THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 4/21/10

IT'S A GREEN LANTERN KINDA WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK! GREEN LANTERN #53- INTO THE BRIGHTEST DAY! GET A FREE GREEN LANTERN RING WITH PURCHASE OF GREEN LANTERN #53 THIS WEDNESDAY AT THIRD EYE! PLUS, ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH & BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 4 ACTION FIGURES! MEET THE NEW GUARDIANS! While BRIGHTEST DAY officially kicked off last week in BRIGHTEST DAY #0 (still in stock here at Third Eye!), it's Green Lantern #53 that we're really looking forward to seeing. This issue here pretty much serves as not just the beginning of BRIGHTEST DAY for Hal and the rest of the new Guardians, but also an almost epilogue for BLACKEST NIGHT. We almost knew this was coming after seeing how things played out in Blackest Night 6,7, and 8, but, this week's Green Lantern #53 makes it official: These are the New Guardians. And, now it's going to be very intriguing to see where things are going to be heading for Hal, Atrocitus, Sinestro, Larfleeze, and company now that they actually have to work together and reach an agreement if their future endeavors as The Guardians are going to succeed. Almost a year ago this week, DCU delivered GREEN LANTERN #43, which was the Prologue to BLACKEST NIGHT. It still remains (alongside issues 50, and 52) as one of the most important issues of Green Lantern to date; exploring the back-story of Blackest Night baddie, BLACKHAND, and setting up the BLACKEST NIGHT perfectly. We have a feeling that this week's GREEN LANTERN #53 is going to have the same effect. A crucially important turning point for not just Green Lantern in regards to BRIGHTEST DAY, but for the Green Lantern title overall. There were some unanswered questions at the end of BLACKEST NIGHT #8, especially in regards to the Indigo Tribe, and we cannot wait to see how they're answered in the scheme of things with GREEN LANTERN and BRIGHTEST DAY. For those of you who may just be jumping onto things with the launch of BRIGHTEST DAY, make sure you check out GL #53 as well. While all the tie-ins for large storylines are not integral, the Green Lantern title, written by Geoff Johns (the man masterminding this whole thing) is an integral piece of the storyline, and has proven to be just as important as the core title itself (i.e BLACKEST NIGHT, and now, BRIGHTEST DAY). Not to mention that Green Lantern is just a DAMN GOOD book. You've got the writing of Geoff Johns, who's probably one of the top three best superhero writers working today, and then the killer artwork of Doug Mahnke, who is extremely underrated as an artist, in our opinion. This book has been rocking and rolling for almost three years now, ever since things really kicked off with the Sinestro Corp Wars, and it's just been getting better and better ever since. If you haven't ever picked up an issue of GL before, GL #53 is a perfect spot to jump in, and start finding out why this series rules. And, ontop of all this... we're gonna have more Green Rings to give out this week, and each issue of GREEN LANTERN #53 comes with a GL ring! :) Click hereto read more about GREEN LANTERN #53 Click herefor the official Third Eye BRIGHTEST DAY Checklist BLACKEST NIGHT SERIES 4 ACTION FIGURES AVAILABLE THIS WEDNESDAY AT THIRD EYE! And, then, who could have a killer Green Lantern Wednesday without a nice new batch of BLACKEST NIGHT action figures? This has probably been the hottest line of action figures DC Direct has done in quite some time, and the sculpts on these figures are magnificent. Make sure you get your's quick, 'cause they go out of production fast, and DC Direct is kinda slow to restock! We'll have plenty in stock this Wednesday, so grab yourself your favorites, or a whole set! BLACKEST NIGHT: DIRECTOR'S CUT ONE-SHOT EXPLORES THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF LAST YEAR'S BIGGEST COMICS EVENT! TONS OF EASTER EGGS, WRITER AND ARTIST COMMENTARY, and MANY "DELETED" SCENES This 80-page one-shot looks pretty cool, and is sure to appeal to those of you who're like me, and love to dig beneath the surface of the story to see the process and how we got to the finished product. This one-shot