Dark Reign: Zodiac #1

Dark Reign: Zodiac #1

Writer: Joe Casey

Artist: Nathan Fox

Color Art: Jose Villarrubia

Lettering: Albert Deschesne

Associate Editor: Jeanine Schaefer

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Norman Osborn may be running the show, but not every super-villain is going to accept the new world order. But who -- or what -- is ZODIAC? In this dark, brooding tale that snakes through the underbelly of the modern Marvel Universe, the new breed of super-villain has finally arrived! The order of the day is "mischief for mischief's sake," and no one -- neither hero *nor* villain -- is safe!

Characters

Zodiac
Death Reaper
Manslaughter Marsdale
The Clown
David Cannon (aka Whirlwind)
Norman Osborn

The characters are pretty cool. Well, except for Osborn, but since the purpose of this mag is to give some more villains a chance to annoy Osborne, I'm all for it.

This is Zodiac's first appearance, as far as I know. If the last panel when we see his face is supposed to let us recognize who is calling himself Zodiac, it didn't work. He's kind of cool, pulling a little Joker craziness and love of anarchy. I can work with him though.

It's also Death Reaper's first appearance, but she doesn't show much, despite her costume showing...much. We learn she's Nekra daughter, and that's about it. Oh, and she likes flirting with Zodiac talking about phone sex and stuff. I assume she has similar powers and that the Grim Reaper is her daughter, but that's speculation based on her chosen code name.

The Clown, Eliot Franklin, has always been the best member of the Circus of Crime, except maybe Princess Python with her slinky outfit and writhing snakes. Anyway, I'd like to see Eliot Franklin show what has always been slinking underneath his white paint...a sadistic man under silly make-up, not the goofy buffoon he's often portrayed as.

I've never read a comic with Manslaughter Marsdale but I know of him. Created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz, He's only been in a couple of Amazing Spider-Man issues (#271 and #309) before his appearance here. I like the use of the little known characters like Marsdale. It's happening a lot these days with The Hood bringing back the Scourge victims in Punisher. So many cool characters already exist if just given a chance, the need to make so many new guys just doesn't exist.

David Cannon started off his criminal career as the less than threateningly named Human Top in 1963's Tales to Astonish #50. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, in his first appearance he was just a kid and took on Giant Man and Wasp. Roy Thomas and John Buscema reimagined David Cannon 4 years later as Whirlwind, armored for protection and blades whirling in Avengers #46. Now he's posing as Osborn's chauffeur, a role he learned posing as Janet van Dyne's chauffeur in the past. I hope he gets a chance to show off, because if Marvel would let him actually cut people, he'd be intimidating.

Character Rating: 1 Worm. Little used villains hopefully getting a chance to show off. Love it!

Plot

The plot's fairly simple. Zodiac recruits the Clown and kills a bunch of HAMMER agents while we're introduced to Zodiac's crew. Gone are the days of a first issue which stands alone and gives you a feel of the rest of the series, and that makes the first issue suffer. It makes all first issues suffer, really. But Casey does a good job introducing the characters, which not all writers can claim. One problem, though. The title of this issue is "For the Sake of Mischief". And while he talks to the Clown and shows him the heads of the Zodiac criminal team, he talks about anarchy. But he's not just randomly doing stuff...he's targeting Osborn. That means he's not just doing stuff for the sake of mischief. He's doing stuff to rattle Osborn.

Plot Rating: 1 1/2 Worms. Simple issue that introduces the characters.

Art

Sorry, Nathan Fox, I don't like your art at all. It's too much. It's too chaotic. Maybe that fits Zodiac, but doesn't appeal to me.

Art Raing: 1/2 Worm

Overall Rating: 3 Worms - Recommended for fans of Nathan Fox's art and villains giving Norman Osborn a hard time.

Learn more about The Clown here.

Learn more about Manslaughter Marsdale here.

Learn more about Whirlwind here.

Comic Catch: July 1, 2009

AGENTS OF ATLAS #7 - Story by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Gabriel Hardman, Carlo Pagulayan
Colors by: Elizabeth Breitweiser
Letters by: Dave Lanphear, Nate Peikos
Cover by: Leinil Francis Yu
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Journey to the Deep!! The Agents and the Sub-Mariner face not only a deadly attack beneath the ocean, but Namor and Namora’s budding relationship is hit with some ugly facts of Atlantean history. Also: what does a Lung Dragon dream? Peer into the most treacherous space imaginable, the ancient and diabolical mind of Mr. Lao!

ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK THREE #3 - Written by: Kurt Busiek
Art by: Brent Anderson
Cover by: Alex Ross
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

The secrets of the Apollo Eleven! The inner workings of PYRAMID! An assault on the First Family! The return of the Silver Agent! A game of Jarts! Charles and Royal get dragged deeper and deeper into the darkness and turmoil of Astro City in the early '80s – only to come face-to-face with the cosmic threat of the Incarnate!

CHEW #2 - Story by: John Layman
Art by: Rob Guillory
Cover by: Rob Guillory
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

It's Tony Chu's first day on the job as a federal agent for the FDA, the most powerful law-enforcement agency on the planet. He's got a new partner who thinks he knows everything, a boss who hates his guts for no good reason, and his first order of business is to eat a decomposing finger found in a fast food cheeseburger. By the end of the day, Tony will ingest rancid sushi, face Yakuza assassins and meet the girl of his dreams. It's all in a day's work for Tony Chu, in the latest chapter of "Chew," a deliciously unsettling new comic about cops, crooks, cooks, cannibal and clairvoyants.

