The biggest issue of GREEN LANTERN yet is hitting the stands this week with the double-sized 50th issue of the series penned by Geoff Johns, and illustrated by Doug Mahnke. All I can say, folks, is that this one is going to be EPIC. The solicitations aren't revealing much, but from where we've seen the story going in both Green Lantern and Blackest Night, it looks like some big stuff will be going down in this issue. Plus, it's an issue 50, and you know with hallmark books like GL, they pull out all stops for the 50th issue. Ontop of all that, each and every issue of GREEN LANTERN has served as a very special in-between story, filling in the gaps between issues of Blackest Night. After the events of BLACKEST NIGHT #6, I think you guys are just as eager as I am to see what's going to be going down in this one.
From what the solicits do say, it looks like Hal Jordan will be going head to head with the Black Lantern Spectre, who you know, as the friggin' spirit of God's wrath, is pretty unbeatable already. As a Black Lantern? He's going to be impossible. How is Hal going to tackle this, and what does the cover of GL tease with him done up in some VERY familiar looking armor mean? Is Hal going back to the way of Parallax? There's also some mention of Atrocitus finding new means of power that will make him the most powerful of the Lanterns. All I know is that this issue is going to be packing some big punches, and we cannot wait to see what they are.
Each, and every issue of Green Lantern has been building on the Blackest Night story in a very substantial and meaningful way, and if you're reading the main series, then you really need to be checking out the Green Lantern issues as well. They basically serve as Blackest Night 1.5, Blackest Night 2.5, Blackest Night 3.5, ect ect... very cool way of keeping things going, and expanding on important things in the storyline and keeping key elements from being glossed over in the main book.
Click here to see some rough preview pages of GREEN LANTERN #50!
BATMAN AND ROBIN #7 BEGINS "IN BLACKEST KNIGHT"... Does Black Hand really have Bruce Wayne's skull? The road to this spring's "Return of Bruce Wayne" storyline begins here!
And, as if DC wasn't already dishing out one huge, monumental issue wasn't enough, we're also getting the start of what will probably be the biggest story arc yet in Grant Morrison's red hot Batman & Robin series. Ever since the very beginning of BLACKEST NIGHT, everyone has been wondering just what the hell is up with that skull Blackhand has been carrying around and claiming as Bruce Wayne's. And, then after the events of BLACKEST NIGHT #5 where Batman was momentarily resurrected as a Black Lantern, and then put back to rest... we've all been puzzled as to just what the deal is. Well, now, these questions are beginning to be answered in this very special three-part story arc that begins in this week's BATMAN AND ROBIN #7, and it could only be titled none other than "In Blackest Knight."
While Morrison has said that his series would not be carrying the banner of Blackest Night, because he does enjoy keeping everything contained to the pages of just BATMAN AND ROBIN, he has said that it takes influence and plot-threads from the atmosphere of Blackest Night. The biggest one being: Where does the supposedly-deceased (or lost in time) Bruce Wayne exist in this environment? The book is also going to be featuring every prominent current Bat-character you can think of, ranging from big characters like Batwoman to obscure favorites like Knight and Squire (the English equivalents of Batman).
Why we're stoked? Well, as if we haven't given you reason enough already as to why we're pumped, with all the mention above about what it's all about.. this is simply put going to be one of the best story arcs in one of the best Batman runs we've ever seen. I mean, Batman and Robin already exists as one of the major top tier favorites here at Third Eye, and each issue is guaranteed, quality reading, but from the way Morrison has described this "In Blackest Knight" storyline... we feel that this could be a nice slice of Bat-history unfolding right before our eyes. AND, ontop of all that, it leads into the increasingly anticipated "Return of Bruce Wayne - Fight Through Time" storyline that will be launching this Spring. Add in the involement of Black Hand, and the atmosphere of Blackest Night, plus the teased reveal of what's going on with Batman's skull in Black Hand's grasp.
Knight and Squire? Another reason why I'm stoked about this arc is the involvement of Knight and Squire, the UK equivalent of Batman and Robin. These characters originally appeared way back in the Silver Age, and Morrison first brought them back in his classic run of JLA back in the '90s (JLA #26, collected now in JLA v.5: JUSTICE FOR ALL) and given more showtime as members of the Ultramarine Corps in Grant Morrison and Ed McGuinness's often overlooked, but killer JLA: Ultramarine Corps (available now in trade paperback at Third Eye) story arc. Most of you might remember them from the recent BLACK GLOVE storyline (BATMAN: THE BLACK GLOVE TPB). Out of all the members of the "International League of Batmen", Knight and Squire are my personal favorites, and their involvement in recent happenings throughout the DCU has been very cool to see.
Knight, an "English Batman" who can't handle the death of his father, and blows his inheritance on booze, drugs, and women, and ends up being dragged out of his self-destructive spiral by a tough, working class girl, is very intriguing. It's a really cool dynamic to see between the two, and there's definitely an Avengers (the Emma Peel AVENGERS) and even a little bit of a Doctor Who vibe to the dynamic between Knight and Squire, and it really makes them stand out as some of my favorite supporting DCU characters now.