delivers several hidden Easter eggs, as well as the meanings behind some of the more cryptic moments of BLACKEST NIGHT. Plus, from what we read, there's several "deleted scenes" that did not make it into the book, as well as never-before-seen character designs. Sounds pretty cool, and if last year's Final Crisis Director's Cut was any indication with it's commentary by Morrison, a very cool insight into the mind of series writer, GEOFF JOHNS. BRIGHTEST DAY SHINES ON THE JUSTICE LEAGUE IN JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #44 *BRIGHTEST DAY TIE-IN* In the aftermath of BLACKEST NIGHT, the brand new line-up of the JUSTICE LEAGUE is getting a big dose of sunburn courtesy of BRIGHTEST DAY. It looks like James Robinson and Mark Bagley are going to be pairing up the JLA with the JSA, as one of the characters featured in BRIGHTEST DAY ends up joining the JLA. The big tease though is who the mysterious villain (and we're wondering just who else has returned from the dead in this whole thing...) that DC is teasing to reveal at the end of this issue, and which character will switch from JLA to JSA or vice versa? We're pumped for this tie-in, not just 'cause we're stoked on everything BRIGHTEST DAY at the moment, but because it's James Robinson doing the JSA again, and with his long history with the JSA, including the critically acclaimed "JSA: THE GOLDEN AGE" storyline, it'll be cool to see him mix his old favorites with his current team of Justice Leaguers. Plus, I think the tease about who's coming back from Blackest Night is pretty obvious by the cover, but the mysterious villain thing has my curiosity piqued. I mean, if there's a buncha dead baddies running around recently returned... just which one is going to be quick to target the JUSTICE LEAGUE? Click hereto read more about JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #44 *BRIGHTEST DAY* ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! BUY YOUR'S THIS WEEK, AND GET A FULL SET OF LANTERN RINGS, THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM! If there's anything that deserves DC's prestigious "ABSOLUTE" treatment, it's Geoff Johns's now classic revival of Hal Jordan in GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH. This six issue limited series took a character that had been long-forgotten by many, and breathed fresh new life into him. More importantly, it was the ground floor for Geoff Johns's road to building the DC Universe into the exciting and interesting place it is now today. The ABSOLUTE collections are always gorgeous, and this one is no exception, a giant over-sized hardcover that collects the full GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH mini-series, the first issue of the Green Lantern ongoing series, the preview story from Wizard Magazine, and then a very cool one-shot story from GREEN LANTERN SECRET FILES 2005, which features the incredible artwork of DARWYN COOKE. And, like all ABSOLUTE-format books, this one is over-sized, so you can see Ethan Van Sciver's gorgeous artwork bigger than life. We still have a very limited quantity of power rings left over from last winter's free ring promotion, and when you pick up your copy of Green Lantern Rebirth this week, you'll receive a free full set of Lantern power rings, excluding the white ring which has not been released yet. We're going to have limited quantities of this hardcover available, so if you're set on grabbing one, please get in touch with us about holding you a copy CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES #1 KICKS OFF THE SEQUEL TO THE MOST DISTURBING SURVIVAL HORROR STORY WE'VE EVER READ... THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL, FOR SURE, MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THIS ONE OUT WEDNESDAY! PLUS, MORE CROSSED TRADE PAPERBACKS BACK IN STOCK! All right, by now, many of you have read the trade paperback collection of CROSSED that came out last week. And, by now, you too, are hooked like I have been, on the insanely awesome, yet sickeningly disturbing survival horror story of CROSSED. Lets face it, Garth Ennis rocked it out hardcore, and totally set the tone for extreme horror in comics. CROSSED was the equivalent of the first Napalm Death