DC UNIVERSE LEGENDS #1 DEBUTS THIS WEDNESDAY UNFOLDING A KILLER SELF-CONTAINED DCU MAXI-SERIES FEATURING THE ICONS OF THE DCU & TYING INTO THE NEW DC UNIVERSE ONLINE WORLD 
Okay, we haven't had a chance to sit down with the new DC Universe Online game yet, but from what we hear, it's freakin' amazing. No, not just amazing, but FREAKIN' amazing. So, we know that when we do eventually find the time to sit down and dive into this one, we're going to be pretty pleased.
But, that's not what we're here to talk about. We're here to talk about the new DC Universe Legends series, a new bi-weekly maxi-series that ties into the storyline written by Geoff Johns for the DCU Online game. First off, let me say this: THIS IS NOT AN ADAPTATION OF THE GAME'S STORYLINE, NOR IS IT A LAME "HERE'S THE GAME IN COMIC FORM" STORY. No, folks, this is ALL NEW content that actually has an impact on the game itself, as well as future content additions, and more. In other words, DCU LEGENDS will be unfolding the world of DCU Online, while at the same time telling a kick-ass self-contained DCU series.
I think above all else, there's a lot of us who want to see characters like Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, The Flash, and others, slugging it out together as the big Justice League of America line-up, and with DC LEGENDS, that's what we're getting. A kick-ass DC Universe story that brings in every DCU icon you can think of, and pits them against some of the most classic DCU villains you could imagine.
So, if you've been yearning for a kick-ass story involving the icons of the DC Universe the way that you know and love them, then this is the book you need to check out. The storyline is looking kick-ass, and starts with Lex Luthor's obsession with destroying Superman, and how it brings him to the ultimate move: making a deal with Brainiac, that could sell out the entire human race.
The creative team handling this one is none other than the legendary Marv Wolfman, who penned classics like CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS and TEEN TITANS: THE JUDAS CONTRACT, and the artist on Grant Morrison's incredible JUSTICE LEAGUE revival, HOWARD PORTER.
Give it a shot this Wednesday, folks, we think you'll dig it!
MARVEL'S .1 INITIATIVE BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY WITH INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500.1 - IF YOU'VE NEVER READ FRACTION'S INCREDIBLE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN SERIES, START WITH INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500.1!
What's .1? READ ON, AND FIND OUT!
The Invincible Iron Man has been one of my favorite reads for almost three years now, and after last month's incredible #500... it's just getting better, and better. And, this is coming from a guy who was never a big Iron Man fan to begin with. So, trust me when I tell you: this comic will make you a believer, folks!
But, you've heard me rant and rave about how much I'm digging Fraction and Larocca's work on the book before. Instead, let me start things off by giving you the lowdown on this new Marvel Point One thing they're doing. It's actually really kick-ass.
Marvel's .1 Initiative is basically providing "mid-season" issues that take place in between the last arc of a series, and before the next arc. These issues are indeed tied into the continuity of the storyline, and the arc, but they serve as a perfect jumping on point for those of you who have never checked the book out before.
In other words, it could be literally years since you last picked up an issue of Iron Man, and you could jump on with Invincible Iron Man #500.1, and be brought up to speed without any confusion. These issues also prime you for the stories that're going forward, and folks, in this day and age, where there's so many good comics to read.. it's pretty cool to see Marvel providing easy and immediate areas to jump onto some of these kick-ass series. Basically, you've been hearing us rave about how good a series is, right? Well, now's your chance to jump in and find out for yourself for a meager three bucks.
Now, for those of you who're already following series like Invincible Iron Man, amongst others, the .1 issue is NOT just a recap issue. This is an important bridge between the last story arc of a series and the next story arc, and will be setting up some fundamental elements of the next arc going forward.
As for where we're heading? Well, after the shocking events of Invincible Iron Man #500, we've learned that an alternate future exists where Mandarin is in a position of power, and uses Tony Stark as a battery to keep himself alive. And, we know that Tony Stark is realizing he may have done something pretty uncool that could explode into some seriously bad mojo. And, yes, we think a lot of this will have to do with the big FEAR ITSELF event that's on the horizon.
So, start reading this week with INVINCIBLE IRON MAN 500.1, and find out why this is still one of my personal favorite monthly books. Great art, great storytelling, and folks, Iron Man hasn't been this cool since Robert Downey Jr. was riding through the desert blasting AC/DC.
Click here for a preview of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500.1
IMAGE COMICS DEBUTS A BRAND NEW SERIES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH DAOMU #1 - PURE, MARTIAL ARTS AWESOMENES IN ONE OF THE MOST GORGEOUSLY ILLUSTRATED TITLES WE'VE SEEN IN A WHILE
It's no secret that Image Comics has been knocking it out of the park with hit series after hit series. They've been really bringing a breadth of diversity and innovation to the stands of comic shops, and it looks like they're going to be bringing it again this Wednesday with the series DAOMU.
While we hate to categorize this one as a straight-up martial arts fueled violence fest (which it does bring a lot of), kung-fu is the name of the game in Daomu. However, there's much more going on than that. See, the story of Daomu follows young Sean and his initiation into a secret society of tomb robbers, where he learns about his family's legacy: protecting the hidden underworlds that exist beneath our feet.
Along with a motley crew of marauders, Sean has to survive the terrors that lie beneath, solve his father's brutal slaying, and claim his birthright as leader of the Daomu.
The only problem? The forces of Hell itself are determined to stop him.
I've seen some of the preview art in this one, folks, and it looks INCREDIBLE. Very unique, very vivid, and the few pages I got to see, they read great. A very fast-paced, action-packed kind of comic with a solid story behind it. Imagine all those ninja movies you remember watching as a kid with tons of gore, and awesome weapons, now mix that with Tomb Raider, and you've got a good idea of Daomu.