All in all, this is a must-read story arc, and even if you've yet to jump onboard with Morrison's awesome Batman and Robin series, we highly recommend jumping in with issue #7, and checking out this arc.
If you've yet to check out Morrison's incredible re-invention of the Batman and Robin dynamic with BATMAN AND ROBIN, we currently have all issues, 1-6, in stock now at Third Eye, for you to catch up with.
Click here to read more about BATMAN AND ROBIN #7
Click here to read an interview with about the "Blackest Knight" storyline that begins this week in Batman and Robin #7
THE SIEGE CONTINUES IN NEW AVENGERS #61 *SIEGE*,and AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32 *SIEGE* STEVE ROGERS RETURNS TO THE AVENGERS THIS WEEK!
I gotta say, I am super impressed so far with the SIEGE tie-ins that have hit. Each one so far has done a fantastic job of not just being relevant to the overall SIEGE storyline, but truly making the books and characters they've spotlighted feel important, and integral to the overall scheme of things in SIEGE. Granted, there's only been a couple to hit the racks so far, but each one has delivered big time. Way better than past tie-ins to Marvel major events.
And, before I go forward in talking about this week's round of SIEGE awesomeness, let me tell you... check out last week's DARK AVENGERS #13 *SIEGE* and DARK WOLVERINE #82 *SIEGE*, both of these were very pleasant surprises. Dark Avengers #13 took a character I've had nearly zero interest in, the Sentry, and revealed the REAL origin of the character and how he fits into the scheme of things with SIEGE and Norman Osborn, and by doing so... they have made me dig the Sentry a hundred times more than I did before. I don't want to spoil anything, because I know some of you have yet to read this one, but, the origin Bendis has laid out for the Sentry gives him potential to become one of the coolest flawed characters, or over-the-top supervillain. There's just so many layers to the character, and his whiny, obnoxious demeanor now makes complete sense. As for DARK WOLVERINE #82, the character of Daken also became a thousand times more interesting for me as well. Again, a character that just never clicked with me, I found myself digging Daken a little bit more with his inclusion on the DARK AVENGERS, but, after seeing those last three pages of DARK WOLVERINE #82... he's much cooler now in my eyes. Now, what happened in those pages, is a HUGE spoiler, and I don't want to drop it, because it's a good payoff. But, dude, they really knocked things up a notch with Daken, his place in the Marvel U, and his place in Norman Osborn's world.. you will be surprised!
Now, lets talk about the books coming out this week that carry the SIEGE banner.
NEW AVENGERS #61 *SIEGE*
First off, we've got the next installment of NEW AVENGERS (a consistent Marvel favorite around here), with NEW AVENGERS #61. Again, Marvel reveals very little in the solicits for this issue, but just like with last week's DARK AVENGERS, and DARK WOLVERINE, we're expecting some pretty big surprises. What we do know is that this issue features a newly returned Steve Rogers Captain America and his reunion with the AVENGERS. Who does he trust? Who does he count amongst his closest allies in this grave new world? It's time to see how Marvel's greatest hero kicks some ass in the face of the God-Killer, Norman Osborn. Click here for a preview of NEW AVENGERS #61
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32 *SIEGE*
The issue preceding this, AVENGERS INITIATIVE *SIEGE PRELUDE* surprised the hell outta me! I haven't really followed the Initiative book that closely for a few months, because honestly, I just wasn't digging it. However, the SIEGE tie-in, and the inclusion of one of my favorite B-listers, TASKMASTER, piqued my curiousity as well. Man, was I impressed! It was a very cool look at how the "average" supervillain views their place in the world, and portrayed Taskmaster as your everyman supervillain who just wants to make some cash, and meet beautiful women... and now he's been roped into Osborn's Cabal of heavy-hitters, and is getting charred to a crisp by the likes of Dr. Doom!
This SIEGE tie-in that takes place this week in AVENGERS THE INITIATIVE #32 sees Tasksmaster, and many other supervillains just like him being thrown up against the combined forces of THOR, and the immortal Gods of Asgard. This is a little more than they had bargained for when they thought serving as Osborn's second wave of super-powered goons was a sweet gig.It should be a pretty cool issue, and if the characterization and writing in issue #31 was any indication, it'll be a really well-written, well-shaped issue. Click here for a preview of AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32
GEOFF JOHNS WRITES "BACK FROM THE DEAD" BLACKEST NIGHT ONE-SHOT ATOM & HAWKMAN #46 THIS WEEK, AND IT LOOKS KILLER! INDIGO LANTERN ATOM vs. BLACK LANTERN HAWKMAN AND HAWKGIRL!
The "Back from the Dead" one-shots that've been carrying the story forward in BLACKEST NIGHT this month have been pretty cool. There's been a couple where I've questioned their involvement, but overall, there's been some really good reads to come out of these. My favorites so far? Starman, of course, Power of Shazam, and the Suicide Squad/Sinister Six arc.