album. We hadn't seen anything that hard-hitting before, and it's completely raised the bar for many. And, this is why we cannot wait to read the sequel which begins this Wednesday. The fact that David Lapham is handling this one has us even more stoked, because let me tell you, if there's one thing that NEEDS to be reprinted it's Lapham's epic '90s crime comic series, STRAY BULLETS. Some of the most gritty, nihilistic modern-day noir you'd ever want to read. And, it was all before the big crime comics explosion of the mid-2000s. But, back to CROSSED. If the first series of CROSSED was the ground-breaking moment, and the first burst of craziness, then this sequel is sure to be even more intense. Why? Well, lets be honest, you can't follow up something like CROSSED and not be prepared to take it up a few notches. After having read the preview of CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES, I am so stoked, it's not even funny. Now, some of you might be wondering... well, I haven't read the first run of CROSSED yet, should I? Honestly, from what Lapham has said in interviews, this new story is a whole new cast of characters in a different corner of the CROSSED-Universe, meaning that it's a fresh, new story. All you need to know is that the CROSSED are evil, sadistic maniacs infected by a disease that reduces them to their most sinister, and most sadistic desires. However, they are not zombies, in fact, they can still think, plot, and plan, just like humans, the only difference: they have no moral compass, they exist to destroy. So, imagine a zombie outbreak where the zombies could strategically position themselves, flood people out of their shelter, and then gun them down. Imagine jet planes being flown by zombies, and human bodies being dropped from them as live ammo. That's CROSSED. The most insane, over-the-top survival horror comic you're ever gonna read. However, while CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES is a nice fresh jumping in spot... YOU HAVE GOTTA pick up the CROSSED trade paperback, and find out what all the fuss is about. Folks, this book was for real, one of the most sickeningly, gratuitously fun reads I've had in a while. Garth Ennis gave us nine chilling issues of survival horror, and I guarantee you: nothing you've read before stands up to CROSSED in terms of the whole "HOLY CRAP" factor. Now, before you go and just assume I'm some nutjob who's easily entertained by creative means of death and destruction, let me also say that the thing that made CROSSED so compelling was how well written the story was. I mean, it's Ennis, and like he normally does, he shows why he's the master of managing to blend the right amount of shock-your-system disgust with compelling character-driven story to make one heck of a good read. The fact that David Lapham is on board for this second one has got me also confident it's going to be a good read, because as I had said before, Lapham's work on Stray Bullets is some of the best comic stuff I've ever read. It's really criminal there's no trade paperbacks of that stuff in print. However, we feel that we're gonna get to see some raw and nasty awesomeness from Mr. Lapham with this new CROSSED series. Click hereto read a preview of CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES #1 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #25 KICKS OFF THE THANOS IMPERATIVE THIS WEDNESDAY! THE RETURN OF THANOS HAS BEGUN! Who doesn't love THANOS? I mean, many of you like, I'm sure, remember the epic sense of wow and wonder that the INFINITY GAUNTLET delivered, and while we thought it was awesome how the infamous titan went out in ANNIHILATION at the hands of DRAX THE DESTROYER, we knew he'd be back. Thanos is just too cool of a villain to put to rest for good, and now, this week, beginning in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #25, the THANOS IMPERATIVE brings the Mad Titan center stage. Now, why are we so pumped about this? Well, not only is it the big return of Thanos, but it's also a Thanos story that's being written by the incredible duo of Abnett and Lanning. These are the guys responsible for reminding me just how cool Marvel's cosmic characters could be, and ever since their first kick-off