds, casual and unabashedly audible, like they’re not anywhere near their other co-workers.

“Right, the sex,” Kise agrees, realizing that no one is paying attention to them. His friend is right, sex is his saving grace. That, at least, is something he can work on, bring Daiki into the mood and make him fuck Kise senseless tonight. With Daiki being a total beast in the sheets, maybe he’ll insist on using the handcuffs again…

“Now, now… I see your thoughts are seriously going astray!” Takao laughs, shoulders bobbing up and down.

Kise’s face grows warmer. “No, I was just thinking about what I’m supposed to cook for dinner.”

“You are the lousiest liar!”

“Am not!”

“Ahem!”

Kise and Takao both turn their heads towards their brunet co-worker, Oikawa Tooru. If looks could gut, both he and Takao will be bleeding immensely on the floor by now, Kise thinks.

“In case you two haven’t noticed, people are working here and we’re not interested in your sexcapades!” Oikawa hisses, a dour expression on his face.

“Talk to you later, Single’s Awareness Day hits some of us hard,” Takao whispers with a wink.

Kise watches as Takao sashays back to his desk grinning from ear to ear, admiring the rose bouquet he got. From the corner of his eye, Kise steals a glance at Oikawa, the Salt of Valentine’s Day, already typing furiously on his computer. Smiling to himself, Kise thanks his lucky stars, he might have no gifts waiting for him today but at least, he’s got a boyfriend who can keep him warm tonight, unlike Oikawa who’s been on a prolonged sullen mood, having been single for almost half a year, all alone on the day of hearts.

Kise reverts his attention to his PC screen and gets himself to work. He skims through thick pages of printed documents, sends emails and makes several long phone calls to clients and other associates to distract himself.

However, time trickles away, unbelievably slow and harrowing, and the pensive mood grows, sinking deeper and deeper within him, it’s almost impossible to overlook.

Kise tries not to overthink these matters even as several more delivery guys came in with flowers or cakes for his other colleagues.

He tunes out the hushed words of affection from his co-workers, sweet nothings whispered over the phone to their significant others. Grabbing his own phone, Kise takes a selfie with the brightest smile he can possibly muster at the moment, sends it with a quick text to Daiki, I miss you so much.

Hours went by. Daiki doesn’t reply.

Then comes the biggest discovery of Kise’s day.

Intending to replenish his stock of paper clips, Kise walks into the supplies room and hears suspicious noises, rattling the shelves somewhere. And he knows he can’t be wrong, because right there behind one of the steel cabinets, there’s Oikawa, oblivious to the world around him, too busy making out with the tall, broad-shouldered guy from the IT department, Ushijima-san. If Kise’s memory serves him right, Oikawa has been bad mouthing the poor guy non-stop since time immemorial, and now this.

Careful as not to burst Oikawa’s little bubble of fun, Kise retreats quietly from the supplies room, biting his lips to keep himself from laughing out loud at the irony of it all. He can’t wait to share the juicy news with Takao.

And when Oikawa bounces back to his office chair a few minutes later, he’s humming a soft tune under his breath and he’s noticeably less catty--the sly little bitch is flushed pink, the glow in his hazel eyes unmistakable. Further observing the brunet, Kise feels genuinely happy for Oikawa and then somehow, feels himself missing Daiki even more. For the gazillionth time, he checks his phone for any message though he knows, he knows…

...Daiki is just not that kind of guy.

And for all of Daiki’s shortcomings, Kise still loves him, all of him.

To cheer himself a little, he pulls up the gallery app from his phone, browsing and swiping through the countless saved pictures of Daiki. Shortly after, Kise finds himself smiling, and he tells himself not to sweat over the trivial stuff.

When Kise’s shift ends, he’s surprised to see Daiki already waiting for him outside the office. Kise finds him leaning casually against his black vintage Mazda, arms crossed over his chest, the first three buttons of his police uniform undone, his sexy smirk well in place and it makes Kise swoon, heartbeat accelerating.