But, the big one is this week's ATOM AND HAWKMAN #46, and it's got us stoked for more than just one reason. First off, it's being written by GEOFF JOHNS, the man behind BLACKEST NIGHT and GREEN LANTERN. And, then, it's got an up and coming artist by the name of Ryan Sook rocking the art duties. If you haven't seen Sook's pencils, you should look him up, he's actually pretty good, and I'm hoping that this is the book that gives him some exposure.
But, most importantly, it's Geoff Johns exploring the fates of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, who we saw killed in the pages of BLACKEST NIGHT #1. It's no secret that Johns has a soft-spot for these characters, as one of his earliest DC works was the killer Hawkman run he and Rags Morales did. It's going to be very cool to see where he takes things with this one-shot, and the spin that he puts on two characters who have a huge part of their backstory based around the whole death and resurrection concept.
Ontop of all that, it features the Atom, who is now part of the INDIGO TRIBE, who's being hunted by Black Lantern Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Personally, after the big events of BLACKEST NIGHT #6, I'm anxious to see all the different characters who were given rings, and while I'm a little more jazzed on Scarecrow as a Yellow Lantern and Lex Luthor as an Orange Lantern, it's still pretty damn cool to see the results of Atom being inducted into the Indigo Tribe explored.
Click here to read more about BLACKEST NIGHT ATOM & HAWKMAN #46
Have you been following all the Blackest Night "Back from the Dead" one-shots? Each one is the next issue after the "final" issues of many series that were cut down in their prime, giving these books one more chance to tell their stories, and casting the Blackest Night shadow on every corner of the DCU.
In case you've missed any of them, we currently have all of the "Back from the Dead" Blackest Night checklists in stock, here's a list of what's been released:
The Power of Shazam! #48 by Eric Wallace
- The Question #37 by Greg Rucka
- Suicide Squad #67 by John Ostrander and Gail Simone
- Phantom Stranger #42 by Peter Tomasi
- Catwoman #83 by Fabian Nicieza
- The Atom and Hawkman #46 by Geoff Johns
- Weird Western Tales #71 by Dan DiDio
- Starman #81 by James Robinson
KICK-ASS #8 CONCLUDES MARK MILLAR (WRITER OF OLD MAN LOGAN) AND JOHN ROMITA JR'S ULTRAVIOLENT, YET HUMOROUS TAKE ON THE WORLD OF COSTUMED VIGILANTES!
The finale to Mark Millar and John Romita JR's ultra-violent, yet humorous real-world take on costumed vigilantes arrives this Wednesday, after much delay. And, even though it's been almost five months since issue #7... we couldn't be more stoked. And, of course, there's the little fact that the trailers have been showing up everywhere for KICK-ASS these days, and they look... AWESOME.
For those of you who've been following KICK-ASS, then the series needs no explanation. For those of you who haven't, we'd recommend waiting, because the graphic novel will be hitting in a week or so, and the early issues of this series have been out of print and impossible to get a hold of since last summer.
What's the scoop on Kick-Ass? Meet Dave Lizewski, an ordinary high school student who loves comic books. He loves 'em so much he uses them as inspiration to become a costumed crime-fighter. After buying a wetsuit on eBay, and turning that into his superhero costume, he goes out, and ends up getting his ass kicked. Like, really bad. So bad, they put him in the hospital, and it takes him months to recover. He gets out of the hospital, swears off the idea of fighting the good fight, burns all of his comics, but.... something just won't let him give it up. He goes out, one more time, in costume, and sees a guy getting beaten by a few guys. He tries to interfere, and they blow him off... so he pulls out his batons, and starts wailing on these guys from behind. And, every single person witnessing this begins to record it on their phones. And, an internet celebrity sensation is born, as the video is uploaded to YouTube, Facebook, and so forth. He's dubbed KICK-ASS by the world, and uses his newfound confidence to continue his crime-fighting career. Of course, his second time out.. he ends up getting into a bigger mess, and that's when Hit Girl comes into the picture. A 10 year old girl slicing dudes apart with Katana swords. And, that's when we find out there's more than just one costumed amateur crimefighter out there taking out bad guys.
The book is violent, and is fueled by a frenetic energy that makes each issue a fun, breakneck fast read. Mark Millar (OLD MAN LOGAN) demonstrates his knack for dialogue well, and the book is by far one of the most clever we saw last year. For those of you who're already hooked, we know you're gonna be eagerly awaiting this one, and for those of you who've yet to jump onboard, the graphic novel should be arriving next week.
Click here for a preview of KICK-ASS #8
CHEW #8 *INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR PT 3*CONTINUES THE BREAKOUT IMAGE SERIES OF 2009! ARE YOU READING THIS INCREDIBLE TAKE ON DETECTIVE PROCEDURALS MIXED WITH A LITTLE CANNIBALISM? IF NOT, GET CAUGHT UP THIS WEEK WITH CHEW VOLUME 1 TPB (1-5) FOR ONLY $9.99! THIRD EYE SPECIAL OFFER: TRY CHEW v.1 THIS WEEK, AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, BRING IT BACK FOR A FULL REFUND!
