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Comic Book Review: Red Sonja: Wrath of the Gods #1

2010-02-07T19:58:00.000-05:00

Red Sonja: Wrath of the Gods #1

Plot: Luke Lieberman and Ethan Ryker
Script: Luke Lieberman
Art: Walter Geovani
Colors: Vinicius Andrade
Cover: Luccio Parrillo
Letters Simon Bowland
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99

When we think about sword and sorcery comics, we think of Conan the Barbarian, the most known, successful character from sword and sorc comics. Marvel Comics brought him to the medium in 1970 with their classic run, and really, any publisher printing Conan books has success with him. Dark Horse and now Dynamite have reputable runs with the character. Blood drenched sword fights, enchanting sorcery, and thrilling monsters make Sword and Sorcery an easy appeal, but let's face it, all you comic guys know part of the draw is the scantily clad women that inevitably grace the panels.

So it's odd that it took seven years before Red Sonja got her own title. She wasn't as successful with Marvel as Conan was getting only fifteen issues, but Dynamite Entertainment with around fifty issues as well as spin-off titles Queen Sonja and this first issue to a mini-series.

And Walter Geovani makes sure we know part of Sonja's appeal with his beautiful art. Geovani uses many large panels and two splash pages to show off Sonja's form, and we readers are appreciative. But if Marvel taught us anything, it's that hot, metal bikini clad redheads do not guarantee and successful book.

Luckily Lieberman and Ryker provide us with a gripping first issue. A red haired youth named Gamble tells Sonja that her red hair marks her as one of the Budini, a people perpetually cursed as the scapegoats of other peoples. With a shining ruby, he pays Sonja to go to Wodinaz, the home of the Budini. There is trouble there, and they need the help of a powerful fighter...like Sonja.

Lieberman and Ryker keep the mysteries abounding making us desperate for the next issue. Surely Gamble is hiding something. And when Loki appears on the last page, an army of monsters in tow, looking for Gamble, we're trapped. We'll pick up the next issue because we must know what is going on.

And, of coourse, who can pass up that metal bikini?

Comic Catch: February 3, 2010

2010-02-02T22:18:00.000-05:00

DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #896 - Story by: Stuart Moore
Art by: Shawn Crystal
Colors by: Lee Loughridge
Cover by: Humberto Ramos
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

"GOOD BUDDIES"

Get ready to hit the road with U.S. ACE, Marvel's truckin' hero! He's back behind the wheels of a big rig with an unlikely partner -- DEADPOOL -- and together they're puttin' the hammer down, ridin' the open road, and decapitatin' giant killer raccoons. Good times...if they don't kill each other first! Featuring the working-class villainy of THE HIGHWAYMAN, and the world premiere of the chart-toppin' "Ballad of U.S. Ace," composed and performed by Wade Wilson. What part of "Collector's Item" don't you understand?

DOOM PATROL #7 - Story by: Keith Giffen
Co-feature Story by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis
Art and Cover by: Matthew Clark
Co-feature Art by: Kevin Maguire
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

Oolong Island is picking up the pieces after the Black Lanterns' devastating attack. Former Patrol member Crazy Jane finds the island first, bearing terrifying news of what's to come… Plus, more Metal Men!

GOD COMPLEX #3 - Story by: Michael Avon Oeming, Daniel Berman
Art by: John Broglia
Cover by: Michael Avon Oeming
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Don’t miss this ACTION-PACKED issue!

Titans CLASH when Paul dukes it out with none other than Hercules in order to save the beautiful Sophia from the clutches of the god’s minions! And the action doesn’t stop there - For Paul, even saving the damsel in distress is COMPLEX!

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA ANNUAL #2 - Story by: Keith Giffen and Matthew Sturges
Art by: Tom Derenick
Cover by: Freddie Williams II
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $4.99

Reflecting developments in both MAGOG and JSA ALL-STARS this month, Magog finds himself the odd man out during a massive escape from Haven – and his own team thinks he's somehow responsible for the prison break! Turns out, Magog may have exposed one of the DC Universe's biggest cover-ups! Featuring 56 pages of thrilling JSA adventure from writers Keith Giffen and Matthew Sturges and artist Tom Derenick.

RED SONJA WRATH OF THE GODS #1 - Story by: Luke Lieberman, Than Ryker
Art by: Walter Geovanni
Colors by: Vinicius Andrade
Cover by: Lucio Parillo
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

While the adventures of Queen Sonja continue to thrill and amaze readers both new and old, follow the She-Devil with a Sword in a classic tale of the primordial gods themselves as Red Sonja faces the "Wrath of the Gods." Written by Luke Leiberman and Ethan Ryker, featuring the returning art of Walter (RED SONJA) Geovani, WRATH OF THE GODS explores the mysteries of Sonja's past, while presenting her with the malicious threat of Loki in the present! Can Thor, the God of Thunder, and Odin, the All-Father, aid the warrior woman and prevent their fellow god from destroying the very world? Featuring a fully-painted cover by Lucio Parrillo.

SAVAGE DRAGON #157 - Story by: Erik Larsen
Art by: Erik Larsen
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

"DRAGON WAR," Part Three

The Vicious Circle gets an upgrade--and Savage Dragon has never faced greater odds. This war just went nuclear!

SIEGE #2 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Olivier Coipel
Cover by: Olivier Coipel, Joe Quesada, Gabriele dell'Otto
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

The blockbuster Marvel event of the year goes full-blown carnage and madness as the biggest and most brutal battle in Marvel’s history brings together heroes from all sides. Lines have been drawn, and an unlikely hero will save one Avenger, but they can’t save them all. The Siege has begun and it claims its first victim as AN AVENGER WILL DIE!!

SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #12 - Story by: Greg Rucka, James Robinson
Art by: Pete Woods, Ron Randall
Cover by: Gary Frank
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Now that the conspiracy involving New Krypton's council has been brought to light, can Superman keep his people from tearing each other apart? And what does a skull-shaped ship flying towards New Krypton mean?

ULTIMATE COMICS X #1 - Story by: Jeph Loeb
Art by: Art Adams
Colors by: Peter Steigerweld
Letters by: Comicraft
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Who - or what - is Ultimate X? The answers and even more secrets arrive in the all new ULTIMATE X ongoing bi-monthly series from the superstar dream team of JEPH LOEB and ART ADAMS. Wolverine is dead. Captain America is a fugitive. The Fantastic Four disbanded. Lives have been destroyed and nothing can ever be the same - is there any hope left? It all begins with a search for a brand new character whose identity will leave jaws on the floor and change the Ultimate Universe forever.

Cool New Small Press Titles in April

2010-01-31T10:04:00.000-05:00

Cavewoman: Extinction - Story by: Rob Durham
Art by: Rob Durham
Publisher: Basement Comics
Cover Price: $3.75
Product Code: FEB100724

While exploring an immense cavern just on the other side of the town limits, four kids accidentally destroy the egg of one of the cave's deadliest inhabitants. Blindly fleeing from certain death, three manage to escape without harm but one is left behind in the panic to face the wrath of the enraged creature alone! The three that got away look to the only person who can help - Cavewoman!

Hack/Slash and Mercy Sparx: A Slice of Hell - Story by: Josh Blaylock
Art by: Joe Song
Cover by: Tim Seeley; Matt Merhoff
Publisher: Devil's Due Publishing
Cover Price: $5.99
Product Code: FEB100798/FEB100799

Angels and Demons, Slashers and Killers - discerning them can all get so confusing. What happens when Mercy and Hank need the relic of a slasher on Cassie and Vlad’s hit list? Even worse, when the slasher wants it back? It’s a fun violent romp that brings DDP’s sexiest seductresses together for the first time.

Kill Shakespeare #1 - Story by: Conor McCreery and Anthony Del Col
Art by: Andy Belanger
Covers by: Kagan McLeod; Andy Belanger
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
Product Code: FEB100959

What Fables does for fairy tales, Kill Shakespeare does with the greatest writer of all time. This dark take on the Bard pits his greatest heroes (Hamlet, Juliet, Othello Falstaff) against his most menacing villains (Richard III, Lady Macbeth, Iago) in an epic adventure to find and kill a reclusive wizard named William Shakespeare. This debut— featuring a full 32-page story—will change the way you look at Shakespeare forever.

The Light #1 - Story by: Nathan Edmondson
Art by: Brett Weldele
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Product Code: FEB100336

In Oregon, a mysterious virus infects anyone that looks into an electric light. The few survivors include a father escaping town with his blindfolded daughter as the infected burn alive from the inside out. A fierce, action-packed and gritty tale of survival, THE LIGHT is 28 DAYS LATER meets 30 DAYS OF NIGHT.

Pilot Season: Hardcore #1 - Story by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Brian Stelfreeze
Cover by: Marc Silvestri
Publisher: Top Cow/Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Product Code: FEB100414

Once the hard core is shot into the back of your neck, an assassin’s brain waves can be transmitted into your body–circumventing your brain functions–taking complete control of your body. When assassins use this technology–your killer can be anyone; your barber, your neighbor or your wife. They are the best assassins in the world–but what happens when one of their own turns against them? Who can you trust when your enemy can change his appearance as easy as someone changes a shirt?

Splatterman - Story by: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by: Giancarlo Caracuzzo and Paul Mounts
Letters by: Bill Tortolini
Cover by: Tim Bradstreet
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $6.99
Product Code: FEB100351

SPLATTERMAN is the blood soaked story of two comic creators and their ultimate horror character creation gone very bad. After receiving the publishing deal they've long sought after, they soon find a strong enough imagination can be twisted for chilling purposes. For this done-in-one graphic novella that truly lives up to its title, Palmiotti, Gray and Caracuzzo are joined by WANTED's Paul Mounts, letterer Bill Tortolini and famed cover artist Tim Bradstreet.

Voyages of the She-Buccaneer: Origins #1 - Story by: Will Hughes and Heidi Hughes
Art by: Will Hughes and Heidi hughes
Publisher: Great Big Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Product Code: FEB100929

The Lusty Lady of the Deep Blue Sea returns for a fanciful retelling of her origins which includes real pirates like Blackbeard, Ann Bonney, Mary Read, Calico Jack Rackham, and Charles Vane. Her three-part origin story is firmly set in a historical context and seasoned by the rambling memories of a drunken pirate narrator, with romance and epic pirate adveture upon the high seas. And if that isn't enough, there's her first session with evil Governer William Truk's sadistic torture rack.

Comic Catch: January 27, 2010

2010-01-25T19:38:00.000-05:00

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #619 - Story by: Dan Slott
Pencils by: Marcos Martin
Inks by: Array
Colors by: Javier Rodriguez
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Marcos Martin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: 2.99

MYSTERIOUS: Chapter Two "Re-Appearing Act" SPIDER-MAN versus MYSTERIO! How long can Mysterio play with Spidey's head before the web-slinger finally snaps?! The mind games keep ratcheting up as the body count goes up, down, and...into the negatives? Some bad guys just won't die and others can't stay dead! So which long-thought deceased Spider-Man character is back now?! It may only be January, but get ready for the most unbelievable Spider-Man moment of the year!

BLACKEST NIGHT JSA #2 - Story by: James Robinson
Art by: Eddy Barrows and Ruy José
Cover by: Eddy Barrows and Nei Ruffino
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

BLACKEST NIGHT continues! Black Lantern Lois Lane tracks down her undead husband, but their reunion could mean Power Girl's funeral! Don't miss this terrifying tie-in from James Robinson and Eddy Barrows!

CHEW #8 - Story by: John Layman
Art and Cover: Rob Guillory
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

"INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR," Part Three
Introducing Poyo! In the cockfighting ring, Poyo is almost impossible to defeat. This makes Poyo's owners very, very rich. It also has a habit of making Poyo's owners very, very dead. Guess who gets assigned to track down Poyo, and the murderers who have stolen him?

DETECTIVE COMICS #861 - Story by : Greg Rucka
Art by: Jock, Cully Hamner
Cover by: JH Williams III
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

It's double the detectives with Batman and Batwoman in for part one of "Cutter"! Batwoman investigates a string of grisly attacks that have left the victims mutilated, or, worse, dead. But what does this case have to do with the kidnapping of a socialite from ten years ago, and what evidence can The Dark Knight himself bring to light on this macabre mystery? Featuring guest Art by acclaimed illustrator Jock (THE LOSERS, GREEN ARROW: YEAR ONE)!And in the co-feature, the Huntress and The Question find themselves in over their heads as a gunrunning case leads them to the business end of a double-barrel shotgun!

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep #8 - Story by: Philip K. Dick
Art by: Tony Parker
Cover by: Brett Weldele, Scott Keating
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

From the bestselling book that inspired the film Blade Runner! Things heat up in this issue of Philip K. Dick’s masterpiece as Deckard’s tireless hunt for the Nexus-6 androids continues. Although they are not easy to identify, staying alive may prove to be the hardest part of Deckard’s quest!

FANTASTIC FOUR #575 - Story by: Jonathan Hickman
Art by: Dale Eaglesham
Colors by: Paul Mounts
Cover by: Alan Davis
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Kicking off the world-spanning new adventures of the Fantastic Four, this is part one of the Prime Elements arc: The Hidden City of the High Evolutionary! Featuring the return of the Mole Man, the architecture of the underworld, and the smartest Moloid you'll ever meet. Don't miss it!

GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #22 - Story by: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning
Art by: Brad Walker
Colors by: Jay David Ramos
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Alex Garner
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

A REALM OF KINGS ISSUE! Holy Octo-mom! What's growing in Moondragon's belly, why is the Universal Church of Truth obsessed with keeping her, and can the Guardians rescue her before the planet they're on goes supernova? Find out in the series that IGN calls "Impressive...Brad Walker's pages are a dazzling sight...Guardians of the Galaxy is still standing tall and strong."

IRREDEEMABLE #10 - Story by: Mark Waid
Art by: Peter Krause, Diego Barreto
Cover by: Paul Azaceta, Dan Panosian
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

Revealed at last–the secrets behind the Bette/Gilgamos/Plutonian triangle as we learn just what brought Gilgamos to the Paradigm team originally–and why he may never trust any one of his former friends ever again! An apocalyptic superhero ongoing by the author of multiple Eisner Award-winning KINGDOM COME and EMPIRE!

JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #6 - Story by: James Robinson
Art and Cover by: Mauro Cascioli
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

After a shocking loss, Prometheus reveals an even greater threat to the team than they thought possible! How will this new crisis change the face of the DC Universe? Find out in the penultimate chapter of this groundbreaking miniseries event!

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41 - Story by: James Robinson
Art and covers: by Mark Bagley and Rob Hunter
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

Be here for the start of a new Justice League era! The JLA have been getting a pounding in the last couple of months, but NO MORE! The team regroups with a new roster that will transcend time and space! Make way for the World's Greatest Heroes – Batman, Green Lantern, the Atom, Green Arrow, Donna Troy, the Guardian, Cyborg, Mon-El, Starfire, Dr. Light and, yes, Congorilla!