DEADPOOL MERC WITH A MOUTH #1 - Story by: Victor Gischler
Art by: Bong Dazo, Arthur Suydam, Jose Pimentel
Colors by: Matt Milla
Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
Cover by: Ed McGuinness, Arthur Suydam
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

“HEAD TRIP,” Part 1 of 6 It’s the Merc with two mouths! Deadpool travels to the Savage Land to retrieve what might be the deadliest bio-weapon the universe has ever seen. What is this deadly object? Well, Deadpool's employer is being a little vague about that. Let’s just say when the secret is finally revealed, it's enough to throw even the Merc with two Mouths for a loop…Oh hell, we can’t keep a secret, it’s the severed-but-still-hungry head of the Marvel Zombies Deadpool! To save the universe, Deadpool must team up with himself to dodge Hydra operatives, dinosaurs, cavemen and zombie cavemen as he attempts to take his not-so-precious cargo back where it came from: the Marvel Zombies Universe. Plus, a bonus reprinting of the first apperanace of Deadpool from New Mutants #98!

DESTROYER #4 - Story by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Cory Walker
Colors by: Val Staples
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: Jason Pearson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Destroyer at long last comes face to face with the legions of HORDE -- and buried deep within their secret base lays a threat like none Destroyer has ever faced before. This issue, the violence gets turned up to awesome. Make sure Destroyer is added to your pull list...or the next villain Destroyer murders could be YOU!

EXILES #4 - Story by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Casey Jones, Karl Kesel
Colors by: Tony Washington
Letters by: Simon Bowland
Cover by: Dave Bullock
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

The latest team of Exiles find themselves on a much more binary Earth than the last, and the Tallus still isn't being much help. How did Machine Man, Vision and Ultron become the new rulers of America, and what chance do six people have against a nation of Machines?

IRREDEEMABLE #4 - Written by: Mark Waid
Drawn by: Peter Krause
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99

What if the world’s greatest hero decided to become the world’s greatest villain? The Plutonian’s deadly rampage continues. His former comrades-turned-victims are beaten, tired, and searching for hope. A “twilight of the superheroes”-style story that examines super-villains from the writer of KINGDOM COME and EMPIRE!

JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #1 - Story by: James Robinson
Art by: Mauro Cascioli
Cover by: Mauro Cascioli
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

What brings a team together? Justice! Batman and Martian Manhunter have been slaughtered. But he's not the only hero to fall at the hands of villains. The murder has to stop, and it's time to take the fight to the bad guys! Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Supergirl, Atom, Shazam, Congorilla and Starman unite in a cry for justice!

This 6-part miniseries from James Robinson (STARMAN, SUPERMAN) and rising star artist Mauro Cascioli (TRIALS OF SHAZAM) pushes our heroes to the brink and beyond as evil can no longer be tolerated to win. But when Prometheus plans his revenge on not only the heroes, but on the very places they call home, will this new team be ready to pay the cost for the justice they seek? This time it's personal – and it'll only get more bloody before it's over!

LOCKE & KEY HEAD GAMES #6 - Story by: Joe Hill
Art by: Gabriel Rodriguez
Cover by: Gabriel Rodriguez, Nick Runge
Publisher: IDW
Cover Price: $3.99

“Backstory.” Ellie Whedon is many things: loyal mother, tough coach, embittered daughter, lost soul, Dodge's prisoner and unwilling accomplice. But above all she's a threat to Dodge's safety, the one person who knows the truth about him, and it's time for him to do something about it. Step into Ellie Whedon's tormented memories, and find out how Dodge wound up in that well, in the shattering final issue of the Head Games arc!

MARVEL DIVAS #1 - Story by: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Art by: Tonci Zonjic
Colors by: Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic
Cover by: J. Scott Campbell
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Diva (dee-vah), noun: An unusually glamorous and powerful woman. See: Patsy "Hellcat" Walker; Felicia "Black Cat" Hardy; Angelica "Firestar" Jones; and Monica "Photon" Rambeau. What happens when you take four of the Marvel Universe's most fabulous single girls and throw them together, adding liberal amounts of suds and drama? You get the sassiest, sexiest, soapiest series to come out of the House of Ideas since Millie the Model! Romance, action, ex-boyfriends, and a last page that changes everything! Let your inner divas out with this one, fellas, you won't regret it!

MIGHTY #6 - Written by: Peter J. Tomasi & Keith Champagne
Art by: Chris Samnee
Cover by: Dave Johnson
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Being the commander of Section Omega has its perks — like a free trip to Earth orbit, courtesy of Alpha One! It may be a beautiful view, but Gabriel Cole had better hope it doesn’t turn into a one-way trip! After all, he’s beginning to understand just why he’s had so many predecessors in his job – and why so few have lived to tell about it!

SAVAGE DRAGON #150 - Story by: Erik Larsen
Art by: Erik Larsen
Cover by: Erik Larsen
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $5.99

THIS IS IT! OL’ FIN-HEAD’S FANTASTIC 150th ISSUE!

