THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 6/23/10

THIRD EYE MUST BUY: AVENGERS #2! BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS & JOHN ROMITA JR. FOLLOW UP THE FIRST KILLER ISSUE OF THIS WITH ONE OF THE BEST DAMN CLIFFHANGERS I'VE SEEN IN A COMIC IN A LONG TIME! THIS ISSUE DELIVERS BIG! The first issue of the flagship AVENGERS book blew us away. It was a non-stop, action-packed smash-em up superhero comic in the truest sense. Channeling the energy of '80s-style Marvel, and fusing it with the sensibilities and craft of today's storytelling and artwork, it delivered one of the best first issues to an ongoing series that I've read in a long time. It was an easy, solid jumping on point for anyone who hasn't been keeping up with the current crop of Marvel books, but at the same time, it delivered a satisfying read for those of us who've been staying up to date on SIEGE and whatnot. Now, I just got done reading the advance copy of AVENGERS #2. Holy crap. I can already tell this one is going to be making a strong run for Pick of the Week, and I haven't even got to read anything else yet. The issue is from start to finish, jam-packed with not only some killer fights and action, but also some VERY cool looks into all the different alternate futures we've seen before. And, trust me, if you read #1, then you know that the appearance of The Maestro (the evil Hulk from the future where he kills half of the Marvel universe) is just the beginning. There is a surprise appearance at the end of this book that you guys are not going to see coming at all, and I cannot wait to hear everybody's response to it. What's the plot behind the current AVENGERS run? Well, this book, is essentially THE flagship book of the Heroic Age, meaning that this is where a lot of your big stuff that has ramifications on the entire Marvel universe will be happening. It's the Avengers team that has all the big guns, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, not to mention Hawkeye, Spider-man, and Wolverine. The first story arc is a HUGE one, with a team of younger Avengers, coming back from the future with Kang and Immortus thrown into the mix. Apparently something SERIOUSLY bad is going on with the time-stream, and the Marvel Universe is in danger of several of the alternate futures we've all come to know in the past (Days of Future Past, Age of Apocalypse, Future Imperfect, ect.. to name a few) are dangerously close to coming true and erupting into the present day Marvel Universe. The first issue ended with a HUGE cliffhanger as we saw the appearance of the Maestro Hulk from Future Imperfect, the storyline where the Hulk grows older, and more powerful, and kills nearly the entire Marvel pantheon of superheroes. This week, tidbits are dropped.. and things get even MORE interesting. Folks, between Bendis's fantastic characterization, and breakneck action-fueled story pacing, this one does not disappoint. Add in John Romita JR's INCREDIBLE artwork that is just made for big and bad superhero fights, and you've got yourself a real winner here. What is the Heroic Age, and what's the deal with the AVENGERS? This summer, Marvel kinda did a "fresh start" approach to their universe. In the aftermath of the incredible SIEGE limited series (all four issues still in stock for those of you who may need to catch up), they've decided to move their entire universe in a whole new direction, and that brings us to the HEROIC AGE. The Heroic Age kind of takes its cues from the strong, self-contained and critically acclaimed series like INVINCIBLE IRON MAN by MATT FRACTION, CAPTAIN AMERICA by ED BRUBAKER, and THOR by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI. Basically, it's taking the characters in a more swashbuckling, adventure-fueled direction, and moving away from the inner turmoil they've dealt with between one another for the last decade due to the events of CIVIL WAR. In that regard, the Heroic Age is a perfect jumping in spot for both new and old Marvel fans alike. Whether it's been years since you've read a Marvel book, or if you've been keeping up with the titles for a while, they've really set things up perfectly for you to jump onto some great titles without being totally lost. As for THE AVENGERS, it's the flagship book of the Heroic Age, and serves as the central point to most of the major things that're happening within the Marvel Universe. On top of all that, it's just a great read, and we can't recommend it enough. This is the heavy-weight team, with members like THOR, CAPTAIN AMERICA, and IRON MAN all playing major integral roles. Anyhow, folks, make sure you check out AVENGERS #2 this week, and if you passed on #1, I'm telling you, pick it up and give it a shot! This book rocks hard! THIRD EYE MUST BUY: BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #3 DELIVERS THE THIRD THRILLING