Monday, July 19, 2010

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 7/21/10

THIRD EYE MUST BUY: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #638 *ONE MOMENT IN TIME CHAPTER ONE* - Marvel Editor-In-Chief JOE QUESADA Brings Us THE SPIDER-MAN STORYLINE WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR: THE SECRETS OF ONE MORE DAY AND MEPHISTO ARE REVEALED! THINGS BEGIN TO BE FIXED, AND IS THIS THE LONG-AWAITED REUNION OF PETER PARKER AND MARY JANE OR THE FINAL NAIL IN THEIR MARRIAGE'S COFFIN?
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Folks, this is it. The one Spider-man storyline that we've been waiting for since 2007 when ONE MORE DAY concluded and BRAND NEW DAY paved the road for the last few years of Spidey stories. It's been quite a ride, and we've seen a lot of Spidey stories since then. Some good, and some bad, and one or two that were just plain awesome, as well as a fair share of ones that we can barely remember.

Honestly, I was one of many that didn't really dig the new direction that ONE MORE DAY brought one. And, while I really did enjoy ONE MORE DAY, Brand New Day just didn't do it for me. Now, that's changed for me over the course of the last year, or so. While there'd been some brief moments of awesomeness like the NEW WAYS TO DIE, and AMERICAN SON, it wasn't really until we got to the GAUNTLET that I got interested in Spider-man again. And, even then, the Gauntlet was kind of up and down until we got to GRIM HUNT. Grim Hunt kicked my ass, the storyline that ended just this past week, with AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #637, I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it. GRIM HUNT, still in stock here at Third Eye, ran through Amazing Spider-man #634-#637, and was basically the saga of KRAVEN THE HUNTER'S return, as his family systematically kills off any and all Spider-related characters to use their blood to resurrect the classic Spidey Rogue. You can read more about GRIM HUNT by clickinghere.

Now, kicking off this week, comes the Spider-man storyline that myself, and many, many others have been waiting for: One Moment in Time. This is the direct sequel to ONE MORE DAY, and is basically the end point to what ONE MORE DAY started. In other words, Quesada and Marvel are making right some of the mistakes they made with ONE MORE DAY. After a strong start with the events of the GAUNTLET, and GRIM HUNT, ONE MOMENT IN TIME serves as the ground zero re-focusing of the Spider-man title, and basically the perfect spot for many of you who haven't read the book in a while to jump back on.

What is O.M.I.T? One Moment in Time is a four part storyline being written by Marvel EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joe Quesada which is supposed to answer many of the questions that ONE MORE DAY left readers scratching their heads over. It's also supposed to be a re-focusing of the book, and be the start of a fully revitalized AMAZING SPIDER-MAN title. And, after the kick-ass GRIM HUNT storyline, I really think they're on the right track.

But, before we can really talk about what OMIT is, we should get into WHAT happened in ONE MORE DAY, and why it's being followed up with this huge storyline.

One More Day was a story-arc that took place shortly after CIVIL WAR, where Spider-man's identity had become public knowledge, and the Kingpin, deciding to strike at one of his two biggest enemies: Daredevil and Spider-man, chooses Spider-man, and has a sniper shoot Aunt May. Parker loses it, and finds himself drawn into an agonizing downward spiral, until he's met by Mephisto, and literally makes a deal with the Devil to save AUNT MAY's life. The deal was to sacrifice what Mephisto considered one of the world's most purest loves: the love between Peter Parker and Mary Jane, and by doing so, reality shifted, so that Mary Jane and Peter Parker never wed, and by that same token, the world forgot their marriage, and everything that was part of it (including Parker's unmasking alongside Iron Man during CIVIL WAR) was forgotten.

Now, as you could probably guess: a lot of fans, including myself, hated the outcome of this. However, the storyline WAS good, it's just the end result is a bitter pill to swallow. I'm not even a hardcore continuity guy, but, I digress.

Anyways, after three years of storylines that have existed in this changed history, we are seeing the "secret history" revealed in ONE MOMENT IN TIME. Basically, this one is going to take us back in the past, and show us what happened that caused Spider-man and MJ not to get married, as they had originally did in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #21. And, from what we've heard, this is only 25% of the storyline.. there is supposed to be A LOT more happening to this one than Marvel lets on. Marvel is being tight-lipped on this one, and did not send out advance preview copies like they normally do for us to read before the book comes out. That only means one thing: expect something big to come of this issue.

