THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 3/2/11

MARVEL TAKES THEIR ICONS TO FEUDAL JAPAN IN 5 RONIN #1 DEBUTING THIS WEDNESDAY - A MUST FOR FANS OF 1602 & OTHER ALTERNATE HISTORY STORIES This one looks so freakin' rad, we had to give it a top spot this week so you guys didn't miss it this Wednesday. Starting this Wednesday, this 5-issue limited series gives us a very cool alternate history take on the heroes of the Marvel Universe, and we know how much you guys dig stuff like 1602, SHIELD and Age of X, where notions of what came before are drastically changed. This limited series is set in 17th century Japan, a time and place of violent upheaval, where wandering Ronin, and mysterious Geisha dominate the landscape. Into this strange and dangerous world come Wolverine, Psylocke, the Punisher, Hulk, and Deadpool... done up in a complete re-imagining that shows them as you've never seen them before. Look at this as an Elseworlds-style story where characters like Wolverine, the Punisher, and more are re-imagined as deadly ninjas, tortured samurai, and cursed demons. A few months back, I had the honor of getting to see some advance pages on this series, and I have to tell you: I was really impressed. The artwork fits the story perfectly, and the book is just a damn fun read. It's pretty awesome seeing these characters reimagined in this way, and the art of newcomer Tomm Coker brings this one to life in a big way. Bloody, bold, and downright brutal, with a strong quality of atmosphere, his art really brings you back into that time period in a major way. As for the story, it's a killer read, and delivers pretty big on that front as well. I'd highly recommend checking it out if you get a kick out of different takes on your favorite Marvel characters. Click here for a preview of 5 RONIN #1 THE INTREPIDS #1 - IMAGE'S NEXT BIG HIT? THIS MAY BE IT! CHECK OUT THIS QUIRKY, DARKLY HUMOROUS NEW SERIES THAT'S GETTING TONS OF BUZZ! A MUST FOR FANS OF THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY, SCOTT PILGRIM, ATOMIC ROBO, and RUNAWAYS It looks like Image is going to be delivering another hit series this summer with The Intrepids, judging from the advance pages we've seen on the book, and judging by the buzz it's been getting. And, the book looks good, it fits in very nicely with a lot of the top-rated Image hit series that've been lighting up the sales charts. From what I've read on it, I think it has loads of potential, and overall; it was a damn fun read. And, the art... dude, the art is freakin' rad. Very cool, very stylized, this is one heck of a unique book, and it's beyond genre categorization. Who are The Intrepids? The Intrepids are a collection of runaway homeless teenagers that have been taken in and cared for by an aging inventor named Dante. Applying his brilliance, he crafts marvelous technological contraptions and with his vision and help, the motley crew he has assembled agree to use his gadgets for the betterment of mankind. Together, they combat tyranny and stop madmen from bringing harm to the world. The series reads like a James Bond-style action-adventure that takes mad science to new heights. It's over-the-top, filled with giant gorillas, cybernetic bears, gorgeous girls with rocket packs, and loads of ray guns. The writing has a real punch to it, delivering a sharp, fun read that has just enough and quirk to keep it interesting without letting that turn the book into pure slapstick. It's a great balance ,and the creative team handles it well. The art is very stylized, and is a big part of what helps make this one fun, and really gives the book a unique feel. I'm pretty stoked about the series, and I feel that it'd appeal to many of you guys who're big on series like Atomic Robo, Hellboy, Skullkickers, Scott Pilgrim, and the Umbrella Academy. Imagine the quirk and humor of Scott Pilgrim or Atomic Robo, mixed with the pulp adventure of stuff like Hellboy and Atomic Robo, and that sums it up really well. You can click here to read a preview of THE INTREPIDS #1 THE WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY IN GREEN LANTERN #63 *WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS PROLOGUE PT 2* An ALLIANCE FORMS BETWEEN SINESTRO and HAL JORDAN There's no doubt that we're huge Green Lantern fans here at Third Eye. We've been in love with the series, and the character ever since Geoff Johns brought Hal back in REBIRTH. Heck, I