THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE COMICS FOR WEDNESDAY 5/12/10

THE BIGGEST BATMAN STORY IN DECADES BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY IN GRANT MORRISON'S BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1 THIRD EYE MUST-BUY! IT'S HERE! This is quite possibly the most anticipated Batman storyline we've seen in a looooooong time, folks. I mean, the sense of electricity and buzz around this one is incredible, and I think that the excitement and wonder surrounding RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE will have this one standing comfortably next to modern Batman classics like DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, LONG HALLOWEEN, KILLING JOKE, and HUSH. This is the storyline that Grant Morrison has been building towards for the last few years. This is the 21st Century Batman tale, and we cannot wait to read this one. Okay, now I'm realllly excited about this storyline, and I'm on the verge of gushing on and on about how much I've enjoyed what Morrison has done with the Batman-universe since Bruce Wayne's disappearing act. But, I also realize that you guys want to hear just what the heck this whole RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE shebang is all about. Now, a lot of you are already in the know, and have been following BATMAN AND ROBIN, so you've got a bit of an idea, but for those of you who may be jumping on fresh with the launch of RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, here's the rundown! Batman is lost in time. See, we all thought Bruce Wayne was dead... okay.. well, the characters of the DCU though that. As readers, we saw the wink and the nudge of Bruce Wayne in a cave scrawling a Bat at the end of FINAL CRISIS. From that moment forward, we knew it was coming. The eventual return of Bruce Wayne. And, then, the images began to show up late last year of a Pirate Batman, a Caveman Batman, a Western Batman, ect.. and that was it, we knew it was coming... the Return of Bruce Wayne. See, the Batman character is going to be fighting his way through the time-stream to return to the present, but it's the actions of what happens along the way that really opens things up to some fascinating possibilities. What's interesting is that each time period is still set in the locale that Batman is known for. In other words, you'll see Gotham in the Old West, you'll see what eventually will become Gotham in the Stone Age. Hell, we even get a Prohibition-era Noir Batman. And, one of the biggest things we're curious about is just what will Bruce Wayne do when confronted with the fact that he could possibly prevent his parents murder? The very thing that MADE him Batman.... And, what is the deal with the giant Bat-Skin he's wearing? According to Morrison, it's a major plot point.. hmmm.. Meanwhile, as seen in the 3-issue Prologue to Return of Bruce Wayne story arc in BATMAN AND ROBIN 10-12, we know that Dick Grayson and Alfred are onto the fact that Wayne is Lost in Time. We know that they're noticing changes in the Wayne family portraits, and could those things possibly be clues as Bruce alters the timeline? And, then finally, the biggest reveal.... SPOILER WARNING.... We know this guy is involved somehow: So, not only do we have Bruce Wayne slugging his way through the past as he hurtles towards the present. We've also got Dick Grayson and co. in the present dealing with the recently revealed Clown Prince of Crime. Why This is All So Cool: It's Batman duking it out in various historical periods! I mean, just the sight of a Pirate Batman is pretty damn cool, but when you think about all the possibilities of storytelling about the history of Gotham, the Wayne family, and even many of the inhabitants of Gotham.... it's mindblowing. Morrison has already gone on record as saying that Jonah Hex will be showing up in the Western-era story. And, who knows what else we're going to see... I mean, I'm not sure what proximity to the Gotham locale Vandal Savage was, but, heck, we might even see him popping up too. Most importantly though... it's going to deliver us one of the most fresh, and exciting Batman stories we're ever going to see. The master detective trying to solve the ultimate question: time. Will I Be Lost Jumping Into This? NO. While this storyline does take a lot of cues from previous story beats in Morrison's run, RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1 is a perfectly fresh and accessible spot to jump in at. If we'd recommend anything to get caught up, it'd be maybe picking up the 3-issue BATMAN AND ROBIN *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE PROLOGUE* story arc that went through BATMAN AND ROBIN #10, #11 and #12. Other than that though, you can jump on, and just enjoy the ride. And If I Want To Go Back And Experience The Awesomeness of Morrison's Run From The Start? We'd recommend beginning with BATMAN AND SON trade paperback, then going onto BATMAN: THE BLACK GLOVE trade paperback, then BATMAN: RIP hardcover, and then BATMAN AND ROBIN (available both in hardcover and in the individual single issues). The whole run has been incredible, and if you're really looking to go back to the beginning, that's the perfect path to do. Battle for the Cowl is a nice in between spot for RIP and BATMAN AND ROBIN, but not necessarily a major piece. However, if you just want to start with RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, you can jump on with ISSUE #1 with no problem. Okay, Time For The Morrison Batman Love-Fest: I mentioned above, I had to break this one down into a couple of separate parts, so I didn't get ahead of myself. Now that we're done talking about WHAT Return of Bruce Wayne is, and WHY we're so excited, now it's time to talk about how we went from the hyper-realistic, dark and brooding Batman of the late '90s to the surreal, and cutting edge Batman stories of now. A lot of us as readers were a bit disappointed when we got to the end of BATMAN: RIP. I was at first. But, after reading BATMAN AND ROBIN, I see exactly what Morrison intended to do, and how genius it's all been. Let me start off by saying that I have not enjoyed Batman comics this much in ten years. Everything is fresh, everything is new, but somehow, it all works, and fits the world of Batman perfectly. What Morrison did with RIP was not necessarily killing Batman as a character, but killing the rut that Batman storylines had fallen into. In other words, we'd taken the character and idea of Batman about as far as it could go into the '90s and early '00s, and things were beginning to get kinda silly. So, Morrison