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #35 - Story by: Bill Willingham
Art by: Travis Moore and Dan Green
Cover by: Jesus Merino
Publisher: DC
Cover Price $2.99

It's all-out war as the leaner, meaner Justice Society of America confront another intruder in their midst! But this time it's bad news for their enemy, as he's facing a team that has learned from its past mistakes! The new incarnation of the Justice Society is more together than ever!

KICK-ASS #8 - Story by: Mark Millar
Art by: John Romita Jr., Tom Palmer
Colors by: Dean White
Letters by: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover by: John Romita Jr.
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

THIS IS IT!!! The final confrontation as KICK-ASS and HIT GIRL test their mettle. Bodies will fly and bad guys will die as the biggest surprise hit super hero comic of the twenty-first century reaches shocking new heights! Who will live? Who will be morally outraged? MARK MILLAR (WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN) and JOHN ROMITA JR. (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) know the answers—and they hold NOTHING BACK in what’s sure to be the most talked-about single issue of the year!

NEW AVENGERS #61 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Stuart Immonen
Colors by: Dave McCaig
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Steve Rogers makes his triumphant return to the Avengers, but is he too late? With the SIEGE on Asgard begun, he must act swiftly, but who can he turn to and trust in a world with Norman Osborn in charge? When the gods fall, what chance does a Super Soldier stand? The biggest shake up since DISASSEMBLED starts here!

PREDATOR #4 - Story by: John Arcudi
Art by: Javier Saltares
Cover by: Raymond Swanland
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

Think that a third-world civil war is messy? How about an off-world civil war? Caught in the middle of a blood feud between rival Predator clans in an east African war zone, private military contractor Thorpe barely makes it back to base with his hide intact after a pitched firefight with a squad of extraterrestrial marauders. But clean sheets and hot chow will provide cold comfort once the alien killers and their lethal technology track Thorpe down, and he has precious little time to marshal the Graham Directive Security crew for a desperate defense. They might have had a chance had they not lost their most potent ally, a lone rival Predator warrior, but now Thorpe and the GDS soldiers are out of options and out of time as they prepare to make their stand-their last stand.

PUNISHER #13 - Story by: Rick Remender
Art by: Tony Moore
Colors by: Dan Brown
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

"FRANKEN-CASTLE," PART 3

Trapped in the dank tunnels under New York, surrounded by a savage team of Japanese monster hunters, filthy in the blood of his friends, Frank Castle turns, lifts a giant rifle and smiles. They aren't prepared for this, you aren't prepared for this, an entire issue loaded full, completely dedicated to bleeding, sweet, revenge-splattered murder in traditional hardcore Punisher style. Frank's been through hell -- time to give a little back.

Robocop #1 - Story by: Rob Williams
Art by: Fabiano Neves
Colors by: Diogo Nascimento
Cover by: Stephen Segovia, Johnny D
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.50

Dynamite Entertainment proudly presents the dynamic debut of Robocop by writer Rob (Classwar) Williams and artist Fabiano (MARVEL ZOMBIES VS. THE ARMY OF DARKNESS) Neves! Under two awesome covers - one by the sensational Stephen Segovia and the other by Dynamite's newest artistic sensation (and the pupil of artist David Finch) Johnny D! - Dynamite goes back to basics as it unveils the dystopian, deeply satirical, and all-out violent world of Robocop.

This is ROBOCOP meets the conspiracy theory mystery of ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, following on from Paul Verhoeven's original by mixing high action, extreme violence and satire. Plus: the return of ED-209!

SUPERMAN #696 - Story by: James Robinson
Art by: Bernard Chang
Cover by: CAFU
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

"Man of Valor" Part 3! Picking up plot threads from ACTION COMICS #885, the Guardian, Nightwing and Flamebird are hot on the trail of General Zod's Metropolis sleeper agent. But just as they're about to uncover who the sleeper is, tragedy strikes, which leads to a completely different revelation. Seeds for this issue's surprising twist were planted all the way back in James Robinson's first issue – so don't miss it!

SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN #4 - Story by: Geoff Johns
Art by: Gary Frank and Jon Sibal
Covers by: Gary Frank
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

While everyone wants something from Metropolis' first Super Hero, Superman must fight his first Super-Villain – someone who wants everything – the Parasite! Meanwhile, Lex Luthor turns his attention toward The Man of Steel...

ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #1 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Rafa Sandoval
Cover by: Ed McGuinness
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Who is the face of true evil in the Ultimate Universe? What is the biggest secret the world doesn't know? Join the gathered heroes as they embark on an adventure unlike anything seen in Marvel Comics...and that's a promise!! Ultimate Universe co-founder, BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (Ultimate Spider-Man, Secret Invasion) and rising star Rafa Sandoval (Avengers: The Initiative) unveils this important new chapter in the most exciting line in comics!

WALKING DEAD #69 - Story by: Robert Kirkman
Art and Cover by: Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

At long last... they arrive. But will things get better... or WORSE?

WOLVERINE WENDIGO #1 - Story by: Frank Tieri
Art by: Paco Diaz, Paul Gulacy
Colors by: Thomas Mason
Cover by: Ben Oliver
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

A camera crew torn limb from limb attempting to shoot footage of a mythical beast in the deepest forests of Canada. Two survivors spouting wildly diverging stories about a ferocious, white-furred monster and the mysterious stranger that came to their rescue. How are the police to make heads or tails of all of this? Let's go to the videotape! Also featuring: "Wolverine Vs. Thor": Want to see what happens when a jerky-chewing kanuckle-head steps up to the Asgardian God of Thunder? Let's just say that it doesn't involve tea and biscuits. Featuring Wolverine and Logan in their first encounter, which first debuted on MARVEL DIGITAL COMICS.

X-FACTOR #201 - Story by: Peter David
Art by: Bing Cansino
Colors by: Jeremy Cox
Cover by: David Yardin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Something is rotten in the state of Latveria. How does it relate to the disappearance of the Invisible Woman? How does it involve Layla Miller, and is she now an ally of Doctor Doom, with all of her precious knowledge at his disposal? Will Madrox learn exactly who is buried beneath that mysterious grave? And will you buy the issue in order to find out? We dunno; what're we, psychic?

X-MEN LEGACY #232 - Story by: Mike Carey
Art by: Clay Mann
Cover by: Adi Granov
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

"NECROSHA"

A classic X-Villain hitched a ride on Destiny's body when Selene brought her back from the dead. But this villain doesn't want to be part of the Black Queen's master plan. He's got his own agenda. So it's up to Rogue, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Psylocke, Husk, Blindfold and MAGNETO (what? You haven't been reading UNCANNY X-MEN?!?!) to take this villain down. Part 2 (of 3)

Comic Book Review: Fearless Dawn #2

2010-01-24T18:14:00.001-05:00

Written and Illustrated by: Steve Mannion
Colors: Frank Forte and Steve Mannion
Publisher: Asylum Press
Cover Price: $2.95

I had meant to pick up Fearless Dawn #1, but there was some mix up at Ye' Ol' Comic Shop and I never got it, but they got me Fearless Dawn #2. First thing that makes this a good purchase is the cover...We know Nazis are the best villains and are to be hated, but scantily clad Nazi vixens are comic staples which can't be ignored, right up there with gorillas and jungle women in leopard bikinis.

So I'm not going to claim I understand everything that is going on. Our alluring Nazi villainess is Helga and she's trapped Fearless Dawn and Number 7 in her dungeon, so they take some drug which turns them into monsters so that they can escape. In many respects, Fearless Dawn feels like a golden age book with the plot being focused on the simple pummeling of Nazis. Helga and the monstrous General remind me of the old Whiz Comics with Captain Marvel fighting inept villains in a campy, slapstick style. Add in the cheesecake shots of Fearless Dawn, Helga, and Agent Betty, with visable garters even, and you have a fun throwback to simpler comic days. Let's face it, not everything has to be melodramatic mega-events. After reading a stack of Bendis, Ellis, and Millar, a lighthearted, straightforward slugfest is a nice respite. Which, if that sounded like a backhanded compliment, it shouldn't. It should be taken as a straghtforward compliment.

I'm glad Ye' Ol' Comic Shop got me Fearless Dawn #2 because I wouldn't have known about this fun book with nice art from Mannion. Naturally with a cheesecake focused title such as Fearless Dawn, the art has to be able to carry the allure, and sure enough, Mannion pulls it off. I mean check out Agent Betty!

2010-01-24T11:25:00.001-05:00

Here at Evil Genius Comics we tend to focus on the underdog...

No, not that Underdog, though I have the utmost respect for Shoeshine Boy's alter ego (though Shoeshine himself was kind of annoying). No, I mean the indy comic underdogs.

Anywawy, even though the Big Two get enough press to choke Galactus with still enough left over to make Ego the Living Planet request a steak knife, I felt like this project, due out April 7, 2010, deserved some recognition. This will be Zalben's first Marvel series. He was published by Marvel in Hulk Team-Up with a back-up to that one-shot with Allison Blaire, the Dazzler, developing the hots for little ol' Bruce Banner. Many reviewers found the back-up a better piece than the main story. Now Zalben's getting a four issue mini pairing Thor with the Power Pack...oh, and the real selling point for me, the Pet Avengers get mixed in as well!

Need more than the solicitation below to help you decide to pick this book up in April? Then check out these interviews at Newsarama and Marvel.com, Zalben's blog, and his video seen world wide, Minesweeper: The Movie (after the solicitation):

Marvel.com Interview
Newsarama Interview
Alex Zalben's Website

Thor and the Warriors Four
Story by: Alex Zalben
Pencils by: Gurihiru
Inks by: Array
Cover by: Gurihiru
Publisher: Marvel Comics
PRICE: 2.99

THE STORY:
It all starts here! Power Pack’s biggest adventure ever begins, as they desperately search for the only person who can save the life of their grandmother – THE MIGHTY THOR! But first, they’re going to need to get to Asgard, and that means joining forces with Frog Thor...And THE PET AVENGERS! An epic tale that starts with a book of myths and ends with the destruction of the entire world, this is a journey into mystery that will leave Power Pack changed – forever!

Cool New Indy Titles in March

2010-01-23T09:49:00.000-05:00

Arcana Presents 2010
Story by: Various
Art by: Various
Publisher: Arcana Studios
Cover Price: $0.25
UPC Code: 89808400125510004

Featuring all-new, never-before-published content on The Greatest American Hero, Kade, and the Return of Ant! Plus, a sneak peak at upcoming titles and some major surprises! This is the one book we promise you won't want to miss!

Kevin Smith's Green Hornet #1

Story by: Kevin Smith
Art by: Jonathan Lau
Covers by: Alex Ross, John Cassaday, J. Scott Campbell, and Stephen Segovia
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
UPC: 725130137067

The Green Hornet is back and Dynamite is the new home for the avenging hero and his faithful sidekick, Kato (and, the Black Beauty, 'natch!)!
And we're kicking things off with a BANG as we launch the first of a new series of adventures starting with the great Kevin Smith. And let's get it out of the way, right here, right NOW - the scripts are in! Every single one! Joining Smith in bringing his unproduced screenplay to life is artist Jonathan (Black Terror) Lau as they present the one and only origin of the Green Hornet and Kato. This is the comic book version of Kevin smith's unproduced Green Hornet film and Dynamite is the only place to get in on the action - it all begins here!

THE GOVERNATOR #1

Story by: David Hutchison
Art by: David Hutchison
Publisher: Antarctic Press
Cover Price: $3.99
UPC Code: 61072107067300111

Fear him now, understand him later! Bursting out of the pages of President Evil comes a machine sent back in time to terminate Gray Davis and become Governor of Kaleefornia.. Because no puny specials about the President of the United States fighting zombies could be enough to contain the glorious, high-octane (but emissions-compliant) powerhouse that is the Governator. Zombie hordes? Pah! When the President can deal with rolling blackouts, tree-hugging environmentalists, annual wildfires, Hollywood-based lobbyists and zombie hordes, then maybe he'll start approaching the musclebound magnificence that is the Governator! "That Governator is out there. It can't be bargained with, it can't be reasoned with, and it will not stop, ever...until his term is over."

The Terminator #1
Story by: Zack Whedon
Art by: Andy MacDonald
Color by: Dan Jackson
Cover Art by: Massimo Carnevale
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
UPC Code: 76156817027600111

The year is 2029. It's the year that John Connor, leader of the Resistance, sends Kyle Reese to 1984 to save Sarah Connor from a T-800 with a grudge.

But before all of that happened, Kyle Reese was just another man fighting to survive in a world overrun by a technology that had taken on a life of its own and annihilated civilization.

Who was Kyle before he met John Connor and was thrust through time to face off with a T-800 and fall for a waitress with a destiny? And who were his comrades in arms?

In this three-issue series we'll meet Kyle Reese and his closest allies as they take on T-600s, T-800s, and HKs, in a world where there is little in the way of food, water, or hope.

Comic Catch: January 20, 2010

2010-01-19T21:11:00.000-05:00

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #618 - Story by: Dan Slott
Pencils by: Marcos Martin
Inks by: Array
Colors by: Javier Rodriguez
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Marcos Martin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

MYSTERIOUS: Chapter One "Un-Murder Incorporated" MYSTERIO is back from the dead...and he's not alone! When deceased members of the Maggia crime family return from beyond the grave, the balance of power shifts in their gang war with Hammerhead and the Inner-Demons. Can Spider-Man and crime scene investigator, Carlie Cooper, solve this mystery...before it gets a little too personal? PLUS: Secret sides of both Mr. Negative and J. Jonah Jameson Sr. revealed, a disturbing turn for Aunt May, the reappearance of ANOTHER Spider-Villain.

AVENGERS VS AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 - Story by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Gabriel Hardman
Cover by: Humberto Ramos
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Spacetime is being selectively eroded by an unknown force. To stop the effect, the Agents of Atlas seek the help of the Avengers- and find a much earlier version of the team than they expected: Captain America, Iron Man, Wasp, Giant-Man and Thor are together again, with the atomic wildcard THE HULK!

DARK AVENGERS #13 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Mike Deodato
Cover by: Mike Deodato
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

SIEGE BLOCKBUSTER TIE-IN!! After years of mystery, the secrets of the Sentry are revealed! How deep is his madness and who is really in control of him? What is the limit of his power, if any? And what deadly mystery surrounds him causing mortals and gods to tremble in fear?