with ANNIHILATION, they have turned the cosmic corner of the Marvel Universe into something that is must-read material. Whether it's the trippy events of REALM OF KINGS, or the consistently stellar storylines that have been running through Guardians of the Galaxy (one of Marvels most under-rated books) and Nova, Abnett and Lanning have really done a fantastic job of making the Marvel Cosmos a fun place to be. And, now, they're being handed one of the coolest Marvel cosmic baddies ever, and we cannot wait to see their approach. The prologue to the THANOS IMPERATIVE begins here, and all the questions of how he returned, and why he's back are going to start being answered here in Guardians of the Galaxy #25. PLUS, just what does this all mean for the galaxy's motley crew of universal protectors? This one's gonna be a great read, and we cannot wait to get our hands on it this Wednesday. Click herefor a preview of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #25 *THANOS IMPERATIVE PROLOGUE* BRIAN WOOD KICKS OFF DV8: GODS AND MONSTERS #1 THIS WEDNESDAY! THE TALENTED WRITER OF "DEMO", "NORTHLANDERS" and "DMZ" WRITES HIS DREAM STORY AND MAKES WILDSTORM COOL AGAIN. THINK BRIAN WOOD MEETS "LORD OF THE FLIES" First off, folks, it comes as a surprise to us too that this is Brian Wood's dream book, but, hey, the man writes some of the best comics on the stands, and after reading the advance of this first issue: IT'S FREAKIN' AWESOME. First off, why are we surprised? Well, DV8 is a '90s superhero book that's set in the Wildstorm universe, and it hasn't really been seen or heard of in a very long time. However, Wood apparently has been trying to write this story for years, and now he's finally gotten his chance. DV8: Gods and Monsters is an eight-issue mini-series with the killer art of Rebekah Isaacs, and serves as a brand new story for people who've never read a Wildstorm book before in their life. The book stars the DV8 characters who made their debut in the original series that Warren Ellis did during the mid-90s, which in my opinion, was ahead of it's time in how it depicted the lives of warped, selfish, and ultra-violent super-powered adolescents who looked at saving the world as a close second place to their own selfish desires. Wood's approach looks to be much more in tune with the kind of work that's really made him into a must-read creator, whether it be the high-octane action/political thrills of DMZ, or the introspective character-driven stories of DEMO, this series seems to bring together a perfect marriage of the two. The story looks to be focusing on a team of super-powered 20-somethings who're extremely dysfunctional, and maintain very messed-up relationships with one another. Wood decides to take these damaged, and sometimes purely unlikable characters and givet hem something incredible and epic to grapple with, and see how it changes them as individuals. While I don't want to drop spoilers on this one, I'll give you a rundown of how things kick off.. the kids wake up to find themselves, literally falling from the sky into the middle of a prehistoric world. We kind of get the impression that the DV8 gang has been "on ice" for an unknown amount of time, and are now thrown into this situation. The real interesting dynamic is how eight brightly colored superhumans literally falling from the heavens affects a primitive society. And, that's where the title comes from: Gods and Monsters. All in all, folks, whether you're a fan of cutting edge superhero stuff that kind of runs along the spirit of NO HERO, or SUPERGOD, or if you're into the heady stuff that runs through DMZ, and DEMO, you should give this one a try. I think this may be up there as one of my favorites of the week, and it could really give the Wildstorm universe that much needed shot in the arm it's been needing for quite some time. As for whether or not you need any prior knowledge of the DV8 crew... no. This is a fresh story with a fresh start, and throws you right into the thick of things. Click hereto read more about DV8: GODS AND MONSTERS #1 SIEGE: SPIDER-MAN ONE-SHOT - SPIDEY AND DARK AVENGER VENOM GO HEAD TO HEAD IN THE RUBBLE OF ASGARD! Last week's SIEGE one-shots really impressed the heck out of me. I really