THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR *THURSDAY* 6/3/10

AVENGERS PRIME #1 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* - THE LIMITED SERIES THAT REUNITES CAPTAIN AMERICA, IRON MAN, and THOR, AND HELPS SET UP EVERYTHING HAPPENING WITH THE AVENGERS NOW! Okay, I just finished reading the advance of the first issue on this one, and I'm freakin' impressed. If there was any one book that seems to embody the feel, and appeal of what Marvel is calling their new "Heroic Age", AVENGERS PRIME sure does fit the bill. Maybe it's the artwork by the iconic Alan Davis, or maybe it's the fact that we're getting just a damn good story featuring Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man, but this one just screamed with energy. I'm serious, folks, I'm really impressed. What is AVENGERS PRIME? Avengers: Prime is a 5-issue limited mini-series that takes place immediately after the events of SIEGE, but from the looks of it, before the events of AVENGERS and SECRET AVENGERS. This story looks like it's the ultimate "Getting the Band Back Together" kind of tale, as we see the much anticipated reunion of Steve Rogers (Captain America), Iron Man, and Thor. Otherwise known as the Big 3 of the Marvel Universe, and the trio that embodies the word AVENGER. Now, as many of you know, these three have had MAJOR differences with one another over the course of the last ten years. From the very start of CIVIL WAR, all the way up til recently, and even though they worked together in taking down Osborn during SIEGE... it doesn't mean that everything is OK between these guys. But, that's where AVENGERS PRIME comes in... this mini-series shows us the Big 3 reuniting, and what's led to the new direction of the AVENGERS in both AVENGERS and SECRET AVENGERS. Now, besides all of that... it's a freakin' KICK-ASS read. Like, this one feels on the level of a big event book in how much action Bendis packed into it. And, Alan Davis, with Mark Farmer inking him, has never looked better. The story itself starts out with the three standing amidst the ruins of Asgard with Thor, asking him what they can do to assist in the rebuilding... and then, everything goes wrong. While I don't want to drop spoilers, I will say that this one takes our Avengers Prime here into some very dangerous territory. As far as how it read? It's fantastic. I mean, if you were reading SIEGE, you should read this, as it feels like it picks up directly from where SIEGE ends. Even if you skipped SIEGE and you're checking out all the new Heroic Age stuff, this one is worth a go. It's just a great way to get up to speed with the three most important Marvel characters happening right now. And, we can't help but acknowledge the perfect timing of this mini-series with the arrival of both Captain America and Thor movies in the near future to join the Armored Avenger. So, final verdict? Action-packed, incredible artwork, and Bendis working at the top of his game to deliver a compelling read... AVENGERS PRIME #1 is most definitely a THIRD EYE MUST BUY this week! Click here for a preview of AVENGERS PRIME #1 *HEROIC AGE* BRIGHTEST DAY #3 - THE REBIRTH OF THE DC UNIVERSE CONTINUES THIS WEEK AT THIRD EYE, AND AFTER ISSUE #2... WE GOTTA SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! DC's BRIGHTEST DAY has been one of the boldest, and most exciting new things we've seen in 2010, and so far, not one issue has failed to knock us off our feet. I'll admit, we were wondering if Geoff Johns and crew could keep up the same momentum he was carrying with BLACKEST NIGHT in this bi-weekly series, but, dude, I think this one is going to turn out surpassing BLACKEST NIGHT in terms of how good it is. BRIGHTEST DAY, otherwise known as DCU: REBIRTH, is the series focused on the events following last year's mega-hit BLACKEST NIGHT series. Basically, it was revealed that there was a cosmic Lord of the Dead by the name of Nekron who had sparked up his own little Lantern Corps, and sent the Black Rings out into the galaxy, resurrecting nearly every dead DC Comics character you could think of. And, when they rose up, they were out with one mission: to rip out people's hearts, and wreak havoc. And, it was awesome. Super awesome. In fact, if you haven't read BLACKEST NIGHT yet.. you need to pop in the shop, and grab the series while we still all the issues in stock. 