NEW COMICS ARRIVE ON THURSDAY THIS WEEK DUE TO LAST WEEK'S THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Two Big Events in December @ Third Eye!
Secondly, we've got two new exciting events we'd like to tell you guys about that we're going to be throwing in December:
Comics 80s Night @ Third Eye!
"Siege The New Year at Third Eye" Day Before New Years Eve Event!
Next up on the agenda, Wednesday 12/30/09 (the day before New Years Eve!), we'll be running an all day event from 11AM-9PM. We'll be hosting special sales on select items, and giving away some great freebies. Whats the swag you can get just for coming in on the 30th?
Origins of Siege One-Shot - A FREE prologue one-shot to Marvel's big Siege event! All new story from series writer Brian Michael Bendis - FREE
Marvel 2010 Calendar - Need a calendar to start the new year? We're going to be hooking you up with this very nice Marvel 2010 calendar. And trust us, this isn't just some throwaway cheapie, it's a legit, real deal quality calendar! -FREE
Exclusive Avengers ID Card - The coolest of all the items being offered, we're going to have a slew of these Avengers ID cards to find themselves proudly in your wallets. - FREE
These items are exclusive from Marvel, so make sure to come to the Siege the New Year party to grab them!
OTHER SIEGE THE NEW YEAR PLANS
Special sales on select items
The Release of Blackest Night #6!
Free Third Eye New Year Cake! :)
All right, if you came and saw us last Wednesday, you should have gotten a raffle ticket. Now, as a Thank You to you guys, we're going to be picking the winning ticket tonight, and the winning ticket receives a $50 Gift Card to Third Eye. If your ticket is the winner, then you need to e-mail or call us, and let us know you have the winning ticket. All that's left after that is to bring it in on your next trip to redeem your $50 gift card. Origins of Siege One-Shot - A FREE prologue one-shot to Marvel's big Siege event! All new story from series writer Brian Michael Bendis - FREE
Marvel 2010 Calendar - Need a calendar to start the new year? We're going to be hooking you up with this very nice Marvel 2010 calendar. And trust us, this isn't just some throwaway cheapie, it's a legit, real deal quality calendar! -FREE
Exclusive Avengers ID Card - The coolest of all the items being offered, we're going to have a slew of these Avengers ID cards to find themselves proudly in your wallets. - FREE
These items are exclusive from Marvel, so make sure to come to the Siege the New Year party to grab them!
OTHER SIEGE THE NEW YEAR PLANS
Special sales on select items
The Release of Blackest Night #6!
Free Third Eye New Year Cake! :)
THIRD EYE THANK YOU RAFFLE WINNER ANNOUNCED!
The winning ticket is: 613059
If we do not hear from you by Monday of next week, we will be drawing another ticket, and announcing it in next week's newsletter.
SIEGE BEGINS THIS WEEK! THE MARVEL EVENT TO END ALL MARVEL EVENTS BEGINS HERE! IT ALL STARTS THIS WEEK IN "SIEGE: THE CABAL"-GET A CHANCE TO WIN AN EXCLUSIVE SIEGE:CABAL DAVID FINCH VARIANT WHEN YOU PICK UP SIEGE: THE CABAL THIS THURSDAY!
First off, before you read on, we're going to be doing a special promotion this week. When you purchase SIEGE: THE CABAL this week here at Third Eye, you'll be entered into a prize drawing for the 1 in 75 David Finch sketch cover of SIEGE THE CABAL!
The Marvel Event to End All Events Begins NOW! For the last seven years, Marvel has been building one amazing universe. It all began in AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED, and then culminated in the events of CIVIL WAR which led us directly into the DARK REIGN. Now, after seven years, Marvel is beginning the end of an era with SIEGE. Siege is the Marvel event to end all Marvel events. Basically, everything that's come to be over the last several years, from the events of CIVIL WAR and HOUSE OF M to the recent machinations of Norman Osborn in DARK REIGN, are all coming to a head. The real high point of all this is that Marvel will be closing out the first decade of the 21st century with SIEGE, which will in turn usher in a whole new era for the Marvel Universe.
The most obvious change that we've been told to expect from Siege is the reuniting of Thor, Captain America and Iron Man. The holy trinity of the Marvel U. The big 3 of the Avengers. After over a decade of not having an Avengers team that carried those three at the same time, it looks like we'll be seeing a triumphant return to that.
But, before we get there, it needs to be said that things are going to be pretty horrific for our heroes. We're going to see characters die, we're going to see characters change, and we're going to see big changes sweep the entire Marvel Universe.
Now, lets talk about why we're stoked about this here at Third Eye, and more specifically, what the scoop is on the official beginning of SIEGE in the SIEGE CABAL one-shot is all about.
The Creative Team - Marvel maestro, Brian Michael Bendis, has proven his track record many times before, and having him penning SIEGE means that all the plotlines and stories he's laid out over the last few years will be coming together big time. The addition of Oliver Coipel, who most recently delivered the incredible artwork seen on the JMS run of THOR, as the series artist looks to be the perfect match to an event of this level. And, the fact that the moody, dark art styles of Michael Lark will be kicking off things with Bendis in the SIEGE CABAL one-shot means we're in store for a very grim beginning for SIEGE.