did the trilogy of BATMAN AND SON, BLACK GLOVE, and RIP. And, the common theme throughout was taking the 50 some odd years of Bat-history, condensing it down, and making sense of it all. In other words, the zaniness of the '60s was there, the darkness of the '70s, ect... but it was all done in such a way that it worked perfectly. The end result, so it appeared, was BATMAN AND ROBIN. A true gem of 21st Century comics storytelling. Incredible artwork, fresh and quirky storytelling, and a colorful, slightly science fiction-influenced slant that hadn't been seen in the Batman comics for years. And, it's all worked out perfectly. It's why BATMAN AND ROBIN has become one of my favorite books. And, now, the ultimate send-up in all of this, is the RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE storyline. I mean, lets be honest... ten years ago, if you said "Okay, so we're going to shoot him back in time, and then bring him back, as a Pirate and a Cowboy and blah blah"... everyone would've been like "You're on crack." But, since we've seen how well Morrison has been able to make this kind of storytelling work in BATMAN AND ROBIN... this storyline sounds like the most awesome thing in the world. And, beyond all of this... it's the Return of Bruce freakin' Wayne, folks. The original DARK KNIGHT. The Caped Crusader. And, while we love Dick as Batman, and are curious to see where his position will be in the end of all this... it's just plain cool to see Wayne returning. So, folks, make sure you pick up a copy of BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1 this week. It's Third Eye Guaranteed Good. The story. The art. I mean, heck, we didn't even talk about the art... Chris Sprouse, most famous for his work on TOM STRONG with ALAN MOORE, is looking AWESOME on this book. But, okay, I'm rambling again. Click here for a preview of BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1 THE LONG-AWAITED SIEGE #4 WRAPS UP THE BIGGEST MARVEL STORYLINE SINCE CIVIL WAR THIS WEDNESDAY! AND, FOLKS, THIS ONE IS EPPPIIIIIC! It's finally here! Okay, so, the wait for SIEGE #4 isn't as long as it's felt. It's only been about a month and a half or so, which in comparison to other titles running late, isn't so bad. But, the reason it feels like an eternity is because the cliffhanger ending of issue #3 left us on the edges of our seats.. BIG TIME! Norman Osborn screaming like a maniac in green face paint, Tony Stark rocking the briefcase armor, the crumbling of Asgard, and then that one fateful panel of The Sentry's true nature revealed once and for all. And, now, all of our questions will be answered this Wednesday in the pages of SIEGE #4. The biggest ones I have? WTF is up with the Sentry, and of course, what will be the final thing that brings the much-anticipated Heroic Age into full swing? For those of you not reading SIEGE, or just coming back into the comic-lovin' fold, here's a brief rundown on what this whole SIEGE thing is about and why we're so excited to see the conclusion. Six or seven years ago, Marvel pretty much defined the 2000s with CIVIL WAR. See, comics in the late '90s were an interesting beast. A lot of the mainstream, broad and big Superhero books... they sucked. And, meanwhile, you had innovative little titles popping out of the cracks like Brian Michael Bendis's POWERS, and Warren Ellis's THE AUTHORITY. In the early 2000s, Marvel launched their Ultimate line, and I think that really gave them the recharge they needed to revamp their mainline continuity. And, so you saw the books begin to take on a more cutting edge, bolder tone, and then... CIVIL WAR. Heroes fighting heroes. Characters dying. Insanity. And, Civil War began a cycle of storytelling that really made Marvel what it is during this past decade. The Avengers became cool again. The classic Marvel heroes once again were interesting. And, compelling character-driven storytelling once again reminded us why we loved the Marvel Universe. Now, as the decade winded down, it was obvious that it was time for a new direction, and a new change. In the aftermath of SECRET INVASION, and during DARK REIGN, I think a lot of us were pretty happy to hear about SIEGE. See, SIEGE is the end to what Marvel originally began with CIVIL WAR. And, just like we were ushered into a brand new age of storytelling, and a shift in tone back in 2000, we're going to be seeing that again with the HEROIC AGE. Siege is not just about the downfall of Norman Osborn, but it's about the reuniting of the classic Marvel heroes, after years of turmoil and strife. So, in a nutshell... this is what you need to know before reading SIEGE: CIVIL WAR=Heroes fight each other, Norman Osborn comes into a position of government power, and gets his own superteam of morally questionable (but obedient) footsoldiers. SECRET INVASION=Suspicions, paranoia, and Norman Osborn makes the killshot that gives him control over the security of the U.S. DARK REIGN=Norman Osborn, now the head of SHIELD (now called HAMMER), puts supervillains into superhero positions, and begins his plans of control and revenge. SIEGE=Norman Osborn, obviously losing his grip on sanity, is persuaded by Loki into invading Asgard, and taking it over. And of course, everything goes horribly wrong, which brings the combined forces of the Marvel Universes back together in one hell of an epic storyline. If you haven't started with SIEGE yet, we've currently got plenty of issue #1,#2, and #3 in stock to get you caught up, so give it a shot. We highly recommend the series, and we think anybody, whether you're brand new to comics, or an old fan, will enjoy this. The writing, and the artwork have been fantastic, and it really is a great entry-point into the Marvel Universe as things get ready to relaunch at ground zero with the HEROIC AGE. The beauty of SIEGE is it thrives on the things that we all love about comics, and the Marvel Universe specifically. It's bigger than life, it's action-packed, and it turns the pulp insanity level of superpowered beings duking it out up to levels we rarely see. It's bold, and swashbuckling, and it's an indicator of the exciting things to come with the HEROIC AGE. If you're NOT reading SIEGE, you really need to give this one a shot, as it's probably one of the best Marvel events we've seen since CIVIL WAR. Now, for those of you already reading SIEGE... you already know that this is the big one, folks, and are just as pumped as we are to see what comes of it this Wednesday. So, the less I say, the better... lets be surprised. :) Click here for a preview of SIEGE #4 Click here for the official THIRD EYE SIEGE CHECKLIST