dug all three of them, especially the Captain America and the Loki. It's so hard nowadays to tell during these big events which tie-ins are going to be a good read, and which aren't, but I'm pretty happy to say that all three from last week were killer reads. I just sat down and read through the SIEGE: SPIDER-MAN coming out this Wednesday, and I'll have to admit: this one is pretty damn cool too. First off, don't expect anything that's over-the-top in terms of revelations or reveals. But, what you do get is probably one of the coolest, most solid one-off Spider-man stories I've seen in quite some time. The whole issue is pretty much a giant brawl between Spidey and the current incarnation of Venom, which we've all been waiting to see for quite some time. Does it deliver? Folks, does it ever. Sometimes you just want to see the good guys hit things, and Spidey does a whole lot of that. The writing's solid, the art is good, and it helps flesh out the wallcrawler's place in the grand scheme of things in regards to SIEGE. Click herefor a preview of SIEGE: SPIDER-MAN #1 STEPHEN KING'S AMERICAN VAMPIRE #2 FOLLOWS UP THE FIRST ISSUE OF THIS KILLER NEW VERTIGO SERIES! IF YOU HAVEN'T CHECKED THIS ONE OUT YET, YOU NEED TO! Dude, I was totally impressed with the first issue of the new Vertigo series, AMERICAN VAMPIRE. I mean, first off, there's the whole you know sense of awesomeness that you get from watching the FIRST, ORIGINAL COMIC WORK of the Master of the Macabre, Stephen King, unfold before your eyes. But, I've gotta tell you guys: co-writer Scott Snyder delivered big-time on this one as well. And, after our interview with Snyder about the future of AMERICAN VAMPIRE, I could not be more stoked to see where this story is going. American Vampire kind of channels the feel of hard-hitting, gritty dust and blood Vampire tales like NEAR DARK, and combines them with the old spooky mystique of classics like SALEM'S LOT. The artwork, and the writing on the first issue was sharp, with dialogue that you just pulled you in, strong characterization, and a very nice sense of pacing. If you haven't read AMERICAN VAMPIRE yet, here's the scoop: The story of AMERICAN VAMPIRE seems to be centered around an Old West outlaw by the name of Skinner Sweet. In the first issue, we see two narratives that kind of wrap together, one set in the '20s during the heyday of Hollywood, and the other telling us the origin story of America's first Vampire, outlaw Skinner Sweet. From the vibe we got of the first issue, it looks like this series is going to explore not just the motivations of the O.G American bloodsucker, Skinner Sweet, but the whole lineage of Vampires in America. It's a very cool read that manages to tell a very solid period piece without feeling old-fashioned, or dated. This one definitely lives up to the hype, and if you want a compelling horror story, or just a damn good vampire story... then you need to read this one. It's fantastic. This Wednesday, we'll be seeing the release of AMERICAN VAMPIRE #2, and we're pumped to see where the story of Pearl, Skinner, and the rest is heading. Heck, we're only one issue into this thing, and I'm already planning to put it right near the top of my "To-Read" pile this week. If you missed issue #1, no need to fear, we've got plenty in stock to get you caught up this Wednesday! Click hereto read more about AMERICAN VAMPIRE #2 Click hereto read our interview with AMERICAN VAMPIRE co-writer, SCOTT SNYDER that we did after the release of issue #1. X-MEN SECOND COMING CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY IN X-MEN LEGACY #235 *X-MEN SECOND COMING PT 4*and X-FACTOR #204 *X-MEN SECOND COMING: REVELATIONS* Another killer dose of the hottest X-MEN crossover since MESSIAH COMPLEX arrives this Wednesday in the pages of X-MEN: LEGACY #235. Man, how long has it been since the X-MEN were this cool? I couldn't tell you, but, folks, this storyline has been killer. It's really gotten back to the roots of the X-MEN, and gets better with each installment. The whole scoop on this one is Hope, the first and last mutant baby born since the events of M-DAY (check out HOUSE OF M trade paperback, and the DECIMATION trade paperbacks) has returned from the future with Cable, and