DEADPOOL MERC WITH A MOUTH #7 - Story by: Victor Gischler
Art by: Kyle Baker, Bong Dazo, Rob Liefeld, Das Pastoras
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

“ARE YOU THERE, DEADPOOL? IT'S ME DEADPOOL.” Special double-sized issue with art by ROB LIEFELD, KYLE BAKER, DAS PASTORAS and regular series artist BONG DAZO. What do you do with a homesick zombie head? Take it back to the zombie universe, of course! Hopping through an interdimensional portal in the Florida swamp with Headpool tucked under his arm, Deadpool soon finds himself bouncing through a series of outlandish alternate realities, each more warped than the last. Wade Wilson, say hello to Major Deadpool, the Deadpool Kid and – va-va-voom – Lady Deadpool.

DOCTOR VOODOO AVENGER OF SUPERNATURAL #4 - Story by: Rick Remender
Art by: Jefte Palo
Cover by: Marko Djurdjevic
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Nightmare has claimed Earth. His unreal universe of pain and terror has been made tangible and spread across the globe by an army comprised of the world’s most powerful supernatural beings. Negating the sacrifice of a former Sorcerer Supreme, Jericho Drumm has opened the long-sealed gateway to Bondyè to ask the Voodoo Loa’s for aid. However, what he finds in the strange god land may very well shatter his world forever!

G-MAN CAPE CRISIS #5 - Story by: Chris Giarrusso
Art by: Chris Giarrusso
Cover by: Chris Giarrusso
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

G-Man and Great Man embark on a quest to regain their lost powers. Facing opposition and peril at every turn, their toughest challenge may be putting up with each other. It’s more action-packed laugh-out-loud kid superhero fun from Mini-Marvels creator CHRIS GIARRUSSO!

INCORRUPTIBLE #2 - Story by: Mark Waid
Art by: Jean Diaz
Cover by: Dennis Calero, Raphael Albuquerque
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

Last April BOOM! Studios showed the world that MARK WAID IS EVIL with the smash-hit series IRREDEEMABLE. Now BOOM! shows the world that Mark Waid is… INCORRUPTIBLE! In this new ongoing, the reformed super villain Max Damage and his sidekick, the less reformed Jailbait, set out on their first mission–to extract vengeance against an old ally who must be brought to justice and who holds an important key to Max’s plans to bring down the Plutonian!

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #140 - Story by: Greg Pak, Jeff Parker, Fred Van Lente
Art by: Rodney Buchemi, Gabriel Hardman
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

"ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS," Part 3 (of 4) Of all the giants, gods and monsters Hercules and his team of New and Mighty Avengers have faced in their battle through New Olympus, none may be as formidable as HEPHAESTUS, creator of the immortals' fearsome war engines! With what fearsome device will he try to ensnare and destroy the Hercules/Amadeus Cho team, which has reformed at last -- only to meet their doom? Find out as the New York Times Best-Selling creative team lead Herc on his biggest adventure yet! Plus: as the Agents of Atlas push into the stronghold of the Olympus group, Aphrodite decides to take matters into her own hands in Godmarked Part 3!

MIGHTY AVENGERS #33 - Story by: Dan Slott
Art by: Khoi Pham
Cover by: Khoi Pham
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

"The Coming Darkness..." Part 2 Can the MIGHTY AVENGERS and DARK AVENGERS join forces long enough to -- we're sorry, we can't even pretend to finish that sentence. There's no way the MIGHTY AVENGERS and DARK AVENGERS are teaming up. They're gonna beat the living heck out of each other! The only question is: can HANK PYM stop the IRON PATRIOT before he harnesses the power of the Cosmic Cube?!

PHANTOM STRANGER #42 - Story by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes
Cover by: Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Spotlighting the DC Universe's magic-based characters! The Phantom Stranger, with Blue Devil at his side, battles the Black Lantern Spectre with little hope of success. Meanwhile, Black Lantern Deadman delves into the Phantom Stranger, compelled to learn the mysterious hero's true origins. But what dangers will arise if the Phantom Stranger's enigmatic past is revealed? Find out in another of this month's one-issue revivals of classic DC Universe titles!

PROJECT SUPERPOWERS CHAPTER TWO #6 - Story by: Jim Krueger, Alex Ross
Art by: Edgar Salazar, Doug Klauba
Cover by: Alex Ross, Stephen Segovia, Michael Golden
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.50

This issue it's an all-out battle as we present The Super MysteryMen vs. Team SuperPowers! The Supremacy unleashes their own arsenal of superheroes to take down the rogue Superpowers! Will our heroes be able to withstand the assault?!?! Plus: the painted origin of The Target by Alex Ross, Doug Klauba and Jim Krueger!

RAPTURE #6 - Story by: Michael Avon Oeming, Taki Soma
Art by: Michael Avon Oeming
Colors by: Val Staples
Cover by: Taki Soma
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

The end of the end is near for Evelyn Town. Cannibals have slain her mother and decimated her city. A corrupted Champion has twisted the heart of the one she sought so valiantly from the beginning-her boyfriend, Gil. Love and power are strong forces which can bring triumph or destruction. Will Evelyn and Gil recognize their gifts in time to save their world and themselves? Or, now that the former flames are reunited, will they fight to the death in the ultimate lovers' quarrel? Can the world ever recover its former glory, when utopia seemed within grasp as Champions patrolled the skies above? Or will Evelyn's and Gil's passion and anger end it all?

UNCANNY X-MEN #520 - Story by: Matt Fraction
Art by: Greg Land
Cover by: Terry Dodson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

“NATION X” There's a rogue Predator X stalking mutants beneath New York City and it's down to Wolverine and Fantomex to hunt it down. There's an island in the San Francisco Bay that the mutants call home and it's slowly sinking -- and only King Namor can save the day. And meanwhile, in San Francisco, a supermob is making life hard in Chinatown...somebody call the X-Men! Part 6 (of 8)

Comic Catch: January 13, 2010

2010-01-12T19:43:00.000-05:00

ABSOLUTION #6 - Story by: Christos Gage
Art by: Roberto Viacava
Cover by: Jacen Burrows
Publisher: Avatar Press
Cover Price: $3.99

It all comes to a head in this explosive final issue! The house of cards has collapsed. The web of lies has unraveled. With his life falling apart around him, can John Dusk survive? Or will he who chases monsters become a monster himself? Don't miss the shocking conclusion of the acclaimed miniseries - the book Ed Brubaker calls "my favorite thing from Christos Gage so far"! John always knew there would come a time when he had to choose between his two lives. That time is now. And either way, there's no going back. He wants to be forgiven...but he doesn't want to stop.

ACTION COMICS #885 - Story by: Greg Rucka and Eric Trautmann
Co-feature story by: James Robinson and Greg Rucka
Art by: Pere Pérez
Co-feature Art by: CAFU
Cover by: CAFU
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

With a new lease on life, Nightwing and Flamebird return to Metropolis determined to hunt down one of General Zod's few remaining sleeper agents. Continued in SUPERMAN #696!

And in the co-feature, Captain Atom is back on Earth, but his struggle to break his ties with Mirabai and Project 7734 aren't over yet. Guest-starring Metropolis's own super-powered protector, Mon-El!

ANYWHERE #2 - Story by: Tom Akel, Eric Mahoney
Art by: Alan Quah
Publisher: Red 5 Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

Evils abound when ex-roommates seek revenge, alien head lice invade, supervillains come out of the closet, and the homeless attack! The purchase of this issue is guaranteed to enhance your sex life and make your estranged parents apologize for a trauma-filled childhood. The perfect jumping-on point for new readers!

AVP THREE WORLD WAR #1 - Story by: Randy Stradley
Art by: Rick Leonardi
Colors by: Wes Dzioba
Cover by: Raymond Swanland
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

A centuries-old interstellar conflict threatens humanity's very existence as a long-lost Predator clan stakes its claim for galactic dominance, intent on exterminating its rival clan, the selfsame trophy hunters who have plagued Earth's history and every world they have touched. And if the advanced technology and military precision of this new threat weren't enough, they have an even more terrifying weapon at their disposal-Aliens, weaponized and under their malefic control. This puts earthmen in the dangerous position of parlaying with the same alien warriors who have relentlessly hunted them, and who better to carry out the negotiations than Machiko Naguchi, the only human known to have spent time alongside the Hunters.

DARK X-MEN #3 - Story by: Paul Cornell
Pencils by: Leonard Kirk
Inks by: Array
Colors by: Brian Reber
Letters by: Robert Steen
Cover by: Simone Bianchi
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Nate Grey, a.k.a., X-Man is back and he is not happy with the state of affairs in the Marvel Universe. So he goes straight to the man responsible—Norman Osborn—and it’s not for a nice chat. It’s X-Man vs. the Dark Avengers and Dark X-Men. Can this Omega class mutant survive this matchup? Find out here!

MARVELS PROJECT #5 - Story by: Ed Brubaker
Art by: Steve Epting
Cover by: Steve Epting
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Marvel's ORIGIN story continues! Out of the ashes of the Project: Rebirth comes America's first Super-Soldier -- Captain America! Witness the first mission of Cap in New York...as Namor stalks the city streets and the Angel finds the hero killer he's been searching for. By the award-winning team of Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.

PUNISHERMAX #3 - Story by: Jason Aaron
Art by: Steve Dillon
Colors by: Matt Hollingsworth
Cover by: Dave Johnson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

"KINGPIN," Part 3 Wilson Fisk's plot to become Kingpin of New York finally brings him face to face with Frank Castle, as well as drawing in a 97-year-old, shotgun-toting mob widow and a mysterious hitman known only as The Mennonite.

REALM OF KINGS IMPERIAL GUARD #3 - Story by: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning
Art by: Kev Walker
Colors by: Nathan Fairbairn
Cover by: Brian Haberlin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Can the Imperial Guard actually team up with their hated enemies the Starjammers? They will if they don’t want to be turned into worm bait by the giant decaying corpse they’re trapped in! What horrors has The Fault unleashed now, and is someone else from our universe winning the race to explore this dangerous new zone? Majestor Gladiator will not be pleased!

SECRET SIX #17 - Story by: John Ostrander and Gail Simone
Art by: J. Calafiore
Cover by: Daniel LuVisi
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

John Ostrander and Gail Simone continue their epic team-up that begins in SUICIDE SQUAD #67! Suicide Squad has taken capture of Deadshot, forcing him to rejoin their ranks. But the Secret Six doesn't see that happening any time soon!

TALISMAN ROAD OF TRIALS #3 - Story by: Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Robin Furth
Art by: Tony Shasteen
Publisher: Del Rey Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

The sadistic Osmond has Jack in his clutches at last - and he won't let go until he's squeezed from him the truth about his identity and his presence inside the Queen's Pavillion. Cover by Massimo Carnevale.

TITANS #21 - Story by: J.T. Krul
Art by: Angel Unzueta and Wayne Faucher
Cover by: Angel Unzueta
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

In part 1 of the 2-part "Fractured," with Dick back in Gotham City and Gar and Raven returning to the West Coast, the Titans find themselves in crisis. As the team continues to fall apart, the remaining members struggle to put the pieces back together. But the future of the Titans might be out of their control altogether.

UNWRITTEN #9 - Story by: Mike Carey
Art by: Peter Gross
Cover by: Yuko Shimizu
Publisher: DC/Vertigo
Cover Price: $2.99

As Donostia jail burns, assassins stalk its corridors in search of Tom Taylor — and so do the children who've decided to be his saviors. But there's one terrifying encounter still to come, as the Inside Man finally unmasks.

WE KILL MONSTERS #6 - Story by: Christopher Leone & Laura Harkcom
Art by: Brian Churilla
Inks by: Richard Ellis
Colors by: Ronda Pattison
Publisher: Red 5 Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

Auto-mechanics-turned-monster-killers Jake and Andrew Basher finally discover the source of the monsters plaguing their small town. With Andrew's ex-girlfriend Vanessa, they must do battle with the most fearsome monster of them all. But will they be able to stop the monsters from infesting the whole world...or is it too late?

Comic Catch: January 6, 2010

2010-01-05T20:25:00.000-05:00

BPRD: KING OF FEAR #1 - Story by: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi
Art by: Guy Davis
Colors by: Dave Stewart
Cover by: Mike Mignola
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

After the defeat of the mystic Memnan Saa, the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense-on the outs with the United States government after the bloodstained rescue of Liz Sherman-embarks to the Ural Mountains, the site of B.P.R.D.: Hollow Earth, to put the frog menace to rest once and for all. Meanwhile, Kate Corrigan heads to Hunte Castle in Austria, where Hellboy killed the Conqueror Worm, on her own rescue mission-to save ectoplasmic special agent Johann Kraus, possessed by the ghost of Lobster Johnson. Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, and drawn by 2009 Eisner winner Guy Davis, B.P.R.D.: King of Fear wraps up the Scorched Earth trilogy, which started with The Warning and The Black Goddess.

DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #897 - Story by: Adam Glass
Art by: Chris Staggs
Cover by: Humberto Ramos
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Deadpool gets his freak on when he’s hired to bump off Ed McGrady -- a.k.a. “Lobster Boy” -- the mayor of Freaksville, USA. But things get a little bit complicated when one of the Fallen decides to take over the town and, quite possibly, the rest of the world. Luckily for Deadpool, the Ghost Riders, Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch, just happen to be in town too. It’s the end of the world as we know it…unless the Merc with a Mouth can play nice with the Spirits of Vengeance and send this demon back to hell in a hand basket. Which is harder than it might seem…

DOOM PATROL #6 - Story by: Keith Giffen
Co-feature Story by: Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis
Art by: Matthew Clark
Co-feature Art by: Kevin Maguire
Cover by: Matthew Clark
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

This month, we spotlight Negative Man, who's going to knit the history of The Doom Patrol into one cohesive whole. Cohesive to him, anyway. Plus, The Metal Men find another gag that those three old geezers doing the feature can run into the ground

FVZA #2 - Story by: David Hine
Art by: Roy Allan Martinez and Wayne Nichols
Paints by: Kinsun Loh and Jerry Choo
Letters by: Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt
Covers by: Clint Langley and Yang Xueguo
Publisher: Radical Publishing
Cover Price: $4.99

After a successful raid on the zombie-infected town of Corben, the newly reinstated FVZA recruits are on high alert. But as the agency scans the world for new outbreaks of the undead virus, the vampire high council begins its plan for domination of the United States. Only the knowledge of newly appointed agency adviser Hugo Pecos and the battle skills of his grandchildren, Landra and Vidal, will give the FVZA a fighting chance at extinguishing the undead threat once and for all!

GIGANTIC #5 - Story by: Rick Remender
Art by: Eric Nguyen
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

With Earth about to be canceled and the universe at war, can Gigantic overcome the planet masher, Gunro Leviathan Combatant?! Galactic monster battles the likes of which have never been seen! Death/love broadcasting across the cosmic stage with the hearts of all living beings up for grabs! Fancy creators of critical distinction, Rick Remender and Eric Nguyen bring the first arc of their hit series to its pulse-pounding conclusion as Gigantic finds himself standing between the two simulcast networks that control all of space/time!

