Major Spoilers Another Year Older! THANKS TO YOU!

Today is a day to celebrate – Major Spoilers turns two years old!  The last year has been a roller coaster of a ride with the addition of a little Major Spoilers-ite joining the family, legal wrangling with some poo-poo heads, the temporary hiatus of the site, and the huge return with more reviews, news, and a brand new podcast.

It’s been one hell of a year, and I have YOU to thank for it.

Last year I was barely in the new Major Spoilers Headquarters, and provided a behind the scenes tour of the establishment.  This year, you don’t want to see the mess the place has become (thanks in part to the ransacking of the Major Spoilers Toy Closet and subsequent eBay auctions).

When Major Spoilers shut down last October due to stress, the above mentioned poo-poo heads, and a little one waking the household up at all hours, it was a major setback to what I wanted to accomplish.  Thankfully, an understanding wife and faithful friends and readers helped the site return to its glory.

And even though we were away for three months, Major Spoilers has thrived since its return, with more visitors than we had last year at this time.  So to all the old readers, and the new ones – thanks for coming back!  I know you haven’t been disappointed.

Once again, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some really great public relations people from all across the industry, who have provided us with preview copies, advanced solicitations, sneak peeks, and helping to set up interviews for the site and the podcast.  I don’t normally call out people in my articles, but this time I really want to thank Chip Mosher and everyone at Boom! Studios for providing a wealth of great information for the site, plenty of great titles for review, and helping to set up our great interview with Mark Waid.  Chip Mosher is an example of a great comic book public relations person.  Keep up the great work Chip! And if you, Dear Reader, haven’t been reading titles from Boom! Studios, you should head over to the company site and see what they have to offer – there’s some really great stuff there.

While my contact list of companies continues to grow, I know the site hasn’t caught the attention of everyone, but we are working on that to bring you, one of the premiere comic and pop culture sites on the web.

Our second year has also been a year of expansion.  In addition to having Matthew write some really great reviews and Hero Histories, two other writers have joined the Major Spoilers crew.  Joshua S. Hill and Stacy Baugher have done a great job of bringing different perspectives to the industry.  Josh’s enthusiastic approach to all titles show there is still a great love for comics, and Stacy’s fondness for the golden age, have provided great non-Legion of Super-Heroes Hero Histories that not only give you a glimpse of yesteryear, but of things to come in 2009 with Project Superheroes from Dynamite Entertainment.
Thank you Matthew, Josh and Stacy for contributing to Major Spoilers!

In addition to our online writers, two other Spoiler-ites have joined the fold in the form of the Major Spoilers weekly podcast.  I’ve been podcasting for over three years on a show called The Coolness Roundup – The Tech Show for Everyone (www.coolnessroundup.com).  For two years I’ve wanted to do a podcast for comic and pop culture fans, but because of contractual obligations, I couldn’t launch the show until the time was right.

I’ve known Bryan for years – not quite as long as Matthew, but almost as long, and thanks to Karma, Bryan re-entered my life when our paths crossed during the production of a weekly medical call in show.  His co-worker Rodrigo and I would sit around before and after the television show talking comics and stories that appeared on Major Spoilers, and that’s when I knew the Major Spoilers Podcast would fly.

In order to make a great podcast, a couple of things come in to play; a dynamic group of people, and something interesting to talk about.  In the case of Bryan, Rodrigo, and now Matthew, it is apparent we get along really well and can have intelligent and fun conversations. If you have been listening to the Major Spoilers Crisis on Infinite Podcasts series, you know we also meet that second qualifier of being able to talk about a variety of topics.

When the show stared in February I was nervous the show wouldn’t be that good, or show growth would be excruciatingly slow.  Thanks to YOU – YES YOU! the show has grown by leaps and bounds, and I can’t wait to see what happens when the thousands of you help spread the word to make this one of the biggest shows out there.

Rodrigo, being the youngest member of the Major Spoilers Panel, brings a fresh perspective to the show with his worldly views and take on titles that he is just beginning to read.

Matthew, as always, steps up to the plate with his zingers, one liners, and more comic book knowledge walking around in that head of his than anyone I know.

And even though Bryan has had to step away from the podcast to get settled in his new job and to make sure his new child Chase Manhattan is off to a good start, I’m hopeful he’ll return soon as he brings such a wonderful new perspective to comics as he is both an old school comic reader, and the father of young children who is able to see the world of comics through their eyes.

You guys are the best!  Thanks for being a part of Major Spoilers!

Even with all the help of Matthew, Rodrigo, Bryan, Joshua, and Stacy, this site and podcast are nothing without YOU!  I not sure everyone is aware of just how special each and every one of you are to me.  I know there are other sites out there, but to know that hundreds of thousands of you out there make Major Spoilers one of your stops of the day is one of the high points of my day (the other high points of my day are of course my wonderful wife and child).  All the kind words I have received from you are special to me, and keep me going on days when things are really dark.

Even with the site’s return, huge growth, podcast and more, the site still needs work – it needs to grow and evolve once again.  Just like it’s weird to look back at pictures of my son from a year ago and see how much he has changed, it is equally weird to look back at this site and see how much growth, expansion, and change has occurred in a very short 365 days.

I’m always open to suggestions and ideas, and unlike other executive producers of similar websites, I’m just a click away and am always willing to listen to what you have to say.  I’m even happy to read criticism of the site and content because it proves two things 1) people are reading and 2) we can make people upset enough to comment or write back to us.  It’s even surprising what a well placed Troll or two can do to the site to make it better.  Heck, some of our better Trade Paperback Reviews on the Major Spoilers Podcast have come from direct suggestions by listeners and readers.

What do you want to see, what do you want more of, what can we do to make your experience even better?  Just send me an e-mail, and let me know!

Before I close this, I think it’s a good idea to give you…

A Preview of Coming Attractions

• Even more contests, both on the podcast and on the website – yes another costume contest is on the way, get those sewing machines warmed up!
• With our growing cadre of writers, expect more reviews on the site than ever before.
• Interviews with some of the leading writers, artists, and scholars in the industry today
• The return of the In/Out List
• More great podcasts to keep you entertained
• Did someone say video?  Hmmmm…. could be…
• Hero Histories
• Villain Histories
• and maybe even a singing monkey or two.

It been another great year.  I want Major Spoilers to grow, and I know you do too.  Please help out by telling all your friends, that stranger standing next to you in your local comic book shop, and your co-workers about the site. Heck, talk to that cute girl sitting next to you in class about the site, you’d be surprised at how many hot chicks dig comics.

Again, I feel honored to have you as a part of Major Spoilers.  From the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you enough for making this site what it is today.
Here’s to Year Three and more great things to come!

Cheers
Stephen Schleicher
Executive Producer
Major Spoilers