The second story arc of IMAGE's best new series of 2009 continues this Wednesday, as we see Detective Chu tracking down a prize-winning fighting bird. One that's impossible to defeat, and now that it's missing, there's some people who want Poyo (the feathered ass-kicker) back, and Detective Chu's on the case. How does this tie in to the case Chu's been working? I guess we'll find out!
Click here for a preview of CHEW #8!
For those of you who haven't yet tried CHEW, you have gotta check this series out. Even if you're not normally a fan of the more off-the-wall books, you will be hooked on this one. It really is a great read, and combines killer art, and killer story to make for a compelling series.
What's the scoop on CHEW? In a world where all poultry is illegal due to the outtbreak of Bird Flu, and an underground market has developed for the real thing, Detective Tony Chu exists. Chu, though, happens to be cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. He eats a hamburger? He sees the cow being killed. He eats an apple? He can smell the pesticides being sprayed on the trees. It makes his life very unpleasant, and because of that, he only eats beets. You can't get a strong psychic residue from dirt. And, then, in the first chapter of CHEW, Chu is on a case with his partner, undercover, at a speak-easy that serves chicken. He has the soup, thinking it'll be his safest bet, and he can't blow his cover... and then he sees images of girls being killed. He can feel the killer nearby, charges into the kitchen, and well, lets just say, after that incident, the FDA (who is like the ATF in this world) hires Chu on to eat the remains of murder victims to determine how they died. Sound awesome, doesn't it?
Try CHEW v.1: TASTER'S CHOICE TPB this week at Third Eye, and if you don't like it, we'll give you your money back!
Wanna hop onboard with CHEW? The first trade paperback collects issues 1-5, and we've got plenty of issues #6, and #7 to catch you up to where the series is currently. We have so much faith in this series, and we personally like it so much, that we're pretty sure you're gonna dig it. If you try the trade, and don't like it, bring it back, and we'll give you a full refund for it!
GEOFF JOHNS'S (BLACKEST NIGHT WRITER)SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN #4 CONTINUES THE BEST SUPERMAN STORY WE'VE READ IN YEARS!
Man, has this been a good mini-series or what? You know, it's funny, a few years back, I was the least likely person you could find that'd be raving about a Superman title. The character never clicked for me, but then the combination of Grant Morrison's incredible ALL-STAR SUPERMAN (available now in TPB here at Third Eye) and then later, Geoff Johns's killer run on ACTION COMICS (collected in trades likeSUPERMAN: BRAINIAC, and SUPERMAN AND THE LEGION OF SUPERHEROES) got me hooked. I went back and rediscovered some of the great stories of yesteryear like John Bryne's Man of Steel run, and Alan Moore's take on the Man of Tomorrow, and I realized that Superman can be one of the coolest characters in superhero fiction when he's written well. And, Geoff Johns gets that. He understands what makes the character appealing, he understands how to keep the iconic feel of the character while still adding a human, believable feel to the character. He realizes that what makes Superman so human is the fact that he's not human at all, but from another planet.
The SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN series has been a great read, month after month, with the gorgeous pencils of GARY FRANK (who's Superman resembles Christopher Reeves more than just a little bit), and the stellar writing of GEOFF JOHNS.
What's the scoop? SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN is a six-issue limited series that re-introduces, and explores the origins of the Man of Steel, but with a 21st century spin. Essentially, it's Johns showing us who Superman is, why he can be such a great character, and at the same time, developing the world around the character. Each issue seems to be focusing in on a key part of Superman's life, we start issue #1 with him as an adolescent, first discovering his powers, and then having his origins revealed to him by Ma and Pa Kent. The second one showcases him as a teenager, and his first meeting with the Legion of Superheroes, who idolize him in the future, and the third, the best of the bunch, focuses on him as a young man in his early 20s, his first day in Metropolis and at the Planet, and a very iconic, first time revealing Superman to the world. Each issue shows the paralells that run between Superman and Lex Luthor, their upbringing, and how they're getting to where we've all come to know them. We currently have all issues out so far, 1-3, well-stocked here at Third Eye, so if you haven't yet jumped on, be sure to try the book this week, it's REALLY good. Trust us, folks, this isn't just a rehash of everything we already know... this is a 21st Century take on the MAN OF STEEL, and the superb characterization shows us why Geoff Johns is the man born to write this character.
This Week in Superman Secret Origin #4? We see the real turning point where Luthor decides it's time to turn his priorities towards ridding the world of the Man of Steel. There's hints of Parasite being introduced, as well as a look into his Kryptonian past.
Click here for a preview of SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #4
IRREDEEMABLE #10 CONTINUES TO BUILD ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING NEW SUPERHERO UNIVERSES WE'VE SEEN IN A VERY LONG TIME WITH MARK WAID'S "SUPERMAN GONE EVIL" STORYLINE!
Every single issue of IRREDEEMABLE makes this series better, and better. What could've been a simple, one-trick pony with the concept of a powerful superhero gone evil, has turned into a compelling new world being shaped by Mark Waid in the pages of Irredeemable, and now Incorruptible. Simply put, this is superhero awesomeness at it's finest, and it just gets better with each issue.