GOD COMPLEX #2 - Story by: Michael Avon Oeming & Daniel Berman
Art: John Broglia
Cover: Michael Avon Oeming
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Magic, monsters and GODS are back! In this action packed issue the GODS hit Paul where it hurts... his own neighborhood. And now he must fight for his life; has Paul been found out? Will he be able to protect Sophia and George or are they in as much danger as he is? Being Paul's neighbor just got COMPLEX!

HAUNT #4 - Story by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Greg Capullo, Ryan Ottley, and Todd McFarlane
Covers: Todd McFarlane and Ryan Ottley
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

MCFARLANE & KIRKMAN'S HAUNT CONTINUES! Haunt faces off against Cobra for the second time - just in time to learn his weakness! Daniel Kilgore's quest to find his brother's killer and save the world just got a whole lot more difficult.

JSA ALL STARS #2 - Story by: Matthew Sturges
Co-feature Story by: Jen Van Meter
Art and Cover by: Freddie Williams II
Co-feature Art by: Travis Moore and Dan Green
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

In "Constellations," part 1, The All-Stars have survived their first major battle, but in the aftermath, one team member is missing without a trace. The mysterious Strike Force has that member captive, but there's someone else who wants the missing All-Star even worse than Strike Force does. Plus, the rift between Power Girl and Magog widens. And in the first chapter of a new co-feature, Liberty Belle and Hourman embark on a worldwide hunt for a mysterious book – and the killer who may be after the secrets held within it! Icicle and Tigress aren't responsible for the murder, but they just might hold some keys to solving the mystery!

MARVEL BOY: URANIAN #1 - Story by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Felix Ruiz
Cover by: Marko Djurdjevic
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

A young man has travelled billions of miles through space in a rocket to help our world. But is Earth of the 1950's ready for a new super hero? Before he became the dark figure the Agents of Atlas call The Uranian, Bob Grayson raced through the skies as Marvel Boy! From the critically acclaimed writer of AGENTS OF ATLAS and FALL OF THE HULKS: ALPHA comes this all-new look back at one of Marvel’s first heroes!

ORC STAIN #1 - Story by: James Stokoe
Art & Cover: James Stokoe
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

A one-eyed orc with the ability to find the weak spot in any structure has started to notice cracks in the endless war and conquest of orc existence.

SAVAGE DRAGON #156 - Story by: Erik Larsen
Art & Cover: Erik Larsen
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

"DRAGON WAR," Part Two
It's Dragon vs. Dragon - to the death! But one of our green-skinned law enforcers has the brain of Emperor Kerr!

SIEGE #1 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Oliver Coipel
Cover by: Oliver Coipel
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Beginning with the ravaging affects of Avengers Disassembled and following the aftermaths of House of M, Civil War and Secret Invasion, culminating with the evil Reign of Norman Osborn, the Marvel Universe has been left with its greatest villains holding more power and control than ever before. On the brink of madness, Osborn, in his final bid to take total control, targets the final obstacle in his mission…Asgard. Events are set in motion forcing our heroes to put aside the deep rifts that have grown over the past seven years. Opposing them stand a horde of evil that has begun to take down the gods of the Golden Realm! SIEGE will rock the foundations of every super hero, villain and team in the Marvel Universe. As an era ends, one word will ring above all others…”SIEGE.”

SUICIDE SQUAD #67 - Story by: John Ostrander and Gail Simone
Art by: J. Calafiore
Cover by: Daniel LuVisi
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Original SUICIDE SQUAD writer John Ostrander and Gail Simone resurrect The Suicide Squad as they take on BLACKEST NIGHT and the Secret Six! The Fiddler has risen from the dead, and he's targeting Deadshot and anyone who stands in his way. But someone else has targeted Deadshot – the Suicide Squad! Everything is about to hit the Wall (Amanda Waller, that is) – and this Wall hits back!

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #11 - Story by: Greg Rucka and James Robinson
Art by: Pete Woods
Cover by: Gary Frank
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

"Mystery in Space" Part 2! As the murder mystery on New Krypton deepens, Superman and Adam Strange's investigation leads them to uncover a conspiracy involving all five Kryptonian guilds that threatens to devastate the entire planet. This chain of events will touch everyone – Alura, Zod, even General Lane – and will lead directly into next month's explosive finale!

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #6 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: David Lafuente
Colors by: Justin Ponsor
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: David Lafuente
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Mysterio has had just about enough of Spider-Man, so he sends in the ULTIMATE SPIDER-SLAYER…and sends it right to Peter Parker’s school! All this and the mystery of the Shroud is finally revealed!! Join rockstars BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS and DAVID LAFUENTE as we swing into the final chapter of this thrilling arc!

Comic Review: Anywhere #1

2010-01-03T12:55:00.000-05:00

Anywhere #1

Story by: Tom Akel and Eric Mahoney

Art by: Alan Quah

Colors by: Scott Kester and Kamikaze Studio

Letters by: Bill Tortolini

Publisher: Arcana Studios

Cover Price: $1.00

With a cover that looks like a tabloid carrying the headline "Gay Heroes Rescues Pussy", well, this wasn't a comic I could pass up. Especially considering that sweet cover price. Seriously? $1.00! Take me back to those sweet 99-cent days!

When you go pick this up, and yes I do mean when (It. Costs. One. Buck. Dude!), you will find the story of superhero slackers. That's right, superhero slackers. What do all superheroes do? Try to stop evil. What do these guys do? Try to party all night, play video games all day, and play the occasional game of hoops. And that's what they do to our amusement.

Who are they? There's Dust, the "leader" of the group, if couch potatoes actually have leaders. Then there's Wormhole. He opens worm holes to avoid using the subway and to go eat foreign food in foreign countries. But don't let him "drive" when he's been drinking. You could wind up anywhere. Then there's What's Up, the homosexual coffee-jockey with stretchy powers. He's Mr. Fantastic if Reed was a slack ass and no smarter than Ben Grimm. What? Reed's not gay? No, Sue's just a cover. Ok, fine...and "if" Mr. Fantastic was gay...

The humor is shown us by Alan Quah's vibrant art, with outstanding colors from Scott Kester and Kamikaze Studio.

It's not just beer jokes and video games, either. You'll find satire on superhero names, reality tv, and video games. So call your comic shop and tell them to get you a copy. Or find it online. I can't wait until next issue because this story could go...Anywhere!

Comic Catch: December 23, 2009

2009-12-23T13:17:00.001-05:00

ABSOLUTION #5 - Story by: Christos Gage
Art by: Roberto Viacava
Cover by: Jacen Burrows
Publisher: Avatar Press
Cover Price: $3.99

John Dusk's life continues to unravel as he finds himself in combat against his former teammates. Has he finally snapped? And even if he survives, is there any hope of salvaging some kind of life...or will he become a fugitive criminal like those he once hunted?

The searing saga of Absolution rockets to its conclusion...don't miss the book Ed Brubaker calls 'my favorite thing from Christos Gage so far'! John always knew there would come a time when he had to choose between his two lives. That time is now.

And either way, there's no going back. He wants to be forgiven...but he doesn't want to stop.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #616 - Story by: Fred Van Lente
Art by: Javier Pulido
Colors by: Javier Rodriguez
Cover by: Paolo Manuel Rivera
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

The Sandman has vacillated between good and evil over the years, joining the Sinister Six and the Frightful Four...as well as becoming a reserve Avenger and a member of Silver Sable's Wild Pack. But as of this issue, and forever more, he will always be known as a villain -- one of the worst in the Wall-Crawler's Rogues Gallery -- and it's all Spider-Man's fault!

CHEW #7 - Story by: John Layman
Art by: Rob Guillory
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Meet Lin Sae Woo.

She’s a covert operative for the United States Department of Agriculture, and one its most lethal assassins. She has the equivalent of black belts in four different disciplines of martial arts hand-to-hand combat and is equally deadly with swords, throwing knifes, sniper rifles and handguns.

She’ll make a corpse out of anybody who tries to stand between her and completion of her current assignment—and that includes that nosy F.D.A. agent with the creepy cibopath power, Tony Chu!

DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP #7 - Story by: Philip K. Dick
Art by: Tony Parker
Cover by: Brett Weldele, Scott Keating
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

From the bestselling book that inspired the film Blade Runner! Things heat up in this issue of Philip K. Dick’s masterpiece as Deckard’s tireless hunt for the Nexus-6 androids continues. Although they are not easy to identify, staying alive may prove to be the hardest part of Deckard’s quest!

GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #21 - Story by: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning
Art by: Brad Walker
Colors by: Jay David Ramos
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Dave Wilkins
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

A REALM OF KINGS ISSUE! As the shocking true dangers of the Fault become apparent, the Luminals make an unregulated trip into the wild zone, and they've brought back something that threatens to exterminate all life on Knowhere! You guessed it, now it's up to our rag-tag band of misfits to save the universe in another issue of the series that Ain't It Cool News says “makes my geek heart pitter-patter!”

HELLBOY BRIDE OF HELL - Story by: Mike Mignola
Art by: Richard Corben
Cover by: Mike Mignola
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

A year after their Eisner-nominated collaboration Hellboy: The Crooked Man, horror comics legends Corben and Mignola reunite!

A nineteen-year-old girl is kidnapped and Hellboy tracks her down to a remote clearing in France where she's about to be given to Asmodeus, in a strange tale of ghosts, demonic revenge, lost love, and King Solomon.

IMAGE UNITED #2 - Story by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri & Jim Valentino
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

The greatest threat the Image Universe has ever faced makes his first move toward world domination! You can't miss this historic event as the original Image Founders draw all the characters they made history with. Each page is an amazing jam piece - it's a story told in a way never before attempted in comics.

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #139 - Story by: Greg Pak, Jeff Parker, Fred Van Lente
Art by: Reilly Brown, Rodney Buchemi
Colors by: Elizabeth Breitweiser
Letters by: Simon Bowland
Cover by: Michael Bierek
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

"ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS," Part 2 (of 4) Hercules leads the New and Mighty Avengers against the overwhelming forces of Hera's New Olympus -- but these are no ordinary foes our heroes face, but the gods themselves! Can the superpredator Wolverine outfox an immortal Huntsman? Can Spider-Man out-webspin the divine Arachne? Can Henry Pym outgrow the giant Argus? And with his love Delphyne Gorgon prepared to slay his mentor Athena, Amadeus Cho must make a final, fateful choice!

INVINCIBLE #69 - Story by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Ryan Ottley, Fco Plascencia
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT NOW!

Who is Universa?! Why did she come to this planet in search of the one called Invincible? What does it have to do with the impending Viltrumite Invasion?! And why did she decide to come NOW, on the eve of an attack from the SEQUIDS?! The answers to all these questions and even more questions piled on top of them – in this issue of Invincible.

IRREDEEMABLE #9 - Story by: Mark Waid
Art by: Peter Krause
Cover by: Javier Pulido, Dan Panosian
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

A “twilight of the superheroes”-style ongoing series that examines super-villains from Mark Waid writer of KINGDOM COME and EMPIRE! The hunt for Modeus may be over but ultimate chaos is still at hand! With the Plutonian still on the loose, The Paradigm find themselves with little time and little choice. Have the Paradigm unleashed something they cannot control?

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #34 - Story by: Bill Willingham
Art by: Travis Moore & Dan Green
Cover by: Jesus Merino
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: #2.99

The Justice Society struggles to pick up the pieces after the team's devastating break up! Regrouping at a new, temporary home base, the smaller team reflects on the recent infiltration of their ranks and how they can protect themselves from another such attack in the future! And why is the new Dr. Fate acting so weird?

NEW AVENGERS #60 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Stuart Immonen
Colors by: Dave Stewart
Letters by: Comicraft
Cover by: Stuart Immonen
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Get ready for something you never thought you'd see! Is this the end of Luke Cage? Has the Dark Reign found a casualty so horrifying that the Avengers may not be able to keep it together? Another shocker from the crack team of Bendis and Immonen.

POWERS #2 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Michael Avon Oeming
Cover by: Michael Avon Oeming
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.95

POWERS continues its monthly comeback!! Following the shocking revelations about Walker's past in our first issue, we dig deeper into the mysterious death of Z, the leader of the super hero rat pack of yesteryear. All this PLUS the long-awaited return of the Powers Personals! That's right!! Will Kick-Ass get you a girl? No. Will Incognito get you a honey? Pretty unlikely. Will Kabuki get you-- Well, Kabuki will probably get you a threesome but...Powers is back!!

PUNISHER #12 - Story by: Rick Remender
Art by: Tony Moore
Colors by: Dan Brown
Cover by: Mike McKone
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

The Punisher is dead, so who, or what, is the giant patchwork monster skulking through the tunnels under New York? And what do those strange armored Japanese hunters tracking him want? Criminals are no longer being killed; they are simply vanishing into thin air. Listen closely, you can hear their pleas far below the streets. Those forgotten by society have a new protector. The Legion of Monsters has found a new leader.

SUPERMAN #695 - Story by: James Robinson
Art by: Fernando Dagnino & Raúl Fernandez
Cover by: CAFU
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Metropolis gets a chance to see the new Mon-El in action. But now the stakes are raised even higher and the action escalates as Mon finally goes mano-a-mano against the Parasite! This is a battle that's been brewing since Mon's emergence on Earth and now it explodes into the streets and skies of the city.
Plus, with Mon-El's secret identity publicly known, how will the Science Police react to him now that they know he's been living among them all this time? All this plus the return of Natasha Irons and the fate of Steel!

UNCANNY X-MEN #519 - Story by: Matt Fraction
Art by: Terry Dodson
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Greg Land
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Cyclops takes a voyage into the head of Emma Frost in hopes of containing the horrifying piece of the villainous Void that has been stuck there since UTOPIA. Can they possibly defeat the awfulness that has haunted the most powerful being in the Marvel U? Tensions are rising on Utopia as the X-Men deal with the new members of their team and the fact that the island is…well…sinking. And Wolverine and a classic pal take one of the craziest journies you’ve ever seen.

X-MEN LEGACY #231 - Story by: Mike Carey
Art by: Clay Mann
Cover by: Adi Granov
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

The NECROSHA event hits X-MEN: LEGACY! Selene’s masterplan is clicking into place, but she got something she didn’t plan for when Destiny was brought back to life. A major X-Villain came back with Destiny and a who’s who of X-Men are sent to Muir Island to deal with them. Join Nightcrawler, Colossus, Psylocke, Rogue (if she makes it through #230 alive) and a new member (who’s so secret we can’t mention him here) as they dive into NECROSHA.