'Cause it's THAT good. Anyways, when BLACKEST NIGHT ended, it was revealed that there, of course, was a White Lantern, and what did the White Lantern rings and power do? They brought life. And, now, a chosen few have been given second chances on Earth again, and just like in Pet Semetary, when Herman Munster uttered those creepy words... we're learning that sometimes dead is better, and we're loving it. Basically, BRIGHTEST DAY is showing us that it's not necessarily a GOOD thing that these characters have returned, and we're seeing the impacts of it. Now, at it's core, BRIGHTEST DAY is also serving as the Rebirth of the DCU as a whole. In other words, you've been hearing about all the cool new stuff DC's been doing, and how they've been stepping up their game on many of their titles, and you've been wondering where a good point was to jump in? Well, BRIGHTEST DAY is most definitely that. This is the complete rebuilding of the DC Universe from the ground up, and it's a perfect place for those of you who haven't followed the DC Universe in a while, or have been waiting for a killer storyline to kick off, to jump in with. Anyways, the previous issue of BRIGHTEST DAY, BRIGHTEST DAY #2, was a fantastic read, and moreso than any issues in the series so far, this one really showed that BRIGHTEST DAY is worthy of it's nickname, DCU REBIRTH. We watched as Johns and Tomasi tinker with the origins of many star players in a way that simultaneously reminds us what makes them unique, but also opens up many doors for new stories. And, then, we're left with another killer cliffhanger ending, and you guys know about who I'm talking about... so I cannot wait to see what happens in issue #3 this week. If you're looking to jump onboard of BRIGHTEST DAY, we currently have plenty of issue #0, #1 and #2 in stock to get you caught up. So, feel free to check 'em out this week at the shop! Plus, we have all the issues of all the other side-line stories that are fitting into this killer storyline stocked as well. Click here for the official THIRD EYE BRIGHTEST DAY CHECKLIST Click here to read more about BRIGHTEST DAY #3 SERENITY: FLOAT OUT ONE-SHOT *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* FROM JOSS WHEDON & COMEDIAN PATTON OSWALT GIVE FIREFLY FANS ANOTHER DOSE OF AWESOMENESS THIS THURSDAY @ THIRD EYE! One of the best damn Sci-Fi universes created, Joss Whedon's Firefly/Serenity world has had many of us enthralled for years, and while it's few and far between that we get to re-visit it, when we do, it's always worth the wait. And, now, we've got a new addition to the Serenity canon, with this week's SERENITY: FLOAT OUT one-shot featuring tales of the Serenity universe's past, and everyone's favorite starship pilot, Wash. This one's being helmed officially by comedian Patton Oswalt (who himself is a well-known comic book head) and Joss Whedon. And, apparently, it's got a HUGE surprise cameo that'll send all of you long-time Serenity and Firefly fans reeling. Heck, I'm usually pretty good at guessing these things, but even I'm on the edge of my seat to find out who it is. Finally, there are supposed to be some hints about future SERENITY/FIREFLY stories being dropped within this one-shot as well... could it be, maybe, an ongoing SERENITY/FIREFLY comic series? That would rock so hard. Anyhow, there's really not a whole lot else to say about this one, other than it looks great, and lets face it, if you're as much of a fan of the show as I am, you were already planning on picking this one up before you got to the write-up here. For those of you who are already SERENITY/FIREFLY fans, but haven't read any of the comics, we currently have both the previous series in stock in collected form: SERENITY: BETTER DAYS Trade Paperback SERENITY THOSE LEFT BEHIND Hardcover Click herefor a preview ofSERENITY: FLOAT OUT one-shot JOKER'S ASYLUM BEGINS A NEW SERIES OF ONE-SHOTS BY A-LIST TALENT FEATURING BATMAN'S DEADLIEST AND CRAZIES ROGUES! THIS WEEK: JOKER'S ASYLUM: RIDDLER ONE-SHOT by ETHAN VAN SCIVER! Man, I love it when they do stuff like this. Every so often, DC will kick off a round of one-shots with some of their more high profile creators doing some very cool stand-alone, self-contained stories about the characters you've always wanted to know more