The Characters - This is a book that's going to touch nearly every corner of the Marvel Universe, but the focus being placed on Marvel icons like Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America, as well as heavyweight villains like Dr. Doom, and Loki, mean that we're set for a very all-star cast of characters.
What It Means - Siege is going to be an incredible story, there's no doubt about that. But, it's the gravity of what it's about that has us hooked. This is the official end of an era for Marvel, and the beginning of a new era. Whether you've been following the events of the Marvel Universe hardcore for the last few years, or if you're a brand new reader, looking for a good entry point into modern day Marvel, Siege provides a great read for both.
Accessibile Storytelling and Blockbuster Changes - The other thing that I'm pretty excited about with SIEGE is the fact that it's going to provide an accessible launching point for the Marvel Universe to many. Basically, this is going to be a tight, solid event that we haven't seen the caliber of since CIVIL WAR. Things like Secret Invasion and World War Hulk are more of in-between pieces in the grand scheme of things, whereasa SIEGE carries a level of importance in the 616 Marvel Universe that we haven't seen since CIVIL WAR.
Surprises - Marvel has been pretty tight-lipped on some of the big twists and turns to be expected, but we've been told that there's going to be some very central characters dying, as well as some important characters returning. We're going to see things like the 50 State Initiative finally fall to pieces, and a return to solid stories being told in each character's individual books.
Norman Osborn Finally Gets What He Deserves - C'mon, you can't tell me you're not sick of this guy either? It's going to be pretty satisfying to see him go down big-time.
What is SIEGE: THE CABAL - SIEGE: THE CABAL is the one-shot that officially kicks everything off for SIEGE. This is the starting point. Ground Zero. And, this is the book you want to read as sort of the official prologue to Siege. Basically, we're going to see the dismantling of Osborn and his Cabal of villains that have been not-so-quietly running the Marvel Universe. Apparently, a big part of this unravelling, is due to Osborn and his desire to expand his dominion over the kingdom of Asgard. And, then there's the fact that Loki's been in Norman's ear since this whole thing began a while ago. We'll also see two new members who're replacing Namor, and Emma Frost, after their departure from the group.
But, here's the big draw... the first shots fired that are going to really lead us into SIEGE is the highly anticipated falling out, and throwdown between Osborn and Dr. Doom. And, we haven't even begun to talk about all the other tidbits dropped about where this one-shot is going to touch on other characters in the Marvel Universe.
Win a 1 in 75 SIEGE: THE CABAL David Finch Sketch Cover - To celebrate the launching of this monumental Marvel event, we're going to be running a special promotion this week. Beginning on Thursday with the release of SIEGE: THE CABAL, and ending Monday 12/7, everyone who purchases a copy of the regular SIEGE: THE CABAL book will be entered into a special drawing to win the rare 1 in 75 SKETCH cover by David Finch. This is a book that's already fetching $70 in pre-orders. You can win it totally free this week just by picking up SIEGE: THE CABAL!
To read a preview ofSIEGE: THE CABAL, clickhere
BLACKEST NIGHT DELIVERS TWO BIG NEW LIMITED SERIES THIS WEEK WITH BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #1 and BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN #1
Holy cow, is that cover awesome or what?? Okay, this week from the fine minds of the Blackest Night thinktank, we're getting two new three issue limited series tie-ins to flesh out some corners of the DCU that Blackest Night is now hitting. Both of these bad boys look incredible, but first, we're going to talk about BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #1.
Why we're stoked? First, the creative team. Geoff Johns, one of the best writers working in comics today, and the man responsible for the entire Blackest Night saga, as well as the writer of the core BLACKEST NIGHT mini-series and Scott Kolins, the artist of many classic Geoff Johns Flash tales, as well as the more recent FINAL CRISIS: ROGUES REVENGE, are the perfect freaking team for Flash. These guys wrote what is in my opinion one of the best Flash runs to hit comics with stories like ROGUES, IGNITION, and more. And, to see them delivering the Blackest Night twist on the Flash, is perfect.
Second, the story itself. It's Barry Allen and Wally West going head to head with all the dead Flash Rogues you know and love, who are now, of course, heart-eating Black Lanterns. Johns and Kolins have a track record of doing amazing stories with the Flash rogues, in fact, what they did by re-inventing the Rogues in their previous runs is incredible comics storytelling. And, to see them bringing their Flash magic to the world of Blackest Night is just too much. We are officially stoked. This one's gonna be incredible.
Third, it's Blackest Night! And, we've yet to see a bad Blackest Night book.
Blackest Night Wonder Woman is the other Blackest Night book hitting this week, and it looks just as promising as the Flash. Greg Rucka (writer of the current DETECTIVE COMICS/BATWOMAN, as well as the classic GOTHAM CENTRAL series) and Secret Six artist Nicola Scott (who is just plain AWESOME) will be delivering this three issue limited series that is supposed to be dishing out some HUGE changes to Wonder Woman as a character. And, you know what, we're pumped for this because she needs a new approach!