Comic Book Review: The Big Bad Book

2009-12-23T10:27:00.000-05:00

The Big Bad Book

Words by: Nikola Jajic
Pictures by: Sergio Giardo, Rick Hershey, Bob Cram, and Cliff Kurowski
Letters, Edits, Chapter Intros, and Additional Art by: Michael Czerniawski
Cover Art by: Sergio Giardo
Published by: Alterna Comics

For hundreds of years, different civilizations worshipped a variety of god pantheons. The Greeks worshipped Olympus, the Norse worshipped Asgard, and Egyptians worshipped Heliopolis. Nowadays we don't woship these ancient polytheistic pantheons, we mock them. Marvel's Incredible Hercules makes fun of ol' Herc and the ever dysfunctionaly Greek gods. Michael Avon Oeming's God Complex does the same. Joining that impressive lot is Nikola Jajic with The Big Bad Book.

We're quick to make fun on the more familiar Greek gods, but Thor and Norse mythology isn't done, save for Marvel's Warriors Three. Thor has always been very straight-laced. But Jajic steps in and gives us that Norse comedy we all crave.

In The Big Bad Book Thor and Loki are both after a book. The book chronicles Thor's many indiscretions. As Loki says, Thor fears "they may fear your meaty member more than your mighty hammer." So Dad has to step in. Odin says they must compete for the book. It will be placed in a mortal's possession and they must convince the mortal to give it to one or the other. The catch, each brother can choose what form the other will take in the same species. Thor, thinking himself clever, says Loki must appear as a clown. Loki does one better and says Thor must appear as a chimpanzee.

The poor mortal caught between warring brothers? Jim. Jim's life isn't that great before Loki and Thor stepped in. He has a job he hates, a sex obsessed roommate named Josh, and the hots for a girl from work, Debbie, whom he can't work up the guts to make a move. Then he starts seeing clowns and monkeys when no one else can.

What follows is a funny rollercoaster as Jim tries to live his life despite seeing a clown and monkey that no one else can see. There's poo flinging, possessions, and the debate over old school 70's porn versus modern porn. Also throw in a rivalry between Odin and Zeus and you have a funny, psychedelic tale.

The art is very good. Different chapters in the story have different artists, but Loki breaches the fourth wall to explain that he's trying to get someone to tell the tale accurately. Each artist's work is well done. Granted, Thor was supposed to be a chimpanzee and what we see is a monkey with tail, but that's ok.

This book will be available in February, so be sure to check it out. It's all fun and games...unless monkey poo puts an eye out.

Check out these links for previews and more information:

http://alternacomics.com/#/the-big-bad-book/4535752912
http://thebigbadbook.tumblr.com/

ISBN: 9781934985144
Diamond Order Code: DEC090644

Comic Book Review: God Complex #1

2009-12-21T10:41:00.000-05:00

God Complex #1

Created by: Michael Avon Oeming, John Broglia, and Daniel Berman
Story by: Mike Oeming
Script: Dan Berman and Mike Oeming
Art by: John Broglia
Letters by: Aaron Walker
Colors by: Dan Berman
Logo and Website by: Tim Daniels
Cover by: Mike Oeming and Val Staples
Published by: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

You know, of all the powers which are often described as curses and yet I can't quite see it as a curse is immortality. I know and understand the theory...if you couldn't die but everyone you cared for could, then you would become lonely. Maybe it's that immortality is such an alien prospect to us that, for me, makes it something I still can't quite grasp as a big deal. I mean, people die, it's sad, we move on, we meet new people, we remember those who have passed but value the new relationships we make...I think the notion of immortality is just too alien for me to grasp the curse which it is often portrayed as. An exception to this is poor Yancy Queeg from DC's 1987 dystopian limited series The Outcasts by John Wagner, Alan Grant, Cam Kennedy, and Steve Mantano. Yancy was immortal and by the end of the series was nothing but a disembodied head. Ok, that would be a curse, but full body granted, I'm missing the curse.

So Oeming, Berman, and Broglia's God Complex does lose me with its main character, Apollo, resigning from the pantheon of Greek gods to lead a mortal life. Maybe it's less that he wants to live and die as a mortal and more that he wants to just meet new people, because centuries of the same arrogant, issue ridden blowhards could drive one to seek that final peace.

Despite not being able to udnerstand the desire to die, God Complex turned out to be an enjoyable read. Apollo, as Paul, attempts to lead a quiet, normal life, but local hoods force him to reveal his abilities to his new neighborhood getting him a reputation as a hero. That leads the hoods to a witch woman for help and leads the Kronos Corporation, run by the gods, to Apollo.

Oeming and Berman create a serious tale which is not bereft of some lightheartedness like a Kronos Corporation secretary saying of Zeus, "He runs this place like he thinks he's a god" and Hercules is hilarious. Just look for his comment about the new Star Wars.

The story does bare some resemblance to the Olympus Group in Incredible Hercules, but as much as I like Marvel's ol' Herc, God Complex's Apollo, being a more modern character, and certainly more humble, makes for an interesting contrast.

I look forward to the next issue to learn more about the Kronos Corporation and see if Apollo can catch the eye of the fair Sophia.

If you haven't already picked it up, do so...or risk the wrath of the gods...

Comic Catch: December 16, 2009

2009-12-15T20:05:00.001-05:00

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #615 - Story by: Fred Van Lente
Art by: Javier Pulido
Cover by: Paolo Manuel Rivera
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

A locked room mystery! A string of brutal murders! A missing girl! One of Peter Parker's closest friends on the brink of ruin! This looks like a job for the Amazing Spider-Sleuth... and all clues point to the sinister SANDMAN! But all of Spidey's classic villains are being reinvented as part of "THE GAUNTLET", and Sandy is no different -- so nothing is what it seems!

ASTONISHING X-MEN #33 - Story by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Phil Jimenez
Colors by: Frank D'Armata
Letters by: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover by: Phil Jimenez
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

“EXOGENETIC,” PART 3 Dead mutants turned into biological weapons…genetically-reprogrammed Brood sleazoids…missing data on Henry McCoy's research computers…the truth about what Abby Brand was trying to burn out on Cruithne. It all adds up to an attempt to remove mutantcy from the planet Earth entirely -- and the rise of the Bio-Sentinels.

CHIMICHANGA #1 - Story by: Eric Powell
Art by: Eric Powell
Publisher: Albatross Exploding Funny Books
Cover Price: $3.00

Eric Powell, creator of the award winning series The Goon, brings his offbeat humor and distinctive style to his newest creation! A story fit for youngsters, Chimichanga tells the tale of a bearded girl, her less than spectacular traveling circus, and a bizarre creature that turns their lives upside down. Discover Powell's first written and illustrated creator-owned series since The Goon.

DARK AVENGERS #12 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Mike Deodato, Greg Horn
Colors by: Rainier Beredo
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: Mike Deodato
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

The explosive smash hit series from Brian Bendis and Mike Deodato continues!! The Dark Avengers are pitted against a foe they cannot defeat: A man with the power over every molecule in the world! Norman can't talk his way out of this one as the world gets turned upside down and no joke...someone dies. For reelz!!

DEADPOOL MERC WITH A MOUTH #6 - Story by: Victor Gischler
Art by: Bong Dazo
Colors by: Matt Milla
Cover by: Arthur Suydam
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Wade, the severed Zombie Deadpool head and Dr. Betty find themselves back on good old Earth, knee-deep in swampy goodness. Seems like Headpool is a little homesick, and everyone agrees the zombie virus should be put safely back into its own dimension. All they’ve got to do is find that damn dimensional portal. Anyway, you don't think A.I.M, is gonna give up that easy, do you? No way. Just because their space station got itself all blown up doesn't mean they're out of the game. But wait -- who's this surprise guest star? Is it a MAN? Is it a THING? Well, you see where this is going ... Is this enough preview copy to get you to buy the damn book…because I can go on all night?!

DOCTOR VOODOO AVENGER OF SUPERNATURAL #3 - Story by: Rick Remender
Art by: Gabriel Hardman, Jefte Palo
Colors by: Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Letters by: Dave Lanphear
Cover by: Marko Djurdjevic
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

The evil which Agamotto foretold has seeped into Earth and amassed an army of possessed children of the supernatural -- all former candidates to the mantle Sorcerer Supreme! Jericho’s journeys through the Everdimensions, in hopes of halting this darkness, have left him broken, near death. With help out of reach and the fabric between our world and the shadow planes corrupted, Doctor Voodoo alone must defeat an army of Earth’s most powerful lords of the arcane and their unnamed master!

INCORRUPTIBLE #1 - Story by: Mark Waid
Art by: Jean Diaz
Cover by: John Cassaday, Tim Sale, Jeffrey Spokes
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

Last April BOOM! Studios showed the world that MARK WAID IS EVIL with the smash-hit series IRREDEEMABLE. This December, BOOM! shows the world that Mark Waid is now… INCORRUPTIBLE! Super villain Max Damage had an epiphany the day The Plutonian destroyed Sky City. When The Plutonian turned his back on humanity, Max Damage decided to step up. Now Max Damage has changed his name to Max Daring and turned from his formerly selfish ways to become… INCORRUPTIBLE.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #40 - Story by: James Robinson
Art by: Mark Bagley, Rob Hunter
Cover by: Mark Bagley, Rob Hunter
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

The JLA can't escape the BLACKEST NIGHT! Faced with the continuing threat of the Black Lanterns, Zatanna, Vixen and the rest of the team confront their pasts when fallen friends and foes return for blood!

LOCKE and KEY CROWN OF SHADOWS #2 - Story by: Joe Hill
Art by: Gabriel Rodriguez
Cover by: Gabriel Rodriguez
Publisher: IDW
Cover Price: $3.99

Far below Keyhouse lies the Drowning Cave, a place where shadows obscure ancient secrets, and the stones are stained with ancient blood. Kinsey Locke descends into the cavern, looking for answers to her family's troubled past, only to discover that it's easier to get in than it is to get out...

MIGHTY AVENGERS #32 - Story by: Christos Gage
Art by: Khoi Pham
Colors by: John Rauch
Letters by: Dave Lanphear
Cover by: Khoi Pham
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

"The Coming Darkness..." The throwdown you've been waiting for-- and that Loki, God of Mischief-- has been scheming towards: THE MIGHTY AVENGERS versus THE DARK AVENGERS! Hank Pym's team has tried their best to be a shining light in the world of Dark Reign but this might be the time that light gets snuffed out! Special appearance by the MIGHTY THOR!

PROJECT SUPERPOWERS CHAPTER TWO #5 - Story by: Jim Krueger
Art by: Edgar Salazar, Doug Klauba
Colors by: Ivan Nunes
Cover by: Alex Ross, Mark Texiera, Stephen Segovia
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $2.99

As the Green Lama continues to struggle to understand the nature of the returned heroes amidst the death of close allies, the Sisters Scarlet make plans to take down Captain Future... now going be his "true" name - Zeus! Plus: the painted origin of President Power by Alex Ross, Doug Klauba and Jim Krueger! Features covers by Alex Ross, Mark Texeira and Stephen Segovia!

THULSA DOOM #4 - Story by: Arvid Nelson
Art by: Lui Antonio
Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover by: Alex Ross
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.50

The origin of the ultimate anti-hero, Thulsa Doom, continues here as we conclude our opening story arc! Atlantis is destroyed! The world is in chaos! And Thulsa seeks his own path to ultimate power! From the pages of writer Robert E. Howard comes Dynamite's Thulsa Doom! Written by Kull writer Arvid Nelson and illustrated by Lui (Red Sonja) Antonio with incredible painted covers by Alex Ross!

ULTIMATE COMICS ARMOR WARS #3 - Story by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Steve Kurth
Letters by: Joe Sabino
Cover by: Brandon Peterson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Tony Stark goes toe-to-toe with his deadliest creations! Can the man that created every version of IRON MAN armor defeat all of them at the SAME TIME???

X-FACTOR #200 - Story by: Peter David
Art by: Bing Cansino
Cover by: Esad RIbic
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99

"THE INVISIBLE GIRL HAS VANISHED" X-Factor has relocated back to New York, and their first client is a keeper: Franklin Richards, whose mom has disappeared and who figures that the premiere detective agency in the Marvel Universe has the best chance of finding her. Except Reed Richards doesn't seem especially cooperative in helping them locate his missing wife. What is he hiding, and does it have anything to do with the coming Darkness? Meanwhile, Val Cooper has some bad news for Monet: Her ambassador father has been taken prisoner by terrorists, and she has less than 24 hours to find him before he winds up getting his head cut off on video.

X-MEN LEGACY #230 - Story by: Mike Carey, Duane Swierczysnki
Art by: Daniel Acuna, Steve Dillon
Cover by: Daniel Acuna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

It’s Rogue and Trance vs. Emplate -- a villain who has single-handedly taken down teams of X-Men A-Listers. Do they stand a chance? We sure hope so as X-MEN LEGACY #231 is on sale two weeks later! Don’t miss the killer climax to the huge first arc of the new direction on X-MEN LEGACY! Plus, a Cable backstory!

Comic Review: Haunt #1

2009-10-14T09:43:00.000-04:00

Writer/Co-Creator: Robert Kirkman
Layouts: Greg Capullo
Pencils: Ryan Ottley
Inks/Co-Creator: Todd McFarlane
Color: FCO Plascencia
Letters by: Richard Starkings
Covers by: Todd McFarlane, Ryan Ottley, Greg Capullo
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

There are certain comic writers who, when they have a new series come out, you just have to pick it up. Robert Kirkman is that writer for me. So with his works Invincible and The Walking Dead well into their double digits, and Marvel readers seeming inability to "get" The Kirkman, when I saw that he had another series coming out, Haunt, I jumped onboard.

Ok, confession, I honestly am not sure how well received Kirkman's Marvel work has been, but appearances suggest lukewarm at best. Hopefully the appearances do deceive here, though Robert writes better with his own characters.

Another confession...I don't automatically love everything Kirkman does. I'm looking at Tech Jacket here. Astounding Wolf-Man is ok, but not good enough to keep considering the vast number of comics that I am biologically compelled to purchase and the effects the villainous Inflation has had on the global society.

But I always give The Kirkman a chance. Does that sound like a dance? Do The Kirkman!

So Kirkman teamed with McFarlane to create Haunt, which filled me conflicting feelings. McFarlane was a favored comic star at one point...90s...and now, not so much. He's still a great artist, and Spawn when it started was excellent, but Spawn's costume stopped having color in it, and after awhile all the characters drawn by McFarlane with fluid-ish costumes (Spawn, Venom) start blurring together. And the cover looks like the same sort of thing...but I was going to see what KirkFarlane could do...

Haunt #1 focuses on feuding brothers Daniel and Kurt Kilgore. Daniel is a priest and Kurt lives a life of espionage and danger. Daniel hears, unhappily, Kurt's confessions when he ready to unburden his soul of the dirty deeds he must do in his line of work.