INSTALLMENT IN THE BIGGEST BATMAN STORY IN DECADES! GRANT MORRISON CONTINUES TO IMPRESS! Grant Morrison has really been doing a great job with this RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE story. He's totally taking the awe and wonder of Silver Age Batman stories and making them work in the modern day, and we freakin' love it. I haven't been this into Batman in a long time. Ever since Morrison began his run, I've just been completely hooked on everything he's done with the character, and I feel that he's really taking the book in some bold, and exciting new directions. In the first two issues of RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, we've seen some really rad things happening, as well as been handed the pieces to a very intricate puzzle that Morrison is putting together here. Now, after reading BATMAN #700 from week before last, I've gotta say.. I feel like I have a better handle on how the time-travel fits into all of this. In BATMAN #700, we were shown the scientist who it looks like made this possible, and we were handed even more clues as to just how BATMAN has found himself shot thousands of years into the past, and is now jumping through the timestream. Combine that with the consistent presence of a Joker-like character in the first two issues of the series, as well as the subtle clues referenced on the covers, and we can't help but wonder that the Clown Prince of Crime's return in BATMAN AND ROBIN #12 doesn't have A LOT more to do with the RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE than we're thinking. Anyways, this week, we're moving ahead to the third issue, and this is one of the ones I've been looking forward to the most. The Bat-pirate issue! I mean, no matter how deep we wanna get when talking about RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE (and it's easy to get deep considering what a rich, and enthralling story Morrison's weaved with the character over the last few years), at it's core.. it's just plain cool to see Batman as a pirate, or Batman as a caveman, and so on and so on. And, the Bat-Pirate thing looks to be the coolest one yet. In BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #3, we see the Dark Knight thrown onto the high seas in an era of thievery and piracy. From the looks of the preview pages, it looks like Bruce Wayne is regaining more of his memory, right as he's thrown at the feet of Blackbeard. I can't wait to see how this era of Gotham's history connects to things, as that has been a big part of the fun, watching as various characters from the Batman mythos have had their pasts weaved in and out of the storyline, showing an almost lineage of Gotham City. This has been an added bonus to an already good story, but still, I love stuff like that. All in all, RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE has been one of the most killer things we've read in a while. The impending doom feeling that surrounds the series, where Superman and company are basically following Wayne through time, because for some unknown reason, if he reaches the present.. everything will come spinning out of control, has made the series an even more killer read. When you add in the fantastic artists Morrison has chosen to work with on this one, you've got yourself one heck of a read. If you're a Batman or DCU fan at all, you gotta be reading RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, no doubt about it, the book rocks. Click here for a preview of BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #3 THIRD EYE MUST BUY: SUPERMAN #700 - J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI'S (THOR, SUPREME POWER, RISING STARS) HIGHLY ANTICIPATED STORY ARC FOR THE MAN OF STEEL BEGINS HERE! DO NOT MISS THIS ISSUE! J. Michael Straczynski is gonna make Superman one of the Top 5 books here at Third Eye. I'm predicting the future here, but, everything I've read in interviews with JMS about his upcoming run on the book, coupled along with everything I've seen from the preview art has me convinced: Superman is going to be one of the biggest must-reads we're going to see this Summer. Flat out, I think we're going to see the Man of Steel rising to the top once again. And, folks, this is coming from a guy up until a few years ago with Morrison's ALL-STAR SUPERMAN and GEOFF JOHNS'S ACTION COMICS run, was never a big Superman fan. But, I am looking forward to Straczynski's Superman stuff with a lot of anticipation. Why? 