Give it a shot this Wednesday here at Third Eye!
BATMAN BEYOND #2 - Torn Between Bruce Wayne and The Justice League Beyond, Terry must make a choice - The new BATMAN BEYOND ongoing is a blast!
Man, I may be biased because I am a HUGE fan of the late, great BATMAN BEYOND animated series, but the new BATMAN BEYOND ongoing series is off-the-hook. I thought the limited series that preceded it was great, but this blows it out of the water.
The series has kicked off with a bang, as the first arc has Terry's family being held hostage by a new kind of super-criminal who doesn't even know what his technology has evolved into.. and, luckily, the Justice League intends to neutralize this threat.. but, see, Neo-Gotham is Batman's town, and Bruce Wayne doesn't plan on giving up one ounce of control over the situation. Now Terry is torn between his loyalty to his mentor, and to the sure-fire assistance of the JLA.
All in all, we're loving it, the artwork is perfect, and is the perfect blend of not being too cartoony, but still capturing the tone and spirit of the Batman Beyond animated series. The characterization of Terry and his world is on point, and just like what we loved about BATMAN BEYOND, we're getting to see a very cool alternate future look at Gotham City and it's denizens. This includes the introduction of new heroes and villains, some of which that you can trace their lineages back to their modern-day counterparts, some of which who are all new, and some of which are senior versions of the originals. In other words, the same sense of wonder Batman Beyond brought back in the day is just as evident in this series.
I'm telling you, folks, give this one a read, you won't be disappointed.
Missed #1? We've still got copies available, so snag one and check it out this week!
ULTIMATE COMICS THOR #4 - One of the best Ultimates titles we've read since Millar and Hitch's original run on the title concludes this Wednesday
Okay, folks, I have to tell you: Ultimate Thor is one of the best damn Ultimates books I've read in a very long time. Now, it's coming to it's end this Wednesday, and you've probably already heard me espouse it's virtues here before, but I'm telling you, if you have the same fond memories that I do of the original ULTIMATES run that Millar and Hitch tore it up on in a major way back in the day.
So, now, here we are coming to the conclusion of this great limited series, and you're going to get to hear me rave about it all over again.
Jonathan Hickman, the man who turned the Fantastic Four into the Fantastic Three, is one of the best damn guys working in comics right now, and nothing showcases this more than the amount of fresh ideas he's breathed into the Ultimate universe with his work on Ultimate Thor.
Ultimate Thor is the origin of Thor in the Ultimate Universe, as well as a good look at his place in the present day of the Ultimate Universe. The story starts with Baron Zemo, who's working with the Nazis as some sort of strange occultist attempting to summon the forces of Asgard, and instead is leading a charge of Nazi frost giants in a siege on Asgard. Of course, there's a big twist on Zemo's true identity, and from there, the story takes us on a crazy, bigger-than-life story that's very reminiscent of the large-scale battles and action sequences that ran through the original Ultimates series.
If you haven't yet picked this one up, we've got copies of issues 1-3 available to catch you up to the brand new #4 that's hitting the shop this week. Give it a go, and find out why this book rocks.
Click here for a preview of ULTIMATE COMICS THOR #4
WITCHFINDER: LOST AND GONE FOREVER #1 KICKS OFF A NEW ADVENTURE FOR MIKE MIGNOLA'S "OCCULT JAMES BOND" SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE WILD WEST!
A Must-Read For Hellboy and Sixth Gun Fans
We are major fans of Mike Mignola here at Third Eye, and we just cannot get enough of this legendary creator's work. Whether he's writing a book, or illustrating it, Mignola is pure awesomeness. And, now, we're getting the return of another one of our favorite Mignola creations, Sir Edward Grey the Witchfinder.
Sir Edward Grey debuted about two years ago in a limited series which we have available now in trade paperback format (in case ya missed it!), and quickly made his place as our favorite Mignola creation since the debut of Hellboy. See, Sir Edward Grey is kind of like an occult-version of James Bond. Imagine if you had a bad ass secret agent who worked for the Queen of England, but instead of fighting spies, and saboteurs, he hunts down Alesteir Crowley-esque occultists, devil-worshipping cults, and all sorts of other supernatural oddities. For those of you who might remember some of the old pulp characters, he's kind of Mignola's riff on Carnaki the Occult Detective (hope I spelled that right! :)).
Anyways, moving forward, this fresh new series is a brand new star for Mr. Sir Edward Grey, and we couldn't be more stoked. Why? 'Cause not only is it the awesomeness of Sir Edward Grey the Witchfinder, but it's set against the Weird Wild West, featuring The Witchfinder himself hunting down a fiendish member of the Heliopic Brotherhood of Ra.. and instead, finds a town harboring bloodthirsty outlaws and some downright nasty supernatural horrors. Oh, and it's got artwork by the legendary John Severin!
A must-read for horror fans, and especially if you dig stuff like The Sixth Gun, give this one a shot, folks, we think you'll really dig it!
Wanna see the origins of the Witchfinder? We'll have the trade available this week in case you wanna get the scoop.
BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE HARDCOVER HITS THIS WEDNESDAY COLLECTING GRANT MORRISON'S EPIC WITH A CAPITAL E BATMAN-THROUGH-TIME STORY THAT LED UP TO ALL THE CURRENT BAT-AWESOMENESS GOING ON NOW
If there's one thing that stands out for the past decade of comics, it's that Grant Morrison is the man who brought new life to the Dark Knight. While it's hard to find a BAD Batman story, the idea of Batman had become a tad bit stale through the '90s, and the once fresh path Frank Miller had paved with Dark Knight Returns and Year One had been kind of run down as that interpretation of the character could only go so far.