about, and that's exactly what they've got planned this month with the Joker's Asylum. The first one of these one-shots to debut is this week's JOKER'S ASYLUM: THE RIDDLER one-shot, and it looks fantastic. Looking over the preview pages, I'm very impressed, they've really stepped up their game on these one-shots. Each one-shot is narrated by The Joker and tells a special self-contained stand-alone story that gives us an inside look into the insanity of Batman's rogues gallery. The first of these features the Riddler, and after a quick page or two of introducing who, why, and what he is, throws us into one of the best damn Riddler stories I've read in a long time. He's such a great villain, and we just don't see enough comics featuring him. This one really digs deep into who he is now, and how he's been slipping further and further into his own sickness, despite his temporary dabbling on the side of the angels. This one's a must-read for Batman fans, and after how impressed we were with last year's Joker's Asylum one-shots, we recommend checking these out for some fun, self-contained stories featuring the one thing we all love about the Caped Crusader: his awesome, awesome bad guys! Click here to read more about JOKER'S ASYLUM: THE RIDDLER one-shot THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: IZOMBIE #2DELIVERS MORE BRAIN-MUNCHING, QUIRKY VERTIGO ZOMBIE AWESOMENESS THIS WEDNESDAY! SWEET! We loved the first issue of last month's IZOMBIE (still available at Third Eye, and for only a buck too, how can ya beat that?). This quirky, high-energy new little Vertigo book delivered something fresh and unique amongst all the new series coming out, and we definitely took notice of it. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Mike Allred is dishing out some of the best artwork he's done since Madman on this book. What is IZOMBIE? I,ZOMBIE is the story of Gwen, a gravedigger in Eugene, Oregon who lives in the graveyard, and hangs out with her ghost friend Ellie every night. Gwen's got a little bit of an issue though, see, Gwen's a zombie, and she has to eat a brain at least once a month, or else she ends up going Romero, and turning into a mindless, shambling "Braiiiiiins" kind of ghoul. By eating a brain once a month, she keeps her personality in tact, and keeps herself from turning into a danger to others. And, as a gravedigger, she's able to harmlessly munch away on a fresh corpse's brain once a month.. but therein lies the rub: Gwen absorbs the memories, and personality of whoever's brain she devours. And, if it just so happens that person died as a result to wrong-doing, or had affairs that were left unsettled, Gwen finds herself compelled to take care of these, which adds a very cool almost detective-esque slant to the book. But, that's not all, one of the things I liked most about the world of I,ZOMBIE is how it's this kind of quirky, almost retro horrorland of awesomeness. In other words, vampires, werewolves, and more all exist here, and have all found their niches. One cool example of this is how there's different breeds of werewolves, you know, because of the canine connection, and some folks instead of turning into bloodthirsty wolves at the sight of a full moon turn into were-terriers. Were-terriers! How killer is that? IZOMBIE is a fun, fresh new series, and we highly recommend checking it out. We've still got plenty of the $1.00 #1 for you to hop on with. Click here to read more about IZOMBIE #2 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL* HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #1 *HEROIC AGE*DEBUTS THE ALL-NEW ONGOING SERIES FEATURING THE "MR. AND MRS. SMITH" OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE! Okay, first off: Hawkeye is Hawkeye again. This alone is worthy of celebration. Many of you know that Hawkeye is my favorite Avenger, and I can't tell you guys how stoked I am to see him not only returning to his original duds, but getting his own ongoing series, alongside his long-time flame, Mockingbird! Marvel dubbed this duo the "Mr. and Mrs. Smith of the Marvel Universe", referencing that movie with Brad Pitt and I think it was Angelina Jolie or somebody, and it seems to be a pretty apt description. Granted, I only saw the trailers for said movie, but it was about a wise-cracking, quarrelsome couple that