THE MYSTERIOUS SIEGE: FALLEN #1 ONE-SHOT SERVES AS THE OFFICIAL EPILOGUE TO SIEGE! Okay, it's often rare that we're completely in the dark about a book. Even when they're kept under lock and key, we're still in the know enough to get an official handle on just what the heck it's all about. However, with SIEGE: FALLEN, we know very little... and here's what we do know: The SIEGE: FALLEN one-shot is being described as Marvel as being a nice wrap-up issue to SIEGE, you know, an epilogue of sorts. Of course, we're expecting some major ramifications at the end of SIEGE, and it seems like this one-shot is what deals with not just the major events that occur within SIEGE #4, but also the landscape of the Marvel Universe as a whole. The second thing we know is that Tom Raney is handling the art chores, while the writer is classified... which means that whoever is writing this one-shot probably has a good deal invested in the character that's being held on the cover there. Now, while we won't speculate on who it is that bites it, we do know that this issue is supposed to deal with the whats, the whys, and the hows of the character's death, as well as the world-shattering aftermath of SIEGE. In other words, if you're following SIEGE, you should probably give this one as read, as it looks like it'll pertain to the story in a big way. Either way, we're pumped to see what the hush-hush surprises that await in SIEGE: FALLEN are, and why Marvel is being so tightlipped about them! FLASH #2 *BRIGHTEST DAY* FOLLOWS UP THE FIRST KILLER ISSUE OF GEOFF JOHNS'S NEW ONGOING FLASH SERIES THIS WEDNESDAY! THIRD EYE MUST BUY Man, the first issue of Geoff Johns's new FLASH ongoing series really blew me away. I mean, I was expecting it to be good, because lets face it: Geoff Johns has an incredible track record, but damn... it exceeded my expectations in a hundred different ways. The artwork, the writing, everything just clicked so perfectly, and for someone like me who grew up with Wally West, and isn't as familiar with Barry Allen, it was accessible as hell. I mean, one of the things that I felt was so cool about the new FLASH series was how it just hit the ground running.. no pun intended. Whether you're brand new to the world of THE FLASH, or an old-time fan, it served as a great point to jump onboard, and I was really impressed with how Johns pulled that off. On top of everything mentioned above, it was just a plain good story. The big ending with the Rogues from the future acting as a form of police... brilliant. And, now, this week, the follow up issue comes with FLASH #2, and we could not be more pumped here at Third Eye to read it. In the first issue, Johns introduces us to the world of the Flash and Barry Allen effortlessly while still managing to tell an exciting, and killer story. The artwork by Francis Manapul is probably some of the best stuff going in superhero comics right now, and it really captures the fluidity and movement of THE FLASH perfectly. There's this great sense of speed that comes through in the storytelling and artwork, where you as the reader get the feeling that things never stop moving. This is the perfect compliment to a character like THE FLASH, and it really helps draw us into his world. Plus, the way that Johns is taking classic Flash elements but mixing them with his own new-school approach, is incredible. He really delivers some good comics storytelling here, and in just one issue, the new ongoing Flash series is at the top of my stack as one of my favorite new series. What's the hook on the new FLASH ongoing? In a nutshell, it's got this great "Superhero CSI" kind of feel to it. See, Barry Allen is a police forensic scientist, and as the Flash, the fastest man alive, he's also one of the DCU's most classic superheroes. Johns plays up the detective element of Barry, and shows us in the first issue, that while this isn't a traditional noir, gritty detective story, there is this very cool tech-savvy forensic science feel to how Barry solves the crimes that are put before him. Of course, we also get to see the Flash side of Barry A LOT, and it's cool to see how Johns is showing us all the different and exciting ways Barry can and will use his powers as the Flash. Perfect Blend of Character-Driven Storytelling and High Action: The other thing that really stands out about the new Flash series is how Johns adds so much life and multiple layers to not just the Flash and his enemies, but also his supporting cast. It really feels like you're walking into a fully realized world, and he manages to balance out the character-driven storytelling with a quick, rapid-fire non-stop action approach to the superheroics of the book. All in all, the new Flash series is one of DC's most promising new series this summer, and we highly recommend checking it out. We've still got plenty of FLASH #1 in stock, and hey, FLASH #1 even comes with a FLASH ring! :) If you want to go back a little deeper, and get the full scoop on Barry Allen and his return, we recommend snagging FLASH REBIRTH 1-6 (available both in the back issues here at Third Eye or the recently released hardcover), and the FLASH: SECRET FILES one-shot. These serve as an excellent primer to give you more backstory on the FLASH. For those of you who'd rather just jump in, then all you need is the new FLASH #1, and you're good to go. Click here to read more about FLASH #2 *BRIGHTEST DAY* SWEET TOOTH VOLUME 1 OUT OF THE WOODS TRADE PAPERBACK ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! FIND OUT WHY THIS HAS QUICKLY BECOME ONE OF OUR TOP FAVORITE BOOKS ON THE STANDS! VERTIGO DOES IT AGAIN! AND, THIS FIRST VOLUME IS ONLY $9.99! "GUMMO" meets "THE WALKING DEAD" Man, it's funny how some of the ones that turn into your favorite books are the ones that sneak up on you, and don't snag you right off the bat. Sweet Tooth has been like that for me. I read the first issue that Vertigo put out (for only a buck! And, heck, if you'd rather do this series in singles, we do have all the previous issues in stock to check out too), and I enjoyed it.. but, I wasn't sold. You know, I thought it was good, but it was just a set-up, and there was nothing that really snapped me into it. So, I forgot about Sweet Tooth for a little bit. I breezed through the next couple issues, but it wasn't until a few months back I sat down with all five issues at one time, and read through them, that I was hooked. I had found a brand new favorite book. See, Jeff Lemire is doing INCREDIBLE stuff with this series, and he manages to do it without you realizing until you're fiending for the next issue. The fact that