The world of Irredeemable is one where the equivalent of SUPERMAN, The Plutonian, snaps after years of being taken for granted, betrayed, and abused by the very world he protects. Through series of flashbacks, we see small events that led to his descent into madness, and each issue, the story gets richer. Mark Waid is on point big time with this one, and he makes the story work, by building up the entire supporting cast, and world of the Plutonian. From his former team-mates, to his arch-enemies, the Plutonian's world becomes more interesting with each issue.
If you haven't yet tried IRREDEEMABLE, snag up the first trade paperback for just $10 here at Third Eye. We guarantee you'll be hooked.
If you're already aware of what is one of the greatest superhero books hitting the stands now, then we know you're as anxious to see where things go with Modeus in this issue.
Click here for a preview ofIRREDEEMABLE #10
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #619 *THE GAUNTLET PT 8* THE NEWLY RETURNED, AND EXTRA-VICIOUS MYSTERIO CONTINUES HIS TORMENT OF THE WEBCRAWLER THIS WEDNESDAY IN WHAT'S BEEN THE BEST RUN OF SPIDEY IN RECENT MEMORY!
First off... this cover is AWESOME. Secondly, if you're a Marvel fan, or a lapsed Spidey fan who fell off during the whole Mephisto nonsense, then you need to hop onboard AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. It has been one of the best returns in quality of a character that we have seen in a long time. The Rhino issue from two weeks ago proves that, and last week's start of the Mysterio arc continued the trend.
What's the Gauntlet?
The Gauntlet is an over-arching storyline that's been running through AMAZING SPIDER-MAN since issue #612. It's basically the re-introduction of many of Spidey's classic Rogues Gallery, as they wear him down one by one, for the eventual return of an all-new, all-brutal Sinister Six. So far, each 2-3 issue arc has done wonders with reintroducing these classic villains, and adding a new level of excitement to the world of Spider-man. And, lets be real, Spidey's Rogues Gallery is one of the best, up there with Batman's.. it's only fair to see these villains being given their due.
Click hereto read the checklist of titles associated with the GAUNTLET
Mysterio!
Last week in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #618, we saw the return of MYSTERIO to things, and I have to say, I like what they've done reintroducing him a lot. I think Mysterio, and the new Rhino are probably my favorites so far, and it looks like we've got some killer storytelling to look forward to in the next couple of chapters involving Mysterio. PLUS, Marco Martin is doing the art, and he is one of the most perfect fits for Spidey I think I've seen in quite some time. A very cool, retro-esque style that definitely fits the overall tone of where the Gauntlet has been heading.
Clickherefor a preview of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #619 *MYSTERIO PT 2*
BLACKEST NIGHT JSA #2 BLACK LANTERN LOIS LANE IN PURSUIT OF SUPERMAN?
The first issue of BLACKEST NIGHT JSA was a personal favorite for me because I have always been a big fan of the Justice Society. DC handles the idea of "legacy" characters so well, and JSA has always done a fantastic job of reflecting this. If you were reading Blackest Night Superman, you're probably wondering where Earth-2 Lois Lane, now a Black Lantern, went... well she's in the pages of BLACKES NIGHT JSA in pursuit of Black Lantern Superman. And, this can only mean one thing: Power Girl's days could be numbered.
PLUS, a whole slew of classic JSA members have returned from the grave, and are hungry for pain, death and misery.
Click here to read more about BLACKEST NIGHT JSA #2
CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #6 CONCLUDES THE EPIC SAGA OF STEVE ROGER'S RETURN THIS WEDNESDAY!
The epic saga of Steve Rogers return concludes here this week in CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #6. We know, it's a little late, considering both Cap #602, and Who Will Wield the Shield have already shipped, but while late titles suck, we're glad Marvel decided to keep things progressing and didn't let the delay on this one slow down everything else in the Marvel U (being that Rogers plays a big role in the currently ongoing SIEGE event).
This whole story arc though has been an incredible read from start to finsh, delivering the bigger than life pulp-fusion storytelling that makes Brubaker one of the best writers Cap's ever had. And, in this issue, we see the events that precede CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD, and their effects on the future of the Marvel Universe. It's the Cap and the Avengers vs. The Red Skull, and someone's going to go down big time.
We're excited to see where things are going now, considering that a good deal of Brubaker's run on Cap has been spent developing the character of Bucky Barnes, and his place in the world as the replacement for Captain America. It should be interesting to see his handling of Steve Rogers, in a world that's a few years removed from what Rogers remembers last (Civil War, ect).
If you haven't yet checked out REBORN, we currently have the entire series in stock now at Third Eye, which includes CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #1-5 (and now #6), and the CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN: WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD one-shot.
Clickhere to read a preview of CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #6!