Why we're stoked? First, Wonder Woman needs a fresh start. Well, lets face it, it's been a while since Wonder Woman has been a central part of the DCU like she deserves to be. Ever since she snapped Maxwell Lord's neck, she's kind of existed in her own corner of the DCU. And, because of this, we really have kind of lost interest in the character. And, see, that's no good, because she IS a great character. There have been some mega-epic WW story arcs, from the Hiketia graphic novel to Jiminez's killer run to the classic Perez stuff. And, this Blackest Night limited series is supposed to deliver BIG-TIME changes and crisises to the character. The fact that it's happening under the Blackest Night banner (and it's no B.S when I say that I've enjoyed every single one of these tie-ins, except for maybe that Solomon Grundy final chapter) makes it even better.
It's Black Lantern Maxwell Lord! In the aftermath of Identity Crisis, and right before Infinite Crisis, Maxwell Lord revealed that he was one manipulative, power-hungry jerkface, and shot the Blue Beetle in the back of the head. And, Maxwell Lord got his just deserts when Wonder Woman, in a true case of Amazon justice, snapped his neck. The fact that Lord is now returned as a Black Lantern with a bone to pick with Wonder Woman is awesome.
Is Wonder Woman going to be the next to die? If SPOILER Kyle RaynerSPOILER could die, then we know that nobody is safe in the Blackest Night. There's also been some speculation about Wonder Woman dying and returning as a Black Lantern because of the hidden shot of her action figure in the upcoming Blackest Night waves. And, of course, the cover to issue #3 is classified... soooo.... we don't know.
Either way, both of these Blackest Night tie-ins look to continue the high quality level of storytelling that we've come to expect out of the Blackest Night event. And, we can't wait to see how they read this week!
HAUNT #3 - THE DREAM TEAM HIT OF THE YEAR CONTINUES AS ROBERT KIRKMAN (WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE) & TODD MCFARLANE (LEGENDARY CREATOR OF SPAWN) KICK THINGS UP A NOTCH!
One of the big breakout hits this year has been the new IMAGE series HAUNT by a literal comics dream-team led by Robert Kirkman (the writer of WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, and many other killer reads) & comics legend, Todd McFarlane (the creator of SPAWN). The book evokes that kind of visceral excitement, and just plain "woah.. awesome" that you got when you were a teenager reading comics. The violence is over-the-top, and the book doesn't shy away from gore, but there's a tightly written story underneath the breakneck action sequences that keeps the book interesting. The first issue was a set-up issue, no doubt, and while it was good, we still weren't totally sold. But, when the second issue arrived, and we tore through it, we knew we were hooked. You want a violent, fast-paced, fresh and exciting book? This is it right here. And, you know Kirkman, you know how he sets things up, gets you into a groove, and then completely turns everything upside down on you. Well, we can feel this coming in HAUNT. Damn, I'm loving this book.
For those of you who aren't up to speed on the story behind HAUNT, let me give you a quick recap... HAUNT is the story of catholic priest Daniel Kilgore and his brother Kurt Kilgore. Kurt was a black ops merc who gets killed after refusing to do the dirty work of the organization he was working for. Kurt returns as a ghost (due in part to the strange experiments that you see early in the book), and warns his brother of oncoming danger. Bad guys show up, try to kill him, and HAUNT is born... Basically, Kurt, has posessed the body of his brother, and dishing out cold hard revenge on all the bad guys. Ripping off dude's heads, fileting their brains, you know, usual vigilante-style stuff. And, of course, his brother, the priest, is not cool with this. This is the dynamic of Haunt. This is what makes it interesting. And of course, the over-the-top violence and breakneck action don't hurt.
Want to get caught up on HAUNT? We've still got issues #1 & #2 in stock, so you can hop on without having too much to catch up on. Trust us, from the outstanding artwork to the top notch storytelling, HAUNT is comic goodness at it's finest.
Click here for a preview of HAUNT #3
FALL OF THE HULKS BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY IN FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA ONE-SHOT!
Spinning out of HULK and INCREDIBLE HULK, the gamma-irradiated throwdown of the century begins here this week in FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA. We love a big smash in the face brawl here at Third Eye, and the larger than life fistacuffs happening in the Hulk world have been among some of our favorite guilty pleasures.
This week the storyline that begins to wrap up all the loose ends from stories like RED HULK and WORLD WAR HULK begins. The story gives us a thinktank composed of M.O.D.O.K (everyone loves MODOK!), The Leader, The Mad Thinker, Egghead, Red Ghost and the Super Apes, and Dr. Doom. This is a group who's analyzed every battle, every defeat, and every angle concerning the Hulk to come up with the perfect battle plan to rid the Marvel Universe of every Hulk you can think of. Whether it's the classic Bruce Banner Hulk, the Red Hulk, Skaar, She-Hulk, or A-Bomb, they've figured out how to get rid of them all.
This is going to be the biggest Hulk storyline since World War Hulk, and serves as a great jumping on point for a lot of you who haven't been following the Hulk lately.
Why we're stoked? Sometimes you just want your comics to be larger than life, and a little bit ridiculous. Sometimes you just want a fun, old school-style storyline full of killer art, crazy villains, and some of the most brutal superhero fights you can think of. And, with Fall of the Hulks, we know we're going to get all that and more. Say what you will about Jeph Loeb's Red Hulk, but the book is fun, and we still read it every month. And, if you've been sleeping on Greg Pak's Incredible Hulk run, you're missing out. The whole concept of Bruce Banner teaching his son, Skaar, how to actually BE a Hulk is pretty damn entertaining.
DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 - A MUST-READ DARK AVENGERS ONE-SHOT FROM SERIES WRITER BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
One of the consistently best Marvel books of 2009 has been Dark Avengers. This flagship title continues to be a top-of-the-stack read that we can't get enough of here at Third Eye. If you're not reading the current story arc that's going on in Dark Avengers right now with Molecule Man, you are seriously missing out. The book is the best it's been since the first three issues, and we really can't recommend it enough.
But, enough about Dark Avengers, lets talk about this week's DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 one-shot that fleshes out the story of one of our personal favorites, Marvel Boy.
When Marvel Boy was originally introduced by Grant Morrison back in like 2000, if I remember right, it was one of the coolest limited series I had read. The book represented so well everything that modern superhero comics were becoming, and really stuck with me. When Bendis began to use the character more with things like the Illuminati miniseries, it got me stoked. And, then when he disappeared in the pages of Dark Avengers 6.. it left me wondering.
Well, this week in the DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL, we wonder no more, because they're exploring the ramifications of Marvel Boy and his abandoning of the Dark Avengers. It's like the mob... you can't leave unless you die. This issue explores just how Osborn plans to deal with Noh-Varr, and also showcases just how powerful the new Captain Marvel can be.
And, just from looking at the preview pages, this book hums with post-modern comic energy. It looks like it'll be a good read.
Click here to read a preview of DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1
SUPERGOD #2 - The Second Issue of Warren Ellis's International Arms Race to Build the Perfect Superman Continues!
Supergod #1 BLEW US AWAY! Many writers have done the evil Superhuman thing, and hey, they've done it well (we LOVE Irredeemable, The Boys, and more), but the twist that Ellis has put on the idea is incredible. Basically, the world is in a superhuman arms race to build the first Superman. The first Supergod. And, coincidentally enough, each culture's Superman, resembles their religious figures and ideals. The first issue featured India being scorched to the Earth, Pakistan nearly beginning World War III, and ended with a glimpse of America's SUPERGOD, who of course looks like an average run of the mill guy.
The artwork, and writing in this made it one of the best new Ellis books we've read, and while the pacing was slow, it was a set-up book, and we know that this issue is where things are going to really fly off the hook.
If you missed #1, don't worry, we still have some in stock, so you can catch up this week with issue 1 and issue 2.
Click here to read a preview of SUPERGOD #2
THOR #604 - BRAND NEW STORY ARC, BRAND NEW DIRECTION! A GREAT JUMPING ON POINT TO ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS MARVEL HAS BEEN PUTTING OUT! THOR VS. DR. DOOM BEGINS HERE!
J.Michael Straczynski's run on Thor was INCREDIBLE! The finale last week (Giant-Size Thor Finale) was one of the best issues I read last week, and even as a good stand-alone Thor story, it was a great read. And, now that everything has been tied up, and set up for the new run, we cannot wait to see where things go with this book. Marvel is starting things off right with this first issue of the new direction. It's a great jumping on point, and even if you haven't read Thor in years, or never read Thor, it provides a solid entry point for new readers. For those of you who like myself were a bit bummed to see JMS go, fear not, because the creative team picking up for him looks to be a good one.
Why we're stoked? The book is being written by a rising star newcomer by the name of Kieron Gillen. Kieron Gillen has recently put out underrated cult hits like Phonogram, and on the Marvel side of things, he's the guy who's been making the Dark Avengers Ares limited series that's happening so awesome. He's definitely a name to watch, and we think Thor is going to be his breakout book. The art is being supplied by the incredibly talented Billy Tan, who delivered pencils on modern classics like the X-Men Space epic: Uncanny X-Men Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire. He also recently had a very solid stint on New Avengers.
And, then, onto the actual premise of the new story arc that begins here. Other than the fact that it serves as a new direction, and a great jumping on point, it's also the big throwdown between Dr. Doom and Thor that's been brewing ever since Doom and Loki's machinations began.
So, yeah, it's Thor vs. Dr. Doom, what more could you want out of a bigger than life over-the-top superhero tale? We feel that the new creative team is going to do very well on this book, and I guess we'll find out on Wednesday how it is.
Click here for a preview of THOR #604
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #898 - DEADPOOL GOES LUCHA LIBRE WITH THE ZAPATA BROTHERS!
It's Deadpool gone Lucha Libre this month in the next issue of Deadpool Team-Up! From the creative team that brought us the killer DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS limited series last year comes this next edition of DEADPOOL TEAM-UP featuring the Zapata Brothers. I mean, what more could you want? Deadpool. Luchadore Bounty Hunters. A Drug Cartel. And a dead man with a huge price on his head?
The first issue of Deadpool Team-Up RULED, and we know we're gonna get our quotient of Deadpool funny this week with the next issue.
Click here for a preview of DEADPOOL TEAM-UP 898
JSA ALL-STARS #1 DEBUTS BRAND NEW ONGOING JSA SERIES THIS WEEK!
The JSA has experienced a real revival in the last decade and a half. Beginning with Geoff Johns's long run, and re-invention of the characters (available in trade paperback here at Third Eye), and then continuing with the current run of FABLES writer Bill Willingham, JSA has managed to maintain a top tier spot as one of those DC books that you just have to read.