Just when Dragon thought his struggle to protect Chicago from the
nefarious Vicious Circle couldn’t get any worse, his deadliest foe
returns. The shocker of the year: OverLord Triumphant

SECRET SIX #11 - Story by: Gail Simone
Art by: Nicola Scott, Doug Hazlewood
Cover by: Daniel LuVisi
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

A former Wonder Woman is now a slave? That's just the first shock as the Secret Six face a new enemy with a heart of ice and an entire country at his command! All this plus the return of Mockingbird! It's all heading towards a confrontation against one of DC's biggest powerhouses, and the Six don't stand a chance…

SOLOMON GRUNDY #5 - Written by: Scott Kolins
Art and Cover by: Scott Kolins
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Worse on Friday! With Grundy mortally wounded, can he fend off the revenge of Professor Ivo?It's super science versus evil power! And the bad blood between them forces Cyrus to face his past head on. Will he see through the madness and discover his killer? The end is coming, and it doesn't look good for Solomon Grundy!

SPAWN #193 - Story: TODD McFARLANE
Art and Cover: GREG CAPULLO
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.95

Fan-favorite artist GREG CAPULLO returns as guest artist, bringing his inimitable style to a story arc which includes three characters he is passionate about drawing. SPAWN creator TODD McFARLANE incorporated a one-issue encounter between three of Capullo's favorite characters: detectives Sam and Twitch, who he's perfected during his previous work on SPAWN, and the ultimate personification of evil, the Clown. McFARLANE brought the three characters face-to-face for an ominous meeting that will leave fans ravenous for the next issue.

UNCANNY X-MEN #513 - Story by: Matt Fraction
Art by: Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson
Colors by: Justin Ponsor
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

“UTOPIA: CHAPTER 2” WHO ARE THE DARK X-MEN? He has his own Avengers team and now Norman Osborn has his own X-Men team. The other shoe has finally dropped and Emma Frost has betrayed Cyclops and the rest of the X-Men. And that’s just one of the huge surprises in “UTOPIA”. Is that Namor? Cloak and Dagger? Professor X?! The thing that you aren’t ready for is that Osborn is right.

WAR OF KINGS #5 - Story by: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning
Art by: Paul Pelletier, Rick Magyar
Colors by: Wil Quintana
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Brandon Peterson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

The high impact, critically acclaimed sci-fi epic rages towards its explosive climax! Last issue’s jaw-dropping cliffhanger has everyone scrambling! Vulcan’s once unbeatable and vast war machine is grinding to a halt! Black Bolt’s forces are struggling to survive! It’s all coming down to the final clash, king vs. king! But where will the other power players place their loyalty, and can anyone imagine a solution as extreme as the one Medusa is proposing? The Universe is about to change forever in what IGN.com calls “a veritable dream for science fiction/fantasy fans…War of Kings is event comics done right.”

Comic Review: Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #1

Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #1

Writer: Frank Tieri

Artist: Mateus Santolouco

Color Art: Chris Sotomayor

Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos

Cover: Tommy Lee Edwards

Editor: Jeanine Schaefer

When Norman Osborn takes over, what happens to the villains who don't make his short list of acceptable allies? Grim Reaper, Mr. Hyde, Absorbing Man, Nekra, and Man-Ape are about to find out when their cooperative of crime lands on the wrong side of Norman's law - but they're not going down without a fight.

Characters: Grim Reaper, Tiger Shark, Absorbing Man, Mr. Hyde, Nekra, Grey Gargoyle, Mr. Livingston, and secret last member of Lethal Legion. Cameos from Norman Osborn, Spider-Man/Venom/Scorpion, and Hawkeye/Bullseye.

Let's face it, these days it just doesn't beat to be a villain. Almost seems like every other title focuses on the bad guys, and I love the bad guys. So I jumped at the chance to see Grim Reaper and crew running wild. Especially against Osborn, whom I hate. As more and more people, heroes and villains, turn against Osborn, I cheer. Fury didn't have this much trouble. Stark did, though. Wonder how much longer before someone realizes how much things were better with Fury leading the way.

Anyway, most of the story focuses on Tiger Shark and we see a flashback with Osborn calling him a second-rate nothing, to which I take offense. I always liked Tiger Shark, though I preferred him looking human with the costume to this anthropomorphic shark look they've given him. Anyway, in telling his story I would have pointed out that even though Osborn was belittleing him, he still had to call in Hawkeye and Mac Gargan, whom doesn't have an impressive win record either, to help him toss Tiger Shark out the window. Doesn't sound second rate to me.

The other characters we only saw in passing, although I'm sure we'll see the others as the series goes along. Grim Reaper is crazy cool, and so is his hottie Nekra. Absorbing Man rocks, heh, and Mr. Hyde done right can be scary. To Grey Gargoyle I'm pretty indifferent.

Oddly enough, the solicitation mentioned Man-Ape, but he isn't mentioned in the comic. They should double check the solicitation blurb guy.

Mr. Livingston in the Lethal Legion's lawyer trying to find out what happened. Not very interesting, but then I assume he's not supposed to be.

I'll let the secret Lethal Legion member remain secret, but it's an interesting choice.

Character Rating: 1 Worm. Can't wait until we see more of the others.

Plot:

Livingston is flown to the Raft so he can meet with the Lethal Legion about their case. He first meets with Eric Williams, the Grom Reaper, but the interview is interrupted when some other inmates jump Reaper and stab him. He's rushed to the infirmary where his condition is undisclosed.

Livingston then goes to talk to Todd Arliss, Tiger Shark. Tiger Shark tells Livingston how and why the new Lethal Legion was formed. About Grim Reaper just wanted to "rage against the machine," Nekra was there for Reaper, Grey Gargoyle and Mr. Hyde about embarassments suffered at the hands of Osborn, and Tiger Shark being tossed out of a skyscraper window and disregarded as if he was nothing. Absorbing Man is a mystery.