Now personally, I feel that ONE MOMENT IN TIME is going to deal with the secrets behind why PETER PARKER and MJ didn't get married, but it's also going to deal with the whole ONE MORE DAY saga in general, and may even be the storyline that comes full circle with Peter Parker going back on his deal with Mephisto to alter the course of things again.

Click here to read a preview of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #638 *ONE MOMENT IN TIME CHAPTER ONE*

THIRD EYE MUST BUY WALKING DEAD VOLUME 12 LIFE AMONG THEM TRADE PAPERBACK ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY TO GIVE YOU YOUR NEXT FIX OF WALKING DEAD AWESOMENESS!
Want to Hop Onto the Monthly Series? Pick up with issues #73, #74 and #75 this Wednesday!
Not reading WALKING DEAD Yet? Pick Up Volume 1 This Wednesday For Only $9.99 and Find Out Why This is So Good!
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YES! A new WALKING DEAD trade paperback. And, even though we follow this series here in the singles at THIRD EYE... we still go back and find ourselves re-reading the last arc in trade, 'cause the series is just so freakin' good.

After many months of waiting, you guys can get your next delicious fix of what is one of THE best comic book series on the market. And, by far, one of, if not the best tales of survival horror you'll ever read.

We'll have plenty of copies in stock, but this one always surprises us with how quickly it goes, so if you need a copy of WALKING DEAD VOL. 12 held for you this week, please e-mail me, and let me know so we can make sure you've got one set aside for you.

This one collects issues #67-72, and picks up where Vol. 11 left, with Rick and the Crew heading to Washington, D.C. For those of you who've been waiting for a great opportunity to jump onto the singles, if you snag up WALKING DEAD VOL. 12 this Wednesday, you can get caught up with issues #73, #74, and the newest one, #75, as we're well-stocked on each.

Not reading WALKING DEAD? Folks, you gotta try it. This has remained one of our TOP 5 favorite comics here for nearly 5 years. It's that good. And, it's showing no signs of slowing down either. What's it about? Well, simply put: it's a survival horror story. What happens when the zombie movie ends, and the world is a wasteland. But, what makes the series so great is how the writer, ROBERT KIRKMAN, develops his characters strongly, and builds up the story and plot to the point that when a character dies, it punches you in the gut.

We cannot recommend WALKING DEAD enough, folks. Trust us on this one. If you do buy it, and don't like it... we'll give you your money back, that's how much we believe EVERYONE should be reading WALKING DEAD.


THIRD EYE MUST BUY: TRUE BLOOD #1 - TRUE BLOOD GETS IT'S OWN ONGOING COMIC BOOK SERIES WRITTEN BY HBO SERIES CREATOR, ALAN BALL! ALL NEW STORIES SET IN THE WORLD OF TRUE BLOOD!
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You know, 5 years ago, I would've told you that licensed properties don't normally work as comics. Of course, that was 5 years ago, and since then we've seen a TON of great comics come out that are not just good extensions of the licensed property they're tied into, but plain good comics. Of course, the big one that sticks out is BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 8, SERENITY, and the DARK TOWER series, but, there's been scores of others, like FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH, and 28 DAYS LATER.

Now, HBO is finally getting in on the act, as the world of their hit TV show, TRUE BLOOD, is being brought to the world of comics. And, how do we know this is gonna rule? Well, the fact that the actual series writer, ALAN BALL, is helming this one gives us a WHOLE LOTTA faith in it.

Anyways, this new ongoing series is set to explore the world of TRUE BLOOD, and is set in the actual continuity of the TV show. This means that these are actual expanded univeres-style stories that weave in and out of the events of the TV show. This is not just an adaptation of the show. It's new stories, and it's gonna be awesome.

Click here for a preview of TRUE BLOOD #1



THIRD EYE MUST BUY: AVENGERS #3 - APOCALYPSE HAS RETURNED FROM THE FUTURE, AND WITH HIM, HIS FOUR HORSEMEN: WOLVERINE as DEATH, HULK as WAR, SPIDER-MAN as PESTILENCE, and SCARLET WITCH as FAMINE! If you're not reading Brian Michael Bendis and John Romita JR's AVENGERS, you're missing out! Snag issues #1 and #2 this week and hop aboard!
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I swear, Bendis is making the Cliffhanger ending his trademark on the new AVENGERS book. Both issues #1 and #2 ended with last pages that left us not just wanting but demanding to know what the hell is going to happen next. And, that my friends, is a testament to how much fun we're having with the new AVENGERS series. This is probably one of the Top 5 superhero books on the stands, and delivers on all accounts: incredible artwork courtesy of JOHN ROMITA JR (KICK-ASS), fantastic storytelling from BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (SIEGE), and a just plain awesome sense of bigger-than-life Marvel magic in each and every issue.