worked as like secret agents or something, right? I don't know.. what I do know is that I thoroughly enjoyed last year's NEW AVENGERS THE REUNION mini-series, and I'm stoked to see us getting a monthly dose of Hawkeye and Mockingbird in the wake of the Heroic Age. The book reads very well, and provides a fun, action-packed espionage-fueled kind of read, but with a bit of levity to it. Imagine the light-hearted feel of something like Power Girl,or Secret Six applied to the Marvel Universe, and then mixed in with a crapton of guns, bombs, and craziness. Unfamiliar with the characters? No worries, while this one is totally a big treat for long-time Hawkeye fans, it still serves as a nice jumping on point into one of the new ongoing Heroic Age Marvel books. The characterization is sharp, the artwork fits the story perfect, and the book as a whole is a lotta fun. Plus, IT'S HAWKEYE! There's even a cool take on a classic Marvel baddie who appears at the end... and it's a pretty neat twist, I must say. Click here for a preview of HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #1 *HEROIC AGE* ZENESCOPE'S TALES FROM WONDERLAND ONE-SHOTS RETURN WITH THIS THURSDAY'S TALES FROM WONDERLAND: THE WHITE KNIGHT ONE-SHOT! One of our favorite guilty pleasures here at Third Eye is Zenescope's gory, and gorgeous WONDERLAND and GRIMM FAIRY TALES series. For the last few years, Zenescope has delivered us some wonderfully demented takes on the classic stories of Alice in Wonderland and her adventures through the looking glass. And, while the Wonderland saga ended this past Spring with Escape from Wonderland, the third and final installment in Raven Gregory's Wonderland Trilogy (with Return to Wonderland pt 1, and Beyond Wonderland pt 2 both available currently in graphic novel for those of you looking to catch up), Zenescope is back with some more of their killer Tales from Wonderland one-shots exploring the past, present and future of Wonderland. This week, they're starting things off right with the Tales from Wonderland White Knight one-shot which explores the back-story of the White Knight of Wonderland, a young boy born of an unholy union in ancient times who's found himself transported to a world of madness and mayhem. Donning a suit of magical armor he finds on a desolate battle field he becomes one of the few shining lights of purity in the dark world of Wonderland, and the twisted Queen of Hearts. For a fun, horrific, and always delivering on the artwork front spin on the classic Wonderland stories, definitely check out Tales from Wonderland White Knight this week. If you want more of the earlier stuff, we've got all the graphic novels collecting the Return to Wonderland, Beyond Wonderland, and Tales from Wonderland 1 and 2. The third part of the trilogy, Escape from Wonderland will be available in graphic novel soon. CONTINUING FROM LAST WEEK'S THANOS IMPERATIVE IGNITION, THANOS IMPERATIVE #1 KICKS OFF THE MAD TITAN'S RAMPAGE! Wow! Last week's THANOS IMPERATIVE: IGNITION *THANOS IMPERATIVE CHAPTER ONE* one-shot blew me the hell out away. I had high expectations, but, Abnett and Lanning met them BIG-TIME. The Return of Thanos is here, and we couldn't be more stoked. If there's any storyline that should grab you into the killer corner of Marvel that Abnett and Lanning have been building with the cosmic characters, then this is it. A great jumping on point to experience all the great stories that've been going on in books like Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova. What's the scoop on the THANOS IMPERATIVE? Well, if you'll remember back in Realm of Kings, there was a dark alternate universe we saw glimpses of. And, now, a dangerous mysterious fissure known as the Fault has opened, and the dark forces of this rival universe where there is no death are pouring through to claim and harvest the regular Marvel Universe. It's up to cosmic heavy-weights like Nova, The Silver Surfer, Quasar, Gladiator, and a surprise cosmic champion you're not gonna see coming, to stop thse folks. Of course, everyone's favorite rag-tag crew of space freedom fighters, the Guardians, have a plan, and it's a pretty crazy one.. what plan would that be? It's called THANOS. Block-buster widescreen cosmic madness that fuses the Marvel Universe with space operas like Battlestar Galactica and