ROBERT KIRKMAN (writer of HAUNT and WALKING DEAD) debuts next PILOT SEASON one-shot this Wednesday with DEMONIC
When you've got Robert Kirkman writing a book, we tend to pay attention. The man behind some of our top Third Eye favorites like HAUNT, WALKING DEAD, and INVINCIBLE tends to not disappoint. And, after the killer success of his MURDERER one-shot, and it's quick sellout at the publisher (c'mon TOP COW, give us a second printing!), we're stoked to see what he has in store for us next.
This week, Kirkman's going to be rolling out the next in his PILOT SEASON one-shots. Basically, the PILOT SEASON is a series of one-shots he's writing where he's doing one-shot "pilots", and then letting the fans vote to see which one becomes a regular series. This week, it's DEMONIC.
What's the scoop on DEMONIC? When is murder justifiable? It's justifiable to defend yourself, right? It's justifiable if you're defending your family, right? But, is it justifiable if you're killing in defense of yourself or family, AND to quench the thirst for souls of an ancient demon?
Meet Scott, a superpowered vigilante who kills bad guys. But, he's not killing them out of his own vendetta for justice, but instead to quench the thirst of an ancient demon's need for souls, or else he risks losing his family to that same very demon. Now, the question being asked here is: is the demon for real? Is Scott just a guy who's mind was shattered by the weight of receiving superpowers, and uses the demon deal to explain his murders? And, a reason for his powers to exist.
Honestly, this one sounds freaking cool, and it's Kirkman, so we know that the story is going to be way on point. Not to mention the interior art looks gorgeous by Joe Benitez.
Click here to read more about PILOT SEASON: DEMONIC
FROM THE FOLKS WHO BROUGHT YOU RETURN TO WONDERLAND, COMES A TWISTED RENDITION OF NEVERLAND IN THIS WEDNESDAY'S NEVERLAND #0! ONLY $1.99!
Here's one that we're pretty stoked about at Third Eye. The folks at Zenescope who've brought us their Grimm Fairy Tales & Wonderland sagas with a dark twist, are unveiling their next big series this Wednesday, and it's exploring the mythology of Peter Pan, Neverland, and Captain Hook with a very dark twist. One thing we can almost guarantee sight unseen is that the artwork in this book will be stunning, because that's one of the big things that Zenescope has become known for.
From what I've read of the series, it sounds like it may be an all-new take on the subject, going as far to possibly be casting Peter Pan as the actual villain in this rendition of Neverland. What we do know from Zenescope's track record is they will apply a very different, and very dark twist to the Peter Pan mythos, and we're pumped to see where it goes this week. Check it out this Wednesday at Third Eye for only $1.99!
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41 DEBUTS THE ALL-NEW JUSTICE LEAGUE LINE-UP AND ALL-NEW DIRECTION FEATURING DICK GRAYSON AS BATMAN, HAL JORDAN, DONNA TROY, AND MORE!
Another one I'm really excited to see this week is the first issue of Jame Robinson's JLA featuring the all-new line-up. The JLA has such a long, rich history that it's always interesting to see a new team brought in, and I've been enjoying James Robinson's JLA enough that I have high hopes for this one. The line-up is interesting, and for the most part, is one that I think is pretty solid in terms of believability, impact on the DCU, and storyline potential. It's a good mix of classics like Batman (albeit Dick Grayson), JLA mainstays like Green Arrow, heavy-hitters like Green Lantern, legacy characters moving up the ranks like Starfire, Cyborg, and Donna Troy, and then some oddballs like Dr. Light, The Guardian, and Congorilla.
Yes, I'm excited about a book featuring Congorilla. I know, I can't believe it either.
Seriously though, this is a great opportunity to hope aboard JLA if you haven't already been following the book, and it's a pretty promising start for some killer story arcs to launch out of this issue with the new team.
Click here to see some preview pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41
JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #6 ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! READ THE SERIES THAT'S PAVED THE WAY FOR THE NEW JUSTICE LEAGUE LINE-UP!
James Robinson has been setting up the previously mentioned JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA roster change for a while now in the pages of this killer 7 issue limited series. This limited series, which began after the events of FINAL CRISIS, features a rag-tag gathering of Justice Leaguers, current, and former, who've had enough seeing their friends die time and time again. It's in this series that the heroes step up their game quite a deal, and bring it to the bad guys head to head as they investigate a string of murders tied to (one of my personal favorite) an older JLA villain by the name of Prometheus (often described as the Anti-Batman).
They end up discovering a whole string of murders that tie back to Prometheus, as he has been on a quest to create the ultimate mass murder weapon: a teleporting device he plans to use to wipe out entire cities. Prometheus has been bringing it to the JLA pretty badly, and the events of this limited series are what set up for the brand new team and direction of JUSTICE LEAGUE in JLA #41.
Miss an issue? Haven't read Cry for Justice yet? We currently have the previous 5 issues all well-stocked here at Third Eye, so if you wanna check the series out, catching up is no problem at all.
Click here to read more about JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #6!