But when Kurt gets tortured to death, Daniel thinks he's losing his mind when he starts seeing his dead brother. Worse he also hears Kurt plead for Daniel to protect his wife from the men who killed him. But then when men arrive to kill Daniel and Kurt's wife, Kurt enters Daniel's body to protect him, and Haunt is born.

The book certainly feels significantly McFarlane-ish, but with a heavy dose of Kirkman flavor, and it tastes good. Kirkman's characterization makes the disgruntled pair an appealing and interesting team. It's important to note that typically when two characters are at odds, there's one we are supposed to like and one we are supposed to not like, and if that's not supposed to happen, sometimes it happens anyway. However, Kirkman is able to keep both characters appealing. Daniel doesn't approve of Kurt's life, but Kurt doesn't lack morals and his moment of doing the right thing makes him a sympathetic character caught in a violent lifestyle.

The art is nice. I'm not an artist and not positive how all these things work, but I felt like McFarlane's inks overpowered Ottley's pencils, which probably added to the McFarlane feel. But Ottley's still seen in there.

Haunt #1 is definately worth a look. If you passed it last week, pick it up today and check it out. Your decision won't haunt you...

Cool New Titles Coming in December

2009-10-11T10:21:00.001-04:00

Chimichanga #1- Eric Powell, creator of the award winning series The Goon, brings his offbeat humor and distinctive style to his newest creation! A story fit for youngsters, Chimichanga tells the tale of a bearded girl, her less than spectacular traveling circus, and a bizarre creature that turns their lives upside down. Discover Powell's first written and illustrated creator-owned series since The Goon.

Writer and Artist: Eric Powell
Publisher: Albatross Exploding Funny Books
Cover Price: $3.00
Release Date: December 2, 2009
Previews Code: OCT090662

Empowered One-Shot - Even as costumed crime fighter Empowered fights a desperate battle against a functionally invulnerable, grave-robbing supervillain inside a secret underground mausoleum for fallen superheroes, back at Emp's apartment, the alien demonlord imprisoned upon her coffee table spins a tempestuous tell-all tale of the often-struggling heroine's deepest secrets . . . The scruple-free storyteller soon reveals how all of Empowered's many frustrations at work, at home, and even in the bedroom can be conveyed strictly through the vocabulary of her extraordinarily expressive exhalations, thus making her . . . 'The wench with a Million Sighs!'

Writer and Artist: Adam Warren
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 2, 2009
Previews Code: OCT090013

God Complex #1 - The co-creator of POWERS and MICE TEMPLAR, MICHAEL AVON OEMING, brings you magic, monsters and GODS. Meet Paul, he's an everyday kind of guy. He's kinda tall, kinda strong and kinda not mortal at all. Paul is actually Apollo (no, really) in hiding from his family the ancient Greek gods. Paul's father (you know, Zeus) would rather see Paul dead than living as a mortal. So, for Paul, being a god is complex... and dangerous...

Writers: Michael Avon Oeming and Daniel Berman
Artist: John Broglia
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 2, 2009
Previews Code: OCT090348

Hellboy: Bride of Hell one-shot - A year after their Eisner-nominated collaboration Hellboy: The Crooked Man, horror comics legends Corben and Mignola reunite! A nineteen-year-old girl is kidnapped and Hellboy tracks her down to a remote clearing in France where she's about to be given to Asmodeus, in a strange tale of ghosts, demonic revenge, lost love, and King Solomon.

Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Richard Corben
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
Release Date: December 23, 2009
Previews Code: OCT090011

Incorruptible #1 - Last April BOOM! Studios showed the world that 'Mark Waid Is Evil' with the smash-hit series Irredeemable. Now, Mark Waid is Incorruptible! Super villain Max Damage had an epiphany the day The Plutonian destroyed Sky City. When The Plutonian turned his back on humanity, Max Damage decided to step up. Now Max Damage has changed his name to Max Daring and turned from his formerly selfish ways to become Incorruptible. The flip side to this year's break-out smash hit, examining the hard, difficult road to changing your ways and making a difference in the world.

Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Neil Edwards
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 23, 2009
Previews Code: OCT090784

Mystery Men Adventures vol. 1 - Tenth Anniversary Edition! Reprinting the first four full-color comics of the project that brought about the cult classic Universal movie of the same name starring Ben Stiller, Janeane Garfolo and William H. Macy. These classics are reprinted here for the first time as a 'director's cut' with restored dialogue and creator commentary. Unlike the light hearted movie, the tone of the comics ranged from the surreal to a gritty, dark realism and film-noir style, since unseen in comics.

Writer: Bob Burden
Artist: Various
Publisher: Bob Burden Studios
Cover Price: $19.95
Previews Code: OCT090764

The Unknowns #1 - Wanted meets The Bourne Identity when a beautiful woman living an average suburban life, Alexis Davenport, discovers she was once a superhero and part of a disbanded superhero team, The Unknowns. With the help of her former partners who all have unique superpowers, she now must discover why her memory was erased and what is the secret of the vast conspiracy they were trying to cover up. Features the likeness of model Monica Olsen as Alexis.

Writer: Mark Altman and Steve Kriozere
Artist: Alisson Borges
Publisher: Femme Fatales Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 2, 2009
Previews Code: OCT090903

Comic Catch: October 7, 2009

2009-10-06T21:41:00.000-04:00

ABSOLUTION #2 - Story by: Christos Gage
Art by: Roberto Viacava
Cover by: Jacen Burrows
Publisher: Avatar Press
Cover Pirce: $3.99

ABSOLUTION introduces John Dusk, a superhero in a world where they're a sanctioned arm of law enforcement. But this veteran hero has been scarred by his exposure to man's infinite capacity for evil, and he's seen one too many perpetrators escape justice. One day he crosses the line...lets a murderer die...and discovers it feels good. In this brutal second issue, John Dusk's campaign of exterminating criminals intensifies...as his girlfriend Karen reaches the conclusion that only an "enhancile" could have committed the murders she's investigating. We'll see that not all superhumans in John's world are on the side of the law, and meet some of the renegades, including the enigmatic Happy Kitty. And before the issue's over, someone will discover John's secret... He wants to be forgiven...but he doesn't want to stop.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #608 - Story by: Marc Guggenheim
Art by: Marco Chechetto & Luke Ross
Cover by: Adi Granov
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

"WHO WAS BEN REILLY?" begins here! Bursting out of the pages of this year's AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL, RAPTOR is back for revenge against the man he claims killed his family - BEN REILLY, the clone of Spider-Man! Unfortunately, the only person alive that fits Ben's description is Peter Parker! As this super powered psycho with a thirst for vengeance targets Peter, his family and his friends, even Spider-Man might not be able to save the day this time!

ASTONISHING X-MEN #31 - Story by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Phil Jimenez, Andy Lanning
Colors by: Frank D'Armata
Letters by: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover by: Phil Jimenez, Travis Charest
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Abigail Brand, director of S.W.O.R.D., has been in some sticky situations, and she isn’t the type who asks for help to get out of them. But when you’re careening towards Earth in the cockpit of a damaged spaceship after being attacked on an exploding asteroid 7.5 million miles from Earth…it’s time to call the X-Men. They might not have much of a plan, or much of a chance, but that’s certainly never stopped them before. Superstar artist Phil Jimenez joins writer Warren Ellis for the second arc of the mind-bending ongoing series!

DEADPOOL #16 - Story by: Daniel Way
Art by: Paco Medina
Colors by: Marte Gracia
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: Jason Pearson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

“Want You to Want Me,” Part 2 Deadpool is convinced that, after years of gun-for-hire work, he has found his true calling: He’s going to be an X-Man! One problem, though: they don’t want him! And can you blame them? Wade’s just as likely to fire on his friends as his enemies! But Cyclops is smart enough not to get on Deadpool’s bad side. He has a plan to keep Deadpool both close enough to monitor and far enough away so that no one gets hit by the shrapnel. But Deadpool has a plan, too…

DOCTOR VOODOO AVENGER OF SUPERNATURAL #1 - Story by: Rick Remender
Art by: Jefte Palo
Colors by: Jean-Francois Beauliew
Letters by: Dave Lanphear
Cover by: Marko Djurdjevic
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Launching from the pages of New Avengers, Jericho Drumm assumes the role of Marvel’s new Sorcerer Supreme as DOCTOR VOODOO! Having foreseen an unimaginable evil that will soon envelop the Marvel Universe, the Eye of Agamotto has passed the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme on to the one man who has the unique gifts to stave off the coming darkness -- but is Doctor Voodoo ready for the momentous duty as avenger of the supernatural? As Jericho begins to grapple with his colossal new position, malevolent beings of vast power see his arrival as an opportunity to strike.

DOOM PATROL #3 - Story by: Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis
Art by: Matthew Clark, John Livesay, Kevin Maguire
Cover by: Matthew Clark, Kevin Maguire
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

Remember Mento? Yeah, that guy – goofy helmet, lightning bolt on his chest. After reading this issue, it's a sure bet you won't forget him again any time soon. Oh yeah, and the resolution of that whole "black hole" thing from last issue adds a kinda-sorta new member to the Doom Patrol roster. As for everyone's favorite Metal Men, it's the dynamic debut of Douglas, Robot Hunter! We're too good to you.

HAUNT #1 - Story by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Greg Capullo, Ryan Ottley, Todd McFarlane
Letters by: Richard Starkings
Cover by: Todd McFarlane, Ryan Ottley, Greg Capullo
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Daniel Kilgore is dragged into his estranged brother Kurt’s secret life of murder and espionage... by his ghost. With no training whatsoever, guided by the spirit of his secret-agent brother, Daniel must now solve his brother’s murder and save the world – or die trying! It all starts here, people: Witness the birth of HAUNT!

IRREDEEMABLE #7 - Story by: Mark Waid
Art by: Peter Krause
Colors by: Andrew Dalhouse
Letters by: Ed Dukeshire
Cover by: Gene Ha, Dan Panosian, Jeffrey Spokes
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

A “twilight of the superheroes”-style story that examines super-villains from Mark Waid writer of KINGDOM COME and EMPIRE! The Plutonian’s former teammates, the Paradigm, start to turn the tide against their former comrade. But you know what they say about a cornered animal…

JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #4 - Story by: James Robinson
Art by: Mauro Cascioli
Cover by: Mauro Cascioli
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

How far would you go for justice? The heroes have found themselves turning to darker tactics in their search for retribution. Starman and Congorilla have captured the killers who took down some of their friends, but now what do they do with them? Meanwhile, Green Lantern and company wrestle with the idea of torturing villains for information in order to save lives.

NORTH 40 #4 - Story by: Aaron Williams
Art and cover by: Fiona Staples
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

The undead have come to Lufton High, and the party hosted by Lufton’s “supernaturally gifted” students is in chaos. Meanwhile, Sheriff Morgan and the Atterhulls (who want him out of the picture) find that something new and ground shaking has been loosed in the night, and Morgan’s arsenal combined with David’s super-strength may not be enough to stop it.

PROJECT SUPERPOWERS MEET THE BAD GUYS #2 - Story by: Alex Ross, Joe Casey, Jim Kreuger
Art by: Mike Lilly, Doug Klauba
Colors by: Ivan Nunes
Cover by: Alex Ross
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99

Dynamite invites you to "Meet the Bad Guys!" with this special PROJECT SUPERPOWERS series plotted by Alex Ross, scripted by Joe Casey and illustrated by Dynamite artistic sensation Mike (The Black Terror) Lilly! As the heroes return, the villains rise - this second villainous issue introduces The Revolutionary... an awesome force to be reckoned with for the Fighting Yank!

SAVAGE DRAGON #153 - Story by: Erik Larsen
Art and Cover by: Erik Larsen
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

Savage Dragon is reunited with his son Malcolm but the reunion is anything but happy. What's a son to do when his father has merged with a ruthless, unyielding killer? Meanwhile Dart continues to manipulate the Original Daredevil and the mysterious new Overlord is making a few changes to the Vicious Circle in his quest for power!

SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #8 - Story by: James Robinson, Greg Rucka
Art by: Pete Woods, Ron Randall
Cover by: Gary Frank, Joe Kubert
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

On a mission in space, Superman and his fellow Kryptonians encounter the might of the Thanagarian Army. Can Superman keep things peaceful between the two races – or will The Man of Steel discover that Hawkman's legendary temper is shared by all his people?

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #3 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: David LaFuente
Colors by: Justin Ponsor
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: David LaFuente
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

The world of Spider-Man is turned upside down! Friends are enemies and enemies are friends!! Mysterio is on the loose and gunning for Spidey big time. And the Hulk is back!!!?? Plus--and this is a biggie--you'll never believe what iconic super hero is moving into Aunt May's house!!

VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #2 - Story by: Gregg Hurwitz
Art by: Jerome Opena
Colors by: Paul Mounts
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Leinil Francis Yu
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

“SHOCK AND AWE,” PART 2 Moon Knight is back in the Big Apple to pick a fight with the man who chased him out of town in the first place: Norman Osborn. Freed of his demons and armed with an arsenal of incredible new weapons, Moon Knight is throwing down the gauntlet to his old nemesis. Is Osborn ready for Round Two? Uh….yeah. The real question is, is Moon Knight ready for the Sentry?

WITCHFINDER IN THE SERVICE OF ANGELS #4 - Story by: Mike Mignola
Art by: Ben Stenbeck
Colors by: Dave Stewart
Cover by: Mike Mignola
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

A horrific monster rampages through the streets of Victorian London, but not everyone wants to see the menace dead. The Heliopic Brotherhood of Ra wishes to capture the creature for their own dark purposes, and if Edward Grey is to have any hope of killing the beast before it falls into their hands, he’ll have to seek aid in the most unlikely of places -- a lunatic asylum!

X-MEN VS AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 - Story by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Carlo Pagulayan, Chris Samnee
Colors by: Elizabeth Breitweiser
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Ed McGuinness
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

It's a monster-sized throwdown as the Agents of Atlas go toe-to-toe with the Uncanny X-Men! Venus has been kidnapped and the Agents will scour the Earth to find her! The Uranian needs a bigger boost to enable his mind to scan the globe, and intel suggests the one machine that can help is CEREBRA- which brings the Agents of Atlas head to head with no less than THE X-MEN!