gritty futuristic warfare like Warhammer 40K, Abnett and Lanning deliver again big-time with the THANOS IMPERATIVE. If you missed THANOS IMPERATIVE IGNITION last week, don't worry, because we still have it in stock for you to hop aboard with. Click here for a preview of THE THANOS IMPERATIVE #1 NEW IMAGE SERIES: BULLETPROOF COFFIN #1 DEBUTS THIS THURSDAY WITH SOME OF THE WEIRDEST, MOST WHACKED OUT STUFF YOU COULD IMAGINE! Relive the Golden Age of Comics! That's what the solicit for Image Comics's BULLETPROOF COFFIN reads, and after reading the preview pages of this one, I'm inclined to believe... but it's a different Golden Age. If you took an archivist dosed on LSD and sent him digging through the catacombs of history for the most obscure, and bizarre Golden Age comics you could find, then you would most definitely come back with BULLETPROOF COFFIN. A modern day ancestor to the raw energy, and complete weirdness of long-forgotten Golden Age madness. So, WHAT is BULLETPROOF COFFIN? First off, lets start off by saying that Shaky Kane is one of the most unique, and stylized comic artists working right now. He cut his teeth back in the UK on books like Deadline and 2000AD, and after looking at the simple yet ultra-detailed pages of BULLETPROOF COFFIN, I'm convinced that this guy is one of the better ones I've seen. His work reminds you of Moebius meets Geoff Darrow run through a blender of old Tank Girl comics. Now, onto what BULLETPROOF COFFIN is: Bulletproof Coffin is a series of comic strips that re-tell classic golden age UK comics in a surreal, tripped out manner, as well as fictious comics created specifically by Hine and Kane. Characters like the Unforgiving Eye, The Shield of Justice, Ramona Queen of the Stone Age, and the Coffin Fly. Surreal, twisted, and gorgeously illustrated, BULLETPROOF COFFIN kicks ass. Check it out this week at Third Eye! And look at this death tank! DMZ VOLUME 8 HEARTS AND MINDS HITS THE SHELVES THIS THURSDAY AT THIRD EYE! It's always a good day when you get a new DMZ trade paperback, and this Thursday is one of those days. Brian Wood's incredible politically-charged guerilla journalism meets Escape from New York story has been keeping us compelled for nearly half a decade, and we know that there's many of you folks who're eagerly awaiting this next slab of collected DMZ awesomeness, like we are. But, for those of you who have not yet tried DMZ, I feel like this is a good opportunity to hype up a book that I feel is one of the better Vertigo series on the stands. So, what is DMZ about? A near-future America is torn by war between the Free Armies, who control New Jersey and the inland, and the United States, ensconced in New York City's boroughs. Basically, NYC has become the stand-still DMZ in the midst of a 21st Century Civil War. In the middle of all this, Matty Roth, hired as a phototech intern to a famous battlefield journalist, is stranded when the rest of his crew is killed. Overcoming the initial panic, he decides to remain as the sole embedded journalist in the devastated, largely depopulated city. It's a career-making assignment, if it doesn't get him killed. Befriended by former med student Zee, who runs a clinic, Matty discovers a society struggling to survive amid skirmishes and snipers, hell, you can almost hear the Talking Heads's LIFE DURING WARTIME playing as you read the book. And, this week, we've got the 8th volume of this incredible series ready and waiting for you to scoop it up. If you're interested in hopping aboard DMZ, start with DMZ v.1 ON THE GROUND, which has the first 5 issues, for only $9.99! Click here to read more about DMZ v.8 HEARTS AND MINDS Trade Paperback. NEW IMAGE SERIES: DUST WARS #1 DEBUTS THIS WEDNESDAY BLENDING ALTERNATE WWII SCI-FI MADNESS WITH KICK-ASS FEMME FATALES AND POP CULTURE AWESOMENESS! If there's one thing we're a sucker here at Third Eye, it's alternate history stories, especially ones that're steeped in science fiction, and feature kick-ass soldier chicks. This new series from IMAGE COMICS looks to be another surefire shot of awesomeness, and we cannot wait to get our hands on a full copy to read. The pages we have seen look fantastic, and we're pumped to see more. What is DUST WARS? Dust is an alternate sci-fi universe set amidst the events of WORLD WAR II, and inspired by real WWII