wouldn't you know? All the X-Men's old human anti-mutant extremist villains have combined forces to exterminate Hope. So, Cameron Hodge, Bolliver Trask, Bastion, and so on and so forth are all out for blood. This week, the action continues in X-MEN: SECOND COMING CHAPTER 4, where we see the X-MEN that've been on the trail of Hope and Cable have lost a team-mate, and their trail has gone cold. And, that's where Rogue comes into the picture. When I was a youngin' reading X-MEN, I loved Rogue's character, but after about 15 years of Rogue/Gambit over-dose.. I got pretty sick of her. It looks like in this issue we're gonna see her come back into her own as a strong, and interesting character, and I'll admit: I'm pretty pumped about that. Click herefor a preview of X-MEN LEGACY #235 *X-MEN SECOND COMING PT 4* X-FACTOR #204 *X-MEN SECOND COMING: REVELATIONS TIE-IN* BOLLIVER TRASK PUTS OUT THE HIT ON X-FACTOR! Now, let it be said: X-FACTOR is one of the best X-Books you're not reading. There's just something so unique, and fresh about Peter David's approach to these characters that has really turned this book into a sleeper hit here at Third Eye. And, this week, you may get a chance to sample that in the pages of X-FACTOR #204, which ties into X-MEN: SECOND COMING as one of the "Revelations" tie-ins. While this issue is not an actual chapter of the storyline, it does feature events that are taking place on the outskirts of what's going on, and it looks like we're going to see Bolivar Trask intent on one mission: Kill every member of X-FACTOR. How's he plan to do that? He's gonna hire the team and send 'em into a surefire death-trap. Click herefor a preview of X-FACTOR #204 *X-MEN SECOND COMING: REVELATIONS* ARE YOU READING GRANT MORRISON'S JOE THE BARBARIAN? IF NOT, THEN REMEDY THAT THIS WEDNESDAY, AND CHECK OUT THIS FANTASTIC NEW SERIES! A TRUE URBAN FANTASY TALE THAT HAS US HOOKED HARD HERE AT THIRD EYE! JOE THE BARBARIAN #4 HITS THIS WEEK! Grant Morrison's limited series which takes a shy, diabetic teenager and throws him head first into a trippy realm where all of his action figures have come to life, and live within a world of their own making, has had us really hooked since it's launch. While we felt the first issue was a little slow, it was when we got into issue #2 that we knew Morrison was onto something here. Each issue seems to be building towards a much larger picture than what we had assumed at the start of the series. In last month's issue #3, we learned that there's a real importance to this new world Joe's stumbled upon, and had a very cool Alice in Wonderland or Wizard of Oz, albeit slightly darker, feel to it. In issue #4, it looks like the adventure quotient of the story is gonna be kicking up big time, as the mysteries of the Iron Kingdom and it's relationship to Joe's real world are finally revealed. And, it also looks like Joe's going to get a new traveling companion thrown into the mix for the adventurer and his rat friend's voyage into Ultimate Darkness. Joe the Barbarian has been a stellar read since issue #1, and we highly recommend it. Sean Murphy's art brings Morrison's crazy, and tripy world to life in so many ways. And, I mean, there's just a real "cool" factor about reading what is basically a high-adventure fantasy story that's set in a mythical world composed of action figures, and toys. The fact that artist Sean Murphy seems to be deliberately keeping the look and feel of the toys as '80s favorites, is very cool. When you see Optimus Prime or Snake-Eyes lurking in the background, or the Captain Picard-like character giving Joe a word of advice... it's just very cool stuff. If you've missed the prior 3 issues, don't sweat it, we've got all three in stock, and it's easy to get caught up. PLUS, issue #1 is only a buck! Click hereto read more about JOE THE BARBARIAN #4 RADICAL COMICS'S HOTWIRE: REQUIEM FOR THE DEAD by WARREN ELLIS & STEVE PUGH AVAILABLE THIS WEDNESDAY IN TRADE PAPERBACK! CYBERPUNK BLADE RUNNER MEETS GHOST BUSTERS AWESOMENESS COURTESY OF MR. WARREN ELLIS! Here's a trade paperback hitting this week that I'd call a sure-fire must read. Hotwire by Warren Ellis and Steve Pugh launched last year, and was one of the shining lights in up-and-coming