Enter Grant Morrison. Morrison began his re-invention of Batman with the Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul storyline (available in trade paperback here at Third Eye), and then blew us all away with his RIP trilogy (available in trade paperback at Third Eye as BATMAN AND SON, THE BLACK GLOVE, and RIP), and while he was busy re-inventing Gotham City, and the notion of WHO and WHAT Batman was with his run on BATMAN AND ROBIN, it wasn't until the cosmic odyssey that was THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, that we really saw Morrison's real plan come together. This was the penultimate chapter in his re-invention of the Caped Crusader, and hot damn, it is good.
RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE shows us Bruce Wayne, whom after being physically, mentally and spiritually dismantled in RIP and then blasted by Darkseid in Final Crisis, waking up in the prehistoric age. And, from there, we're taken on a crazy, time-jumping mystery of a story where we see Bruce Wayne living out various incarnations of himself in different time periods. Long story short: Pirate Batman. Cowboy Batman. Caveman Batman. Yes, we know, it's awesome.
The whole thing comes to a major conclusion, fundamentally changing the landscape for Batman and his world, and setting up for all the currently bad-ass Batman books on the stands now like BATMAN INCORPORATED.
A great read from start to finish, we can't recommend this one enough, folks. Give it a go this week here at Third Eye!
THE MARVEL VAULT PRESENTS THE ULTIMATE DOCTOR STRANGE ONE-SHOT WITH THIS NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN TALE BY COMICS LEGENDS ROGER STERN AND NEIL VOKES
I've always been a big Doctor Strange fan, and I think a lot of that is owed to the crazy, over-the-top psychedelic weirdness of the old school Dr. Strange comics.
Now, this Wednesday, a classic tale is unearthed, never before seen, this one-shot shows us the secrets behind the brownstone apartment that Strange has worked out of for years. What effects has his practice of the mystic arts had on this dwelling? What secrets does it hide? And, will we get to see some over-the-top, head-splitting visuals, like all those classic Dr. Strange comics?
There's not enough Dr. Strange on the stands these days, folks, so it's always good to see something like this come along. Give it a look this Wednesday.
Click here for a preview of DR. STRANGE #1
CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES CONCLUDES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES #7 - THE MOST DEPRAVED, MOST HORRIFYING COMIC YOU'LL READ. EVER. FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF NEONOMICON
CROSSED has carved out a very unique spot for itself on the shelves of Third Eye. We've been big supporters of the series since it's original inception with Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrow's incredible 9-issue CROSSED maxiseries from 2009. Needless to say, we're loving David Lapham's work in the world of CROSSED just as much as we loved Ennis's.
Avatar has really made a name for itself as a publisher that's not afraid to push boundaries, and try something new. And, with Crossed, they're seriously pushing the boundaries.
What is CROSSED? Crossed is a survival horror comic series that focuses on a world where the sudden outbreak of a disease that reduces human beings (and it looks like maybe even some animals) to their most evil, most primal states. In other words, it's kind of like rabies with an extra dose of sadism. It turns people into killing machines that just want to inflict as much pain and suffering as possible before they self-destruct. And, unlike the Living Dead, yes, the Zombies, The Crossed still have their wits about them. And, this makes them very, very dangerous. They can plot, they can plan, they have the know-how to say hey if we set this house on fire, those people inside will have to come running out so we can do terrible things to them.
As you can probably guess, this makes the book work very well as a survival horror story, and folks, as we near the end of the second series... it hasn't disappointed yet. The real horror of Crossed is how both Ennis and Lapham have managed to mirror the dark side of human nature in the survivor characters that the story follows. He uses the Crossed to really bring out the dark nature of mankind, and it's what makes the series so compelling.
We can't recommend it enough, and if you've never read the series before, we've got both the trade paperback of the original series in stock, as well as all 6 prior issues of FAMILY VALUES to catch you up to the conclusion this Wednesday.
Give it a shot, and find out why we dig the series so much.
MAGIC: THE GATHERING MIRRODIN BESIEGED SET - BOOSTERS, FAT PACKS, SEALED BOXES, AND INTRO PACKS IN STOCK THIS FRIDAY
And, here's some exciting news for our legion of Magic addicts, the Mirrodin Besieged expansion hits the shop this Friday, and folks, it's loaded with some awesome stuff, including a brand new Planeswalker card.
We'll have plenty of boosters, fat packs, and intro packs available this Friday, as well as full sealed boxes of Besieged. If you'd like to reserve a box, a fat pack, or any intros, feel free to drop us a line, and we'll get you hooked up.
JESUS HATES ZOMBIES, LINCOLN HATES WEREWOLVES OMNIBUS - The title says it all, folks!
First you had the awesomeness that was Axe-Cop, and now we've got the awesomeness that is Jesus Hates Zombies, featuring Lincoln Hates Werewolves.
Available this Wednesday, volumes 1-4 of this killer cult-favorite indie series are being issued in a gorgeous looking omnibus edition for the low price of only 10.99.
What is Jesus Hates Zombies? Imagine this, the world is consumed by the zombie plague. The Lord has returned to Earth. President Lincoln's been shot forward through time to find himself in the midst of it all.. and a renegade zombie angel is obsessed on bringing about the world's end. Oh, throw in some werewolves, heck, even some zombie werewolves, and that sums up the awesomeness that is the world of Jesus Hates Zombies / Lincoln Hates Werewolves.
The series is fantastic, and 215 Ink, a new indie publisher to watch, has done a killer job of putting this one together.
Check it out this Wednesday here at Third Eye!
