Tuesday, September 8, 2009

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR *THURSDAY* 9/10/09

New Releases Arrive on Thursday Due To Labor Day! Due to the Labor Day Holiday, New Releases will be arriving on THURSDAY this week instead of Wednesday. We hate having to wait a day extra for new books too, but, don't worry, come Thursday, we'll have a ton of good new reads for you!

DARK REIGN: THE LIST BEGINS THIS THURSDAY WITH DARK REIGN THE LIST: AVENGERS ONE-SHOT *THE LIST CHAPTER 1* - THE BIG LEAD UP TO THE CONCLUSION OF DARK REIGN BEGINS!

This is it, folks, the year long Dark Reign banner has been running through the entire Marvel Universe, and it's nearing it's conclusion. What will happen in it's aftermath? We've got some speculation, but really, it's an open table to see where the Marvel Universe will be going in 2010. The end is near, and it begins this week with the arrival of the highly anticipated DARK REIGN: THE LIST CHAPTER 1 in the pages of DARK REIGN THE LIST: AVENGERS one-shot.


What is the List? Well, apparently, big stuff happens in the pages of this week's DARK REIGN THE LIST: AVENGERS one-shot. I actually had the pleasure of reading a full preview of the entire issue a few weeks ago, and I've got to say, it's a great way to kick things off. I don't want to drop too many spoilers, but, after a year of putting up with ol' Normie running the Marvel Universe, Hawkeye (Clint Barton) has had enough. And the actions that he takes, sets Normie off the deep end.
And that's where "The List" comes in, a list of the most dangerous Marvel U characters in regards to Osborn's plans. Each week, we'll be seeing one of these 8 one-shots focusing on characters Osborn deems to be of high threat levels. And, what's his plan? To have them executed.
Why are we so excited here at Third Eye about this? Well, just looking at the creative teams lined up for each of these one-shots, we can tell that this is going to be one hell of a story. Also, judging from the creators tasked with these, we can tell that Marvel plans for each one of these one-shots to carry some serious weight, and be a rock solid read for the characters they're focusing on.
This week, the first chapter that kicks everything off happens in the pages of Dark Reign The List: Avengers, which is being penned by New Avengers & Dark Avengers scribe BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (i.e the man who pretty much steers the entire course of the Marvel universe these days) and the extremely talented young gun artist, Marko Djurdjevic. Like I said, I've already read this issue, and I can tell you: it's an awesome read. Sometimes big events like this have a lot of hype surrounding them, but little payoff. Not true with this one, folks. The overall plot is what's been hinted at in recent New Avengers issues, with Clint Barton (the original Hawkeye) making plans to go after Osborn and Dark Avengers towers. In this issue, he does go after Osborn, and it's action-packed. You've been wanting to see some Dark Avengers getting their asses kicked for a while, right? Well, this is where the gloves come off. The pacing of the story is very tight, and again, without dropping any spoilers, there's some very satisfying moments right up to the end which is where things really kick into high gear.
If you're a Marvel fan, or have been following New Avengers, Dark Avengers, or Dark Reign in general, then I highly recommend picking up this issue. Hell, if you're anticipating the direction of the Marvel Universe for the next year to come, I recommend snagging this one. Not only is it a pivotal beginning one-shot, but it's high quality stuff. Very well-written, with some beautiful art, I think you'll all be pretty happy with this one, especially considering how it feels like the perfect time to lead into the finale of Dark Reign.
Click here to read a preview of DARK REIGN THE LIST: AVENGERS *THE LIST CHAPTER ONE*

KICK-ASS #7 FINALLY ARRIVES THIS THURSDAY! 'NUFF SAID!