was even a huge fan of the Kyle Rayner stuff from way back in the day. And, after the events in the WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS prologue from GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #7, we gotta say we're pretty damn stoked to see where things are headed with this arc. Geoff Johns is looking to deliver the biggest Green Lantern story since the SINESTRO CORPS WARS, and judging just by the cover alone of this week's GREEN LANTERN #63.... we think he's going to succeed. After the tensions brought on by the events of Blackest Night, as well as the shady alliance that's formed between Guy Gardner, Ganthet and Atrocitus... the Green Lantern Corps is set on the verge of tearing itself apart. We're talking a full-scale meltdown, with Green Lanterns fighting Green Lanterns.. and not pulling ANY punches. In the thick of all of this, Hal Jordan realizes he may only have one ally that can help him deal with the corruption growing within the Corps: Sinestro. How freakin' awesome is that? I mean, that right there has me convinced of the kick-ass potential of this one. Did you miss out on the first chapter of the WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS Prologue? GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #7 *WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS PROLOGUE PT 1* is in stock, and still available, so snag your copy this week and get caught up to GL #63. DC will be releasing an official checklist for the crossover within the next week, so stay tuned to the website for the official checklist. THE ANNIHILATORS #1 - ABNETT & LANNING, THE TEAM BEHIND THANOS IMPERATIVE, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, ANNIHILATION & WAR OF KINGS/REALM OF KINGS RETURN TO THE COSMIC CHARACTERS THIS WEDNESDAY axe cop As big fans of Abnett & Lanning's incredible work on the cosmic characters of the Marvel Universe, I'm pretty freakin' stoked to see them returning to that corner of things with their new ANNIHILATORS limited series. First they brought us the Annihilation wave in ANNIHILATION, then they showed us the WAR OF THE KINGS, which led to the REALM OF KINGS, and culminated in the THANOS IMPERATIVE. Now, the creative team behind Third Eye cult faves like Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova are giving us the much-rumored Cosmic Avengers-esque book, THE ANNIHILATORS. Bummed because Guardians of the Galaxy are no more? Want MORE in the wake of the THANOS IMPERATIVE? Then make sure you snag ANNIHILATORS #1 this Wednesday to follow the continuing story of Silver Surfer, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Beta-Ray Bill, the Gladiator, Quasar, and Ronan the Accuser. The heaviest hitters in Marvel's cosmic roster, bring more swashbuckling, madcap sci-fi combat and space-faring mayhem to us. Click here for a preview of THE ANNIHILATORS #1 CARBON GREY #1 FROM IMAGE COMICS DELIVERS A KILLER NEW SERIES SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF A STEAMPUNK ALTERNATE REALITY. A MUST FOR FANS OF "LADY MECHANIKA", "IGNITION CITY", and "FREAKANGELS" Here's one that looks really freakin' cool, folks. Again, Image delivers on bringing new and fresh series to the masses, as they look to introduce us to what could possibly one of the coolest uses of the steampunk genre in comics that we've seen so far. Carbon Grey is a brand new series from Image that's set in an alternate reality of military empires, giant air-ships, and death-ray powered machine guns, with a very heavy steampunk slant on the stylized settings and areas. The story centers around two twins born into a noble family: Mathilde and Giselle, the Sisters Grey. For generations the Sisters have protected and counseled the Kaiser, ruler of Mitteleuropa. But, now, this is a different time, and at the birth of the industrial age, a great war is raging on. When the Kaiser is assassinated, Giselle is accused. Pursued by her sisters, and hunted by the enemy, Giselle must unravel the prophecy of the Carbon Grey before history itself is re-written. Sound cool? Just wait'll you see the artwork on this one, folks. Freakin' STUNNING. Click here for a preview of CARBON GREY #1 DC'S NEW BATMAN BEYOND ONGOING SERIES CONTINUES TO KICK ASS WITH THIS WEDNESDAY'S BATMAN BEYOND #3 Also: BATMAN BEYOND HUSH BEYOND TRADE PAPERBACK IN STOCK THIS WEDNESDAY COLLECTING LAST YEAR'S 6-ISSUE LIMITED SERIES DC continues to deliver the goods