And, now, there's going to be a double-dose of the Justice Society every month, with the brand new JSA ALL-STARS series kicking off. A new team, a new base, and new villains. The preview pages look solid, and we've seen nothing but good from most JSA books so far, so we're excited to see how this one turns out.
Click here for a preview of JSA ALL-STARS #1
365 SAMURAI & A FEW BOWLS OF RICE GRAPHIC NOVEL - BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL MEETS BONE
Certified Third Eye freshness coming to us this week in this 400-page slab of AWESOMEONESS that is being described by some as Blade of the Immortal meets Jeff Smith's Bone. Gorgeouslly illustrated full page panels, with clean linework reminscent of Jeff Smith's work, tell the story of an Edo-era swordsmen and his quest for survival and enlightement.
To be honest, we don't know whole a lot about this book, but after looking at some preview pages, we thought it was worth spotlighting, and we personally can't wait to get our hands on a copy and read it this week. This thing looks fresh as hell!
Click hereto check out the preview!
STAFF PICKS
Torma - Blackes Night #5 - The best issue yet! HUGE reveals, and some amazing twists. This issue was amazing. If you're following Blackest Night, get your butt into Third Eye and grab it!
Steve - Superman Secret Origin #3 - It felt like I was watching the best Superman movie ever made. There's one page, and you'll know the one I'm talking about when you read it that just made me smile from ear to ear. AND IM NOT EVEN A BIG SUPERMAN FAN! This book is so good!
Trish - Beasts of Burden #3 - If you're into Stuff of Legend, or stuff like Fables, then you should really check this one out. The character and life given to this book is great. This issue was a fun solo story about the little orange tabbie named Orphan. Trust me, this book rocks, don't let the cuteness scare you!
First off, before you read on, we're going to be doing a special promotion this week. When you purchase SIEGE: THE CABAL this week here at Third Eye, you'll be entered into a prize drawing for the 1 in 75 David Finch sketch cover of SIEGE THE CABAL!
The Marvel Event to End All Events Begins NOW! For the last seven years, Marvel has been building one amazing universe. It all began in AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED, and then culminated in the events of CIVIL WAR which led us directly into the DARK REIGN. Now, after seven years, Marvel is beginning the end of an era with SIEGE. Siege is the Marvel event to end all Marvel events. Basically, everything that's come to be over the last several years, from the events of CIVIL WAR and HOUSE OF M to the recent machinations of Norman Osborn in DARK REIGN, are all coming to a head. The real high point of all this is that Marvel will be closing out the first decade of the 21st century with SIEGE, which will in turn usher in a whole new era for the Marvel Universe.
The most obvious change that we've been told to expect from Siege is the reuniting of Thor, Captain America and Iron Man. The holy trinity of the Marvel U. The big 3 of the Avengers. After over a decade of not having an Avengers team that carried those three at the same time, it looks like we'll be seeing a triumphant return to that.
But, before we get there, it needs to be said that things are going to be pretty horrific for our heroes. We're going to see characters die, we're going to see characters change, and we're going to see big changes sweep the entire Marvel Universe.
Now, lets talk about why we're stoked about this here at Third Eye, and more specifically, what the scoop is on the official beginning of SIEGE in the SIEGE CABAL one-shot is all about.
The Creative Team - Marvel maestro, Brian Michael Bendis, has proven his track record many times before, and having him penning SIEGE means that all the plotlines and stories he's laid out over the last few years will be coming together big time. The addition of Oliver Coipel, who most recently delivered the incredible artwork seen on the JMS run of THOR, as the series artist looks to be the perfect match to an event of this level. And, the fact that the moody, dark art styles of Michael Lark will be kicking off things with Bendis in the SIEGE CABAL one-shot means we're in store for a very grim beginning for SIEGE.
The Characters - This is a book that's going to touch nearly every corner of the Marvel Universe, but the focus being placed on Marvel icons like Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America, as well as heavyweight villains like Dr. Doom, and Loki, mean that we're set for a very all-star cast of characters.
What It Means - Siege is going to be an incredible story, there's no doubt about that. But, it's the gravity of what it's about that has us hooked. This is the official end of an era for Marvel, and the beginning of a new era. Whether you've been following the events of the Marvel Universe hardcore for the last few years, or if you're a brand new reader, looking for a good entry point into modern day Marvel, Siege provides a great read for both.
Accessibile Storytelling and Blockbuster Changes - The other thing that I'm pretty excited about with SIEGE is the fact that it's going to provide an accessible launching point for the Marvel Universe to many. Basically, this is going to be a tight, solid event that we haven't seen the caliber of since CIVIL WAR. Things like Secret Invasion and World War Hulk are more of in-between pieces in the grand scheme of things, whereasa SIEGE carries a level of importance in the 616 Marvel Universe that we haven't seen since CIVIL WAR.
Surprises - Marvel has been pretty tight-lipped on some of the big twists and turns to be expected, but we've been told that there's going to be some very central characters dying, as well as some important characters returning. We're going to see things like the 50 State Initiative finally fall to pieces, and a return to solid stories being told in each character's individual books.
Norman Osborn Finally Gets What He Deserves - C'mon, you can't tell me you're not sick of this guy either? It's going to be pretty satisfying to see him go down big-time.