stories blended with a splash of sci-fi, pop culture, femme fatales & kick-assery. Imagine giant robots, steam-powered death machines, and more, and you're on the right track to what DUST WARS is all about. The series takes place around the 1950s in a cold war that's in some way similar to our own, but in other ways far far different. In this reality, Nazi Germany survived the second World War and in this uneasy peace both sides have developed robotic monstrosities, genetically engineered intelligent apes, and re-animated zombie soldiers, as well as other bizarre weaponry that they're about to pit against each other in a whole new war. In this sci-fi military mash-up, the Allies and the Soviet Union are teaming up to finally put a stop to those Nazi bastards! It all started when the Axis found a space ship full of technology and build incredible modern robot weapons to take over the world. So when D-Day happened the Axis countered the Allies offensive with the reobots, and that's where Dust Wars is set, a 20-some year cold war between the Allies and the Axis. The artwork in it looks fantastic, and who doesn't love the pulpy retro-sci-fi idea of giant robots, kick-ass commando chicks, and zombie soldiers? Check out DUST WARS #1 this Thursday at Third Eye! RED HOOD LOST DAYS #1 - THE UNTOLD TALE OF JASON TODD'S TRANSFORMATION INTO THE MENACING RED HOOD! Just in time for the latest DC Animated feature, BATMAN: UNDER THE HOOD, this killer mini-series from Judd Winnick, author of the original UNDER THE HOOD story arc, explores who Jason Todd is, and more importantly who the Red Hood is. Many of us simply know Jason Todd as "the Robin that got his brains bashed out by the Joker", but, there's a lot more to him than that. This limited series tracks the time from the Red Hood's rebirth to his return to Gotham. In this series, we get to understand the Red Hood/Jason Todd in a new way. It explains both how he's sympathetic, and an unrepentant monster. And, after what Grant Morrison did with this character in his 3-issue Batman and Robin arc, I'm personally very intrigued to see more of how he went from somewhat stable to completely off the deep end. For those of you looking for a little more back-story on the Red Hood/Jason Todd scenario, we recommend checking out these two trade paperbacks, in stock now at Third Eye by Judd Winick and current GREEN LANTERN artist Doug Mahnke. BATMAN UNDER THE HOOD Vol.1 TRADE PAPERBACK BATMAN UNDER THE HOOD Vol.2 TRADE PAPERBACK Click here to read more about RED HOOD: LOST DAYS #1 SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #4 INTRODUCES THE WORLD OF TERRY McGINNIS and BATMAN BEYOND INTO THE REGULAR DC CONTINUITY, AND SERVES AS A PRELUDE TO THE NEW BATMAN BEYOND SERIES RELEASING THIS SUMMER! There's no denying that the animated series, BATMAN BEYOND, still stands the test of time as one of the best explorations of Elseworld / What If? scenarios in regards to the DCU. And, the fact that it was an animated series that did it, with such a high level of quality, makes that fact even more impressive. For years, the show has had a cult following, and the characters of that world have always been near and dear to many of our hearts. And, now, with the advent of a new series debuting later this Summer, DC is bringing the world of Terry McGinnis and Batman Beyond into regular DCU continuity. So, what's the deal? Well, this Superman/Batman annual shipping this week serves as an official Prelude to the Batman Beyond limited series due out later this summer, and answers a lot of those questions of how this fits into the continuity of the DCU. See, we learned already in Countdown to Final Crisis that the Terry McGinnis Batman was shown to be an inhabitant of Earth-12. It looks like the introduction of McGinnis and Batman Beyond into the mix, could very well be a look at a possible future for the Batman mythos. In this annual, we get to see the fate of Superman hanging in the balance, as well as a very old and very vindictive nemesis. Click here to read more about SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #4 MOUSEGUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD #1 DEBUTS THIS THURSDAY, ALLOWING CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED CREATORS TO EXPLORE THE WORLD OF DAVID PETERSEN'S MOUSE GUARD! We just can't