Another mystery is that someone in the team betrayed them to Osborn leading to their capture. Tiger Shark thinks it's the secret member revealed in the last panel. I think that's too convenient, and I think it's either Tiger Shark himself and his attempted blackmail of Osborn and getting thrown out the window didn't really happen that way, or Absorbing Man since we don't know what motivated him to join the team.

This issue just set up the initial events to what leads to the Lethal Legion's capture. So it's interesting, but not very exciting. Tieri chose a good set up for this tale, starting at the end and telling it in flashbacks. There's plenty of intrigue and, best of all, people fighting Osborn. I love watching people fight Osborn. Especially villains.

Plot Rating: 2 Worms. Tieri packed in as much action as he could and still set up the background information we need to know before the real story starts. Well balanced tale with action, intrigue, and info.

Art: Not a big fan of Santolouco's art. It seems kind of rough. Some of the panels are pretty cool. The Splash page of Grim Reaper with Oscorp building burning in the background was cool. The panel showing the Lethal Legion doing...lethal things as Tiger Shark tells why everyone was in the group was cool. The mystery member didn't look like himself, though, and it's not just that he was out of costume.

Art Rating: 1 Worm. Just not a fan of the art.

Overall Rating: 4 Worms. Recommended for fans of villains and watching people buck Osborn's system.

Comic Review: Gotham City Sirens #1

Gotham City Sirens

Writer: Paul Dini

Artist: Guillem March

Colors: Jose Villarrubia

Letters: Steve Wands

Assistand Editor: Janelle Siegel

Editor: Mike Marts

Covers by: Guillem March and JG Jones

Publisher: DC

Cover Price: $2.99

This all-new series features the bad girls of Gotham City! Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn are tired of playing by other people's rules regardless of which side of the law they're on. These tough ladies have a new agenda that's all their own, and they'll use any means necessary to pursue it. But can they get along and work as a team? And who will get hurt along the way? DETECTIVE COMICS and STREETS OF GOTHAM writer Paul Dini kicks off this brand-new ongoing series with amazing artwork by Guillem March (JOKER'S ASYLUM: POISON IVY, GOTHAM GAZETTE).

Characters: Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Boneblaster, Riddler, and the Broker.

The cast is kind of a hit or miss. I love Harley Quinn and glad to find a title where I'll be able to see her regularly. Poison Ivy I find to be tolerable...though I certainly enjoy looking at her. She's got a whole red-headed Orion Slave Girl thing going. Catwoman I've never much liked and she seems to be the focal point. She clearly is here and hopefully she'll share panel time with the others more as things go along. Especially Harley.

Our villain was a throw away, intentionally lame, but still kind of cool. Boneblaster, with his localized somic gloves that can shatter bone, was uninteresting until you got his whole fan-boy personality. It'd be cool if Riddler didn't kill him and he returned. Speaking of the Riddler, I've always thought the question marked rogue was cool. ANyone think a showdown between the Riddler and the Question would be cool? All right Greg Rucka, get on that in Detective Comics...

The Broker was a cool, if limited, character selling secret lairs to Gotham villains.

A Poison Ivy question...she loves plants and defends them to the end. But isn't she vegetarian? It'd be cool if she ate only meat because she hates animals. Or since she's green does she survive via photosynthesis?

Character Rating: 1/2 Worm...Too much Catwoman. Not enough Harley.

Plot:

Catwoman's been healed from almost having her heart cut out (she needs to have a heart-to-heart worth Batwoman, pun intended), but she's not at full steam, still. She gets beaten and almost killed by newbie Boneblaster, but luckily Poison Ivy rescues her.

Joining Ivy at her apartment, which is really Edward Nigma's, and discovering Harley Quinn was moving in, Catwoman suggests the three join together.

Before Harley and Ivy can agree, Ivy contacts Zatanna to make sure she didn't pull some hocus pocus when healing Selina's heart. It's determined that Catwoman's problem is psychological, and assured Zatanna hadn't boobytrapped Selina's heart, Ivy and Harley agree to join Catwoman under one condition...

Then Boneblaster smashes in the door...He heard Ivy mention where she lived and all he had to do was find the room with the plants growing out of the window...Secret hideout fail, Ivy...They trio easily handles Boneblaster, during which Riddler snaps out of his plant induced trance and pummels Boneblaster for bringing a fight into the apartment.

Catwoman buys a new hideout, an abandoned animal shelter, from the Broker, and the girls begin to set up shop...but not before the condition gets addressed. Ivy demands to learn the secret identity of Batman.

Dini's plot is fun and well paced, tugging us along leaving little hints of stuff to come. Immediately the girls are fighting...kind of...I mean, Ivy using her trance plants on Catwoman to learn Batman's secret ID...Selina's not going to be too happy.

Plot Rating: 2 Worms. Lighthearted dialogue, gripping action, and Zatanna being up ended in the bath tub. It doesn't get any better.

Art: Guillem March's art is nice. There's a softness to his lines that seem to evoke the feminity. His details with Boneblaster's costume...the silly skeleton nose over his bug nose, his big ears obscured by the black sides of his mask but still noticable, help to characterize the villain fanboy out to make a name for himself. And the last panel close up of Ivy, both intimidating and alluring...Good stuff all around.

Art Rating: 2 Worms

Overall Rating: 4 1/2 Worms. Recommended for fans of Catwoman, Batman villains, or just fans who like to look at sexy woman in tights...oh, and one in a bath robe...