'Cause Stracynzski gets it. He knows how to write a good book, and he's proven that time and time again with critically-acclaimed projects like his run on THOR (again, another series I'd never been huge on until JMS got me into it), his creator-owned work on RISING STARS (the comic that the HEROES tv show took strong influences from in terms of treating superheroes as real flesh and blood people), and his cutting-edge re-imagining of the Squadron Supreme in SUPREME POWER. The man just has a great track record, and we haven't seen him put out a stinker yet. But, more so than any of that, I'm pumped because from what JMS has said in interviews, this is the comic he's been waiting to write. He's wanted to write Superman for years, and years, and the fact that he's taking his cues from ALAN MOORE and his approach to the Man of Steel in stories like WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE MAN OF TOMORROW? and FOR THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING, well, hell, I'm sold. The concept behind STRACZYNSKI'S upcoming run? Well, to quote JMS he's going to be telling a story that brings the Man of Steel back to his roots and "will have the whole talking about him in a way that we haven't seen in a long time." From what I've been able to gather from the various interviews, and concepts JMS has been talking about, is that the first storyline Straczynski is doing is titled Grounded, and in the aftermath of WAR OF THE SUPERMEN, shows us a Superman that is having trouble continuing his battle for Truth, Justice, and the American Way.. so, he decides to get back in touch with humanity, and walk across the country.. and that is where the story is said to start. Now, knowing Stracyznski's writing style, we know that the guy does very well when handling sweeping, grandiose stories that involve the morality of the characters involved. And, folks, this is the perfect match for a character like Superman. I've always said that there is a good Superman story out there for everybody, and the thing that always makes for a good Superman story is how the writer plays up the desperate balance and conflict that Superman has with trying to balance his god-like abilities with the sensibilities of humanity as a whole. Anyways, beginning this week in SUPERMAN #700, a very special landmark issue that is jam-packed with awesomeness celebrating 700 issues of the Man of Steel, we get to see the start of J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI'S Superman story. Three big stories intertwine here in Superman #700, and culminate in the start of JMS's highly anticipated run on the series. Make sure to snag yourself a copy this Wednesday, highly recommended by us here at Third Eye! THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: STEPHEN KING'S AMERICAN VAMPIRE #4 CONTINUES TO DELIVER US ONE OF THE BEST DAMN NEW VERTIGO SERIES WE'RE READING! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, THIS BOOK DOES FOR VAMPIRES WHAT WALKING DEAD DID FOR ZOMBIES! AND YES, STEPHEN KING IS ACTUALLY WRITING IT! Dude, this book is fantastic. One of the best freakin' series we're reading right now, and it just continues to get cooler, and cooler with each subsequent issue. I was expecting a lot from the first issue, but I had no idea this series would quickly climb it's way into the same spot that books like THE BOYS, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN and WALKING DEAD have for more.. you know, the I GOTTA READ THIS FIRST! spot. But, American Vampire has most definitely done that. What's it about? Well, at it's core, AMERICAN VAMPIRE kind of gives you the sense that there's a big, sweeping story underneath the introductory plot. Basically, the general hook here is that people from different regions of the world all handle the infection of vampirism differently. And, one of the series's main characters, Skinner Sweet, an old West outlaw, was the FIRST AMERICAN Vampire. In other words, he was bitten, and turned, and when the European vamps who did it thought they had killed him using methods that would work on them, they were wrong. Because it took more than being buried underwater or burnt by the sun to kill an American Vampire. The story bounces between the present (1920s Hollywood Babylon awesomeness) and the past (the Old West), and in the present, we see one of the other main characters, Pearl, a young Hollywood wannabe starlet in search of her big break, who runs afoul of some powerful Hollywood bigwigs that happen to be vampires. And, they tear her to pieces, but it's Skinner who shows up, and basically explains to her what she is now, and who did this to her. It's actually pretty cool, and one of my favorite moments is the List he leaves her of the weaknesses that those vampires have, and the ones that her and Skinner do not. The writing on it is fantastic, and series co-writer and creator Scott Snyder does a fantastic job of creating strong characters set against the backdrop of 1920s Hollywood. Meanwhile, Stephen King handles the flashbacks to the Old West that reveal more and more of not just Skinner's origins, but also the vampires worldwide, and this is 100% legitimately written by King, so you can rest assured it's not just his name on the cover. Both