he both writes and illustrates the series just enhances the surreal, dream-like feel that the series has. What's SWEET TOOTH all about? Sweet Tooth is the story of Gus, one of a rare new breed of human/animal hybrids who was raised in isolation by his father following a pandemic that struck ten years previous. When Gus's father dies, Gus does the one thing his father had always begged him not to... leave the woods. He quickly runs into hunters, who kill hybrid children and sell their parts off for various things (food, experiments to cure the disease, ect... oh, did we mention that this new human/animal hybrid is immune to the disease that killed off half the world?). Gus runs into a massive drifter named Jepperd (who reminds you of the Punisher circa Garth Ennis's PUNISHER: THE END), and promises to help get Gus to a safe haven for all human/animal hybrids, a place known only as the Preserve. Sweet Tooth reads like a real twisted road trip story, but there's also a very surreal, dream-like quality to the art and storytelling that contrasts really nicely with the dark, gritty post-apocalyptic world it's set in. See, the quirkiness is almost only superficial, as the real charm of Sweet Tooth isn't the kids with antlers and the strange alternative future it's set in, but in the way that it explores Gus's brittle humanity, and Jepperd's crude humanity. Lemire's unique art style really gives the book a unique look and feel, and there's some really eerie close-ups on the eyes of characters, that are often used as a beat in the pacing of a character and their thoughts. All in all, Sweet Tooth comes HIGHLY recommended, and this Wednesday, you can snag the first five issues in trade paperback format for only $9.99! Click here to read more about SWEET TOOTH v.1 OUT OF THE WOODS BRIGHTEST DAY: THE BIRDS OF PREY RETURN THIS WEDNESDAY COURTESY OF THEIR FAN-FAVORITE CREATIVE TEAM GAIL SIMONE (SECRET SIX) & ED BENES (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA) IN BIRDS OF PREY #1 *BRIGHTEST DAY* The Brightest Day is shining it's light in a few different directions this Wednesday, and one of the big ones we're excited to see is the relaunched BIRDS OF PREY series. Now, I know, it's odd, considering that towards the end of it's run, BIRDS OF PREY was not a book that would be getting top billing from Third Eye here. Why? Well, it kinda sucked towards the end there, and wasn't really doing much of anything. But, then amidst the announcements of new series for the summer, DC made a big one... the original fan-favorite creative team of GAIL SIMONE and ED BENES who made BRIGHTEST DAY what it was way back in the day are returning to once again knock it out of the park, and folks, we're pumped. I feel like before I go on, i should explain why we're stoked, and just a bit about what BIRDS OF PREY is. Wayyyy back in the late '90s, I remember BIRDS OF PREY kicked off courtesy of CHUCK DIXON and GREG LAND, and I think I picked it up because I heard it had Blue Beetle, and I've always liked Blue Beetle. But, anyways, there was something about the series that really made it stand out back then. There was a real cool fusion of high-action, and a down-to-earth sense of humor about it. It was really good stuff. And, then, time passed by, and a new writer came onboard, Gail Simone. This is before she'd really made a big reputation for herself, so she was new to the series, and alongside her, a new artist by the name of Ed Benes. And, together, they took the Birds of Prey idea to a new level of awesomeness. It was a big cult favorite of mine, and delivered a really clever team book that didn't read like any other kind of team book on the market. See, Birds of Prey played up a cool mix of clever humor, gritty espionage and covert ops, and familiar characters that we all knew and love (Oracle, the Huntress, Black Canary, ect). The writing in it was razor sharp, and was some of the most realistic portrayals of women superheroes in comics that we've seen, but still, at the same time maintained a real fun, and action-packed feel. Now, WHAT are the BIRDS OF PREY? Birds of Prey are a loose-knit team of superheroines that work with Oracle. Oracle, as you know her, is the former Batgirl who's now paralyzed from the waist down due to being shot by the Joker in THE KILLING JOKE. See, after Oracle was shot, she didn't let that stop her, she kept fighting crime, but sharpened her prowess in technology, and computers, becoming a literal information bank for many superheroes within the DCU. The team's greatest strength comes from Oracle's connections to heroes across the DCU stemming from her connection to Batman, meaning that it's no surprise to see Wonder Woman or Superman show up in BIRDS OF PREY. And, while BIRDS OF PREY is a predominantly female team, there have been male members including NIGHTWING, and WILDCAT. The thing that is awesome about this though is the return of Gail Simone and Ed Benes. Simone is probably the best writer we've seen on Birds of Prey, and really gets the characters. And, if you're not already reading her awesome work on SECRET SIX, you're really missing out. However, we have a feeling that Birds of Prey is gonna blow that out of the water. :) Not to mention Ed Benes is handling the art, and this guy is a SUPERSTAR, folks. In the tradition of bigger-than-life artists like Jim Lee, J. Scott Campbell, and Michael Turner, Ed Benes has really carved out a major niche for himself as a fantastic superhero artist. And, folks, he is the perfect fit for Birds of Prey. The fact that he'd already worked on the series previously is just a bonus in that we know the chemistry between him and Simone will really make this relaunch a killer read. BRIGHTEST DAY! The other thing that makes this one stand out is it's one of the books carrying the BRIGHTEST DAY banner, and tying into DC's BRIGHTEST DAY storyline. As we've seen from everything that's come out so far rocking the BRIGHTEST DAY banner, these are quality jumping on points, and if you've never read BIRDS OF PREY before, this is a good spot to start. How it ties into BRIGHTEST DAY? Well, the involvement of Hawk and Dove is interesting, and I feel that might play a part, but I guess we're going to have to see. All I know is so far everything rocking the BRIGHTEST DAY banner has been a solid read, and I cannot wait to check this one out. Click here to read more about BIRDS OF PREY #1 *BRIGHTEST DAY* NEW AVENGERS FINALE #1 *SIEGE TIE-IN*WRAPS UP 10 YEARS OF AVENGERS STORIES, AND PAVES THE WAY PERFECTLY FOR THE RELAUNCH OF AVENGERS THIS SUMMER! Man, I read the advance of this one last night, and