SUPERBOY #4 - Jeff Lemire, writer of the amazing SWEET TOOTH series, continues his iconic take on Connor Kent this Wednesday
You know, it's funny, I'd never been a big fan of Superboy until the way Geoff Johns wrote him in his run on Teen Titans, and then later, in the way he was portrayed during Infinite Crisis. And, now? I'm hooked, man. Lemire, the man behind one of our Third Eye favorites, SWEET TOOTH, is doing a bang-up job of making Superboy one of our favorite DC books.
Lemire's knack for capturing the weirdness of small rural towns, and applying it to Smallville, mixed with the approach he's taking of doing solid done-in-one stories featuring iconic DCU characters coming head to head with Superboy in Smallville, is a damn good read. It's vaguely Smallville-esque feeling (the TV show), but in a very good way.
There's a great mix of new school comics storytelling with a sense of homage to traditional, more classic approaches, and the accompanying art by newcomer Pier Gallo makes the series pop even more.
Missed 1-3? Pop on by, and get caught up this Wednesday. We don't think you'll be disappointed with how good this one's been!
DAYTRIPPER *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL* HITS THIS WEDNESDAY IN TRADE PAPERBACK COLLECTING LAST YEAR'S KICK-ASS SLICE-OF-LIFE DRAMA FROM THE ARTISTS BEHIND SERIES LIKE CASANOVA AND THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon are two of the most stunning artists working in comics today, in my opinion. These two are so very talented, and their series Daytripper, which plays out like a surreal fantasy set against the backdrop of mundane every-day life, is the perfect showcase of this.
The series follows aspiring writer Bras De Oliva Domingos as each chapter of Daytripper peers in at a completely different moment in his life. Moon and Ba tell a beautifully lyrical tale that chronicles Domingo's entire existence -- from his loves to his deaths, and all the possibilities between.
Daytripper's the kind of book that's hard to sum up in words. It's just good. There's no easy way to explain the plot, without giving away some of the fundamental twists and surprises, so just trust me when I tell you this: it's an awesome read from beginning to end. And, the fact that the artwork is every bit as good as the well-crafted story just enhances this one.
If you're a fan of series like THE UNWRITTEN, SANDMAN, or Moon and Ba's previous works on books like UMBRELLA ACADEMY and CASANOVA, then you should pick this one up for sure. We think you'll really dig it.
BRIGHTEST DAY #19 - THE AQUAWAR BEGINS - IS THIS THE END OF AQUAMAN?
Folks, this is it. We're counting down to the conclusion of BRIGHTEST DAY, and with only a handful of issues remaining, everything is coming to a head, and hot damn, it's getting good.
One of the characters who's really benefited from the DCU Rebirth approach of Brightest Day has been Aquaman aka Arthur Curry. After being resurrected, he's gone through quite a traumatic year, however it's done a lot to flesh him out as a character, and show us just how badass the character is. On the downside: his powers aren't quite working correctly (summoning sea-life isn't so grand if all you can conjure are undead zombie squids that want to kill and eat everything), his wife's not exactly the most faithful, and while all this is going down, he's trying to teach the new Aqualad about his newfound abilities.
And, now, after almost a year of carefully done build-up, and fantastic pacing, the war is going to breakout between all of the DCU aquatic characters that've been so well-developed through the BRIGHTEST DAY series. And yes, BLACK MANTA, is a total bad-ass now, and it's going to be freakin' rad seeing him and Aquaman go at it.
I'm telling you, folks, this is some seriously rad stuff, and yet another reason to get into the Brightest Day.
What is the Brightest Day? In the aftermath of BLACKEST NIGHT, many of the DCU's characters were resurrected by the White Lantern.. and, the Brightest Day is the series that literally acts as the Rebirth of many DCU characters. It's a fantastic place for those of you who're dipping your toe into the DCU arena, and are just getting started, and the entire series has been a fantastic read. And, why wouldn't it be, with names like Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi attached... this is quality stuff.
Wanna start reading BRIGHTEST DAY? We've got ALL the back issues in stock, yup, #0-#18, to catch you up. Or, you can hop on with the BRIGHTEST DAY hardcover collecting 0-7, and catch up from there.
Click here for a preview of BRIGHTEST DAY #19
CURSED PIRATE GIRL ARRIVES IN TRADE PAPERBACK THIS WEDNESDAY! A MUST-READ FOR STUFF OF LEGEND, MOUSE GUARD BEASTS OF BURDEN, and heck, even HELLBOY fans.
A whimsical yet eerie story with some of the most amazing art we've seen recently
Jeremy Bastian's CURSED PIRATE GIRL is one of those hidden gems that we love to stumble upon. Just like great indie books like ROBOT 13, KING!, STUFF OF LEGEND, and many others, this is one of those books that you hear very little about, but as soon as you open it up, it makes a huge splash.
And, with the scarcity of not just the original issues, but the low print run on this actual trade paperback, we're pretty stoked to see it hitting our shelves here this week.
The world of Cursed Pirate Girl, which is so detailed, and laboriously illustrated that it looks like a woodcut image, is an awesome one. Adventures set on and under the high seas lead THE cursed pirate girl to encounter mythic creatures, gnarled and crusty pirates, and ghostly apparitions in this whimsical swashbuckling tale of wonderland journeys and unimaginable dangers.
This one's a must-read if you enjoy stuff like MOUSEGUARD, STUFF OF LEGEND, and heck, even the occulty aspects of stuff like Hellboy and BPRD. You'll love Cursed Pirate Girl.
THIRD EYE STAFF PICKS
Okay, we haven't had a chance to sit down with the new DC Universe Online game yet, but from what we hear, it's freakin' amazing. No, not just amazing, but FREAKIN' amazing. So, we know that when we do eventually find the time to sit down and dive into this one, we're going to be pretty pleased.