writers do a terrific job of melding their two stories together, and making one of the BEST vampire comics you could wanna read right now. If you're a fan of TRUE BLOOD, or you dig the more hard-hitting vampire stuff like cult classic flick, NEAR DARK, then you should definitely be reading this book. Heck, if you just enjoy good comics with good characterization, and plotting, you oughta be reading this one. We've currently got the first three issues all well-stocked to get you caught up, so you can hop on and get caught up to issue #4. Click here to read a preview of AMERICAN VAMPIRE #4 THIRD EYE MUST BUY: GREEN ARROW #1 *BRIGHTEST DAY* - WITH DARKER DAYS AHEAD, THE GREEN ARROW DEBUTS A BRAND NEW ONGOING SERIES! AND IT'S PRETTY KILLER! Dude, the preview pages of the new GREEN ARROW series look freakin' sweet. I'm really impressed by this one. In the aftermath of CRY FOR JUSTICE and the RISE AND FALL OF THE GREEN ARROW, things are taking a new direction for Oliver Queen. A dark, gritty Green Arrow who has no qualms with putting an arrow or two into a bad guy seems to be that new diection, and we love it. In my opinion, stories like THE LONGBOW HUNTERS and the like were some of the best Green Arrow stories I'd ever read, and to see them returning to that style, is pretty awesome. The killer creative team has been tight-lipped about what's in store, and what's to come for the Emerald Archer, but just take a look at the preview pages, and those say more than enough. The artwork on this one looks INCREDIBLE, and I can't wait to get to read the whole thing this Wednesday. Definitely one of the more highly anticipated BRIGHTEST DAY books for me. Click here for a preview of GREEN ARROW #1 *BRIGHTEST DAY* THIRD EYE MUST BUY: BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM MADNESS GRAPHIC NOVEL ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY DELIVERING THE MOST TERRIFYING, TWISTED BATMAN STORY SINCE ARKHAM ASYLUM: A SERIOUS HOUSE ON SERIOUS EARTH. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE! SPEND 24 HOURS IN ARKHAM ASYLUM! Man, there's a lot of good stuff coming out this week! I've been pumped about this one since I first saw the solicits for it back in March. I mean, c'mon, who doesn't love a good journey into the mouth of madness story? But, seriously, this new graphic novel hitting this week looks to be the next big Batman story, with a killer concept, and some incredible artwork. It's hard to think that they could ever surpass the nightmarish visions of ARKHAM ASYLUM A SERIOUS HOUSE ON SERIOUS EARTH, but, looking at some preview pages of ARKHAM ASYLUM: MADNESS.. I think they might. DC's been cryptic about the full plot of the graphic novel, but what we do know is that it's Sam Kieth taking us into a 24 hour stay at ARKHAM ASYLUM, and from what we've seen and what we've been told, it's the most nightmarish depiction of Gotham City's beloved nuthouse that anyone has ever seen. Just looking at the depiction of the imprisoned Joker on the cover seems to clue us in on that fact. And, maybe, it's better that way, 'cause it means that we're going to be taken on one hell of a surprising, nightmarish journey into the depths of Arkham Asylum. Just judging from the pages I've seen, and what I've heard... this one is gonna rock hard. Highly recommended, and most definitely a THIRD EYE MUST BUY. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #635 *GRIM HUNT CHAPTER TWO*- THE BEST SPIDEY STORYLINE IN AGES CONTINUES AS THE KRAVEN FAMILY SYSTEMATICALLY HUNTS DOWN ANY CHARACTER REMOTELY RESEMBLING A SPIDER! Last week's AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #634 was one of the best issues of Spider-man I've read in a long time, probably since the GAUNTLET first began. With the GRIM HUNT storyline kicking into full swing, I really think Marvel is on the right track with this storyline, and that we've got some really good stuff to look forward to with where the book is heading. There's been a lot of build up to this point, and now that it's finally kicked off, it looks like the payoff is definitely going to be worth it. See, we've seen the Kravinoffs showing up throughout the Gauntlet storyline, but they never played a central role. Just enough of a role for us to know that something big was brewing, something was on the horizon. And now, many issues later, we're seeing the payoff begin. The plot of this one is simple: the Kravinoff family basically wants to honor their father's legacy, and well, try to resurrect him from the dead. They're convinced that to do this they need to systematically hunt down and kill every freakin' Spider-related character they can get their hands on. And, it starts with them killing the (admittedly obscure) Mattie Franklin, you know the 616 Spider-girl from the late '90s. And, it was a grim, bloody, and creepy death that befell Mattie, that's for