So, you've already heard me raving about this one for two issues, so I won't bore you with my gushing about how much I love the book. No, in fact, I'll get straight to the point and tell you why you need to be reading this one.

- The possible return of MAESTRO HULK? Yes, the Hulk from FUTURE IMPERFECT (the storyline where the Hulk goes crazy and kills the Marvel superheroes, wearing their weapons and armor like a serial killer wearing people's faces) shows up at the end of the first issue, and leaves us hanging on what his place is.

- Every single alternate Marvel future is crushing down on the present, and we're seeing glimpses as well as the possibilities of characters from fan-favorite storylines like AGE OF APOCALYPSE, DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, and AVENGERS FOREVER, amongst others, showing up in the current Marvel U.

-Issue #2 ends with a killer surprise: Apocalypse, from the future, arrives with his 4 Horsemen... Wolverine as Death, Hulk as War, Spider-man as Pestilence, and Scarlet Witch as Famine. How can you not love that?

-It's the big guns of the Marvel Universe. You want to see Thor shooting lightning from his hammer, and beating the hell out of bad guys with it? This is the book. Wanna see IRON MAN dishing out some Marvel vs. Capcom-esque repulsor ray beatdowns? This is the book. Wolverine slicing and dicing his way through a future version of himself? This is the book.

-And, above all else, it's just a damn good read, with fantastic artwork.

See, AVENGERS serves as kind of the flagship MARVEL UNIVERSE book. Basically, anything important that happens in the Marvel Universe, is going to be spinning out of events in this book, or due to events in this book. It's taken the concept of distilling the AVENGERS team down to it's heaviest hitters, and giving us as readers bigger-than-life smashmouth storytelling like we haven't seen in quite some time. If you want a tight, superhero team book with a very epic feel and sense to it, then AVENGERS is where it's at.

So, what's the current storyline running through AVENGERS, and how did this book come about? Okay, so after the conclusion of the SIEGE story arc (available now at Third Eye in hardcover), all of the currently running Avengers books were ended. As part of the new HEROIC AGE direction of the Marvel Universe, a few new AVENGERS titles were launched, with THE AVENGERS being the flagship of the bunch. It's a much more swashbuckling, heroes fighting villains approach, and so far we're loving it. The current story arc is the fresh, jumping on point for new readers, and is basically focused on setting up the team, the tone of the book, and also, telling a story of how the timestream has been corrupted, and all the alternate Marvel histories we've come to know and love, are at risk for bleeding into the current time period. So, basically, DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, OLD MAN LOGAN, any alternate future, could possibly find it's way into the current timestream. And, this is a bad, bad thing for the heroes of the Marvel Universe.

The series is currently two issues in, so it's still fresh enough where you can get caught up. We've also got limited quantities of both issues #1 and issue #2 in stock here at Third Eye to get you caught up.

Click here to read a preview of THE AVENGERS #3 *HEROIC AGE*


THIRD EYE MUST BUY: BRIGHTEST DAY #6 - WHAT PRICE MUST THE CHOSEN RESURRECTED PAY FOR THEIR SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE? GEOFF JOHNS'S MUST-READ DC COMIC OF THE SUMMER CONTINUES!

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Man, BRIGHTEST DAY has been keeping me on the hook. The series definitely has a rhythm to it, and issue #5 was a WHOPPER of an awesome read.

BRIGHTEST DAY, if you're not yet familiar with it, is basically the sequel to BLACKEST NIGHT. It's following in the wake of GEOFF JOHNS'S epic DC event of last year, and it's been delivering BIG-TIME. The fact that GEOFF JOHNS is helming this one definitely has a lot to do with that, and then, the fact that they've managed to keep a nice team of artists to keep the book looking good, also helps. The series is essentially DC UNIVERSE REBIRTH, and is the perfect ground zero spot for those of you who've been wanting to get into the DCU to jump on, while at the same time it provides a very satisfying follow-up to the BLACKEST NIGHT storyline.