folks, it's freakin' beautiful. This one-shot penned by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, and illustrated by the legendary BRYAN HITCH (THE ULTIMATES, CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN), is a fantastic final chapter in a decade of AVENGERS history, as well as a nice opening to what's to come for the AVENGERS in the Marvel Universe. This one-shot takes place after the events of SIEGE, but before the official relaunching of the AVENGERS (coming soon with the launch of the highly anticipated AVENGERS #1, as well as SECRET AVENGERS and NEW AVENGERS). The entire landscape of the Marvel Universe has changed during the craziness of SIEGE, and with the HEROIC AGE on the horizon, Earth's Mightiest Heroes are unsure of what and where their places are in the Marvel Universe. This double-sized one-shot shows us how that before the Avengers can move on, all loose ends must be tied-up, and everything that's been left hanging in the storylines of the Avengers books for the last five years is resolved right here. And, folks, it reads fantastic. The artwork by Hitch looks great, and Bendis really delivers some SIEGE-level action in the actual story. My favorite part though is as you near the end, you really get the sense that this is an "End of an Era" moment, and there's some actually really cool moments that totally lay the groundwork for things to come for the Avengers, including what team-mates are going where, and the final line-ups, ect. Of course, a major focus is tying up unresolved affairs here, and folks, it's a badass way of wrapping up many plot threads from the last few years. I'd have to say that this, Dark Avengers #16, Siege #4, and Siege Fallen all read very nicely together, and almost feel like a set of books in that sense. All in all, this one's worth picking up, and is not just another one-shot, but something that really progresses the storyline of the Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Click here for a preview of NEW AVENGERS FINALE #1 BRIGHTEST DAY: JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #1 - KEITH GIFFEN RETURNS TO THE JUSTICE LEAGUE HE MADE FAMOUS WITH JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL! DC is really on point this Summer with the new series that they're kicking out there. Another one that I've been excited about since it was announced is the new JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST limited series that's going to be kicking off this Wednesday. The simple fact that Keith Giffen is returning to the Justice League characters he made famous, and forever memorable is reason enough, but the fact that it's also going to be following up on the sudden return of MAXWELL LORD in the wake of BRIGHTEST DAY (or at least this is who we're speculating is the mysterious villain that's killing off former members of the now defunct JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL) just ups the ante of awesomeness for this one. Most of you who are familiar with DC in the last few years know Maxwell Lord as one of the major players during the time of INFINITE CRISIS, and the man responsible for the OMACS, and the death of Ted Kord (Blue Beetle). Now, it looks like he's back to his old tricks, as seen in BRIGHTEST DAY #0, and members of the JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL (a team Lord has a personal tie to) are being targeted for death. Now, the big hook with this new series is that it's a return to a Justice League incarnation that a lot of us love, and hold dear to our hearts in terms of character-defining JLA runs. Way back when, Keith Giffen, J.M DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire completely turned the concept of the Justice League on it's head by putting together a team made up of B-Listers, and one or two heavy-hitters. The reason why it worked though was Giffen's knack for adding personality, and humor to the book, and using the second stringers to really make the book entertaining. The interplay between characters like Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Guy Gardner, and Batman and Martian Manhunter was half the fun, and while the action levels were high, it was some of the incredible and humorous touches to these characters that really made the story. This was the infamous Justice League run where Batman flat out slugs Guy Gardner, and knocks him out in one punch, leaving the rest of the team to joke about "One Punch! I can't believe it!" And, now Giffen is back, and he's working with the characters he made famous. The surviving members of Justice League International are all here... Booster Gold, Fire and Ice, Captain Atom, and more, and while there's a very grim shadow being cast on the team as their former team-mates are being hunted down and killed.. we are expecting Giffen to still bring that trademark wit and humor to the series just like he did back in the day. On top of all this, this limited series carries the Brightest Day banner, and ties into the resurrection of many character. Of course, the biggest, is the returned Maxwell Lord. But, we can't help but wonder if we'll see Martian Manhunter involved at all, due to his previous involvement with the team. We expect this one to be a must-read, and if you're a DC fan, new or old, you really should give this one a look this week. And, if you're following Justice League, then you definitely should pick this up, as it's going to be providing some pretty big shake-ups for the premiere DC Superhero team. But, at the end of the day.. we're excited about this one for one big reason: It's Giffen returning to Justice League International, and with Winick (who's proven he's got a nice knack for humorous tales with his excellent run on EXILES, and his Barry Ween work), it should be a fantastic read. Click here to read more about JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #1 *BRIGHTEST DAY* Piqued your curiosity with all this talk of how awesome JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL was? Check out these great trades collecting the Giffen/Maguire run currently in stock at Third Eye! JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 1 TRADE PAPERBACK JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 2 TRADE PAPERBACK JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 3 TRADE PAPERBACK JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 4 TRADE PAPERBACK FRENEMY OF THE STATE #1 FROM ONI PRESS DELIVERS A QUIRKY, FUN TAKE ON THE ESPIONAGE CONTRACT KILLER DRAMA! AND IT'S CO-WRITTEN BY THAT ONE CHICK FROM THE OFFICE... YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT DIDN'T GET JIM. I've gotta admit, when I first glanced over this one in the Previews catalog, I totally overlooked it. The name was kind of goofy, and I really didn't see anything about it that reached out and grabbed me. Well, Oni was cool enough to send us some preview copies of this as well as other new ones coming out, and I read this one over the weekend, and folks, I really dug it. The writing is sharp, the artwork is fantastic, and works perfectly for the story, and the overall plot and story is playful yet engaging. So, what's it about? Well, you've got this girl who has lived a life of privilege, attended the best schools, and learned every language, but her obsession with spying on exes gets her caught up in some serious mojo with the CIA. And, in exchange for not going to prison, they recruit her to be a spy. It's got a big humor element to it, and it definitely plays around with the modern day circus that is Hollywood, and folks who're famous for no other reason than being famous. I actually had no idea this was written by someone who's on TV until after I read it, and that's good, 'cause usually it makes me automatically going to assume the comic is going to suck if it's written by a TV personality, but man, this one's good. It's fun, it's entertaining, and it reads well. And, hey, it's that chick from THE OFFICE too. DARK AVENGERS #16 *SIEGE TIE-IN* - THE FINAL ISSUE OF DARK AVENGERS SENDS THE TITLE OFF WITH A BANG, AND WRAPS UP A CORNER OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE NICELY! A ROCK SOLID READ! I just sat down and read the advance of DARK AVENGERS #!6 before writing this, and I've gotta say... it's probably one of my favorite Marvel titles I've read today. In fact, I've gotta tell you, if you fell off of DARK AVENGERS during the UTOPIA storyline or the Molecule Man storyline, I'd highly recommend going back and picking up around issue #13 when the SIEGE Tie-Ins began in this book. This was probably one of the best SIEGE tie-ins of the bunch, in my opinion, and issues 13-16 really are on the caliber of the events going on in the main SIEGE book. Why? The characterization. Bendis gives the enemy side of SIEGE personality, and depth that makes them even more compelling, and through issues 13-16, he fleshes out not just Norman Osborn and his star players like Bullseye, but also turns Victoria Hand into one of the coolest new Marvel characters I've seen in quite a while. And, in this week's DARK AVENGERS #16, she especially comes out of SIEGE as a very interesting character. But, that's not all, the Dark Avengers tie-ins went a long way of explaining THE SENTRY, why he's such an evil, bad mojo kinda dude, and what happened to send him over the edge to do the things he's done. In fact, his official origin in DARK AVENGERS #13 is one of the coolest things I've read from Marvel this year. And, now this Wednesday, in DARK AVENGERS #13, it's the end of an era again, as the short-lived yet excellent DARK AVENGERS title goes out with a bang. I can't say much, because I don't want to spoiler anything, but I will say this: read this one AFTER you read SIEGE #4, as that's where it takes place in the scheme of the storyline. This issue really wraps up the whole Dark Avengers thing nicely, and it sets the stage for the futures of many of the characters who were on the team, some of which in pretty shocking ways. However, I think my favorite part is near the end, involving Osborn... you'll know it when you see it. All in all, Dark Avengers #16 is definitely highly recommended this week, and like I said, if you missed DARK AVENGERS #13, #14, or #15, snatch 'em up. We've still got limited quantities of each in stock here at Third Eye! SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #2 FOLLOWS UP THE FIRST SMASH HIT ISSUE OF WAR OF THE SUPERMEN! IT'S ZOD vs. SUPERMAN IN THIS KILLER NEW LIMITED SERIES! Dude! The first issue of WAR OF THE SUPERMEN was AWESOME. I was super-impressed, and man, this feels like it might be one of the best Superman stories done in the last few years.. and Geoff Johns isn't even writing it! :) Seriously though, they kicked things off with a bang in WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #1. Robinson and Gates do a fantastic job of making the first issue of this one feel HUGE, and the artwork by Igle is fantastic, and works perfectly in the scale of the storyline. This book makes all the weirdness of the last year or two of Superman stories post-New Krypton feel worth it, and we cannot wait to read the second issue this Wednesday. What is WAR OF THE SUPERMEN all about? It's pretty simple... there's too many Supermen, and General Zod, being the downright dastardly fellow he is, decides he's going straight to Earth with hundreds of Supermen following behind him.. and of course, only Superman stands in his way. It's also looking like WAR OF THE SUPERMEN is going to be the perfect set-up for the highly anticipated arrival of J.Michael Straczynski writing Superman later this Summer. A fantastic read, and we're pretty pumped to see where the story goes next! FIRST WAVE #2 FOLLOWS UP BRIAN AZZARELLO'S KILLER NEW PULP TAKE ON THE DCU! A GUN-WIELDING BATMAN, THE RETURN OF DOC SAVAGE, AND A COOL TAKE ON THE SPIRIT? IT'S ALL HERE! AND, WE'VE STILL GOT PLENTY OF #1 IF YOU MISSED IT! The debut of Brian Azzarello and Rags Morales's FIRST WAVE was a huge surprise hit here at Third Eye. While we thought the whole idea of an "Elseworlds-esque" storyline featuring a DC Universe set amidst the backdrop of 1940s Hollywood Babylon, and playing up a pulpy noir environment was a killer idea, we really had no clue how big of a hit it was going to turn out to be. And, it really looks like you guys were digging the first one, so I'm sure you just as excited as I am to see issue #2 hitting this Wednesday. What is FIRST WAVE? First Wave is a 6 issue limited series that's setting up a brand new DC Universe sandbox for creators to play in. It's basically resurrecting classic pulp fiction characters like Doc Savage, the Shadow, and the Avenger, and giving them the same kind of high quality 21st century storytelling and artwork that's become the standard of quality today. In other words, it's an Elseworld, where instead of Gotham City, Batman operates in a '40s-era Hollywood which is way too lawless, and way too decadent. There are NO superpowered beings in this world, and Doc Savage is about as high as it goes in terms of super-powered individuals. Everything is very grounded in reality. So, while you might see characters like Batman, the Blackhawks, or even Green Arrow, you're not going to