“Hey,” Daiki says, hooking an arm around Kise’s waist. His other hand climbs up and trails the side of Kise’s face, a thumb softly grazing Kise’s cheek and for a moment, Daiki pauses, an affectionate gaze pulling Kise into the depths of his midnight-blue eyes, before leaning down to catch Kise’s lips on his.

Daiki doesn’t bring him flowers but then, Daiki doesn't really need to...

Closing his eyes, Kise lets himself melt into Daiki, everything becoming clear as crystal as he savors Daiki's presence. In that moment, Kise feels thoroughly ashamed for dwelling over thoughts of self-pity, yearning for words, for gifts that mean so little compared to all the years they spent growing together, the moments in between their shared lives, Daiki always rooting for him, challenging him, seeing the best in him, always fanning the flames of passion in his heart.

All Kise has ever needed is right there in front of him.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day isn’t really their thing. They have their own version of romantic, only it’s not anywhere under the spotlight of typical couple venues, of fine-dine restaurants, movie houses or concert halls.

And Kise concludes, they’re never the typical couple, anyway.

Today is laundry day, he and Daiki are doing it together just as they did on the weeks before, on all the years since the two of them decided to move in under one roof.

At the laundromat just a short walk from their apartment, Kise slips a few coins into the money slot of one of the washing machines before pouring detergent and fabric conditioner into the drawer while Daiki sorts the soiled clothes on a nearby table.

“Whites first,” Kise says. Obediently, Daiki hands him socks and shirts, few pieces at a time, while Kise tosses them inside the washing machine. Kise bends his knees a bit, peering into the opening, one of his hands pushing several pieces of clothing further inside the machine. He gestures for Daiki to hand him more clothing, his free arm stretched out towards Daiki behind him.

“Towels now...”

And instead of soft fabric, Daiki has put something else on the palm of Kise’s hand. Turning his head, he sees that Daiki has given him—

A small white box.

Next, Kise’s eyes are blown wide.

A glimmer of something small and precious, a golden ring inside.

“What—” Kise’s heart stutters, as also his tongue; all the words, the question, the awe remains trapped behind his throat.

“Roses are expensive, so I got you this instead.”

Taking one of Kise’s hands, Daiki gets down on one knee. Then Kise hears the words, the only words he never thought he’s been longing to hear all his life until now.

“I want to spend every Valentine’s Day with you, the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me, Kise Ryouta?”

Kise revels at the rich, honeyed baritone of Daiki’s voice, and for the briefest of moments, a flood of emotions well up in his heart, bringing with it fond memories that he and Daiki had weaved together over the years, starting from the instant that the ball had hit the back of Kise's head during middle school. They sweep across Kise’s mind, and he lets himself be buoyed through the bliss, through the turbulence of being endlessly in love with Daiki.

“Aho. You could’ve picked out a finer place to propose to me instead of here,” Kise whines. Not that he's complaining, he just can't believe this is all happening right now. With his heart drumming so hard in his chest, he worries that he’s gonna fall, he's so sure his knees have already turned into jelly.

“I want to surprise you,” Daiki says, gently squeezing Kise's hand. There's a very visible shade of red on Daiki's cheeks which Kise finds too adorable, and Kise feels proud he's the reason Daiki is blushing like that.

“You did a great job.”

“So it’s a yes?”

Kise grips Daiki’s hand and pulls him up from the floor. “Yes, of course, I’ll marry you, aho! In this life and in the next and the next!”

“You’re a cheesy shit.”

“And you want to marry this cheesy shit!”

As soon as Daiki slips the ring around his finger, Kise wraps his arms around Daiki’s neck, pulling his soon-to-be-husband by the nape, colliding their lips together in a kiss.

The ring grows infinitely warmer against Kise’s skin as he feels Daiki smiling in his mouth.

#aokise #my fanfiction #valentines #inspired by pandora valentine's campaign #implied midotaka #implied ushioi #for aokise discord event

37 notes · View notes