ROBOCOP RETURNS THIS WEDNESDAY IN DYNAMITE COMICS 'S (Publisher of THE BOYS, COMPLETE ALICE IN WONDERLAND, and MORE) CUTTING EDGE ROBOCOP #1
Who didn't grow up in the '80s or '90s that wasn't obsessed with ROBOCOP? It's funny, because all the things that make the original ROBOCOP movie great (lets just forget the two sequels) were completely lost on me as a kid. I just knew it was awesome seeing a cyborg cop running around blowing people up. I recently watched ROBOCOP again a few years ago, and man, Paul Verhoeven really had something cool with that flick. Great social satire, and commentary, in a neat, distinctly late '80s cyberpunk vein, meshed with some of the craziest ultraviolence you'd catch on a movie theater screen back then.
And, this, is why I'm stoked for Dynamite's launch of a ROBOCOP comic. The character of ROBOCOP, and his world, lend itself very nicely to the modern style of comic books. And, Dynamite, who has proven they're not afraid to let the blood spill, or to take a sarcastic approach to a subject (see THE BOYS), means that this should be a pretty solid read for anyone who's a fan of Verhoeven's cult classic flick.
Click here to read a preview of ROBOCOP #1
WALKING DEAD #69... NO WORDS NEEDED TO DESCRIBE THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN ONE OF THE ALL-TIME TOP 5 THIRD EYE FAVORITE SERIES!
Words can't do this series justice. In fact, the less I say about this next issue, the better. As you can see, big things are about to begin to be revealed, and we can't wait to see what's happening next.
Are you reading WALKING DEAD in trade, and want to jump onto the singles? Can't stand waiting months at a time to find out where the most compelling comic series on the stands is going next? We currently have both of the issues that follow after WALKING DEAD v.11 (released two weeks ago), issue #67, and #68, so all you need to hop aboard the monthly is Walking Dead v.11, #67, and #68.. trust us, it makes waiting a little bit easier.
For those of you not reading WALKING DEAD yet... all I can say is: pick up the trade paperback of Volume 1 as soon as you can. I have yet to find one person who didn't like it. This is some of the best writing in comics. If you think it's just a zombie story, you're way off... this is character development, cliffhanger plots, and more. You'll be hooked.
THOR #606 CONTINUES THE KILLER DR. DOOM vs. THOR STORYLINE THAT LEADS DIRECTLY TO SIEGE! NEED TO CATCH UP? WE HAVE PLENTY OF THOR #604, and THOR #605 (chapters 1 and 2 of the new arc) IN STOCK!
If you were digging JMS's run on THOR, and left when he did.. then you are missing out on some of the finest THOR storytelling since JMS's run began! Beginning in issue #604, and carrying over from the finale of JMS's run, we see that Doom has been using the blood and organs of Asgardians to fuel his war machines, even going as far as to twist the Asgardians into hideous cyborg monsters to do his bidding. Of course, Thor is not down with this, and that leads us to some major throwdowns involving THOR, the Destroyer armor, and Dr. Doom!
Both THOR, and IRON MAN have been running parallel directly into, and alongside SIEGE, and out of many of the ongoing Marvel books, I feel that this series and INVINCIBLE IRON MAN are two of the most crucial to be reading if you're getting amped up on what's going down in SIEGE. Plus, Thor's been a good book for over three years now, and just keeps on getting better. The new creative team of young gun rising star writer Kieron Gillen, and young gun rising star artist Billy Tan are delivering some of their best work on this one. Don't believe me? Check out those preview pages... tell me the art's not kicking.
It looks like in this issue we're going to see what secrets Doom has up his sleeve, in addition to where Loki's allegiances really lie. Is this going to be Doom's play for power in taking over Asgard?
Clickhere to read a preview of THOR #606
ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #1 FROM BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS REVEALS THE ULTIMATE UNIVERSE'S GREATEST EVIL!
Brian Michael Bendis, the main man responsible for some of the Ultimate line's biggest stories delivers this new limited series featuring many ultimate fan favorites like Spidey, Iceman, the FF, and more. This limited series is supposed to explore one of the Ultimate universe's greatest threats, but outside of that, there isn't a whole lot of info on the series. What we do know is the preview pages look sweet, and Bendis normally delivers big time on anything set in the ULTIMATE universe.
Clickhere to read a preview of ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #1
PUNISHER #13 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 3* HITS THIS WEDNESDAY! FIND OUT WHY FRANKENCASTLE IS TURNING INTO ONE OF MY PERSONAL BIG CULT FAVORITES! ONE OF THE BEST "LEGION OF MONSTERS" STORYLINES EVER WITH A GREAT QUIRKY, STEAMPUNKY BAD GUY!
Folks, I am loving Frankencastle. I'll admit, the first issue, I was kind of left with my jaw hanging page after page, thinking one thing: WTF? But, then I read the second issue, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance to win me oer, because it did big time.
First off, you have two very talented guys working on this thing. Rick Remender, and Tony Moore. This is the same creative team who did some really cool stuff on the DARK HORSE series FEAR AGENT. Tony Moore also did the artwork on the first trade of WALKING DEAD. His art in Frankencastle looks to be some of his best work yet, and the colors on it are PERFECT. Most importantly, it fits the quirky, funky tone of the story just right. Secondly, it's a very fun, fresh idea that brings some forgotten old characters back into the spotlight, and shows us why they're cool.