One of Third Eye's biggest hits here since the day we opened has been Mark Millar (writer of Old Man Logan) and John Romita JR's KICK-ASS! This series set in the modern day real world, about a teenage comic book fan who buys a wetsuit off of eBay, goes out, and gets beaten half to death before going onto becoming a viral internet sensation, has warmed the hearts of Third Eye Faithful for over a year now. And, we've watched this title continue to steamroll right on through as more information on the movie has continued to leak, and the buzz has continued to build.
Now, we know that it takes FOREVER in between issues, but, you guys know as well as I do: it's worth the wait. Every single issue has been better than the last, and delivered even more crazy, over-the-top madness, carnage, and Mark Millar's trademark sense of humor.
So, folks, without further adieu, this Thursday, we bring you the highly anticipated, long-awaited KICK-ASS #7. This is one of the bloodiest, craziest, and wittiest series we've seen in a very long time. And, now we're finally getting the seventh installment of KICK-ASS.
If you're already on board with KICK-ASS, then you know how killer it is to see a new issue. If you're not, we still have a limited quantity of the first run of issues in stock, so you can hop aboard in time for #7.
Click here to read a preview of KICK-ASS #7!

BLACKEST NIGHT: BLACKEST NIGHT BATMAN #2 FOLLOWS UP ON THE HEELS OF THE HIGHLY PRAISED BLACKEST NIGHT BATMAN #1 (NOW BACK IN STOCK!), PLUS GREEN LANTERN CORPS #40 PUSHES KYLE RAYNER, JOHN STEWART & GUY GARDNER TO THEIR LIMITS!



Blackest Night has been delivering some of the best books we've seen all summer. The tie-ins have all been very well put together, and well-received. This week, the scope of Blackest Night continues, as we see Blackest Night Batman #2 following up on the widely well-received first issue. We have to admit, the big twist of all the dead Batman and Nightwing Rogues Gallery returning as Black Lanterns had us hook, line and sinker. We're really excited to see what comes next in this week's Blackest Night Batman.
The first issue was a great kick-off for the Blackest Night Batman limited. Very well-written, and some solid artwork. Plus, the whole return of Dick Grayson's parents, the Flying Graysons, as Black Lanterns was awesome. Not to mention the angle with Deadman being involved is very cool, seeing him trying to re-take control of his body.
All in all, we're stoked to see where things go next in Blackest Night Batman #2. I mean, Black Lantern Ventriloquist, and Black Lantern Blockbuster are pretty awesome, but when you throw in a bunch of other Batman rogues... well, it's a good set-up.

Green Lantern Corps #40 follows up on what's been going on with Blackest Night in the pages of the Corps title. A legion of undead Green Lanterns, now Black Lanterns, waging war on the Green Lantern Corps. Things are looking pretty sketchy for Kyle Rayner, John Stewart and Guy Gardner, as they are the last hold-out of defense against their deceased former Corps members. And, after the hints dropped in Green Lantern Corps #39, it looks like Mongul's taking his rogue faction of the Sinestro Corps and leading it towards becoming a Mongul Corps, with it's homebase being Sinestro's old homeworld of Korugar.
But, the biggest reveal at the end of Green Lantern Corps #39 that has us excited for Green Lantern Corps #40 this week? The return of Jade as a Black Lantern! If you read the Kyle Rayner GL stuff in the '90s, then you most definitely remember Jade, and seeing her return was something that definitely got us interested. We know she became a minor character as this decade has progressed, but, the way her return was handled, and the effect of her being introduced into the mix, is very cool. In addition to all of this, the Green Lantern Corps title, which often gets overlooked next to Green Lantern, remains a consistently great read, as it has been for the last couple of years since Sinestro Corps War ended.
Clickherefor a preview of GREEN LANTERN CORPS #40 *BLACKEST NIGHT*


DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN EXODUS ONE-SHOT CONCLUDES THE DARK X-MEN UTOPIA SAGA!




One of the biggest Marvel storylines running through the Dark Avengers and X-Men titles this summer has been the "Dark X-Men Utopia" saga. Basically, Norman Osborn, isn't satisfied with just controlling the Avengers, he now wants to expand his control to the rest of the Marvel universe, starting with everyone's favorite mutants. Basically, Osborn has put together his own team of X-Men, and basically, it's been AWESOME.
And, now the entire thing which began in the Utopia one-shot back at the beginning of summer comes to it's conclusion in the pages of DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN EXODUS.
Everything is coming to a head in this issue here. Ares and the Sentry coming head to head with the X-Men. Emma Frost's betrayal revealed. Cyclops's plans coming into place. This one's the big one, folks, and it's got a stellar creative team with Matt Fraction and Mike Deodato Jr.
Click hereto check out a preview of DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN UTOPIA *THE CONCLUSION*

MARVELS PROJECT #2 - THE ORIGIN OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE THIS WEEK FROM CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN & INCOGNITO WRITER ED BRUBAKER!