In the previous issue, we finally got to see things really kick into high gear for AQUAMAN, as the issue centered on the King of Atlantis, and his return. The real show-stealer though was the bombshell that dropped regarding Mera's origins. She really became a cool character during BLACKEST NIGHT, and this one delivered some very cool insight into what her deal is.

And, now, going into issue #6, it looks like we're going to continue to learn what the price is that these chosen resurrected few must pay for their second lease on life.

If you're not reading BRIGHTEST DAY, man, you gotta check this out. We've got limited quantities of all the issues so far in stock, so come by, and give it a shot. You'll love the series.

Click here to check out our brand new BRIGHTEST DAY CHECKLIST PT 2

Click here to check out the first BRIGHTEST DAY CHECKLIST

Click here to read more about BRIGHTEST DAY #7

THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: CBGB #1 - STORIES INSPIRED BY THE LEGENDARY PUNK CLUB! THIS ONE SOUNDS TOO RAD. HOW MANY OF OUR FAVORITE BANDS ARE GONNA MAKE IT INTO THIS ONE? A BUNCH, WE'RE THINKING. :)
Featuring talented comic all-stars like KIERON GILLEN (PHONOGRAM), Rob G (TEENAGERS FROM MARS, THE COURIERS) and OTHER UPLIFTING GORMANDIZERS.

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This is one that I've been excited about ever since I first read about it a few months ago. The publishers of critically-acclaimed series like IRREDEEMABLE and INCORRUPTIBLE are going to be touching the nostalgia buttons for a lot of us, and delivering a killer new series featuring stories set in CBGBs at different periods of the club's life.

CBGB's, for those of you who may not be familiar with it, is simply put, one of the most important venues for music in American history. This is the place that really gave birth to countless genres of music that're still being played today, and it served as one of the first places to take the band down from the arena and barricades, and put them right there in the face of the crowds. Something that has become common now, which is still great. CBGB's cultural importance is huge, and I think for anyone who grew up loving underground music, be it hardcore, punk, hip hop, metal, indie rock, or whatever, can appreciate CBGB's place in history. I was lucky enough to get road trip up to CBs when I was a teenager, and see some of my favorite bands play that sweaty, stinky club.

Anyways, now you know why I'm excited. This one will be featuring all-star creators like JAIME HERNANDEZ (LOVE AND ROCKETS), KIERON GILLEN (PHONOGRAM) and many other uplifting gormandizers. We can't wait to see the stories that weave in and out of the club, and what bands will be showing up amongst these stories.

THIRD EYE MUST BUY: ALAN MOORE DOES CTHULHU! ALAN MOORE'S NEONOMICON #1 ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY, BEGINNING THE NEW SERIES WITH CROSSED ARTIST JACEN BURROWS, FROM AVATAR PRESS, PUBLISHERS OF CROSSED! IN OTHER WORDS: THIS ONE'S GONNA BE SICK!
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We know you guys are just as excited about this one as we are! I mean, it's ALAN MOORE, the freakin' comics legend, the man behind everything from WATCHMEN and THE KILLING JOKE to LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN and V FOR VENDETTA. That's a big enough deal on it's own. But, he's paired up with the incredible JACEN BURROWS, who we all have come to known from books like CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD and of course, CROSSED. And, then add to all of this that it's being published by AVATAR PRESS, who have proven that they have no problem crossing the line with horrific books, throw in the fact that it's featuring HP LOVECRAFT's CTHULHU mythos and well, there you go, a recipe for an awesome comic.

We first got a taste of this one last year with a quick preview book, but now, the first issue is finally here, and we cannot wait to read it.

The story begins many years after the events of the graphic novella, THE COURTYARD (available now at THIRD EYE), in a world where two young and cocky FBI agents are investigating strange -- and familiar murders. See, they think they've seen the worst monsters in America, busting serial killers and the like for years. But, when they get to the maximum security asylum where one Aldo Sax speaks in strange tongues, Agents Brears and Lamper may be beginning to suspect that they're about to see something so much worse than what they've seen before. But, they cannot even begin to imagine the creeping insanity that has already begun to pull them under.

Yes, folks, it's ALAN MOORE doing HP LOVECRAFT's CTHULHU MYTHOS... and we cannot wait.

This is most definitely a THIRD EYE MUST BUY.