What is SIEGE: THE CABAL - SIEGE: THE CABAL is the one-shot that officially kicks everything off for SIEGE. This is the starting point. Ground Zero. And, this is the book you want to read as sort of the official prologue to Siege. Basically, we're going to see the dismantling of Osborn and his Cabal of villains that have been not-so-quietly running the Marvel Universe. Apparently, a big part of this unravelling, is due to Osborn and his desire to expand his dominion over the kingdom of Asgard. And, then there's the fact that Loki's been in Norman's ear since this whole thing began a while ago. We'll also see two new members who're replacing Namor, and Emma Frost, after their departure from the group.
But, here's the big draw... the first shots fired that are going to really lead us into SIEGE is the highly anticipated falling out, and throwdown between Osborn and Dr. Doom. And, we haven't even begun to talk about all the other tidbits dropped about where this one-shot is going to touch on other characters in the Marvel Universe.
Win a 1 in 75 SIEGE: THE CABAL David Finch Sketch Cover - To celebrate the launching of this monumental Marvel event, we're going to be running a special promotion this week. Beginning on Thursday with the release of SIEGE: THE CABAL, and ending Monday 12/7, everyone who purchases a copy of the regular SIEGE: THE CABAL book will be entered into a special drawing to win the rare 1 in 75 SKETCH cover by David Finch. This is a book that's already fetching $70 in pre-orders. You can win it totally free this week just by picking up SIEGE: THE CABAL!
To read a preview ofSIEGE: THE CABAL, clickhere
BLACKEST NIGHT DELIVERS TWO BIG NEW LIMITED SERIES THIS WEEK WITH BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #1 and BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN #1
Holy cow, is that cover awesome or what?? Okay, this week from the fine minds of the Blackest Night thinktank, we're getting two new three issue limited series tie-ins to flesh out some corners of the DCU that Blackest Night is now hitting. Both of these bad boys look incredible, but first, we're going to talk about BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #1.
Why we're stoked? First, the creative team. Geoff Johns, one of the best writers working in comics today, and the man responsible for the entire Blackest Night saga, as well as the writer of the core BLACKEST NIGHT mini-series and Scott Kolins, the artist of many classic Geoff Johns Flash tales, as well as the more recent FINAL CRISIS: ROGUES REVENGE, are the perfect freaking team for Flash. These guys wrote what is in my opinion one of the best Flash runs to hit comics with stories like ROGUES, IGNITION, and more. And, to see them delivering the Blackest Night twist on the Flash, is perfect.
Second, the story itself. It's Barry Allen and Wally West going head to head with all the dead Flash Rogues you know and love, who are now, of course, heart-eating Black Lanterns. Johns and Kolins have a track record of doing amazing stories with the Flash rogues, in fact, what they did by re-inventing the Rogues in their previous runs is incredible comics storytelling. And, to see them bringing their Flash magic to the world of Blackest Night is just too much. We are officially stoked. This one's gonna be incredible.
Third, it's Blackest Night! And, we've yet to see a bad Blackest Night book.
Blackest Night Wonder Woman is the other Blackest Night book hitting this week, and it looks just as promising as the Flash. Greg Rucka (writer of the current DETECTIVE COMICS/BATWOMAN, as well as the classic GOTHAM CENTRAL series) and Secret Six artist Nicola Scott (who is just plain AWESOME) will be delivering this three issue limited series that is supposed to be dishing out some HUGE changes to Wonder Woman as a character. And, you know what, we're pumped for this because she needs a new approach!
Why we're stoked? First, Wonder Woman needs a fresh start. Well, lets face it, it's been a while since Wonder Woman has been a central part of the DCU like she deserves to be. Ever since she snapped Maxwell Lord's neck, she's kind of existed in her own corner of the DCU. And, because of this, we really have kind of lost interest in the character. And, see, that's no good, because she IS a great character. There have been some mega-epic WW story arcs, from the Hiketia graphic novel to Jiminez's killer run to the classic Perez stuff. And, this Blackest Night limited series is supposed to deliver BIG-TIME changes and crisises to the character. The fact that it's happening under the Blackest Night banner (and it's no B.S when I say that I've enjoyed every single one of these tie-ins, except for maybe that Solomon Grundy final chapter) makes it even better.
It's Black Lantern Maxwell Lord! In the aftermath of Identity Crisis, and right before Infinite Crisis, Maxwell Lord revealed that he was one manipulative, power-hungry jerkface, and shot the Blue Beetle in the back of the head. And, Maxwell Lord got his just deserts when Wonder Woman, in a true case of Amazon justice, snapped his neck. The fact that Lord is now returned as a Black Lantern with a bone to pick with Wonder Woman is awesome.
Is Wonder Woman going to be the next to die? If SPOILER Kyle RaynerSPOILER could die, then we know that nobody is safe in the Blackest Night. There's also been some speculation about Wonder Woman dying and returning as a Black Lantern because of the hidden shot of her action figure in the upcoming Blackest Night waves. And, of course, the cover to issue #3 is classified... soooo.... we don't know.
Either way, both of these Blackest Night tie-ins look to continue the high quality level of storytelling that we've come to expect out of the Blackest Night event. And, we can't wait to see how they read this week!
HAUNT #3 - THE DREAM TEAM HIT OF THE YEAR CONTINUES AS ROBERT KIRKMAN (WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE) & TODD MCFARLANE (LEGENDARY CREATOR OF SPAWN) KICK THINGS UP A NOTCH!