The first issue of Marvels Project was AWESOME. It really exceeded all of our expectations, and we did have some high expectations with it being: a) a book written by the amazingly talented ED BRUBAKER, and b) the official in continuity 616 origin of superpowers in the Marvel Universe.
But, it lived up to the hype, and we were really impressed. It had some great moments, including a really awesome stand-out scene where Namor is dropping waves on a boat filled with Nazi troops, breaking their necks, and sending them to a watery grave.
We're really excited to see where the story moves to next in this week, after the impressive debut last month. Who makes his first appearance? Well, a young U.S Soldier by the name of Nick Fury, who rescues a German scientist from the Nazi and brings him over to the US. Could this be the scientist that helps develop the super-soldier serum that spawned Cap? We'll find out as this series about the race to develop super-powered weapons of destruction during World War II continues.
Highly recommended, the artwork, the story, all top notch. Marvels Project is definitely a big hit for Marvel this year, and we're pumped to see where it progresses to.
Click here for a preview of MARVELS PROJECT #2!

ADVENTURE COMICS #2 FOLLOWS UP ON BLACKEST NIGHT WRITER GEOFF JOHNS'S IMPRESSIVE DEBUT ISSUE OF THE NEW SERIES FEATURING SUPERBOY!



Okay, you've gotta hear me on this one, folks... Geoff Johns is making magic again with ADVENTURE COMICS. When Johns first came onto Action Comics, I was not a big Superman fan. The character never really clicked much with me, and there were only a handful of stories and runs that I really dug (Byrne's Man of Steel run, Red Son, All-Star Superman, ect). But with his amazing run on Action, Johns run me over. And now, he's doing it all over again with Superboy in Adventure Comics. Again, I never really got into Superboy as a character. I mean, I liked him in Johns's run on Teen Titans, but I just never had the character click for me.
All it took though was one issue of Johns's Adventure Comics to get me interested. The first issue is basically a step by step of Superboy (now having returned) going over all of the events that Superman himself did as a young man, and trying to follow in those footsteps. But, then, at the end of the first issue, the big swerve is he begins a list of... "Things Lex Luthor Would Do", and it starts with "Lies to Superman." And if you know a little about the character, you know that he's a clone of Superman, created by Lex Luthor, who also is carrying some of Luthor's DNA. It's a very interesting concept.
The thing that I loved most about Adventure Comics though was the overall sense of wonder that Johns and series artist Francis Manapul are able to convey. The sense of gravity they apply to Connor Kent living up to the big red boots laid before him by Superman is really well-done.
Again, this is another one we highly recommend giving a read, we still have plenty of issue #1 in stock, if you haven't already checked it out. And, for those of you who have, we know you're gonna be waiting for this week's follow-up issue which features a reunion between Superboy and Wonder Girl, and the plans developing between Luthor and Brainiac.
Click here for a preview of ADVENTURE COMICS #2!


MARVEL'S MODELS, INC. #1 FEATURING PROJECT RUNWAY'S TIM GUNN ARRIVES AT THIRD EYE THIS WEEK!





Here's one that you're going to want to point out to your significant others, folks, or for those of our ladies who follow Project Runway, this one might catch your attention too. The new Models, Inc. #1 featuring Project Runway's Tim Gunn will be hitting the shelves of Third Eye this week, as Mary Jane Watson, Patsy Walker, Chili Storm, Jill Jerold, and Millie the Model (!) try to survive fashion week in the midst of murder mysteries, escaped wolves, and more.
Now, we're not exactly sure if Tim Gunn is going to be a regular character in this one, just a cameo, or a cover feature, but what we do know is we've got the official Tim Gunn cover coming in this week, and for those of you Project Runway die-hards, we'll have plenty so you guys can check it out
Click here for a preview of MODELS, INC #1!