THIRD EYE MUST BUY: NEW AVENGERS #2 - THE SLEEPER HIT OF THE NEW HEROIC AGE LINE-UP, BENDIS'S CHARACTER-DRIVEN AVENGERS BOOK TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF OUR FAVORITES!
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I wasn't expecting the new NEW AVENGERS book to become one of my favorite new titles. I mean, with the awesomeness of both SECRET AVENGERS and THE AVENGERS, I really had a hard time seeing how they could fit another AVENGERS book into the mix.

But, man, was I proven wrong. Bendis's NEW AVENGERS definitely fits it's own niche perfectly, and shows that there's plenty of room for a third must-read AVENGERS title. The first issue of this series kicked off a perfect jumping on point, as it continued to carry on the spirit and feel of the original NEW AVENGERS title. It picks up on some plot points that were raised in AVENGERS #1, but still stands alone as a solid read. The thing that really makes this one stand up as a good read is that it's the book with all of Bendis's favorite characters, and because of that, the character interaction, and development is so strong, I swear, you'd feel like you knew these people in person. You can definitely tell that this one is going to be the book with the character-driven angle, and the sharp, entertaining dialogue that Bendis is known for.

The first story arc is centering around Daimon Hellstorm, and the recently depowered Dr. Strange becoming possessed by a demonic entity. But, it's the character development, and the way the characters play off of each other that has really got us hooked. Plus, Immonen and Bendis work perfect together, and Immonen's art is looking the best we've seen on this new incarnation of the NEW AVENGERS.

If you're following the other two AVENGERS books, and liking what you're reading, but haven't yet tried NEW AVENGERS, we highly recommend giving this one a shot. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how awesome this one is. We do still have limited quantities of issue #1 in stock to get you caught up to this week's issue #2.

Click here for a preview of NEW AVENGERS #2 *HEROIC AGE*


THIRD EYE MUST BUY: BATMAN BEYOND #2 - THE RETURN OF BATMAN BEYOND IS A SMASH HIT, AND THE END OF ISSUE #1 LEFT US ON A HUGE CLIFFHANGER!
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It looks like I wasn't the only one who was super-impressed by last month's BATMAN BEYOND #1. This new limited series got off to a fantastic start last month, and totally delivered everything that we were all wanting when we heard DC was going to be returning to the continuity of the BATMAN BEYOND world.

Killer artwork, killer story, they hooked us good with a plot where an infamous and very classic Batman villain was revealed as the man behind some seriously bad mojo. See, many of Batman's old, classic Rogues are being killed off one by one by this mystery man, and well, when you find out who it is, you'll have the same reaction we did!

The first issue of this captured EVERYTHING that we loved about the killer TV show. The way that it is able to blend old school and new school, past and future, is awesome, and getting to see the future fates of characters like Mad Hatter, or to find out that Two-Face could still be out on the prowl, made the book even radder. But, we also get to see some of Terry McGinnis's own, already established Rogues Gallery, when characters like Spellbinder show up.

All in all, if you're a BATMAN BEYOND fan, you need to be reading this book. It just plain kicks ass. We still have very limited quantities of the first printing of issue #1 in stock, and there'll be second prints arriving soon as well. Snag a copy of issue #1 this week, and get caught up to this week's issue #2


GI JOE REAL AMERICAN HERO #156 - IDW and LARRY HAMA pick up where the classic Marvel GI JOE series left off with this week's GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #156!

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Anyone who grew up in the '80s, or is even remotely a GI JOE fan has gotta be pumped to check this one out this week. IDW is bringing back the classic '80s Marvel GI JOE comic, with all-new stories, set years after the GI JOE organization has disbanded. The series is picking up with the original numbering of the old series, which in our opinion, is pretty freakin' rad.

Add to this that LARRY HAMA, the man responsible not only for penning the classic Marvel GI JOE comic, but also for all those nifty little bio-cards on the back of your Joe figures packages, is going to be writing this one. The story centers around COBRA, who've now made a legitimate name for themselves in the vein of privatized militia groups like BLACKWATER, winning the bid to provide internal security for a terrorist-beleaguered USA. First order of business for COBRA? Put out a secret assassination order on the disbanded military strike force, GI JOE. But, it looks like Snake-Eyes may try to get the band back together before he goes quietly into the night.

Just for the sheer nostalgia, this one looks awesome. But, with Larry Hama writing, and the concept already sounding cool, I'm thinking this one's gonna turn out to be a good read.