And for your Orion Slave Girl viewing pleasure...

via videosift.com

Comic Catch June 24, 2009

ASTONISHING X-MEN #30 - Story by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Simone Bianchi
Colors by: Simone Bianchi, Morry Hollowell, Simone Peruzzi
Letters by: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover by: Simone Bianchi
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

“GHOST BOX,” PART 6 Some boxes are best left unopened. It’s the final chapter of the opening epic by the superstar team of Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi.

DARK AVENGERS #6 - 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

DARK REIGN Big, bold choices! That's what Norman Osborn's H.A.M.M.E.R. and Avengers have been all about! And with every bold choice comes more and more risk! And with risk comes pressure! And with pressure...come the voices. How long can Norman Osborn hold it together? And what is he willing to do to make it look like everything is just fine!

DARK REIGN LETHAL LEGION #1 - Written by: FRANK TIERI
Penciled by: MATEUS SANTOLOUCO
Cover by: TOMMY LEE EDWARDS
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

When Norman Osborn takes over, what happens to the villains who don't make his short list of acceptable allies? Grim Reaper, Mr. Hyde, Absorbing Man, Nekra, and Man-Ape are about to find out when their cooperative of crime lands on the wrong side of Norman's law - but they're not going down without a fight.

DARK REIGN ZODIAC #1 - Story by: Joe Casey
Art by: Nathan Fox
Colors by: Jose Villarrubia
Cover by: Nathan Fox
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Norman Osborn may be running the show, but not every super-villain is going to accept the new world order. But who -- or what -- is ZODIAC? In this dark, brooding tale that snakes through the underbelly of the modern Marvel Universe, the new breed of super-villain has finally arrived! The order of the day is "mischief for mischief's sake," and no one -- neither hero *nor* villain -- is safe!

DETECTIVE COMICS #854 - Written by: Greg Rucka
Art by: JH Williams and Cully Hamner
Cover by JH Williams : Variant Cover by JG Jones
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

"Elegy" part 1 of 4! A new era in the history of DETECTIVE COMICS begins as Batwoman is unleashed on Gotham City! Marked by the blood-red bat, Kate Kane is a soldier fighting her own private war – one that began years ago and haunts her every waking moment. With a script by Greg Rucka and breath-taking art by JH Williams III, you've never seen anything like this!

Featuring the debut of a new co-feature starring The Question written by Rucka! Odds against you? Alone and nowhere to turn? Willing to fight, but you don't know how? When you're searching everywhere for an answer, sometimes all you need to do is ask the right Question. Renee Montoya again dons the faceless mask to help those in need, all the while searching for her own answers in this new adventure with art by Cully Hamner (BLUE BEETLE).

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #1 - Story by: Paul Dini
Art by: Guillem March
Cover by: Guillem March, JG Jones
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

This all-new series features the bad girls of Gotham City! Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn are tired of playing by other people's rules regardless of which side of the law they're on. These tough ladies have a new agenda that's all their own, and they'll use any means necessary to pursue it. But can they get along and work as a team? And who will get hurt along the way? DETECTIVE COMICS and STREETS OF GOTHAM writer Paul Dini kicks off this brand-new ongoing series with amazing artwork by Guillem March (JOKER’S ASYLUM: POISON IVY, GOTHAM GAZETTE).

GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #15 - Story by: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning
Art by: Brad Walker, Victor Olazaba
Colors by: Wil Quintana
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Salvador Larrocca
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

A WAR OF KINGS TIE-IN! Caught between the Shi’Ar and the Inhumans, how can our heroes pretend to be the Guardians of anything if they can’t even defend their own headquarters Knowhere? With nothing less than the entire future of everything at stake, it’s the defining moment for the book Aint It Cool News calls “an overdose of cool”!

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #130 - Story by: Fred Van Lente, Greg Pak
Art by: Ryan Stegman, Terry Pallot
Colors by: Raul Trevino
Letters by: Simon Bowland, Joe Caramagna
Cover by: David Williams
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Pull up a courtside seat for The Trial of this or any other Millennium! PLUTO, Lord of the Dead, is trying ZEUS for Crimes Against Creation in the infernal depths of Hades, with 500 slavering Damned serving as jury, AMADEUS CHO for the defense, and the lead witness for the prosecution...is the incredible HERCULES!

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #34 - Written by: Len Wein
Art by: Jose Luis and JP Mayer
Cover by: Ed Benes and Rob Hunter
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

The cards are against the remnants of the Justice League! And those cards are the Royal Flush Gang! Can even Superman and Wonder Woman save a team whose luck has run out? Featuring the deadly return of an old foe in part 1 of a 2-part story.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #28 - Written by: Jerry Ordway
Art by: Jerry Ordway and Bob Wiacek
Cover by Jerry Ordway
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

A Japanese spirit has appeared to exact revenge on the living symbols of America's atomic warfare while the rest of the JSA reaches out to another founding member for assistance: The Spectre! Continuing the haunting new arc by Jerry Ordway and Bob Wiacek.

LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN #2 - Written by: Gerry Conway
Art by: Chris Batista and Dave Meikis
Cover by: Brian Bolland
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Buddy Baker's powers have picked the wrong time to desert him – a thousand feet above the San Diego skyline! He'll have to rely on the help of a most unlikely ally if he wants to survive his rematch with Bloodrage. But there's more than one homicidal maniac out there with designs on his life, and the Mirror Master's daughter won't settle for the scraps Bloodrage plans on leaving behind!