sure. We also saw in the first chapter of this one that Ezekiel has re-appeared, the character that first introduced the idea of a "Spider"-totem where many characters in the Marvel Universe draw their power from. So, GRIM HUNT automatically gets props from me for drawing on some ideas that Straczynski laid out in his incredible run on the character. Now, I read the advance of GRIM HUNT PT 2 which ships this week in the form of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #635, and all I can say is WOW. There's a pretty whacked out moment in this one, but I don't wanna ruin it, so I'll just leave it at that. Anyways, click here to check out a preview of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #635 *GRIM HUNT PT 2* If you missed last week's AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #634, don't fret, 'cause we still have copies in stock for you to get caught up with! IDW TAKES US BACK TO JURASSIC PARK THIS WEDNESDAY IN JURASSIC PARK: REDEMPTION! THIS LOOKS TOO FREAKIN' COOL! There's one simple draw to this one, folks: We love Dinosaurs. Seriously though, the new IDW series that's taking us back to Jurassic Park is something I'm very much looking forward to. I was listening to a podcast that the writer, Bob Schreck, did about the book, and what he has planned sounds super freakin' cool, and when you combine that with some of the most incredible art on a book like this that I've seen, you've got yourself something cool. The plot is that 13 years after the original Jurassic Park movie, Tim and Lex Murphy have returned to oversee the re-opening of Jurassic Park, due to the overwhelming demand of the public. In this series, Jurassic Park is no secret; too many tourists have been eaten, a T-Rex ran through the streets of Manhattan, and there's been some unidentified flying lizards spotted above the islands of Costa Rica. We quickly see Tim Murphy being conned into cloning more dinosaurs, and his sister, Lex, begging the United Nations to continue keeping the islands off limits. The two siblings are at each other's throats on this one, and that's part of what makes the book cool. Plus, it's got LOTS of giant dinosaurs. :) All in all, an exciting franchise to see get the comic treatment, and it looks like we're gonna get some quality stories outta this one. LEGION OF SUPERHEROES #2 HITS WEDNESDAY! The new LEGION series is AWESOME! MISSED THE FIRST ONE? NO WORRIES, WE'VE STILL GOT ISSUE #1s in STOCK TO CATCH YOU UP! LEGION MAESTRO PAUL LEVITZ HAS A HIT ON HIS HANDS! Man, I am really happy about the new LEGION OF SUPERHEROES series. I've never ever been a huge LEGION fan up until the last few years, and this new ongoing LEGION series is the perfect book for someone like me who really started to grow fond of the Legion through storylines like Brad Meltzer's LIGHTNING SAGA and Geoff Johns's Action Comics arc, SUPERMAN AND THE LEGION OF SUPERHEROES. However, the book also is an enormous hit amongst longtime Legion fans as well, from what I'm hearing, and definitely is delivering the best Legion of Superheroes series in a long-time, just from seeing the first issue. I think a big part of this is the fact that Paul Levitz is back on the book as writer, and c'mon, this is the guy who defined the Legion for many people. He knows the characters better than anybody. If you combine that with the fact that this series picks up on plot-threads laid out by Geoff Johns in other storylines, and well, there ya, you got yourself a great read. The first issue of LEGION shows us that the Legion are allowed to stay on Earth, which has become very xenophobic if they accept the super-powered leader of the xenophobic movement into their ranks. This might sound familiar to those of you who read Johns's incredible SUPERMAN and the LEGION OF SUPERHEROES arc, 'cause it's pulling many plots and ideas from that. Meanwhile, we've got some crazy science stuff happening on Titan, the homeworld of Saturn Girl, and it results in the awakening of something on the long dead planet of Oa.. something that is headed straight for the very xenophobic nut that's been given a fresh Legion ring. The first issue was fantastic, and each page crackled with an energy and speed that really pulled you into the characters. Levitz does a great job of making the team accessible for new and old fans alike, and I really dug it. The first issue begins with a cosmic disaster of Crisis-like proportions, and from there, we can only imagine where things are going to be headed next. If you missed LEGION #1, don't sweat it, 'cause we've still got limited quantities of #1 on the shelves to get you caught up. One of the best new DC books to kick off this summer! Click here to read more about LEGION OF SUPERHEROES #2 THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: SEA BEAR & GRIZZLY SHARK #1 ONE-SHOT FROM WALKING DEAD/INVINCIBLE writer