Comic Catch: September 30, 2009

2009-09-29T21:50:00.001-04:00

ALIENS #3 - Story by: John Arcudi
Art by: Zack Howard
Colors by: Wes Dzioba
Cover by: Raymond Swanland
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

Untold trillions of miles from Earth, the planet Chione holds limitless treasures, ancient mysteries . . . and horrors beyond imagination. In the presence of the greatest archaeological discovery in human history, biologist David Sereda's journey of discovery becomes a desperate rescue mission as he plunges alone into a vast, maze-like necropolis to save the life of a woman trapped amidst an infestation of deadly xenomorphs. But when Sereda comes face to face with the madmen who murdered his crew -- and buried him alive -- he begins to doubt his quest as he realizes that for any hope of success in the midst of monsters, Sereda may need to make a deal with devils.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #607 - Story by: Joe Kelly
Pencils by: Mike McKone
Inks by: Andy Lanning
Colors by: Chris Chuckry
Letters by: VC - Joe Caramagna
Cover BY: J. Scott Campbell
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Look out, Spidey! Hot on the heels of his old girlfriend’s trip home, The Black Cat’s back (and front!), sexier and more dangerous than ever! The deck is STACKED as the one woman that loves Spider-Man more than Peter Parker is up to some devilish shenanigans…and nothing bugs Spidey more than shenanigans! BRAce yourself for danger, Spidey! It’s gonna be …umm…sexy?

BOMB QUEEN VI #1 - Story by: Jimmie Robinson
Art by: Jimmie Robinson
Cover by: Jimmie Robinson
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

“OH, BOMB AH!”

Image superheroes are lining up to congratulate President Obama, But NOT the villain dictator of New Port City. Bomb Queen is seething with bloodlust when the new administration targets her criminal city for closure along with Guantanamo Bay. Bomb Queen vs. Barack Obama?

Only Image would dare! Don’t miss it!

DARK REIGN LETHAL LEGION #3 - Story by: Frank Tieri
Pencils by: Mateus Santolouco
Inks by: Mateus Santolouco
Colors by: Chris Sotomayor
Letters by: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover BY: Tommy Lee Edwards
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

The mysterious circumstances surrounding the final showdown between the Lethal Legion and the Dark Avengers are finally revealed! What could have happened that day that forever altered Marvel’s criminal underworld as we know it? Twists, turns, terror—and a shocking conclusion you won’t want to miss!

DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP #4 - Story by: Philip K. Dick
Art by: Tony Parker
Colors by: Blond
Letters by: Richard Starkings
Cover by: Bill Sienkiewicz, Moritat
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

Worldwide best-selling sci-fi author Philip K. Dick’s award-winning DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? - the basis for the film BLADE RUNNER – comes to comics in an innovative, ground-breaking maxi-series with the full text, fully illustrated. What secret does the Rosen Corporation keep? What happens when one bonds with John Mercer, the new messiah for a new age? What does it mean to be human? These are the questions Rick Deckard must face in his strange quest! With backmatter by Ed Brubaker!

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #31 - Story by: Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges
Art and cover by: Jesus Merino
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Magog and Wildcat square off as the team traitor involved in the attack on a fellow JSAer is revealed! It all leads to greater tension and permanent rifts within the most storied Super Hero team of all time! Clearly, this was an inside job, and though they may not realize it now, the damage to the group is deeper than any of them suspects.

LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN #5 - Story by: Gerry Conway
Art by: Chris Batista and Dave Meikis
Cover by: Brian Bolland
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

His powers are gone. His teammates are beaten. His family hates him. Prismatik and Bloodrage have all the power of the League of Titans HQ to themselves. And this miniseries only has one issue to go. It doesn't look good for Buddy Baker, does it? There's a reason we called it The Last Days of Animal Man, folks!

PUNISHER ANNUAL #1 - Story by: Rick Remender
Art by: Jason Pearson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

"REMOTE CONTROL"

The Punisher faces his greatest challenge yet: Trapped in the throes of a hypnotic spell, Spider-Man's gone psycho and he wants to grind Frank Castle's bones to paste! And since Spidey's not really to blame for his actions, Castle faces a dilemma: Fight (the only way he knows how) or die. Can the Punisher survive a bloodthirsty Wall-Crawler long enough to disconnect him from the control of the Dirty Dozen's leaders, Letha and Lascivious? Super-star artist Jason Pearson joins regular series writer Rick Remender.

RAPTURE #4 - Story by: Michael Avon Oeming, Taki Soma
Art by: Michael Avon Oeming
Colors by: Val Staples
Cover by: Taki Soma
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

In the midst of a postapocalyptic world, a lone avenging champion named Evelyn Town struggles as she watches civilization collapse around her. Evelyn's lover, Gil, is nowhere to be found and she has failed to save her mother from the cannibals who terrorize the remaining survivors. Evelyn is taken aback by all that has challenged her since accepting the power given to her by the mysterious being known as Word. Will Evelyn's newfound power help to reunite her with Gil? And can Gil survive the hellish world, ruled by a twisted child champion, in which he now finds himself living?

SUPERMAN #692 - Story by: James Robinson
Art by: Fernando Dagnino, Raul Fernandez
Cover by: CAFU
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Tragedy strikes in the aftermath of "Codename: Patriot" as Metropolis buries one of its own! And with a man down, the Science Police are on their own to stop a cadre of Super-Villains from stealing a formerly common commodity that has suddenly become rarer than gold!

THULSA DOOM #2 - Story by: Arvid Nelson
Art by: Lui Antonio
Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover by: Alex Ross
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.50

The origin of the ultimate anti-hero, Thulsa Doom Continues! Atlantis is destroyed! The world is in chaos! And Thulsa seeks his own path to ultimate power!

From the pages of writer Robert E. Howard comes Dynamite's Thulsa Doom! Written by Kull writer Arvid Nelson and illustrated by Lui (Red Sonja) Antonio, the daring opening story arc continues!

X-FACTOR #49 - Story by: Peter David
Pencils by: Valentine De Landro
Inks by: Pat Davidson
Colors by: Jeromy Cox
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: David Yardin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Cortex stands revealed! Or does he? The plan of the president's science team threatens Madrox and Layla! Or does it? Shatterstar gets a milkshake! Or does he? It's all going according to the plan of Doctor Doom! Or is it?

Comic Review: The Field on the Edge of the Woods Book 1

2009-09-20T17:14:00.000-04:00

The Field on the Edge of the Woods Book 1

By Mike "Frick" Weber, Loran Skinkis, and G. Morgan
Publisher: http://www.filmsandcomics.com/
Cover Price: $3.99

"Just beyond the final breath of our years, lies a field...The Field on the Edge of the Woods. To the north, the Great WHite Wall, a beacon of hope on a remorseless landscape, and to the south...The Woods, the dark twisted closet of the world...a place that never forgives, and never forgets."

So reads the inside cover of the first book of The Field on the Edge of the Woods. With it's cover simulating the appearance of a worn leather tome, you expect a serious drama of the struggle between good and evil, the White Wall versus the dark Woods.

That's not exactly what you find, however. The story is framed in the context of reently deceased Gary reading a script written by...Death? As the hooded, grinning skeleton guides the confused Gary, we overhear the tale as Death reads the part of the narrator saying it would be cool if the narrator sounded like Morgan Freeman.

The story concerns a white rider and his army fighting the Dark Nasties, troll-like forces of the dark Woods over a mysterious bundle. The white rider, whom we learn is Pontius Pilate, gets aided by the Gov'ner and Chenoa, apparently also denizens of the Woods under the care of the Woman of the Woods. A tenuous alliance is forged and the three begin their journey in search of the stolen bundle.

What could easily have been a serious sword and sorcery tale easily lost amidst the many previous stories of the genre actually becomes an intriguing and fun adventure. Weber and crew through in humor as easily as mystery and adventure and the humor is all too modern day. The Gov'ner sounds like he could fit in with any Kevin Smith movie which contrasts the more proper fantasy tone of Pontius Pilate. Throw in the Dark Nasties who wear t-shirts reading "No Fat Chicks", "OMFG", "Vote for Pedro", "Size Matters", and the like and you can see that the strange blend of classic fantasy and modern humor creates a unique and fun reading experience.

Here's a very cool trailer for the book...Check it out...

September 16, 2009

2009-09-15T19:55:00.000-04:00

ACTION COMICS #881 - Story by: Greg Rucka and Sterling Gates; James Robinson
Art by: Pere Pérez; CAFU
Cover by: Pere Pérez
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

The Hunt for Reactron" starts here! Spilling out of the stunning finale of "Codename: Patriot," Supergirl and Flamebird find themselves at each other's throats! What's happened to these two childhood friends to put them at such odds, and can Nightwing calm them down before the situation escalates? And just what are they going to do about all of the guys who are surrounding them? You know, the guys in the tanks?

AGENTS OF ATLAS #11 - Story by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Gabriel Hardman, Dan Panosian
Colors by: Elizabeth Breitweiser, Chris Sotomayor
Letters by: Tom Orzechowski
Cover by: Adi Granov
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

There's no enemy quite like a former lover, is there? The gloves are all the way off as Jade Claw and her forces begin assaulting Atlas on every front! The Agents throw everything they've got at the Great Wall, but to no avail. Gorilla-Man is convinced only ONE member of the team can possibly stop the rain of pain...

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #605 - Story by: Brian Reed, Fred Van Lente
Art by: Yanick Paquette, Javier Pulido, Mark Farmer, Rick Magyar
Colors by: Nathan Fairbairn, Javier Rodriguez, Rob Schwager
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Mike Mayhew
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

In Issue #605 don’t miss the special “Red Headed Stranger” Epilogue! MARY JANE WATSON has returned to New York ... and all the worse for her because of what THE CHAMELEON is about to do to it! Time is running out, no one knows whose face the Master of Disguise is wearing now, and Everyone's Friendly Neighborhood-er is locked in a death-duel with Mayor J. Jonah Jameson's all-new SPIDER-SLAYER SQUAD.

DARK AVENGERS #9 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Mike Deodato
Colors by: Rainier Beredo
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: Mike Deodato
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Poor Marvel Boy... he had no idea how sinister a gang the Dark Avengers actually is. And now he is running for his life. And poor Ares, he has no idea where his son goes while he is off being an Avenger. And now he is going to find out. And when he does... there will be hell to play. Guest-starring Nick Fury and the Secret Warriors. Oh, you heard that right. Ares versus Nick Fury! You know when Stan used to say 'nuff said? This is the kind of thing he was 'nuff saiding about!

DEADPOOL MERC WITH A MOUTH #3 - Story by: Victor Gischler
Art by: Bong Dazo, Jose Pimentel
Colors by: Matt Milla
Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
Cover by: Arthur Suydam
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

“HEAD TRIP,” PART 3 They don’t call it the “Savage Land” for nothing! Trapped between cavemen zombies and an elite Hydra strike team, Deadpool’s only bargaining chip is the thing they both covet: The severed-but-still-devious head of the Marvel Zombies Deadpool! If the Merc With a Mouth is going to survive, he’s going to need all his wits and a timely assist from a guy in a loincloth named Ka-Zar and his saber-tooth sidekick. And he’d best keep one eye on “Headpool” – ‘cause that little critter is not to be trusted.

JSA VS KOBRA #4 - Story by: Eric Trautmann
Art by: Don Kramer and Michael Babinski
Cover by: Gene Ha
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

The trail of Kobra leads the Justice Society of America to Fawcett City! Jason Burr may think that it's safe to venture into former Shazam territory, but he's about to learn that the JSA protects each other's turf no matter what. And now that Burr has gotten them mad, there's no holding the Justice Society back!

MIGHTY AVENGERS #29 - Story by: Christos Gage, Dan Slott
Art by: Khoi Pham, Danny Miki
Colors by: John Rauch
Letters by: Dave Lanphear
Cover by: Marko Djurdjevic
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

"SECRETS & LIES" It's all out action at the Avengers new headqarters as RONIN and VISION face off against the SCARLET WITCH! Readers already know the Scarlet Witch is secretly LOKI, but could this be the issue where STATURE and the other MIGHTY AVENGERS find out? Also, on the outskirts of Tibet, QUICKSILVER and a longtime Avengers villain uncover THE UNSPOKEN'S plan to dominate all life on Earth. What is the secret origin of The Slave Engine? And what horribly, freakish thing has it done to the U.S. AGENT? Guest Starring: RONIN and THE YOUNG AVENGERS

POE #3 - Story by: J. Barton Mitchell
Art by: Dean Kotz
Publisher: Boom Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

He created Horror. Find out how horror created him… In this pulse-pounding issue Poe must rescue his brother and his brother’s wife from THE RED DEATH! But when THE RED DEATH offers to bring Poe’s wife Virginia back to life in exchange, will Poe make the right choice? Supernatural adventure for fans of books like HELLBOY!

PUNISHER #9 - Story by: Rick Remender
Art by: Tan Eng Huat
Colors by: Lee Loughridge
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Mike McKone, Tom Raney
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

“DEAD END,” PART 4 It’s one of those days… Gunning for the Punisher, the monstrous and impenetrable tank of the Hijacker lays waste to New York…Frank Castle uncovers the terrible history of his brand-new assistant, Henry (an origin guaranteed to astonish)…and someone just dug up the caskets of Castle’s family (that’s got to end badly).

ULTIMATE COMICS ARMOR WARS #1 - Story by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Steve Kurth, Jeffrey Huet
Colors by: Guru-EFX
Letters by: Joe Sabino
Cover by: Brandon Peterson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Exploding from the ruins of ULTIMATUM, Tony Stark races against time to save his crippled corporation and stop the theft of his armored arsenal! Superstar writer WARREN ELLIS (ULTIMATE HUMAN) teams up with rising talent STEVE KURTH (IRON MAN) to bring you a globe-spanning, high-octane thriller with a blast from Tony's past that you’ve gotta see to believe!

VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #1 - Story by: Gregg Hurwitz
Art by: Jerome Opena
Colors by: Dan Brown
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Leinil Francis Yu, Dave Finch, Alex Ross
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

“SHOCK AND AWE,” PART 1 Moon Knight is back in the Big Apple and looking to pick a fight with the man who chased him out of town in the first place: Norman Osborn. Freed of his demons and armed with an arsenal of incredible new weapons, Moon Knight is finally the hero he always aspired to be – taking out criminals with massive flair and throwing down the gauntlet to his old nemesis. Is Osborn ready for Round Two?

WALKING DEAD #65 - Story by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn
Cover by: Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

THE HUNT CONTINUES!

His time is up.

WE KILL MONSTERS #3 - Story by: Laura Harkcom, Christopher Leone
Art by: Brian Churilla
Colors by: Ronda Pattison
Letters by: Jeff Powell
Publisher: Red 5 Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

Mechanics Jake and Andrew Basher team with a sexy ex-girlfriend to kill a terrifying giant insect monster with a homemade weapon rigged from spare car parts. While Andrew discovers a clue about the monsters' origins, Jake's latest fix of monster juice gives him a shocking new side effect.

X-FACTOR #48 - Story by: Peter David
Art by: Valentine De Landro, Pat Davidson
Colors by: Jeromy Cox
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: David Yardin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Cortex stands revealed! Or does he? The plan of the president’s science team threatens Madrox and Layla! Or does it? Shatterstar gets a milkshake! Or does he? It’s all going according to the plan of Doctor Doom! Or is it?