publisher Radical's line-up. The story centers around Detective Hotwire, who's what people in this dystopian Blade Runner-ish future call a Detective Exorcist, and her plight to control the unruly spirits of the dead. Imagine this: ghosts are acknowledged and proven as scientific fact, and now there's no room in the afterlife for them, so they roam the world, and it's up to the authorities to make sure these spirits and poltergeists don't interfere too much with everybody's day to day. And, this is where Alice Hotwire comes into play, she's the best there is at reining in the "Blue Lights", which're what the dead are called as they roam mindlessly. However, now they're being turned into weapons of mass destruction, and she's the only person who can save the city from a total meltdown. This one played out like a very cool, cyberpunk kinda ghostbusters story, and we highly recommend it, especially if you're an Ellis fan. And, Pugh's artwork is INCREDIBLE. In addition to the limited series, this trade paperback includes creator notes, character designs, and even some newly remastered tales from Alice Hotwire's past, featuring some never-before-seen Warren Ellis stuff. Click hereto check out the preview pages of Hotwire: Requiem for the Dead THE DOOMWAR CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY AS THE FANTASTIC FOUR JOIN THE FRAY IN DOOMWAR #3! Amidst the Sieges, and the Second Comings, there's a pretty killer little event that's taking place in a more quiet corner of the Marvel Universe, and that's the DOOMWAR. This one has a much more old-school (but in a good way), tons of good guys going head to head with one bad guy kinda vibe, and it's really been a lot of fun. Simply put, the Black Panther is on a mission to not just rescue Storm from Doom, but take Wakanda back from Doom, and he's enlisted the forces of the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and even Deadpool to help him do so. While it's unclear whether the events of DOOMWAR are set before or after SECOND COMING/SIEGE (we're assuming that it's during SIEGE, but before SECOND COMING), the story has been pretty killer so far. And, really, it's all because it's one whole storyline focusing on Dr. freakin' Doom! I mean, c'mon... we know we just went zany over Thanos, but we like Doom even more than Thanos when it comes to bad guys, and it's great to finally see an event where he's getting center-stage. If you missed issues #1 or #2 of DOOMWAR, don't worry, we still have plenty in stock to catch you up. Click herefor a preview of DOOMWAR #3 MAGDALENA #1 KICKS OFF A NEW TOP COW ONGOING SERIES FOR THIS LONG-TIME FAN-FAVORITE TOP COW CHARACTER! AND IT ACTUALLY LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. Now, I have to be honest. I've never been a big TOP COW fan. I LOVED WANTED, and whatever KIRKMAN dishes out under the Pilot Season imprint, I'm all over. I even enjoyed the Cyberforce/Hunter Killer mini from last year, because Kenneth Rocafort's awesome artwork. However, I've just never really been a big fan of many of TOP COW's characters. Don't get me wrong, I loved what Garth Ennis did on the early DARKNESS stuff, but you know, where the company went in later years, just wasn't my thing. However, I know a lot of people do dig TOP COW, and I really have an appreciation for some of the talented artists they've got working for 'em, so it was with some curiosity that I decided to scope out the preview of the first issue of the new MAGDALENA ongoing series, and folks, it's pretty damn cool. If you're a TOP COW fan, you're gonna love it, but even if you're like me, and haven't really dipped your toe in their "universe"-centric books in a while, you should give this one a peek. The preview reads like a very smooth, well-done vatican conspiracy kinda thing meets Assassin's Creed action and espionage. And, I REALLY dig the artwork, but that's really nothing new for TOP COW, because they always have some of the best artists working on their books. All in all, I think that this one is worth giving a shot, especially if you're into religious conspiracy stories, or kind of ultra-violent Tomb Raider-esque fun. Plus, I have to admit, seeing that old logo on the top of the cover has gotten me nostalgic. Click