ENDER'S GAME: COMMAND SCHOOL #1 BEGINS THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN ORSON SCOTT CARD'S ENDER'S SAGA!

Orson Scott Card fans take their Enders books seriously, and it looks like everyone has been more than happy with how Marvel has been handling the series. Personally, I feel like the comic book translations of the Enders books have been very much on point. And, this week, the next installment in the Ender's Saga continues in Ender's Game: Command School #1


MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN #2 - THE BEST MARVEL ZOMBIES WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING! PICK UP LAST WEEK'S #1! CLASSIC MARVEL STORIES RETOLD WITH A ZOMBIE TWIST!


Okay, we'll admit it, we were pretty burned out on the Marvel Zombies concept. They had really beenn beating it into the ground, and while the last couple of limited series were good, we really didn't think they needed to revisit the concept so soon.
And, then we read last week's MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN #1, and holy cow, we're hooked. If you wanted to describe the theme of this new series in a nutshell: Marvel Zombies vs. the Silver Age. Basically, it's prequels to the original Marvel Zombies series. It's much more comedic than previous books. And, it's taking twists on classic moments in Marvel history with the zombie approach.
Last week's Marvel Zombies Return #1 featured Spider-man, and told us a Spider-man No More kind of story.. but with zombies. We watch as Peter eats his friends and family, and then, in that classic comic moment, tears off his Spider-man costume.... then, tears off his very own skin, and leaves it hanging in a trash can, walking away... a classic scene.
We can only imagine what kind of twisted riff on Demon in A Bottle (aka Drunk Iron Man) awaits this week in the follow up issue.

MARK MILLAR'S ULTIMATE AVENGERS #2 HITS THIS THURSDAY! WHAT OVER-THE-TOP WIDESCREEN MAYHEM AWAITS?




Mark Millar's return to the Ultimate Universe as it's driving creative force is one that's been long-awaited, and very well-received. I think a lot of us can agree that the Ultimate books had slowly began to wane quality wise after the end of Ultimates 2 a few years ago. And while events like Ultimatum, and limited series like Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk were a lot of fun, and well-told, there seemed to be a lack of direction for the Ultimate Universe.
After having read Ultimate Avengers #1 last month, I can say that I'm very happy to see things are back on track. Ultimate Comics Spidey is a solid read, and what Millar is setting off to do with the Avenger is pure gold.
The first issue kicks off with the big reveal that the Red Skull is Captain America's illegitimate son. There's also a quick glossing over of the last couple of years (thankfully ignoring a lot of what went down in ULTIMATES 3), and bam, the Ultimates are back to their former awesomeness.
Why are we so stoked? Millar's Ultimates redefined the superteam for the 21st Century. The Ultimate Universe, being it's own stand-alone continuity, allows for new and exciting concepts. With Ultimate Avengers, Millar originally took the approach that the Avengers were more of a balck ops military team than a superhero team, and with the new series, he's looking to bring things back closer to that while keeping things fresh and relevant for the current times.
Find out this week why we're 100% behind Ultimate Avengers, and we think it's something every comics fan should be giving a peek. Great artwork, and bigger than life superhero action with a post-modern twist makes for some good reading.

WAR OF KINGS: WHO WILL RULE ONE-SHOT SETS THE STAGE FOR WHAT'S TO COME NEXT IN ABNETT & LANNING'S SPACE OPERA EPICS!



With War of Kings, Marvel delivered us a larger than life space opera in the scale of contemporary science fiction like the Battlestar Galactica series fused together with elements of the cult classic Warhammer 40K universe.
Basically, for the last few years since ANNIHILATION began, Marvel has been turning all of their formerly not-quite-so-cool cosmic characters into mega badasses, and we're loving it.
War of Kings may be over, but there's still a lot of fallout that the Marvel Universe is going to have to deal with, and series masterminds Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning will be setting the stage for what comes next in the cosmic space opera with the WAR OF KINGS: WHO WILL RULE one-shot.
Click here for a preview of WAR OF KINGS: WHO WILL RULE

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