X-MEN LEGACY ANNUAL #1 - Story by: Mike Carey
Art by: Daniel Acuna, Mirco Pierfederici
Colors by: Daniel Acuna, Mirco Pierfederici
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: Daniel Acuna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Rogue takes over the driver’s seat of X-MEN LEGACY with a bang. But she’s not alone. Her new role with the X-Men puts her in close contact with the Legacy of the X-Men, the students. It’s up to Rogue to foster the last generation of mutants, but can she even keep them alive? A classic X-Villain returns in this giant-sized special that kicks off X-MEN LEGACY’s NEW DIRECTION!

Comic Catch: September 10, 2009

2009-09-08T21:11:00.000-04:00

BPRD 1947 #3 - Story by: Mike Mignola, Joshua Dysart
Art by: Fábio Moon, Gabriel Bá
Colors by: Dave Stewart
Cover by: Mike Mignola
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

The newest B.P.R.D. members are thrust into the jaws of a group of unsavory vampires as they search for a missing comrade in the bowels of a dilapidated old chateau.

DOOM PATROL #2 - Story by: Keith Giffen; J.M. DeMatteis
Art by: Matthew Clark and John Livesay; Kevin Maguire
Cover by: Matthew Clark
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

It's a black hole, but it's not a black hole. If you're a Doom Patrol fan, that made perfect sense. And even if not, then you're in for one hell of a ride as the Doom Patrol face off against the most annoying alien this side of G'nort. Who's G'nort? What, do we have to spoon-feed this stuff to you?Oh, and we send the Metal Men into space. Just because.

G-MAN CAPE CRISIS #2 - Story by: Chris Giarrusso
Art by: Chris Giarrusso
Cover by: Chris Giarrusso
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Wizard Glendolf Williams has bad news for G-Man. The magic in G-Man’s cape has become dangerously unstable! And it’s going to take more than the sorcery of Glendolf to set things right!

HELLBOY WILD HUNT #6 - Story by: Mike Mignola, Gary Gianni
Art by: Duncan Fegredo
Colors by: Dave Stewart, Alex Wald
Cover by: Mike Mignola
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

With the Queen of Blood's legion of followers growing ever larger, it's clear that Hellboy needs to find some powerful allies of his own if he's to have any hope of saving humankind. As luck would have it, it seems one has found him. But this mysterious benefactor -- an ancient sorceress of legendary power and ambition -- has an agenda of her own . . . on behalf of Hellboy's ancestors!

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #134 - Story by: Fred Van Lente, Greg Pak
Pencils by: Reilly Brown
Inks by: Nelson DeCastro
Colors by: Guillem Mari - A
Letters by: Simon Bowland
Cover by: Rafael Alberquerque
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

"The Replacement Thor" continues as the Mighty Hercules, wearing the Thunder God's togs and towing a most unexpected guest star along to provide the pyrotechnics, descends to mysterious Svartalfheim to save the day from a new threat among the Dark Elves. But everything changes when the wicked Elven Queen turns out to be as languorously lovely as she is lethal! What Would Thor Do? Probably not what happens in this book!

KICK ASS #7 - Story by: Mark Millar
Art by: John Romita Jr., Tom Palmer
Colors by: Dean White
Cover by: John Romita Jr.
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE! Dave Lizewski has had better days. When he first pulled on the Super Hero suit, it was the thrill of a lifetime. Since then, he’s been banged-up, beaten, broken, bludgeoned, and all sorts of other b-words. He’s met a 9-year-old assassin and been on a super hero team-up. He’s watched people die and seen himself become an internet celebrity. But all that means nothing—compared to tonight. MARK MILLAR and JOHN ROMITA JR.’s foul-mouthed super hero saga continues!

LIFE AND TIMES OF SAVIOR 28 #5 - Story by: J.M. DeMatteis
Art by: Mike Cavallaro
Cover by: Mike Cavallaro, Don Perlin
Publisher: IDW
Cover Price: $3.99

'Book Five: Day of Drums.' The saga of America's greatest hero concludes as Savior 28's killer-and former sidekick-sifts through the events of James Smith's final days, revealing a man whose life has been utterly destroyed... and whose death could possibly save the world.

MARVELS PROJECT #2 - Story by: Ed Brubaker
Art by: Steve Epting
Colors by: Dave Stewart
Letters by: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover by: Steve Epting, Steve McNiven
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

The award-winning and best-selling team of Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting bring you CHAPTER TWO in this definitive tale of the origins of the Marvel heroes. As 1940 hits the world is already changing -- The Human Torch is on the run, The Angel makes his masked debut, The Sub-Mariner stalks the surface-worlders who have targeted his people -- and a young soldier named Nick Fury saves a German scientist from the Nazis and leads him to the USA. The battle-lines drawn in this race to create superhuman weapons of mass destruction still reverberate today in the Marvel Universe -- as this epic espionage thriller continues to unfold and reveal new twists

PUNISHER FRANK CASTLE MAX #74 - Story by: Victor Gischler
Art by: Goran Parlov
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: Dave Johnson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99

SPECIAL, DOUBLE-SIZED ISSUE! Deep in the Louisiana Bayou with cannibal rednecks in hot pursuit, Frank Castle is in a world of trouble. And if Frank thought Big Earl was a handful, wait until he gets a load of Junior, the Geautreux who makes the rest of the clan look like charm school graduates. To survive, the Punisher just might have to make peace with the cargo he was hauling down the back roads in his trunk – cargo that just got free and wants a little payback.

SECRET SIX #13 - Story by: Gail Simone
Art by: Nicola Scott and Doug Hazlewood
Cover by: Daniel Lu Visi
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

War breaks out on the new Devil's Island and the Six are split in half. Now they're on opposite sides and ready to die (or kill) for their cause! But what in the world are they fighting over that's strong enough – and brutal enough – to take down Wonder Woman?

SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #7 - Story by: James Robinson, Greg Rucka
Art by: Pete Woods
Cover by: Gary Frank; Bryan Talbot
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

It's never a dull moment on New Krypton – just when Superman was getting used to his place on his reborn homeworld, he's thrust into a new position that makes his previous duties look like a cakewalk. And thanks to the fallout from the "Codename: Patriot" storyline, New Krypton's ruler – and Superman's aunt – Alura has her hands full keeping the people of Kandor from panicking. So of course it's the perfect time for an alien threat to arrive and declare war…

TITANS #17 - Story by: Pat McCallum
Art by: Angel Unzueta and Wayne Faucher
Cover by: Angel Unzueta
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Spotlight on Beast Boy! Gar Logan grows tired of not being taken seriously by his Titans teammates. And what he plans on doing about it will shock you!

ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #2 - Story by: Mark Millar
Art by: Carlos Pacheco, Danny Miki
Colors by: Laura Martin
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: Carlos Pacheco
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

ENTER THE RED SKULL! Reeling over his near-fatal encounter with the Skull, Captain America takes matters into his own hands in pursuit of his terrifying new adversary and his terrorist employers! Meanwhile, Nick Fury reveals the horrifying truth behind the Red Skull and kick-starts Project Avengers in earnest with the arrival of Gregory Stark, Tony’s older, richer and smarter brother! Join MARK MILLAR (ULTIMATES) and CARLOS PACHECO (X-MEN) for the next pulse-pounding issue of the biggest, baddest book of the summer!

UNWRITTEN #5 - Story by Mike Carey
Art by: Peter Gross
Cover by: Yuko Shimizu
Publisher: DC/Vertigo Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

In the India of the British Raj, young journalist and would-be novelist Rudyard Kipling gets an offer he can't refuse. It's an offer that will catapult him to fame, fortune and inexorable destruction. The secret history of the Unwritten begins in this stand-alone story...

Comic Catch: September 2, 2009

2009-09-01T21:06:00.000-04:00

AGENTS OF ATLAS #10 - Story by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Gabriel Hardman, Paul Rivoche
Colors by: Elizabeth Breitweiser
Letters by: Tom Orzechowski
Cover by: Dave Johnson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

There's no enemy quite like a former lover, is there? The gloves are all the way off as Jade Claw and her forces begin assaulting Atlas on every front! The Agents throw everything they've got at the Great Wall, but to no avail. Gorilla-Man is convinced only ONE member of the team can possibly stop the rain of pain...

CHEW #4 - Story by: John Layman
Art by: Rob Guillory
Cover by: Rob Guillory
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

A senator with bloodstream full of drugs and a belly full of chicken is stone dead in the morgue, and the trail leads back all the way the Arctic, to a joint U.S./Russian space observatory that has been singularly focused on a single, distant, Earth-like planet. Tony Chu and his partner are about to discover whatever secret this planet holds does not compare to those being kept by the astronomers.

Yeah, that weird stuff just got weirder, in a spacey story from Image’s deliciously twisted new series about cops, crooks, cooks, cannibals and clairvoyants!

DEADPOOL #15 - Story by: Daniel Way
Art by: Paco Medina, Juan Vlasco
Colors by: Marte Gracia
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: Jason Pearson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

“WANT YOU TO WANT ME,” PART 1 Now that he knows that a pirate’s life isn’t for him, Deadpool's now starting to seriously question this whole “mercenary” thing. Maybe there’s something else he could do with his life. He doesn’t know what that could be, but then he turns on the television, and he knows exactly where he needs to be, and who needs him most. Hello, San Francisco!

DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP #3 - Story by: Philip K. Dick
Art by: Tony Parker
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

Worldwide best-selling sci-fi author Philip K. Dick's award-winning DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? - the basis for the film BLADE RUNNER - comes to comics in an innovative, ground-breaking maxi-series with the full text, fully illustrated. Thanks to the Rosen Corporation and its invention, the Nexus-6 android brain, human being's artificial counterparts are now harder to detect than ever. But bounty hunter Rick Deckard has a special weapon in his arsenal...the empathy test. With backmatter by Ed Brubaker!

IRREDEEMABLE #6 - Story by: Mark Waid
Art by: Peter Krause
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

The Plutonian’s rampage continues as the Paradigm’s dwindling members regroup and prepare to go on the offensive. Even with new information about the Plutonian’s past, will it be enough to tip the scales against a mad god? A "twilight of the superheroes"-style story that examines super-villains from Mark Waid writer of KINGDOM COME and EMPIRE!

JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #3 - Story by: James Robinson
Art by: Mauro Cascioli
Cover by: Mauro Cascioli
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

The team welcomes two new members as Supergirl and Shazam join the roster! And it's just in time, too, because when Prometheus is finally caught and his evil machinations are revealed, the League finds out they may be unable to stop him.

MERCY SPARX #4 - Story by: Josh Blaylock
Art by: Matt Merhoff
Cover by: Josh Blaylock; Chuck BB
Publisher: Devil's Due Publishing
Cover Price: $3.50

Mercy finally gets some answers, like just why Heaven sent her of all people to Earth - and there's lots o' fightin' too!

MIGHTY #8 - Story by: Peter J. Tomasi and Keith Champagne
Art by: Chris Samnee
Cover by: Dave Johnson
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Gabriel Cole's family has fallen apart, and Alpha One has a nuclear bomb! But Alpha's pride could be his undoing when Cole finds himself alone in the "hero's" headquarters…and his rage begins to lead him down a terrifying road!

NORTH 40 #3 - Story by: Aaron Williams
Art by: Fiona Staples
Publisher: DC/Wildstorm Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

It's after dark at the salvage yard, and two boys are about to discover that the nightmare gripping Conover County can come clad in steel and fire. Meanwhile, a gathering at the high school goes on as planned, though this dance wasn't originally going to be overseen by teenagers who could set fires with their minds or consume souls with new "parts" they'd grown. But even they may not be prepared for the guests coming from Lufton's graveyards. And what does Dyan, one of the architects of Conover's fate, have in mind for a frumpy classmate whom she's luring through the nightmarish streets?

SAVAGE DRAGON #152 - Story by: Erik Larsen
Art by: Erik Larsen
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

Transformations. Savage Dragon takes a turn for the worst. Meanwhile, the mystery of Overlord deepens and Chicago may never be the same.

STRANGE TALES #1 - Writer: Various
Artist: Various
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99

At long last, the wait is over!! Marvel is proud to present the debut of this hotly anticipated three issue anthology showcasing Marvel’s greatest characters re-imagined by the best and brightest talents working in independent comics today. Don’t miss what’s sure to be one of the most exciting collections of comics short stories ever produced!!! Every issue stars a stunning array of the best, most exciting cartoonists on the planet—showcasing the Marvel Heroes as you’ve never seen them before! Featuring the long-awaited Peter Bagge “Incorrigible Hulk” serialized over all three issues!

THULSA DOOM #1 - Story by: Arvid Nelson
Art by: Lui Antonio
Cover by: Alex Ross
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

From the pages of writer Robert E. Howard comes the debut of Dynamite's Thulsa Doom!

Written by Kull writer Arvid Nelson and illustrated by Lui (Red Sonja) Antonio, the opening story arc also features cover artist Alex Ross! Featuring the origins of the ultimate anti-hero, Thulsa Doom #1 opens after the destruction of Atlantis, when the world was in chaos and Thulsa sought his own path to ultimate power!

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #2 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: David Lafuente
Colors by: Justin Ponsor
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: David LaFuente
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

All the shocking revelations from the first issue come to bloom in this pulse-pounding second chapter!! Who is the Shroud!!?? Who is Spider-Man?? And who the hell is Mysterio and what did he go and do to the Kingpin?!

The Ballad of GI Joe

2009-08-12T08:56:00.000-04:00

I keep hearing that the GI Joe Movie sucks. I have a hard time believing it can be that bad, but I'll find out when it comes out on DVD. But even if it sucks, it brought this wonderful video.

The Ballad of G.I. Joe from Olivia Wilde

Comic Review: Absolution #1

2009-08-11T17:39:00.001-04:00

Absolution #1
Created and Written by: Christos Gage
Artwork: Roberto Viacava
Color: Andres Mossa
Publisher: Avatar Press
Cover Price: $3.99

In the Golden Age of comics, many heroes started wearing the spandex being frustrated in their efforts as police men and lawyers to keep criminals off of the street. Christos Gage takes that idea but adds a twist with John Dusk in Absolution.

John Dusk is a superpowered police officer. He has all the costume and power of your standard superhero, but also all the rules and regulations of a police officer. So what does he do with the sick criminals he apprehends? In Absolution #1, he begins acting as judge, jury, and executioner.

Superpowered Neo-Nazi White Power has abducted women and raped them, so when, in the course of subduing the criminal, John Dusk seriously injures him, rather than trying to stop his blood loss, Dusk lets him bleed out. But how far will he go?

Absolution is a look into how much horror a police officer can tolerate before he cracks. Gage makes us sympathetic for main character John Dusk, and adds some interesting supporting characters in The Servant and Alpha Bitch. Everyone should seek Absolution.