see Superman, or Wonder Woman. The series focuses heavily on Doc Savage and Batman, but manages to include the Spirit as well to nice effect. "100 Bullets" and "JOKER" writer Brian Azzarello really delivers a world that feels fleshed out, and fully realized. It's dripping in gritty pulp and noir trappings, and Morales's artwork does a fantastic job of pulling you into this tense, mysterious pulp world Azzarello is crafting. The first issue did a fantastic job of setting up the world of FIRST WAVE, and now, we really cannot wait to see where things'll be going next in the second issue this week as Doc Savage is pursuing the Blackhawks, the Blackhawks are pursuing The Spirit, and Rima the Jungle Girl, the eyes of the jungle, is the only one who knows something none of these heroes do... something dangerous, and glorious has risen, and the world at large is not ready for it. If you haven't yet checked out First Wave, don't worry, we've still got plenty of FIRST WAVE #1 and the BATMAN / DOC SAVAGE one-shot that sets up FIRST WAVE in stock to get you caught up. Dive in, and find out why this is one of the coolest new limited series to hit the stands. Click here to read a preview of FIRST WAVE #2 WARREN ELLIS (IGNITION CITY, SUPERGOD, CAPTAIN SWING, PLANETARY) and KAARE ANDREWS (SPIDER-MAN: REIGN) LAUNCH A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE X-MEN INASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #1 THIS WEDNESDAY! After reading the advance copy of this last night, I am a lot more excited for it than I was before. Not to say that I wasn't looking forward to the book. I mean, I really enjoy what Ellis has been crafting with ASTONISHING X-MEN. But, you know, I wasn't expecting something as fresh, and as exciting as this. Now, you're probably wondering what the difference is between this and the current ASTONISHING X-MEN run. This new limited series ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS, is a six-issue mini-series that falls in line with the same mentality that last week's ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN / WOLVERINE did. In other words, it's a kick-ass limited series featuring the characters you know, and you love, doing the things you want to see them do. And while it's in continuity, it's not tied in tightly, so you can pick up on issue #1 of this bad boy, and just simply enjoy it without having to worry about going back to get the back story on anything. All you need to know is who the X-Men are, and you're good. Now, does it connect to ASTONISHING X-MEN currently running? It's the same team, and does reference a thing or two, but it's mostly a brand new story arc. The regular ASTONISHING X-MEN ongoing will continue, albeit on a much slower schedule than ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS due to artist delays. Now, why did I dig ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS so much? Well, it was just plain good. I mean, it feels really fresh, and Kaare Andrews is a perfect fit art-wise for Warren Ellis's storytelling. See, I'm a firm believer that a good writer needs a good artist, but most importantly, writers need artists that work with their style, just like artists need writers that work with their style. I really didn't care for how Bianchi's art meshed with Ellis on GHOST BOXES, and I felt like that affected how much I enjoyed the story. And while Jiminez is damn talented, again, it just doesn't capture that feel of Ellis's writing like I feel it should. Don't get me wrong both GHOST BOXES, and the Ellis/Jiminez stuff is great, but after reading the first issue of XENOGENESIS with Ellis/Kaare... dude... it's perfect. Kaare Andrews art is very reminiscent of Frank Quitely in some regards, and just like Quitely captures Morrison's mad genius, Kaare does the same thing with Ellis's mad science fiction insanity. The writing is sharp, and the characterization of the team is some of the best I've seen in a bit. I've gotta tell you, there's some really cool moments, and Storm especially stands out as a strong lead character in this. The characterization of Emma is also pretty fun, and entertaining as well. AND, this one is action-packed like a mofo. Ellis starts things right off with explosions, chaos, and mad science that gets you rolling on a roller-coaster ride of X-Fun. All in all, Astonishing X-Men: XENOGENESIS is a great start for the series, and I can't stress how much I enjoyed the artwork, even the coloring on it works perfectly. It's one of those rare occasions where you see many different factors (art, story, coloring, inking) come together to make one nice, and super enjoyable package. If you want a good self-contained X-Men story with a bit of weirdness, and that trademark Ellis mad science attached... pick up a copy of ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #1 this Wednesday. Click here for a preview of ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #1 HEROIC AGE: BLACK WIDOW #2 FOLLOWS UP THE FIRST KILLER ISSUE OF THIS NEW "HEROIC AGE" ONGOING SERIES FEATURING EVERYONE'S FAVORITE SUPER-SPY! I was really impressed by the first issue of the new BLACK WIDOW ongoing series. I don't know if it's 'cause I'm jazzed on this whole HEROIC AGE thing Marvel's doing, or maybe it was really that good, but I really dug it. There's a great sense of espionage-fueled storytelling going on here, and enough balance of Marvel Universe classics (Wolverine, Iron Man) to keep the book rooted in the overall Marvel U. But yeah, they did a really great job, and I'm pumped to see where the book goes with issue #2. I think a big part of why I enjoyed it so much too was Marjorie Lieu's writing and Daniel Acuna's artwork fit together perfectly and delivered a really solid read. This first arc is pretty straight-forward.. someone wants Natasha dead, and they've come pretty damn close to getting exactly what they want. Now, she's got to hunt down her would-be killer, and find out what her friends Daredevil, Wolverine and Iron Man are keeping from her about her killer's identity. This one kicked off with a great start, and kind of embodies that fun, swashbuckling feel you want out of the HEROIC AGE books. But, there's also a very gritty, and dark espionage super-spy underworld kinda vibe to the book as well. When you put the two together, you get a pretty good read, so if you missed BLACK WIDOW #1, we've still got limited quantities of the first printing of #1 in stock, so check it out! Click here for a preview of BLACK WIDOW #2 *HEROIC AGE* EX MACHINA VOLUME 9 RING OUT THE OLD TRADE PAPERBACK HITS THIRD EYE THIS WEDNESDAY! BRIAN K. VAUGHN'S (writer of Y: THE LAST MAN) EPIC "ROCKETEER" MEETS "THE WEST WING" CONTINUES! There are certain series that we just feel read fantastic in trade paperback format, and it's always a cause for celebration when a new slab of goodness comes out for them. Ex Machina is one of those series. Written by BRIAN K VAUGHN (the man behind RUNAWAYS and Y THE LAST MAN), Ex Machina is a fantastic series that explores the world of Mitchell Hundred, a man given a superhuman ability to talk to machinery. And, with that ability, Mitchell becomes the world's first real-deal SUPERHERO, the Great Machine. But, when Mitchell can only save one of the World Trade towers from falling on 9/11, he realizes that he's doing no good as The Great Machine, goes public with his identity and runs for Mayor of New York... and wins. From there, you get Ex Machina, a fascinating and extremely well-written series that manages to create a perfect mix of policital drama and grounded superheroics into one damn good comic. If you haven't read it, you gotta try it, and if you have read it, then we know you're already eagerly awaiting the next volume! X-MEN SECOND COMING: NEW MUTANTS #13 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 7*CONTINUES THE BEST X-MEN STORYLINE IN TEN YEARS! NOT READING "SECOND COMING"? WE'VE GOT ALL THE CHAPTERS WELL-STOCKED, SO HOP ABOARD WITH THE X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER ONE AND FIND OUT WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT! Dude, it's no secret that the X-MEN: SECOND COMING storyline is one of the things we're super jazzed about here at Third Eye. Marvel has managed to once again make the X-Men cool again, and is delivering us one of the biggest, and boldest X-Men crossovers we've seen in decades. I mean, THIS is how the X-Men should be. Tons of action, all the characters you enjoy, and just plain exciting through and through. And, folks, this series has been a roller-coaster. It's been long enough now where most of you are aware of what happened in X-FORCE #26, and lets face it: if Nightcrawler (one of our own personal favorite X-Men) isn't safe from Death's shadow in this one, then no one is. And, now, this week, after the tear-jerking funeral in UNCANNY X-MEN #524, things continue to heat up as Cyclops tries to keep the X-Men held together. There's divides forming regarding Hope, and how much is worth sacrificing for her survival. And, Bastion's spy continues to terrorize Marvel's Merry Mutants in their own home. If you haven't been reading X-MEN: SECOND COMING, and want to jump on.. we've currently got ALL the chapters well-stocked here at Third Eye to get you caught up. Just click here for our handy OFFICIAL THIRD EYE X-MEN SECOND COMING CHECKLIST, and that'll tell you what you need! Click here for a preview of NEW MUTANTS #13 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 7* BRIGHTEST DAY: TITANS: VILLAINS FOR HIRE SPECIAL #1 - DEATHSTROKE ASSEMBLES A TEAM OF "DARK TITANS" IN THIS SPECIAL BRIGHTEST DAY ONE-SHOT! Man, I'm impressed, so far all of the BRIGHTEST DAY books that're coming out or have come out have all been ones I'm excited about. There hasn't been one where I've been kinda like "meh" on, and if you told me that I was going to be excited about a Titans one-shot this time last year, I would've said you are out of your mind. But, it's true, I'm pretty freakin' pumped about this one-shot setting up this corner of the DCU. Know why? Well, the obvious answer is I'm a total Deathstroke fanboy. But, there's more to it than that. With the TITANS: VILLAINS FOR HIRE one-shot, it looks like the Titans are going to get a little more interesting than they've been in recent memory. And, how're they doing that, well in the midst of all these resurrections, and BRIGHTEST DAY craziness, Deathstroke has decided to form his own Titans team. So far, what we know is that Cheshire (the evil assassin), the Tattooed Man, and the rest are still under speculation at this time. Now, Deathstroke is one of the coolest friggin' characters in the DCU, so seeing him get the spotlight here is a big deal. But, with this one-shot, we're going to see Deathstroke taking on a new role as leader, and the big question I think many people have is: Why is Deathstroke forming his own Titans team? Well, all we do know is their first mission: Assassinate the Atom! And, that is one of the many reasons why we're pumped to see what's in store with this one on Wednesday. Click here to read more about TITANS: VILLAINS FOR HIRE SPECIAL #1 *BRIGHTEST DAY* SAM & TWITCH: WRITER #1 - A KILLER-LOOKING NEW CRIME NOIR LIMITED SERIES FROM IMAGE COMICS! Here's another new one that looks pretty rad. Now, ignore the fact that this one is featuring characters originally debuting in Todd McFarlane's SPAWN universe. The Sam and Twitch duo have a long history of quality, self-contained crime noir stories that have little to nothing to do at all with SPAWN, and are much more grounded in a gritty, hyper-realistic crime noir setting. I fondly remember being really into the Sam and Twitch stories from a few years back, and I think that's a big part of why I'm pumped for this one.. PLUS, it just sounds cool! A hardboiled crime tale set in the boroughs of NYC, this one takes us to the dead of winter, a snowstorm looming, and a routine homicide investigation suddenly gets a literary twist. A suspected drug dealer has been found dead and naked, with what seems to be parts of a story written all over his body. And, now, the grizzled duo of Sam and Twitch are on the trail of the killer. If you're into the darker SE7EN-esque crime noir stuff, definitely give this one a look this Wednesday at Third Eye! STAFF PICKS Steve - BATMAN AND ROBIN #12 *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE PROLOGUE PT 3* = All I can say is: WOW. The last two pages of this comic have just turned Batman and Robin from an incredible run into an unforgettable one. I cannot wait for RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE! Trish - DEMO #4 = I love how each one of these has a different feel, and tone to it. Brian Wood owns srsly. Torma - ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN AND WOLVERINE #1 = DEVIL DINOSAUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously though, this one is great, and reminds you of those old school team-ups from the '80s before team-up books became cheap filler minis. Awesome art, awesome story! Must read! Matt - BRIGHTEST DAY #1 = Holy crap. I've never cared about Aquaman before, but he has just went up the list of characters that I think are awesome by a few dozen notches. What a great issue!