ROBERT KIRKMAN and INVINCIBLE ARTIST RYAN OTTLEY- A RIDICULOUSLY FUN AND BIZARRE ONE-SHOT YARN! Nevermind the impressive pair of names attached to this one-shot, just the sheer concept and title of this alone deserve notice be taken on this one. I mean, it's a shark that roams the forest, devouring man, and a grizzly bear that plunges in and out of the seas to, uh, also eat people. Seriously though, this one is pure awesome fun, and we cannot wait to get a chance to sit down and read the whole thing. The concept? It's bear vs. shark, the age old question of who would win. Is it going to be the Grizzly Shark? Is it going to be the Sea Bear? Pick your side. Brimming with senseless violence and gore, and hey, it even teaches you some interesting facts about sharks and bears too.. like, you know they can smell blood for a hundred miles, and things like that. Or, how to survive a bear attack while fishing off the coast of a small Caribbean island. But, the real question is how the hell did these two get so mixed up? Well, that's where Robert Kirkman comes in, providing the very unique origin of both Sea-Bear, AND Grizzly Shark. So, what's not to love? A bear in the ocean. A shark that stalks the forests. And, killer artwork by Ryan Ottley of INVINCIBLE fame, and an origin story written by the one and only Robert Kirkman? This one most definitely gets the THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL stamp. Click here for some preview pages of SEA BEAR and GRIZZLY SHARK #1 JOKER'S ASYLUM CONTINUES THIS WEEK WITH KILLER CROC! We've been loving these twisted little one-shots DC's been doing this month where the Joker narrates a tale about some of Batman's craziest rogues. It started off with the Riddler, then continued with two excellent one shots focusing on Harley Quinn and The Mad Hatter, and now it's moving onto Killer Croc, and dude, the art on this one looks SIIIIIIIICK. For those of you keeping track, here's what's out already for the Joker's Asylum one-shots: JOKER'S ASYLUM THE RIDDLER JOKER'S ASYLUM MAD HATTER JOKER'S ASYLUM HARLEY QUINN We've currently got all three of the previous ones in stock to get you caught up to the Killer Croc one hitting this week. We've also got plenty of the trade paperback, JOKER'S ASYLUM, which collects all of last year's JOKER'S ASYLUM one-shots. FRINGE: TALES FROM THE FRINGE #1 KICKS OFF A NEW 6-ISSUE MINI-SERIES SET IN THE WORLD OF THE FRINGE TV SERIES! Okay, no doubt, we are big time fans of the TV series FRINGE here at Third Eye. It's like X-Files for the 21st Century, and we can't get enough. And, obviously, the folks at Wildstorm and DC Comics can't get enough either, as they're kicking off a new 6-issue limited series exploring the world of Fringe and it's characters. In this first issue, we're shown some very interesting things that are in fact a major part of the continuity of the Fringe television show. Click here to read more about FRINGE TALES FROM THE FRINGE #1 X-MEN SECOND COMING AWESOMENESS CONTINUES THIS WEEK WITH X-MEN LEGACY #237 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 12* Probably the best X-Men storyline we've read in over ten years, you guys have heard us gushing on and on about how much we're digging this storyline, and that hasn't changed, so we'll save you the long and short of it. Basically, if you haven't read X-Men in a long time, and you're looking for a good story to bring you in, you have gotta check out SECOND COMING. This series rocks. HARD. After the events of last week's SECOND COMING installment in NEW MUTANTS, we're brought up to the current state where X-FORCE is cutting their way through a dangerous future in an attempt to cut off Bastion's armies at the source. But, they need to hurry the hell up 'cause X-Men are dropping left and right! Wanna know more about X-MEN SECOND COMING? Click here for a brief synopsis of the crossover and a full checklist of all it's chapters. STAFF PICKS Steve - CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #2 - Man, this series really embodies what a horror comic should be. The writing on it's sharp, but they manage to shock and awe the sensibilities of the reader every time. It's a perfect balance of good writing, and cheap thrills. Trish - WALKING DEAD #73= The current arc Kirkman is doing right now is one of the best in the series since the Governor visited the prison. Torma - NEW AVENGERS #1 = Dr. Strange getting possessed. The Son of Satan. And, a kick-ass return of focus to the characters that Brian Michael Bendis writes super well. First issue of this rocked. Matt - AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #634 *GRIM HUNT PT 1* = This one didn't just feel like another issue of Spider-man, it felt big, and important, which is cool cause that's what Spidey needs right now. More killer story arcs that bring the suspense and excitement to the book.