But, that's not what we're here to talk about. We're here to talk about the new DC Universe Legends series, a new bi-weekly maxi-series that ties into the storyline written by Geoff Johns for the DCU Online game. First off, let me say this: THIS IS NOT AN ADAPTATION OF THE GAME'S STORYLINE, NOR IS IT A LAME "HERE'S THE GAME IN COMIC FORM" STORY. No, folks, this is ALL NEW content that actually has an impact on the game itself, as well as future content additions, and more. In other words, DCU LEGENDS will be unfolding the world of DCU Online, while at the same time telling a kick-ass self-contained DCU series.
I think above all else, there's a lot of us who want to see characters like Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, The Flash, and others, slugging it out together as the big Justice League of America line-up, and with DC LEGENDS, that's what we're getting. A kick-ass DC Universe story that brings in every DCU icon you can think of, and pits them against some of the most classic DCU villains you could imagine.
So, if you've been yearning for a kick-ass story involving the icons of the DC Universe the way that you know and love them, then this is the book you need to check out. The storyline is looking kick-ass, and starts with Lex Luthor's obsession with destroying Superman, and how it brings him to the ultimate move: making a deal with Brainiac, that could sell out the entire human race.
The creative team handling this one is none other than the legendary Marv Wolfman, who penned classics like CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS and TEEN TITANS: THE JUDAS CONTRACT, and the artist on Grant Morrison's incredible JUSTICE LEAGUE revival, HOWARD PORTER.
Give it a shot this Wednesday, folks, we think you'll dig it!
MARVEL'S .1 INITIATIVE BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY WITH INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500.1 - IF YOU'VE NEVER READ FRACTION'S INCREDIBLE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN SERIES, START WITH INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500.1!
What's .1? READ ON, AND FIND OUT!
The Invincible Iron Man has been one of my favorite reads for almost three years now, and after last month's incredible #500... it's just getting better, and better. And, this is coming from a guy who was never a big Iron Man fan to begin with. So, trust me when I tell you: this comic will make you a believer, folks!
But, you've heard me rant and rave about how much I'm digging Fraction and Larocca's work on the book before. Instead, let me start things off by giving you the lowdown on this new Marvel Point One thing they're doing. It's actually really kick-ass.
Marvel's .1 Initiative is basically providing "mid-season" issues that take place in between the last arc of a series, and before the next arc. These issues are indeed tied into the continuity of the storyline, and the arc, but they serve as a perfect jumping on point for those of you who have never checked the book out before.
In other words, it could be literally years since you last picked up an issue of Iron Man, and you could jump on with Invincible Iron Man #500.1, and be brought up to speed without any confusion. These issues also prime you for the stories that're going forward, and folks, in this day and age, where there's so many good comics to read.. it's pretty cool to see Marvel providing easy and immediate areas to jump onto some of these kick-ass series. Basically, you've been hearing us rave about how good a series is, right? Well, now's your chance to jump in and find out for yourself for a meager three bucks.
Now, for those of you who're already following series like Invincible Iron Man, amongst others, the .1 issue is NOT just a recap issue. This is an important bridge between the last story arc of a series and the next story arc, and will be setting up some fundamental elements of the next arc going forward.
As for where we're heading? Well, after the shocking events of Invincible Iron Man #500, we've learned that an alternate future exists where Mandarin is in a position of power, and uses Tony Stark as a battery to keep himself alive. And, we know that Tony Stark is realizing he may have done something pretty uncool that could explode into some seriously bad mojo. And, yes, we think a lot of this will have to do with the big FEAR ITSELF event that's on the horizon.
So, start reading this week with INVINCIBLE IRON MAN 500.1, and find out why this is still one of my personal favorite monthly books. Great art, great storytelling, and folks, Iron Man hasn't been this cool since Robert Downey Jr. was riding through the desert blasting AC/DC.
Click here for a preview of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500.1
IMAGE COMICS DEBUTS A BRAND NEW SERIES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH DAOMU #1 - PURE, MARTIAL ARTS AWESOMENES IN ONE OF THE MOST GORGEOUSLY ILLUSTRATED TITLES WE'VE SEEN IN A WHILE
It's no secret that Image Comics has been knocking it out of the park with hit series after hit series. They've been really bringing a breadth of diversity and innovation to the stands of comic shops, and it looks like they're going to be bringing it again this Wednesday with the series DAOMU.
While we hate to categorize this one as a straight-up martial arts fueled violence fest (which it does bring a lot of), kung-fu is the name of the game in Daomu. However, there's much more going on than that. See, the story of Daomu follows young Sean and his initiation into a secret society of tomb robbers, where he learns about his family's legacy: protecting the hidden underworlds that exist beneath our feet.
Along with a motley crew of marauders, Sean has to survive the terrors that lie beneath, solve his father's brutal slaying, and claim his birthright as leader of the Daomu.
The only problem? The forces of Hell itself are determined to stop him.
I've seen some of the preview art in this one, folks, and it looks INCREDIBLE. Very unique, very vivid, and the few pages I got to see, they read great. A very fast-paced, action-packed kind of comic with a solid story behind it. Imagine all those ninja movies you remember watching as a kid with tons of gore, and awesome weapons, now mix that with Tomb Raider, and you've got a good idea of Daomu.
Give it a shot this Wednesday here at Third Eye!
BATMAN BEYOND #2 - Torn Between Bruce Wayne and The Justice League Beyond, Terry must make a choice - The new BATMAN BEYOND ongoing is a blast!
Man, I may be biased because I am a HUGE fan of the late, great BATMAN BEYOND animated series, but the new BATMAN BEYOND ongoing series is off-the-hook. I thought the limited series that preceded it was great, but this blows it out of the water.