The thing is though, you cannot go into FRANKENCASTLE expecting a straight-forward PUNISHER story. In fact, Frankencastle is more of a REALLY AWESOME Legion of Monsters story than it is a PUNISHER story, and I think that's why it works so well.
What's the scoop? Punisher got his head cut off in the brutal DARK REIGN THE LIST: PUNISHER one-shot (still in stock here at Third Eye, if you missed it!), by Dark Wolverine (Daken). His body parts get dumped into the sewers, and retrieved by the remaining Morlocks, where they take them deeper into the Morlock tunnels to some very familiar frightful characters. Morbius the Living Vampire, Man-Thing, Werewolf By Night, the Living Mummy... they're all here. And, they patch the Punisher back together into an undead monstrosity that can only be called Frankencastle (due to the resemblance to Frankenstein's Monster). See, there's a legion of cyborg Samurai's led by a steampunk-esque madman who has one goal in life: DESTROY ALL MONSTERS! Morbius, and his monster brethern decide they need the Punisher's war time strategy to defend their dying people, and the Punisher (who's using a synaptic nerve medicine to keep his brain functioning, so he's not just a rambling madman) is reluctant to help. In fact, he keeps asking "Why did you bring me back?" And, it's not until the surreal final pages of PUNISHER #12 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 2*, where we see Frank come to the realization he has to help these people, as he cradles a young child Morlock (in a Devo shirt...) in his arms, a smoking hole in the youngster's chest.
I know, it sounds like it shouldn't work on any level. It sounds completely absurd, and ridiculous, but I think this is part of why I love it so much, and because of these things... it does work, and takes a completely different angle on the PUNISHER. I won't lie either, the incredibly fitting artwork of Tony Moore is a big draw too. He manages to capture the surreal, sideshow monster feel in vivid color, and it makes the story moves so smoothly.
If you haven't yet jumped onboard with FRANKENCASTLE, we still have PUNISHER #11, and PUNISHER #12 in stock, and those two chapters'll catch you up to the newest installment this week. If you're a fan of irreverent, quirky fun in books like CHEW, and COWBOY NINJA VIKING, then you should totally be reading this. It rocks.
For those of you who're on board, it looks like we're gonna see a giant chaingun-toting Frankencastle laying waste to the monster-hunters in glorious technicolor style.
Click here for a preview of PUNISHER #13 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 3*
TRANSFORMERS: LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERSBRINGS ON MORE CLASSIC G1-STYLE TRANSFORMER GOODNESS!
I'm a child of the '80s and '90s, so it's obvious that I've got a soft spot for everyone's favorite giant robots. The problem I had for a while though, was IDW's Transformer books often strayed too far from the characters I grew up with, and loved. While I really enjoyed the expanded mythos of the Transformers, I really had no interest in the inclusion of the stuff from the films. Well, it looks like with the introduction of the brand new TRANSFORMERS ongoing series, they're getting back to basics, and I can tell you from the responses I've seen from many of you, I'm not alone in my renewed excitement about the Transformers books.
This Wednesday, we get a new limited series from the creative team that brought us the killer MAXIMUM DINOBOTS, and it's featuring the Autobots, THE WRECKERS. Now, this can only mean one thing, right? Constructicons? We can hope.
Either way, I've been impressed so far by the new ongoing series in terms of the writing and the art, so I'm stoked to see where they go with this new limited series.
Click here for a preview ofTRANSFORMERS: THE LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERS #1
STAFF PICKS
Trish - JOE THE BARBARIAN #1 - It was a quick read, but hey, for a buck, you definitely get your money's worth. Really cool set-up for what should be one of the best Vertigo books of this year.
Torma - DARK WOLVERINE #82 *SIEGE* - GREAT issue. HUGE surprise at the end involving Daken and Osborn. You thought the end of PUNISHER DARK REIGN THE LIST was a surprise? Read this! TOTAL MAYHEM
Steve - DARK AVENGERS #13 *SIEGE* - This one gets pick of the week for the simple reason that it took a character I absolutely despised, and had me totally digging him by the end of just one issue. The REAL origin of the Sentry is revealed, and it's an ugly truth. Can't recommend checking this one out, folks, even if you haven't followed DARK AVENGERS in a while.
Trish - JOE THE BARBARIAN #1 - It was a quick read, but hey, for a buck, you definitely get your money's worth. Really cool set-up for what should be one of the best Vertigo books of this year.
Torma - DARK WOLVERINE #82 *SIEGE* - GREAT issue. HUGE surprise at the end involving Daken and Osborn. You thought the end of PUNISHER DARK REIGN THE LIST was a surprise? Read this! TOTAL MAYHEM
Steve - DARK AVENGERS #13 *SIEGE* - This one gets pick of the week for the simple reason that it took a character I absolutely despised, and had me totally digging him by the end of just one issue. The REAL origin of the Sentry is revealed, and it's an ugly truth. Can't recommend checking this one out, folks, even if you haven't followed DARK AVENGERS in a while.
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