get enough of David Petersen's world of little meeces running around trying to kill each other with battle axes, and stuff. Seriously though, the Mouse Guard comics have really earned a fond place in our favorite reads, and whenever a new series that takes us into the surreal, and magical world of Mouse Guard begins, we like to talk it up a bit. This Thursday, the arrival of MOUSEGUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD #1, allows several creators that've been handpicked by David Petersen to play in the sandbox he's created. A four issue anthology mini-series, we get to see various interpretations, as well as explorations of the Mouse Guard world and it's mythos by these assorted creators. What is Mouse Guard? Picture this: mice with capes and swords defending themselves against their predators as if they were the Knights of the Round Table. Told in Petersen's INCREDIBLE lush and detailed art which does a fine job of mixing the realistic and the fantastic: the mice and other animals always look realistic no matter how fantastic the situations they're in get, even when they're facing giant snakes or crabs. Things straddle the line between cute, but not too cute, as things often take a grim turn at times. In this world, The Mouse Guard protect its fellow creature and patrols the passageways between the villages of the Mouse Territories. In the first story, FALL 1151, members of the guard investigate the disappearance of a traveling grain merchant. During their search for truth, the three uncover a plot to attack Lockhaven, the home of the guard, fight hungry snakes, escape a fiery death, and even find a long-lost hero. And, that's just the first book. David Petersen's indie gem creates a fully realized, and fantastically illustrated world that will appeal to fans of series such as STUFF OF LEGEND in a big way. Okay, where do I start? You can pick up with Mouse Guard either by sampling it in the MOUSE GUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD limited series that debuts this Thursday, or you can go further back and hop on with these collected editions: MOUSE GUARD: FALL 1152 GRAPHIC NOVEL (available in both softcover and hardcover) MOUSE GUARD: WINTER 1152 GRAPHIC NOVEL (available in hardcover) DODGEM LOGIC #2 - ALAN MOORE'S CRAZY, WHACKED OUT MAGAZINE FEATURING COMICS, ART, AND MUSIC ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! We love ol' Alan Moore here at Third Eye, and while we love him for his awesome comics work, we also love him for his sheer oddity appeal. This week, the second issue of his quarterly magazine, 100% edited, and partially written by Moore, we get a whole nother 52 pages of full color content that is 100% advertisement free. And, not only do you get Moore's writings on comics, music, art and film, but you also get a FREE CD, and an eight-page mini-comic, written and illustrated by Moore. What more is there to say, folks? It's Alan Moore, it's weird as hell, and we love it! WARREN ELLIS'S FREAKANGELS VOLUME 4 HITS THE SHELVES THIS WEDNESDAY DELIVERING ANOTHER SLAB OF STEAMPUNK POST-APOCALYPTIC AWESOME! Now, it's pretty obvious that we're rabid devotees to the mad scientist of comics, Warren Ellis. This guy has been delivering some of the best damn serial fiction for nearly two decades, and he very rarely disappoints. And, I'm not just saying this because the man was kind enough to put my old band in one of his podcats way back when, although that doesn't hurt our appreciation for his fantastic works. One of the best things Ellis has done in recent memory is the incredible FREAKANGELS series, which focuses on twelve strange children with stranger abilities. So, for those of you who aren't already reading FREAKANGELS, allow me to give the rundown on what we consider to be one of the finest comics on the shelves here at Third Eye! What is Freakangels? Freakangels is the story of twelve strange children who were born in England twenty three years ago at the same exact moment. Six years later, the world ended. This is the story of what happened next. So, welcome to Whitechapel, some years from now, just barely above ground in a flooded England, where a clan of eleven strange people with purple eyes - the Freakangels - have carved out some sort of a life for themselves. A life that starts showing big cracks when