LADY DEADPOOL #1 ONE-SHOT GIVES LADY DEADPOOL THE SPOTLIGHT!
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The fan-favorite of the DEADPOOL CORPS gets her own one-shot to have some of the spotlight this month, with this week's LADY DEADPOOL one-shot. Agile, armed, and a howling lunatic, this reclusive contract killer is robbed of the one thing she adores: Cable TV.

It's a Deadpool book, so you know it's gonna be ridiculous, and over-the-top, but I gotta admit, out of all the DEADPOOL stuff that's hit in the last year or so, Lady Deadpool is probably the coolest. This one looks like it should be worth picking up, for some good laughs, and of course, a load of ultraviolence.

Click here for a preview of LADY DEADPOOL #1


DC UNIVERSE LEGACIES #3 HITS THIS WEEK, AND CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE NEW SERIES! THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE DCU UNFOLDS IN THIS 10-ISSUE MAXISERIES!
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Man, I am really digging this DCU Legacies series. The writing on it is fantastic, and the high profile artists they've been roping in for each and every issue has really kept me on the hook. This week, we're going to see the evolution of the DCU continue as the Silver Age of Super Heroes dawns with the appearance of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and many more in the wake of the disappearance of the Golden Age heroes from active duty. And, all the while, many humans without powers, rise to the Earth's defense as well, like the Challengers of the Unknown and the Sea Devils.

Why's this series so good? Well, it's a cool concept, first off. Basically, each two-issue mini-arc is telling a bigger story of how the DCU got to where it is today. So, the first two issues start with the mysterymen, and then evolve into the Golden Age era of super-heroes like the JUSTICE SOCIETY. And, now, we're going into the Silver Age. Basically, it's making sense of the last 60 some years of DCU continuity for present day DC, and I think we can all agree that this story needs to be told.

Now, the fact that it's a darn good read only helps matters. And, when you throw in artists like JG JONES, ANDY KUBERT, JOE KUBERT, and DAVE GIBBONS... I mean, that's a recipe for some good reading.

If you missed issue #1 and #2, don't worry, we've still got copies in stock to get you caught up.





THUNDERBOLTS #146 - ARE YOU READING THUNDERBOLTS? THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST FREAKIN' NEW DIRECTIONS WE'VE SEEN IN THE "HEROIC AGE"! CATCH UP WITH ISSUE #144 (first chapter of the new arc) and #145, AND GRAB THIS WEEK'S #146!
Imagine a MARVEL COMICS equivalent to the SUICIDE SQUAD with the likes of JUGGERNAUT, CROSSBONES, MAN-THING and MORE ON THE TEAM!
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Out of all the new HEROIC AGE stuff that's started, or been kind of "rebooted" with the HEROIC AGE, the THUNDERBOLTS is probably the one that's surprised me the most. And, by that I mean, I REALLY REALLY am digging this one.

The first issue of the series kicks things off with an interesting premise: Luke Cage is being put in charge of making sure that the Thunderbolts program (which is to essentially rehabilitate supervillains) never goes off the rails again like it did when Osborn is in power. The team he's given is half of what makes this book so intriguing: JUGGERNAUT, MAN-THING, MOONSTONE, CROSSBONES, GHOST, and more. The first issue ended with a huge cliffhanger as Baron Zemo returns, asking his TBolts to rejoin him, and then in #145, we saw that dealt with quickly, showing a good test for the new team's loyalty. Now, going into issue #146, Luke Cage has to lead the Thunderbolts deep below the Earth, into some seriously creepy territory... and a cavern full of impure Terrigen crystals.

The feel, and tone of this book is great, and fresh as hell. Issue #144 serves as an excellent jumping on point, and Parker not only managed to follow up his cliffhanger ending perfectly in #145, he kept the momentum going, and that's why we're so pumped about this week's #146.

Folks, if you're looking for a good read in the realm of the HEROIC AGE stuff that's a little bit below the radar when compared to the big guns like AVENGERS, and SECRET AVENGERS, we highly recommend giving THUNDERBOLTS a try. It's got potential to develop into one of the best sleeper hits of the year. We've still got very limited quantities of issues #144, and #145, which are the first two issues of the new direction of the series to get you caught up.

Click here for a preview of THUNDERBOLTS #146


TIME-MASTERS: VANISHING POINT #1 *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE TIE-IN* - The Search for Batman Starts Here! HAL JORDAN, SUPERMAN, BOOSTER GOLD, AND RIP HUNTER INVESTIGATE THE DARK KNIGHT'S DISAPPEARANCE!