herefor a preview of MAGDALENA #1 MARK MILLAR (KICK-ASS, NEMESIS, OLD MAN LOGAN) WRAPS UP HIS FIRST ARC OF ULTIMATE AVENGERS THIS WEDNESDAY IN ULTIMATE AVENGERS #6 You know, Mark Millar can do no wrong, in my opinion. The man just knows how to write one hell of an entertaining comic, and his current run on the ULTIMATES with ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS has been fantastic. He's really kinda pulled the ULTIMATES up from where they'd fallen after the very disappointing ULTIMATES 3. His unique take, and twist on the world of the AVENGERS as seen through the guise of the Ultimate universe is fantastic, and this run, which has focused on the reveal of Steve Roger's illegitimate son growing up to be the Ultimate Red Skull has had us on the edge of our seats the entire time. This week, Millar wraps up the conclusion in typical epic Millar fashion, bringing us a huge showdown between Captain America and the Red Skull, and the Avengers need to get there from keeping these two from destroying the entire world in the process. If you haven't yet read ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS, but have been meaning to, we've got issues 1-5 well-stocked here at the shop, so it's easy enough to get caught up. If you're looking for a tight, self-contained, and well-told Avengers story with a definite edge to it (I mean, c'mon, this is being written by the guy who did KICK-ASS and OLD MAN LOGAN), then give ULTIMATE AVENGERS a shot. Click herefor a preview of ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #5 MAGIC: THE GATHERING RISE OF THE ELDRAZI IN STOCK AT THIRD EYE THIS FRIDAY! The third set in the Zendikar block, Rise of the Eldrazi will be in stock and available at Third Eye this Friday. We'll have plenty of booster packs, sealed booster boxes, fat packs and intro packs available. STRAIGHT FROM THE PAGES OF THOR, LADY SIF GETS HER OWN ONE-SHOT WITH SIF #1 THIS WEDNESDAY! PLUS.. BETA RAY BILL!? YES! This one looks pretty kick-ass, but that might just be because I've really become a big Thor fan over the last few years. This one-shot gives us the tale of Sif, an Asgardian warrior who craved the blood of her enemies, and how she has not been the same since Loki possessed her body. This one-shot features Sif and Beta Ray Bill fighting their way forward as she tires to reclaim her former glory. My thoughts? Looks pretty cool, the preview reads well, and while I'm not super familiar with the creative team, the art is killer. But, c'mon, Sif is a cool character, and it's kinda neat to see her getting some spotlight. Plus, I think it's cool they're actually addressing the whole Loki taking over her body thing. Click herefor a preview of SIF #1 WARREN ELLIS'S DO ANYTHING GRAPHIC NOVELLA ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY GIVING US THE RAMBLINGS OF ELLIS AS TOLD THROUGH A ROBOTIC JACK KIRBY HEAD. YES, WE'RE SERIOUS! Here's a cool one. This little slab of awesome, priced only at $5.99, collects the writings and ramblings of critically acclaimed author, WARREN ELLIS, as told through the robotic head of Jack Kirby. Ellis's thoughts on the comics medium, creating comics, the future of comics, and their past, are all told here, and it's very compelling stuff for anyone who is a fan of the man's work. Give it a look this Wednesday, for some truly funny, yet insightful looks at how the comic industry operates. STAFF PICKS Steve - BRIGHTEST DAY #0 = An exciting start for DC's next big progression of things. It's got a very cool, ground zero feel to it, where you feel like you're at the start of something very cool. The balance of major characters with minor is well done, and the writing and art were really sharp. Really excited for more now! Trish - GEORGE R.R MARTIN'S FEVRE DREAM #1 = I'm not necessarily a big GEORGE R.R MARTIN fan but I really liked this new Avatar book. Bloody, and vicious, it's got that kind of old school vampire charm to it. Torma - FLASH #1 = The Flash is officially cool again. Thank you Geoff Johns! Matt - KILL SHAKESPEARE #1 = I liked this one a lot. It had a real Stuff of Legend / Fables feel to it. The hook is perfect too, Shakespeare's villainous characters brought to life and seeking to murder Shakespeare? Awesome.