The series has kicked off with a bang, as the first arc has Terry's family being held hostage by a new kind of super-criminal who doesn't even know what his technology has evolved into.. and, luckily, the Justice League intends to neutralize this threat.. but, see, Neo-Gotham is Batman's town, and Bruce Wayne doesn't plan on giving up one ounce of control over the situation. Now Terry is torn between his loyalty to his mentor, and to the sure-fire assistance of the JLA.
All in all, we're loving it, the artwork is perfect, and is the perfect blend of not being too cartoony, but still capturing the tone and spirit of the Batman Beyond animated series. The characterization of Terry and his world is on point, and just like what we loved about BATMAN BEYOND, we're getting to see a very cool alternate future look at Gotham City and it's denizens. This includes the introduction of new heroes and villains, some of which that you can trace their lineages back to their modern-day counterparts, some of which who are all new, and some of which are senior versions of the originals. In other words, the same sense of wonder Batman Beyond brought back in the day is just as evident in this series.
I'm telling you, folks, give this one a read, you won't be disappointed.
Missed #1? We've still got copies available, so snag one and check it out this week!
ULTIMATE COMICS THOR #4 - One of the best Ultimates titles we've read since Millar and Hitch's original run on the title concludes this Wednesday
Okay, folks, I have to tell you: Ultimate Thor is one of the best damn Ultimates books I've read in a very long time. Now, it's coming to it's end this Wednesday, and you've probably already heard me espouse it's virtues here before, but I'm telling you, if you have the same fond memories that I do of the original ULTIMATES run that Millar and Hitch tore it up on in a major way back in the day.
So, now, here we are coming to the conclusion of this great limited series, and you're going to get to hear me rave about it all over again.
Jonathan Hickman, the man who turned the Fantastic Four into the Fantastic Three, is one of the best damn guys working in comics right now, and nothing showcases this more than the amount of fresh ideas he's breathed into the Ultimate universe with his work on Ultimate Thor.
Ultimate Thor is the origin of Thor in the Ultimate Universe, as well as a good look at his place in the present day of the Ultimate Universe. The story starts with Baron Zemo, who's working with the Nazis as some sort of strange occultist attempting to summon the forces of Asgard, and instead is leading a charge of Nazi frost giants in a siege on Asgard. Of course, there's a big twist on Zemo's true identity, and from there, the story takes us on a crazy, bigger-than-life story that's very reminiscent of the large-scale battles and action sequences that ran through the original Ultimates series.
If you haven't yet picked this one up, we've got copies of issues 1-3 available to catch you up to the brand new #4 that's hitting the shop this week. Give it a go, and find out why this book rocks.
Click here for a preview of ULTIMATE COMICS THOR #4
WITCHFINDER: LOST AND GONE FOREVER #1 KICKS OFF A NEW ADVENTURE FOR MIKE MIGNOLA'S "OCCULT JAMES BOND" SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE WILD WEST!
A Must-Read For Hellboy and Sixth Gun Fans
We are major fans of Mike Mignola here at Third Eye, and we just cannot get enough of this legendary creator's work. Whether he's writing a book, or illustrating it, Mignola is pure awesomeness. And, now, we're getting the return of another one of our favorite Mignola creations, Sir Edward Grey the Witchfinder.
Sir Edward Grey debuted about two years ago in a limited series which we have available now in trade paperback format (in case ya missed it!), and quickly made his place as our favorite Mignola creation since the debut of Hellboy. See, Sir Edward Grey is kind of like an occult-version of James Bond. Imagine if you had a bad ass secret agent who worked for the Queen of England, but instead of fighting spies, and saboteurs, he hunts down Alesteir Crowley-esque occultists, devil-worshipping cults, and all sorts of other supernatural oddities. For those of you who might remember some of the old pulp characters, he's kind of Mignola's riff on Carnaki the Occult Detective (hope I spelled that right! :)).
Anyways, moving forward, this fresh new series is a brand new star for Mr. Sir Edward Grey, and we couldn't be more stoked. Why? 'Cause not only is it the awesomeness of Sir Edward Grey the Witchfinder, but it's set against the Weird Wild West, featuring The Witchfinder himself hunting down a fiendish member of the Heliopic Brotherhood of Ra.. and instead, finds a town harboring bloodthirsty outlaws and some downright nasty supernatural horrors. Oh, and it's got artwork by the legendary John Severin!
A must-read for horror fans, and especially if you dig stuff like The Sixth Gun, give this one a shot, folks, we think you'll really dig it!
Wanna see the origins of the Witchfinder? We'll have the trade available this week in case you wanna get the scoop.
BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE HARDCOVER HITS THIS WEDNESDAY COLLECTING GRANT MORRISON'S EPIC WITH A CAPITAL E BATMAN-THROUGH-TIME STORY THAT LED UP TO ALL THE CURRENT BAT-AWESOMENESS GOING ON NOW
If there's one thing that stands out for the past decade of comics, it's that Grant Morrison is the man who brought new life to the Dark Knight. While it's hard to find a BAD Batman story, the idea of Batman had become a tad bit stale through the '90s, and the once fresh path Frank Miller had paved with Dark Knight Returns and Year One had been kind of run down as that interpretation of the character could only go so far.
Enter Grant Morrison. Morrison began his re-invention of Batman with the Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul storyline (available in trade paperback here at Third Eye), and then blew us all away with his RIP trilogy (available in trade paperback at Third Eye as BATMAN AND SON, THE BLACK GLOVE, and RIP), and while he was busy re-inventing Gotham City, and the notion of WHO and WHAT Batman was with his run on BATMAN AND ROBIN, it wasn't until the cosmic odyssey that was THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, that we really saw Morrison's real plan come together. This was the penultimate chapter in his re-invention of the Caped Crusader, and hot damn, it is good.
RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE shows us Bruce Wayne, whom after being physically, mentally and spiritually dismantled in RIP and then blasted by Darkseid in Final Crisis, waking up in the prehistoric age. And, from there, we're taken on a crazy, time-jumping mystery of a story where we see Bruce Wayne living out various incarnations of himself in different time periods. Long story short: Pirate Batman. Cowboy Batman. Caveman Batman. Yes, we know, it's awesome.
The whole thing comes to a major conclusion, fundamentally changing the landscape for Batman and his world, and setting up for all the currently bad-ass Batman books on the stands now like BATMAN INCORPORATED.
A great read from start to finish, we can't recommend this one enough, folks. Give it a go this week here at Third Eye!
THE MARVEL VAULT PRESENTS THE ULTIMATE DOCTOR STRANGE ONE-SHOT WITH THIS NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN TALE BY COMICS LEGENDS ROGER STERN AND NEIL VOKES
I've always been a big Doctor Strange fan, and I think a lot of that is owed to the crazy, over-the-top psychedelic weirdness of the old school Dr. Strange comics.
Now, this Wednesday, a classic tale is unearthed, never before seen, this one-shot shows us the secrets behind the brownstone apartment that Strange has worked out of for years. What effects has his practice of the mystic arts had on this dwelling? What secrets does it hide? And, will we get to see some over-the-top, head-splitting visuals, like all those classic Dr. Strange comics?
There's not enough Dr. Strange on the stands these days, folks, so it's always good to see something like this come along. Give it a look this Wednesday.
Click here for a preview of DR. STRANGE #1
CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES CONCLUDES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES #7 - THE MOST DEPRAVED, MOST HORRIFYING COMIC YOU'LL READ. EVER. FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF NEONOMICON
CROSSED has carved out a very unique spot for itself on the shelves of Third Eye. We've been big supporters of the series since it's original inception with Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrow's incredible 9-issue CROSSED maxiseries from 2009. Needless to say, we're loving David Lapham's work in the world of CROSSED just as much as we loved Ennis's.
Avatar has really made a name for itself as a publisher that's not afraid to push boundaries, and try something new. And, with Crossed, they're seriously pushing the boundaries.
What is CROSSED? Crossed is a survival horror comic series that focuses on a world where the sudden outbreak of a disease that reduces human beings (and it looks like maybe even some animals) to their most evil, most primal states. In other words, it's kind of like rabies with an extra dose of sadism. It turns people into killing machines that just want to inflict as much pain and suffering as possible before they self-destruct. And, unlike the Living Dead, yes, the Zombies, The Crossed still have their wits about them. And, this makes them very, very dangerous. They can plot, they can plan, they have the know-how to say hey if we set this house on fire, those people inside will have to come running out so we can do terrible things to them.
As you can probably guess, this makes the book work very well as a survival horror story, and folks, as we near the end of the second series... it hasn't disappointed yet. The real horror of Crossed is how both Ennis and Lapham have managed to mirror the dark side of human nature in the survivor characters that the story follows. He uses the Crossed to really bring out the dark nature of mankind, and it's what makes the series so compelling.
We can't recommend it enough, and if you've never read the series before, we've got both the trade paperback of the original series in stock, as well as all 6 prior issues of FAMILY VALUES to catch you up to the conclusion this Wednesday.
Give it a shot, and find out why we dig the series so much.
MAGIC: THE GATHERING MIRRODIN BESIEGED SET - BOOSTERS, FAT PACKS, SEALED BOXES, AND INTRO PACKS IN STOCK THIS FRIDAY
And, here's some exciting news for our legion of Magic addicts, the Mirrodin Besieged expansion hits the shop this Friday, and folks, it's loaded with some awesome stuff, including a brand new Planeswalker card.
We'll have plenty of boosters, fat packs, and intro packs available this Friday, as well as full sealed boxes of Besieged. If you'd like to reserve a box, a fat pack, or any intros, feel free to drop us a line, and we'll get you hooked up.
JESUS HATES ZOMBIES, LINCOLN HATES WEREWOLVES OMNIBUS - The title says it all, folks!
First you had the awesomeness that was Axe-Cop, and now we've got the awesomeness that is Jesus Hates Zombies, featuring Lincoln Hates Werewolves.
Available this Wednesday, volumes 1-4 of this killer cult-favorite indie series are being issued in a gorgeous looking omnibus edition for the low price of only 10.99.
What is Jesus Hates Zombies? Imagine this, the world is consumed by the zombie plague. The Lord has returned to Earth. President Lincoln's been shot forward through time to find himself in the midst of it all.. and a renegade zombie angel is obsessed on bringing about the world's end. Oh, throw in some werewolves, heck, even some zombie werewolves, and that sums up the awesomeness that is the world of Jesus Hates Zombies / Lincoln Hates Werewolves.
The series is fantastic, and 215 Ink, a new indie publisher to watch, has done a killer job of putting this one together.
Check it out this Wednesday here at Third Eye!
SUPERBOY #4 - Jeff Lemire, writer of the amazing SWEET TOOTH series, continues his iconic take on Connor Kent this Wednesday
You know, it's funny, I'd never been a big fan of Superboy until the way Geoff Johns wrote him in his run on Teen Titans, and then later, in the way he was portrayed during Infinite Crisis. And, now? I'm hooked, man. Lemire, the man behind one of our Third Eye favorites, SWEET TOOTH, is doing a bang-up job of making Superboy one of our favorite DC books.
Lemire's knack for capturing the weirdness of small rural towns, and applying it to Smallville, mixed with the approach he's taking of doing solid done-in-one stories featuring iconic DCU characters coming head to head with Superboy in Smallville, is a damn good read. It's vaguely Smallville-esque feeling (the TV show), but in a very good way.
There's a great mix of new school comics storytelling with a sense of homage to traditional, more classic approaches, and the accompanying art by newcomer Pier Gallo makes the series pop even more.