MS MARVEL #40 - Story by: Brian Reed
Art by: Luke Ross, Sana Takeda, Serge LaPointe
Colors by: Sana Takeda
Letters by: Dave Sharpe
Cover by: Sana Takeda
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

The Dark Reign continues! What is the secret A.I.M. project that Karla Sofen has stumbled into...and what does it have to do with Carol Danvers? Special guest stars Spider-Man, Wolverine, Luke Cage...and Deadpool?!

NEW AVENGERS #54 - Story by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Chris Bachalo, Billy Tan, Tim Townsend, Matt Banning
Colors by: Chris Bachalo, Justin Ponsor
Letters by: Comicraft
Cover by: Billy Tan
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

A Sorcerer Supreme is chosen! Be witness to a very important chapter in Avengers history and the lore of Marvel magic! Plus, the Avengers finally have a big showdown with the Hood and not everyone walks away from it unharmed!

PERHAPANAUTS #6 - Story by: Todd Dezago
Art by: Craig Rousseau, Jason Armstrong, Jamar Nicholas
Cover by: Craig Rousseau, Matt Pott
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

"PERHAPANAUTS HALLOWEEN SCARE-FEST Special!" Three stand alone, easily accessible, scary, fun, and chilling tales to get your Halloween on! All written by Todd, with spooky art by Craig, JASON ARMSTRONG (FERRO CITY, Lobster Johnson) and JAMAR NICHOLAS (Detective Boogaloo)!

PREDATOR #1 - Writer: John Arcudi
Artist: Javier Saltares
Cover Artist: Raymond Swanland
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

The world's attention is focused painfully on a brutal third world Civil War, a merciless sectarian conflict sparing neither soldier nor civilian, grandmother nor child. But amidst the terror and carnage, where great nations and powerful interests jockey for position and advantage, another blood feud rages in the shadows, one no more humane but decidedly less human. Two warring tribes from the stars have chosen Earth's killing fields as their arena, with each clan sworn to eradicate the other . . . and all who stand between them. Each is the other's prey, each the other's Predator.

SECRET WARRIORS #5 - Story by: Brian MIchael Bendis, Jonathan Hickman
Art by: Stefano Caselli
Colors by: Daniele Rudoni
Cover by: Jim Cheung
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

The smashing first arc of Marvel's best new series comes to a climax as the battle between H.A.M.M.E.R., HYDRA, rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and the Howling Commandos begins! This is the first shot in a war that will result in the establishment of a new global power structure...and who's caught in the middle? You guessed it: Nick Fury and his team of Caterpillars.

SUPERMAN #689 - Story by: James Robinson
Art by: Renato Guedes, José Wilson Magalhães
Cover by: Andrew Robinson
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

What's a young man to do when he's told he's going to die? See the world while he can, of course! Experience a whistle-stop tour of Earth with Mon-El as he tastes life and fights crime with some of DC's international cast of Super Heroes.

Meanwhile, back in Metropolis, a media mogul takes to the airwaves. His goal: the banning of all alien life on Earth. His name: Morgan Edge. And just what is the Prankster planning?

TEEN TITANS #72 - Written by: Bryan Miller and Sean McKeever
Art and Cover by: Joe Bennett and Jack Jadson
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99

Thirty pages of story content! In the first feature, Wonder Girl's leadership is put to the test as the team faces the all-new Fearsome Five! In the debut of the 10-page co-feature, Ravager goes solo for the first time, continuing her descent into darkness begun in TERROR TITANS.

THOR #602 - Story by: J. Michael Straczynski
Art by: Marko Djurdjevic
Cover by: Marko Djurdjevic
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

The cataclysmic, catastrophic events of THOR #600 have rocked Asgard. What unexpected way do his true friends figure out to help him? And what could possibly be the next step in the devious Loki’s sinister schemes and machinations?

THUNDERBOLTS #133 - Story by: Andy Diggle
Art by: Roberto De La Torre
Colors by: Frank Martin
Letters by: Comicraft
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

A DARK REIGN TIE-IN! It's Thunderbolt vs. Thunderbolt, as Norman Osborn's black-ops hit squad targets former team-member Songbird—and this time, they're not underestimating this bird of prey! But even with a pack of blood-thirsty killers on her heels, Songbird has a few tricks up her sleeve...and enough experience fighting dirty to know that attack is the best form of defense! The acclaimed team of Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre serve up another offering of the book that Wizard calls “a breakout book”!

UNCANNY X-MEN #512 - Story by: Matt Fraction
Art by: Yanick Paquette, Karl Story
Colors by: Justin Ponsor
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Yanick Paquette
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

“The Origins of the Species” As the X-Men reel from the return of one of the greatest X-Ladies, Beast and Angel take the X-Club back to 1906 to investigate the origins of the mutant species as we know it. See the earliest stages of the Hellfire Club and the very first Sentinel ever! This story is not to be missed!

X-FACTOR #45 - Story by: Peter David

Art by: Valentine De Landro, Marco Santucci, Pat Davidson, and Craig Yeung

Colors by: Jeromy Cox, Nathan Fairbairn, and Andy Troy

Letters by: Cory Petit

Cover by: David Yardin

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Cover Price: $2.99

What is "Cortex"? The word keeps coming up in Madrox’s serial killer investigation. Now he confronts the one individual who may hold the answers: None other than Victor Von Doom—but it's Doctor Doom as you've never seen him before. The shocks never stop and the surprises never let up!

