TV Review: ‘Comic Book Men – Season 2’
Kevin Smith, the director of Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma and many others is also the owner of a comic book store in Red Bank, New Jersey, called “Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash”, and this television show follows the guys who run the store – Walt Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, Mike Zapcic and Ming Chen (pictured above with Smith).
The idea behind the show is almost a comic-book themed Pawn Stars where the staff of the Secret Stash barter with clients who come into the shop to sell various comic book related items, such as books, toys, games and even the odd pair of “underoos”
This, the second season of the show, contains sixteen episodes, with each beginning with round-table style discussions lead by Kevin Smith as he talks to the staff of the store, Walt, Ming, Mike and Brian (each episode of the show is accompanied by a companion podcast, titled The Secret Stash). It’s often like listening to your run-of-the-mill comic fan discussing fantasy concepts or past experiences. It is funny at times, but also feels very scripted at times too, like most “reality” shows do nowadays. It’s obvious at times that the show is fabricated to make things seem more interesting when the show isn’t focusing on clients selling their wares. I’d prefer a show that purely dealt with that side of things, the comedy-type skits in here are mostly poor and uninteresting, in my view anyway.
Fans of Kevin Smith will get a kick out of seeing various cast members of Smith-flicks, such as Brian “Dante” O’Halloran (Clerks, Clerks 2) and Jason “Jay” Mewes. There is also plenty here to keep fans of comic book and collecting interested, with glimpses into highly collectable items and what the history of those items is.
Season 2 is a longer season than the first one and is a fun watch for the niche audience that the show is aimed towards and with a third season currently airing after the fourth season of The Walking Dead in the US there’s plenty more comics and collectables coming our way.
So, if you want to see a guy selling Daredevil Issue #1, two cage-fighters dressed like Jay and Silent Bob, and Stan Lee visiting “The Stash” then check out season two of Comic Book Men.
Snoogans.