Missed 1-3? Pop on by, and get caught up this Wednesday. We don't think you'll be disappointed with how good this one's been!
DAYTRIPPER *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL* HITS THIS WEDNESDAY IN TRADE PAPERBACK COLLECTING LAST YEAR'S KICK-ASS SLICE-OF-LIFE DRAMA FROM THE ARTISTS BEHIND SERIES LIKE CASANOVA AND THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon are two of the most stunning artists working in comics today, in my opinion. These two are so very talented, and their series Daytripper, which plays out like a surreal fantasy set against the backdrop of mundane every-day life, is the perfect showcase of this.
The series follows aspiring writer Bras De Oliva Domingos as each chapter of Daytripper peers in at a completely different moment in his life. Moon and Ba tell a beautifully lyrical tale that chronicles Domingo's entire existence -- from his loves to his deaths, and all the possibilities between.
Daytripper's the kind of book that's hard to sum up in words. It's just good. There's no easy way to explain the plot, without giving away some of the fundamental twists and surprises, so just trust me when I tell you this: it's an awesome read from beginning to end. And, the fact that the artwork is every bit as good as the well-crafted story just enhances this one.
If you're a fan of series like THE UNWRITTEN, SANDMAN, or Moon and Ba's previous works on books like UMBRELLA ACADEMY and CASANOVA, then you should pick this one up for sure. We think you'll really dig it.
BRIGHTEST DAY #19 - THE AQUAWAR BEGINS - IS THIS THE END OF AQUAMAN?
Folks, this is it. We're counting down to the conclusion of BRIGHTEST DAY, and with only a handful of issues remaining, everything is coming to a head, and hot damn, it's getting good.
One of the characters who's really benefited from the DCU Rebirth approach of Brightest Day has been Aquaman aka Arthur Curry. After being resurrected, he's gone through quite a traumatic year, however it's done a lot to flesh him out as a character, and show us just how badass the character is. On the downside: his powers aren't quite working correctly (summoning sea-life isn't so grand if all you can conjure are undead zombie squids that want to kill and eat everything), his wife's not exactly the most faithful, and while all this is going down, he's trying to teach the new Aqualad about his newfound abilities.
And, now, after almost a year of carefully done build-up, and fantastic pacing, the war is going to breakout between all of the DCU aquatic characters that've been so well-developed through the BRIGHTEST DAY series. And yes, BLACK MANTA, is a total bad-ass now, and it's going to be freakin' rad seeing him and Aquaman go at it.
I'm telling you, folks, this is some seriously rad stuff, and yet another reason to get into the Brightest Day.
What is the Brightest Day? In the aftermath of BLACKEST NIGHT, many of the DCU's characters were resurrected by the White Lantern.. and, the Brightest Day is the series that literally acts as the Rebirth of many DCU characters. It's a fantastic place for those of you who're dipping your toe into the DCU arena, and are just getting started, and the entire series has been a fantastic read. And, why wouldn't it be, with names like Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi attached... this is quality stuff.
Wanna start reading BRIGHTEST DAY? We've got ALL the back issues in stock, yup, #0-#18, to catch you up. Or, you can hop on with the BRIGHTEST DAY hardcover collecting 0-7, and catch up from there.
Click here for a preview of BRIGHTEST DAY #19
CURSED PIRATE GIRL ARRIVES IN TRADE PAPERBACK THIS WEDNESDAY! A MUST-READ FOR STUFF OF LEGEND, MOUSE GUARD BEASTS OF BURDEN, and heck, even HELLBOY fans.
A whimsical yet eerie story with some of the most amazing art we've seen recently
Jeremy Bastian's CURSED PIRATE GIRL is one of those hidden gems that we love to stumble upon. Just like great indie books like ROBOT 13, KING!, STUFF OF LEGEND, and many others, this is one of those books that you hear very little about, but as soon as you open it up, it makes a huge splash.
And, with the scarcity of not just the original issues, but the low print run on this actual trade paperback, we're pretty stoked to see it hitting our shelves here this week.
The world of Cursed Pirate Girl, which is so detailed, and laboriously illustrated that it looks like a woodcut image, is an awesome one. Adventures set on and under the high seas lead THE cursed pirate girl to encounter mythic creatures, gnarled and crusty pirates, and ghostly apparitions in this whimsical swashbuckling tale of wonderland journeys and unimaginable dangers.
This one's a must-read if you enjoy stuff like MOUSEGUARD, STUFF OF LEGEND, and heck, even the occulty aspects of stuff like Hellboy and BPRD. You'll love Cursed Pirate Girl.
THIRD EYE STAFF PICKS
Steve - FANTASTIC FOUR #587 - Man, is it cheesy for me to pick this? Seriously though, it was one of the best reads I read last week. Hickman is a freakin' phenom, folks, he's amazing, and his writing is some of the best in the biz right now. Read his FF and find out for yourself.
Trish - AMERICAN VAMPIRE #11 - This book just keeps getting better, and better, just when I think it can't go any further up on my list of favorite monthly comics, it totally does.
TORMA - AGE OF X ALPHA #1 - Who doesn't love alternate history stories involving the Marvel Universe? I'm a huge 1602 fan, and this one conjured up a feel that was reminiscent of a mixing of 1602 and AGE OF APOCALYPSE. An awesome read.
Trish - AMERICAN VAMPIRE #11 - This book just keeps getting better, and better, just when I think it can't go any further up on my list of favorite monthly comics, it totally does.
TORMA - AGE OF X ALPHA #1 - Who doesn't love alternate history stories involving the Marvel Universe? I'm a huge 1602 fan, and this one conjured up a feel that was reminiscent of a mixing of 1602 and AGE OF APOCALYPSE. An awesome read.
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