X-MEN FOREVER #2 - Story by: Chris Claremont

Art by: Tom Grummett, Cory Hamscher

Colors by: Wil Quintana

Letters by: Tom Orzechowski

Cover by: Tom Grummett

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Cover Price: $3.99

BE HERE FOR THE BEGINNING! Comics icon and New York Times bestselling writer Chris Claremont returns to his legendary run with X-MEN: FOREVER! The shockwaves after the death of Magneto are still reverberating all over the world. Attempting to heal the rift between man and mutant kind, Professor Xavier volunteers his X-Men to go on a mission to capture Magneto’s sole remaining Acolyte, Fabien Cortez! But with Nick Fury—and the entire world—watching over their shoulders, the stakes have never been higher for Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Gambit, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, Storm, Beast, and Professor X. With Tom Grummet bringing Claremont’s vision to the page, this landmark series is packed with enough surprises and twists to shake the X-Men mythos to its very core!

Nick Simmons's Incarnate to Debut in August from Radical Publishing

They cannot die. They feel no pain. They hunger for human flesh. They are Revenants. Centuries ago, the Revenant known as Mot was worshipped as a God. Now, he walks the Earth in search for a purpose to his immortality – but when a secret society discovers a way to kill Revenants, Mot and his fellow immortals must make a choice: Hunt or be hunted.

Radical Publishing is proud to announce its newest title for August 2009: INCARNATE, created, written and penciled by Nick Simmons, son of rock legend Gene Simmons and star of A&E’s Gene Simmons Family Jewels. The three-issue miniseries will feature a brand new 52-page format and $4.99 price point that will be used in future Radical titles such as FVZA: Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency from David Hine (Civil War: X-Men, Spider-Man Noir) and The Last Days of American Crime from Rick Remender (Punisher, Fear Agent).

The story concerns Mot, a peculiar member of a race of predatory creatures called Revenants. They are immortal, ageless, shape-shifting and vicious. There has never been a force on this earth that has been able to give them the death that Mot (secretly) seeks, until now. A shadow organization known only as Sanctum has discovered a way to kill the Revenants, and is carrying out a secret genocide that spans the globe. Mot, his protégé Connor, and the rest of the Revenants now must decide how to ensure their place at the top of the food chain. Nick Simmons’ breakout American Manga title reveals a world that challenges even the imagination, planting its tongue firmly in cheek, then biting it off...And swallowing it.

“Incarnate is a project that is very close to me,” stated Radical Publishing President and Publisher Barry Levine. “As a rock photographer, I have worked very closely with Gene Simmons and the members of KISS. Since I’ve known him, Gene has always had a passion for comics and has passed that down to his son Nick. After seeing Nick’s concept for Incarnate and the quality of his designs and panels, I immediately felt that this was a great fit for Radical.”

Just before its August release date, Incarnate #1 will debut at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International with Nick Simmons on hand to sign copies.

Incarnate #1 appears in the June 2009 Diamond Previews catalog, to ship August 2009 and featuring a cover by popular Runaways and Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 cover artist Jo Chen (Diamond Code: JUN091053). Incarnate #1 is a 52-page comic and retails for only $4.99.

Comic Catch: June 10, 2009

ACTION COMICS #878 - Story by: Greg Rucka
Art by: Fernando Dagnino and Raul Fernadez
Cover by: Andrew Robinson
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Nightwing and Flamebird, meet Nadira Va-Dim and Az-Rel, the Bonnie and Clyde of Krypton. They've got all of your powers, but absolutely none of your morals. Good luck!

BPRD WAR ON FROGS #3 - Writer: John Arcudi
Artist: Karl Moline
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Cover Artist: Mike Mignola
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

Fan-favorite Fray artist Karl Moline joins series writer John Arcudi and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola for a look through the eyes of a new recruit into the life of the B.P.R.D.'s resident firestarter, as Liz Sherman finds herself thrust from the sidelines to become the Bureau's super soldier in the frog war.

BUCK ROGERS #1 - Story by: Scott Beatty
Art by: Carlos Rafael
Colors by: Carlos Lopez
Cover by: John Cassaday, Alex Ross, Matt Wagner
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.50

The future begins now! Join us as we present pop culture's first hero -- Buck Rogers! The first man out of time... the first man to be taken from his present and thrown into the future... the inspiration for countless heroes, and it all begins here! From the thrilling adventure presented in Dynamite's introductory issue #0 last month, the creative team of writer Scott Beatty, artist Carlos Rafael and 50/50 cover artists Alex Ross and John Cassaday (Cassaday serves as the regular cover artist for the series) present this all-new issue #1! In the tradition of modern stories for iconic legendary heroes, Buck Rogers is the next BIG hit series from Dynamite! Join us for an all-new presentation of this classic sci-fi hero as the future truly begins now! Hey, we could tell you more, but that would ruin the surprise of the comic adventure!

DEADPOOL #11 - WRITER: Daniel Way
PENCILS: Paco Medina
INKS: Juan Vlasco
COLORED BY: Marte Gracia
LETTERED BY: Dave Lanphear, Cory Petit
COVER BY: Jason Pearson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

DARK REIGN TIE-IN “BULLSEYE,” Part 2 Okay, that was…unexpected. Bullseye has learned some new tricks since the last time they met! But now it’s Deadpool’s turn to go on the offensive…and there’s nobody more offensive than Deadpool!