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Tying into the events of GRANT MORRISON'S RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE limited series, this limited series, TIME-MASTERS: VANISHING POINT, explores the involvement of Rip Hunter, and his high-powered band of Time Masters as they travel throughout history in search of the World's Greatest Detective.

Basically, here's the deal, Vanishing point - where time ends - is tearing itself apart, and one of the keys to keeping reality from being torn asunder is finding exactly where Bruce Wayne is in the timestream. This is what we first saw referenced in RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1. So, Rip Hunter, Time Traveler Extraordinaire, has put together a group of Time Masters consisting of GREEN LANTERN, SUPERMAN, and BOOSTER GOLD, to help him find where BATMAN went at the end of FINAL CRISIS.

This one's a great companion piece to what's happening in RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, and we recommend giving it a look this Wednesday here at Third Eye!


"FALL OF THE NEW MUTANTS" BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY IN NEW MUTANTS #15,SPINNING OUT OF THE AFTERMATH OF "SECOND COMING"

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Spinning out of the events of X-MEN: SECOND COMING, "FALL OF THE NEW MUTANTS" begins in the pages of NEW MUTANTS #15, and this storyline sounds pretty freakin' kickass.

Basically, in the aftermath of SECOND COMING, the New Mutants who're left standing are licking their wounds on a forced R&R trip. While they try and put themselves back together, there are others who're looking to take them apart. See, that strange and secretive military group we met in NEW MUTANTS #9 has an agenda involving Illyana Rasputin, and it's not a good one.

So far, it's looking like all the X-Books are going to be pretty sharp coming out of SECOND COMING, and NEW MUTANTS is no exception.

Click here for a preview of NEW MUTANTS #15 *FALL OF THE NEW MUTANTS PT 1*




DARK WOLVERINE #88 *DARK WOLVERINE/FRANKENCASTLE CROSSOVER PT 1* KICKS OFF THE REMATCH OF THE YEAR AS DAKEN GOES HEAD TO HEAD WITH FRANKENCASTLE!
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Okay, we gotta tell you guys, we have been BIG fans of what's been going on with the whole FRANKENCASTLE thing. It's so ridiculous, but so awesome, that we just can't help but love it. And, if you haven't read it, we really recommend giving it a try. I know, I know, it sounds completely off-the-wall, but that's the beauty. It's just ridiculous, fun, and bigger than life.

Now, for those of you who don't know: about a year ago Daken, Dark Wolverine, hacked and slashed THE PUNISHER into many many pieces, leaving him lying dead in the sewers, where his body was retrieved by Morlocks, and the Marvel Monsters of yesteryear, like the Living Mummy, Morbius the Living Vampire, Werewolf By Night, and others. Now, nearly a year later, as Daken, reeling from his father's betrayal, heads to Japan in search of Muramasa, the legendary mystic swordsmith, Frankencastle is gonna get his revenge. See, Daken comes face to face with the monstrous Franken-Castle, and it looks like things are gonna get bloody, and awesome with this one.

This issue kicks off the first in a four part story arc that will be crossing back and forth between DARK WOLVERINE and FRANKENCASTLE, so DARK WOLVERINE 88 is PT 1, FRANKENCASTLE 19 is PT 2, DARK WOLVERINE 89 is PT 3 and FRANKENCASTLE 20 is PT 4.

Click here for a preview of DARK WOLVERINE #88 *FRANKENCASTLE VS. DARK WOLVERINE CROSSOVER PT 1*


STAFF PICKS


Steve -STUFF OF LEGEND: THE JUNGLE #1- The STUFF OF LEGEND crew delivered big, and this crazy good TOY STORY meets SAVING PRIVATE RYAN yarn is keeping us totally hooked. Highly recommended.

Trish - SUPERMAN #701 *GROUNDED PT 1*= I am not a Superman fan at all, but this first issue of the Straczynski run blew me away. Some really heartfelt storytelling. I think this one's gonna be a classic.

Torma -THANOS IMPERATIVE #2= A TRAIN MADE OF BONES AND DEMONS AND GALACTUS'S HEAD! How can you not love this series? Pick up issue #1 and you'll totally see why I can't stop raving about this one.

Matt - ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN/WOLVERINE #2= The second issue of this one was even better than the first. I know Aaron's pretty much slotted to be the go-to Wolverine guy with the new series kicking off, but they should let this guy write Spider-man too. He's too good!

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