One of the big breakout hits this year has been the new IMAGE series HAUNT by a literal comics dream-team led by Robert Kirkman (the writer of WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, and many other killer reads) & comics legend, Todd McFarlane (the creator of SPAWN). The book evokes that kind of visceral excitement, and just plain "woah.. awesome" that you got when you were a teenager reading comics. The violence is over-the-top, and the book doesn't shy away from gore, but there's a tightly written story underneath the breakneck action sequences that keeps the book interesting. The first issue was a set-up issue, no doubt, and while it was good, we still weren't totally sold. But, when the second issue arrived, and we tore through it, we knew we were hooked. You want a violent, fast-paced, fresh and exciting book? This is it right here. And, you know Kirkman, you know how he sets things up, gets you into a groove, and then completely turns everything upside down on you. Well, we can feel this coming in HAUNT. Damn, I'm loving this book.
For those of you who aren't up to speed on the story behind HAUNT, let me give you a quick recap... HAUNT is the story of catholic priest Daniel Kilgore and his brother Kurt Kilgore. Kurt was a black ops merc who gets killed after refusing to do the dirty work of the organization he was working for. Kurt returns as a ghost (due in part to the strange experiments that you see early in the book), and warns his brother of oncoming danger. Bad guys show up, try to kill him, and HAUNT is born... Basically, Kurt, has posessed the body of his brother, and dishing out cold hard revenge on all the bad guys. Ripping off dude's heads, fileting their brains, you know, usual vigilante-style stuff. And, of course, his brother, the priest, is not cool with this. This is the dynamic of Haunt. This is what makes it interesting. And of course, the over-the-top violence and breakneck action don't hurt.
Want to get caught up on HAUNT? We've still got issues #1 & #2 in stock, so you can hop on without having too much to catch up on. Trust us, from the outstanding artwork to the top notch storytelling, HAUNT is comic goodness at it's finest.
Click here for a preview of HAUNT #3
FALL OF THE HULKS BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY IN FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA ONE-SHOT!
Spinning out of HULK and INCREDIBLE HULK, the gamma-irradiated throwdown of the century begins here this week in FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA. We love a big smash in the face brawl here at Third Eye, and the larger than life fistacuffs happening in the Hulk world have been among some of our favorite guilty pleasures.
This week the storyline that begins to wrap up all the loose ends from stories like RED HULK and WORLD WAR HULK begins. The story gives us a thinktank composed of M.O.D.O.K (everyone loves MODOK!), The Leader, The Mad Thinker, Egghead, Red Ghost and the Super Apes, and Dr. Doom. This is a group who's analyzed every battle, every defeat, and every angle concerning the Hulk to come up with the perfect battle plan to rid the Marvel Universe of every Hulk you can think of. Whether it's the classic Bruce Banner Hulk, the Red Hulk, Skaar, She-Hulk, or A-Bomb, they've figured out how to get rid of them all.
This is going to be the biggest Hulk storyline since World War Hulk, and serves as a great jumping on point for a lot of you who haven't been following the Hulk lately.
Why we're stoked? Sometimes you just want your comics to be larger than life, and a little bit ridiculous. Sometimes you just want a fun, old school-style storyline full of killer art, crazy villains, and some of the most brutal superhero fights you can think of. And, with Fall of the Hulks, we know we're going to get all that and more. Say what you will about Jeph Loeb's Red Hulk, but the book is fun, and we still read it every month. And, if you've been sleeping on Greg Pak's Incredible Hulk run, you're missing out. The whole concept of Bruce Banner teaching his son, Skaar, how to actually BE a Hulk is pretty damn entertaining.
DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 - A MUST-READ DARK AVENGERS ONE-SHOT FROM SERIES WRITER BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
One of the consistently best Marvel books of 2009 has been Dark Avengers. This flagship title continues to be a top-of-the-stack read that we can't get enough of here at Third Eye. If you're not reading the current story arc that's going on in Dark Avengers right now with Molecule Man, you are seriously missing out. The book is the best it's been since the first three issues, and we really can't recommend it enough.
But, enough about Dark Avengers, lets talk about this week's DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 one-shot that fleshes out the story of one of our personal favorites, Marvel Boy.
When Marvel Boy was originally introduced by Grant Morrison back in like 2000, if I remember right, it was one of the coolest limited series I had read. The book represented so well everything that modern superhero comics were becoming, and really stuck with me. When Bendis began to use the character more with things like the Illuminati miniseries, it got me stoked. And, then when he disappeared in the pages of Dark Avengers 6.. it left me wondering.
Well, this week in the DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL, we wonder no more, because they're exploring the ramifications of Marvel Boy and his abandoning of the Dark Avengers. It's like the mob... you can't leave unless you die. This issue explores just how Osborn plans to deal with Noh-Varr, and also showcases just how powerful the new Captain Marvel can be.
And, just from looking at the preview pages, this book hums with post-modern comic energy. It looks like it'll be a good read.
Click here to read a preview of DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1
SUPERGOD #2 - The Second Issue of Warren Ellis's International Arms Race to Build the Perfect Superman Continues!