FABLES #85 - Story by: Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges

Art by: Tony Akins and Andrew Pepoy
Cover by: Joao Ruas
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

"The Great Fables Crossover" part 7 of 9! Jack Horner, meet Jack Frost. But wait a minute! Didn't we already establish that Jack Horner was Jack Frost? Concerning the nature of his craft, Tom Clancy once opined that the "difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense." If this is so, how do we explain Jack being put in charge of the Farm and all of Fablekind? How do we explain Jack being allowed to babysit Bigby and Snow's cubs? How does that make sense? We here at Fables headquarters can only come to one conclusion: as impossible as it may seem, Fables isn't fiction, it's real.

FLASH REBIRTH #3 - Story by: Geoff Johns
Art by: Ethan Van Sciver
Cover by: Ethan Van Sciver
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

At last, the answer to the question that's plagued DC fans for decades: Who's faster, Superman or The Flash? Call your bookie and bet the farm, because you've never seen a run like this – and if speedsters keep dying at the pace they're going, you might never see another one again!

LIFE AND TIMES OF SAVIOR 28 #3 - Story by: J.M. DeMatteis
Art by: Mike Cavallaro
Cover by: Mike Cavallaro; Shawn McManus
Publisher: IDW
Cover Price: $3.99

Having turned his back on his life as a super hero, the legendary Savior 28 sets out to transform himself... and the world. But a humiliating public debacle shows 28 that change isn't as easy as he imagined... and so he sets off on a global journey of self-discovery that sows the seeds of his own tragic downfall.

LOCKJAW AND THE PET AVENGERS #2 - Story by: Chris Eliopoulos
Art by: Ig Guara
Colors by: Chris Sotomayor
Letters by: Nate Piekos
Cover by: Karl Kerschl
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

The hunt is on! Earth’s Cuddliest Heroes have ventured deep into the dangerous Savage Land, where ne’er has a house-broken animal escaped! Will the help of Zabu the Saber-Toothed Tiger be enough to save the Pet Avengers’ furry necks, so they can SAVE THE UNIVERSE AS WE KNOW IT?????? Featuring GORGEOUS covers by KARL KERSCHL and NIKO HENRICHON!!!

PUNISHER FRANK CASTLE MAX #71 - Story by: Victor Gischler
Art by: Gorlan Parlov
Colors by: Lee Loughridge
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: Dave Johnson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

“WELCOME TO THE BAYOU,” PART 1 OF 4 Traveling the Louisiana back roads with something awful stored in his trunk, Frank Castle stops at a service station on the edge of the bayou…and steps into a world of unspeakable horror. Patrolling the depths of hell, the Punisher has crossed paths with some unsavory characters, but noting has prepared him for the unspeakable depravity of the Geautreauxs.

SAVAGE DRAGON #149 - Story by: Erik Larsen
Art by: Erik Larsen
Cover by: Erik Larsen
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50

Dart.

STRANGE ADVENTURES OF HP LOVECRAFT #2 - Story by: Mac Carter
Art by: Tony Salmons
Cover by: Adam Byrne
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $4.99

Something sinister has been unleashed into the life of young pulp writer H.P. Lovecraft. His wretched dream of monsters and murder has come true! It can't be coincidence... It can't be merely that he's begun a fast descent into madness... Two men are dead! Can Lovecraft stop the deadly beasts that seem to slip from his subconscious into the real world before the police discover that the trail of blood leads directly to his doorstep....

TITANS #14 - Story by: Hugh Sterbakov
Art by: Angel Unzueta, Wayne Faucher
Cover by: Angel Unzueta
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $2.99

Starting this issue, we begin one-shot "Day in the Life" stories. And this issue stars Cyborg! In the grueling aftermath of the "Deathtrap" arc, Vic Stone must face the very teammates he feels he let down big-time. How he deals with it will shock you!

UNCANNY X-MEN #511 - Story by: Matt Fraction
Art by: Greg Land, Jay Leisten
Colors by: Justin Ponsor
Letters by: Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Greg Land
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

"Sisterhood” We will let this image speak for itself! Part 4 (of 4).

WALKING DEAD #62 - 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 BEGINS!

It all starts here, the most explosive story-arc in WALKING DEAD history. Who lives? Who dies? Watch as our characters discover just how dangerous the Road To Washington actually is.

X-FACTOR #44 - Story by: Peter David
Art by: Valentine De Landro
Colors by: Jeromy Cox
Letters by: Cory Petit
Cover by: David Yardin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99

“DIRTY SEXY MONET” Monet St. Croix: Smoking hot. Steamy. Gorgeous. Did we mention she was smoking hot? And suddenly she's taking charge of protecting X-Factor’s client from a serial killer while displaying extreme romantic interest in one of the team. Business as usual? Or something darkly sinister going on? And if you were the one Monet was coming on to, would you care?

X-MEN FOREVER #1 - WRITER: Chris Claremont
PENCILS: Tom Grummett
INKS: Cory Hamscher
COLORED BY: Wil Quintana
COVER BY: Tom Grummett
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

BE HERE FOR THE BEGINNING! Comics icon and New York Times bestselling writer Chris Claremont returns to his legendary run with X-MEN: FOREVER! The shockwaves after the death of Magneto are still reverberating all over the world. Attempting to heal the rift between man and mutant kind, Professor Xavier volunteers his X-Men to go on a mission to capture Magneto’s sole remaining Acolyte, Fabien Cortez! But with Nick Fury—and the entire world—watching over their shoulders, the stakes have never been higher for Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Gambit, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, Storm, Beast, and Professor X. With Tom Grummet bringing Claremont’s vision to the page, this landmark series is packed with enough surprises and twists to shake the X-Men mythos to its very core!