a girl called Alice from Manchester turns up with a shotgun and a grievance, having met the lost, prodigal last Freakangel, who had very different ideas about what they should do with themselves and this flooded future in England. Because the Freakangels have a big secret: Something very bad is their fault. The series pulls heavily from the influences of steampunk fiction in terms of the style of the world it exists in, the appearance of the characters, and the overall feel of things. The story kind of reminds you of a grittier, darker steampunk riff on Brian K. Vaughn's RUNAWAYS in the way that it deals with the dynamics of the Freakangels and focuses on their relationships and characters, with their special abilities working more as background pieces. And, the artwork in this series is sooooo good. Wanna get started with Freakangels? We've got volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the graphic novels already in stock, check 'em out this week here at Third Eye! JONAH HEX NO WAY BACK ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL HITS THIS THURSDAY! FIND OUT WHY THE JONAH HEX STUFF IS ONE OF DC'S BEST KEPT SECRETS! All right, folks, if you've been sleeping on the current run of Jonah Hex stuff that's been around for the last few years, then you are missing out... but that's OK, 'cause DC is debuting the ultimate chance to check out some of the best, and most underrated comics magic on the shelves these days with JONAH HEX: NO WAY BACK. For over 50 issues, Palmiotti and Justin Gray have been telling some of the most hardboiled, gritty, and ultra-violent rough and tumble western stories you could imagine featuring DC's Man with No Name, Jonah Hex.. okay, so he has a name, but you get my point. We were lucky enough to get to read through No Way Back, and folks, it ROCKS. JONAH HEX: NO WAY BACK is what the Jonah Hex movie SHOULD be. If they took and did a page for page adaptation of this story, it would be the best Western movie in like 30 years. Gray and Palmiotti have taken the anti-hero they've grown accustomed to and elaborated their usual one-shot, single issue stories into a full scale graphic novel, and it's about as perfect as it gets when it comes to what anyone could want in a Western story. The longer format allows Palmiotti and Gray to really elaborate on themes and scenes that they couldn't normally expand on in the format of the regular monthly. The scope of the story is pretty epic, as it follows Hex travelling from Nevada to Arizona and finally to Heaven's Gate, Colorado. Along the way we find out more about Hex's origin than we've found out in all the series' issues prior. While the series relies mostly on the present of the Old West, the book ahs room to go back and show us how Jona's mother left him and how his bastard of a father treated him and blamed him for her departure. We also get to see the origins of Hex villain, El Papagayo, and why he hates Hex so much. All in all, this is a rock solid damn good Western tale. A story of a lone man riding into town with a checkered past and bringing hell, pain, misery and gunfire with him. Dirt in the blood Western gunfights, knife fights, gangs of bandits, and so much whiskey you can almost smell it, make this book a fantastic, and vivid read. If you want a damn good read, check this one out this week at Third Eye! STAFF PICKS Steve - THUNDERBOLTS #144 = Who saw this one coming? The surprise sleeper hit of last week, the new line-up of the Thunderbolts is killer, and the new creative direction is great. Luke Cage leading a team composed of Juggernaut, Crossbones, Moonstone, and MAN-THING!?! This is awesome. The ending was a great surprise too. Trish - GREEN LANTERN #54 *BRIGHTEST DAY* = Dex-Starr rocks! Ok so Green Lantern is good every month, but when the Red Lantern kittie is in there it makes it even better. Torma - SECRET AVENGERS #1 = AWESOME TEAM, AWESOME BOOK. They brought back the Serpent Crown and the cliffhanger at the end was killer. Loved the kind of way Brubaker channels that Steranko/Ditko espionage feel in a new school way Matt - BATMAN RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE 2 = Batman in the Witch-Hunting era? Too cool for words. Dug this one a lot more than issue one, probably because there was a lot less caveman talk. Can't wait for the third one!