Supergod #1 BLEW US AWAY! Many writers have done the evil Superhuman thing, and hey, they've done it well (we LOVE Irredeemable, The Boys, and more), but the twist that Ellis has put on the idea is incredible. Basically, the world is in a superhuman arms race to build the first Superman. The first Supergod. And, coincidentally enough, each culture's Superman, resembles their religious figures and ideals. The first issue featured India being scorched to the Earth, Pakistan nearly beginning World War III, and ended with a glimpse of America's SUPERGOD, who of course looks like an average run of the mill guy.
The artwork, and writing in this made it one of the best new Ellis books we've read, and while the pacing was slow, it was a set-up book, and we know that this issue is where things are going to really fly off the hook.
If you missed #1, don't worry, we still have some in stock, so you can catch up this week with issue 1 and issue 2.
Click here to read a preview of SUPERGOD #2
THOR #604 - BRAND NEW STORY ARC, BRAND NEW DIRECTION! A GREAT JUMPING ON POINT TO ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS MARVEL HAS BEEN PUTTING OUT! THOR VS. DR. DOOM BEGINS HERE!
J.Michael Straczynski's run on Thor was INCREDIBLE! The finale last week (Giant-Size Thor Finale) was one of the best issues I read last week, and even as a good stand-alone Thor story, it was a great read. And, now that everything has been tied up, and set up for the new run, we cannot wait to see where things go with this book. Marvel is starting things off right with this first issue of the new direction. It's a great jumping on point, and even if you haven't read Thor in years, or never read Thor, it provides a solid entry point for new readers. For those of you who like myself were a bit bummed to see JMS go, fear not, because the creative team picking up for him looks to be a good one.
Why we're stoked? The book is being written by a rising star newcomer by the name of Kieron Gillen. Kieron Gillen has recently put out underrated cult hits like Phonogram, and on the Marvel side of things, he's the guy who's been making the Dark Avengers Ares limited series that's happening so awesome. He's definitely a name to watch, and we think Thor is going to be his breakout book. The art is being supplied by the incredibly talented Billy Tan, who delivered pencils on modern classics like the X-Men Space epic: Uncanny X-Men Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire. He also recently had a very solid stint on New Avengers.
And, then, onto the actual premise of the new story arc that begins here. Other than the fact that it serves as a new direction, and a great jumping on point, it's also the big throwdown between Dr. Doom and Thor that's been brewing ever since Doom and Loki's machinations began.
So, yeah, it's Thor vs. Dr. Doom, what more could you want out of a bigger than life over-the-top superhero tale? We feel that the new creative team is going to do very well on this book, and I guess we'll find out on Wednesday how it is.
Click here for a preview of THOR #604
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #898 - DEADPOOL GOES LUCHA LIBRE WITH THE ZAPATA BROTHERS!
It's Deadpool gone Lucha Libre this month in the next issue of Deadpool Team-Up! From the creative team that brought us the killer DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS limited series last year comes this next edition of DEADPOOL TEAM-UP featuring the Zapata Brothers. I mean, what more could you want? Deadpool. Luchadore Bounty Hunters. A Drug Cartel. And a dead man with a huge price on his head?
The first issue of Deadpool Team-Up RULED, and we know we're gonna get our quotient of Deadpool funny this week with the next issue.
Click here for a preview of DEADPOOL TEAM-UP 898
JSA ALL-STARS #1 DEBUTS BRAND NEW ONGOING JSA SERIES THIS WEEK!
The JSA has experienced a real revival in the last decade and a half. Beginning with Geoff Johns's long run, and re-invention of the characters (available in trade paperback here at Third Eye), and then continuing with the current run of FABLES writer Bill Willingham, JSA has managed to maintain a top tier spot as one of those DC books that you just have to read.
And, now, there's going to be a double-dose of the Justice Society every month, with the brand new JSA ALL-STARS series kicking off. A new team, a new base, and new villains. The preview pages look solid, and we've seen nothing but good from most JSA books so far, so we're excited to see how this one turns out.
Click here for a preview of JSA ALL-STARS #1
365 SAMURAI & A FEW BOWLS OF RICE GRAPHIC NOVEL - BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL MEETS BONE
Certified Third Eye freshness coming to us this week in this 400-page slab of AWESOMEONESS that is being described by some as Blade of the Immortal meets Jeff Smith's Bone. Gorgeouslly illustrated full page panels, with clean linework reminscent of Jeff Smith's work, tell the story of an Edo-era swordsmen and his quest for survival and enlightement.
To be honest, we don't know whole a lot about this book, but after looking at some preview pages, we thought it was worth spotlighting, and we personally can't wait to get our hands on a copy and read it this week. This thing looks fresh as hell!
Click hereto check out the preview!
STAFF PICKS
Torma - Blackes Night #5 - The best issue yet! HUGE reveals, and some amazing twists. This issue was amazing. If you're following Blackest Night, get your butt into Third Eye and grab it!
Steve - Superman Secret Origin #3 - It felt like I was watching the best Superman movie ever made. There's one page, and you'll know the one I'm talking about when you read it that just made me smile from ear to ear. AND IM NOT EVEN A BIG SUPERMAN FAN! This book is so good!
Trish - Beasts of Burden #3 - If you're into Stuff of Legend, or stuff like Fables, then you should really check this one out. The character and life given to this book is great. This issue was a fun solo story about the little orange tabbie named Orphan. Trust me, this book rocks, don't let the cuteness scare you!
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