in a major way on their brand new BATMAN BEYOND ongoing series. We thought they did a bang-up job on last year's BATMAN BEYOND limited series, but holy smoke, they're lighting it up in a big way on the new BATMAN BEYOND ongoing. Imagine everything you loved about the animated series, but with a much darker tone, and atmosphere. Imagine all of the rad things about Batman Beyond, like future versions of classic heroes and villains, as well as the revealing of various DC icons' fates. This is just a taste of how killer the new Batman Beyond ongoing is. Now, going forward, we continue the first arc where Batman Beyond and the Justice League Beyond have paired up, only to discover they've come across an all-new Matter Master. Is Terry's nightmare coming true? Has the death of his family become a reality? It all continues this Wednesday in BATMAN BEYOND #3. Wanna get caught up? We've got issues 1 and 2 in stock and available now to catch you up. ALSO SHIPPING THIS WEDNESDAY, BATMAN BEYOND: HUSH BEYOND TRADE PAPERBACK Also hitting the shelves here this Wednesday is the BATMAN BEYOND: HUSH BEYOND trade paperback, which collects last year's 6-issue limited series that brought the world of Terry McGinnis back to Batman Beyond fans in a big way. In this arc, we saw a return to the world of McGinnis and the elderly Bruce Wayne, as a mysterious figure is targeting the Dark Knight's old foes. An awesome read, and a perfect set-up for the brand new BATMAN BEYOND ongoing series. GET YOUR FREE FEAR ITSELF SKETCHBOOK THIS WEDNESDAY AT THIRD EYE TO GET THE INSIDE SCOOP ON MARVEL'S BIGGEST EVENT SINCE "CIVIL WAR" The buzz continues to build over Marvel's upcoming FEAR ITSELF storyline, and we could not be more stoked, folks. Marvel has been very cryptic so far, but, they have let a few confidential tidbits slip to us, and all we can say is: WOW. From what we've been told, each and every issue of this limited series is going to be a milestone, and deliver major changes to the Marvel Universe. And, just a personal hunch, but I feel that FEAR ITSELF may have something to do with the battle from OLD MAN LOGAN... of course, I could be wrong. What we do know for sure is that this is set to be the biggest Marvel event since CIVIL WAR, and if you're a Marvel fan, heck, a comic fan, you need to check this one out. This Wednesday, in cooperation with Marvel, we'll be giving out FREE FEAR ITSELF Sketchbooks here at Third Eye, while supplies last. Make sure you pop by the shop this week to grab your copy to get some inside tidbits of what's to come in FEAR ITSELF this Summer. In the meantime, here's a cryptic trailer for FEAR ITSELF that you can watch by clicking here. TAKIO - BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (AVENGERS, SIEGE, POWERS, SCARLET, ect) and MICHAEL AVON OEMING (POWERS artist) DELIVER THEIR KILLER NEW ALL AGES GRAPHIC NOVEL! A must for anyone who just plain enjoys good comics! Here's one that we got to see an advance of a while back, and thought it was really freakin' cool. Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming are two of the most respected names in comics. Bendis has pretty much helmed the Marvel Universe for nearly a decade, ranging from his launch of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, to his current runs on AVENGERS and NEW AVENGERS, not to mention his work on SIEGE, SECRET INVASION, and more. And, Oeming, has been one of Bendis longest running collaborators on their cult favorite POWERS, which is kind of like a police drama with superpowers (and a damn fine series). Now, this Wednesday, the two pair up to give us something you just don't see every day: a killer All Ages graphic novel with a story that anyone can enjoy. Whether you're 10, or 40, Takio is just plain good comics, and a testament to Bendis and Oemings talent. The story centers around two sisters from an adoptive family that drive one another nuts. Is there anything that can bring them together? After a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime accident gives them the real deal superpowers they've only seen in movies and in comics; the two feuding siblings must cooperate. Can these two sisters put aside their differences, save the world, and be home in time for dinner? Bendis manages to bring his knack for dialogue, and strong characterization which keeps this from being just a corny super-powered kids comic, and Oeming's animated art style lends itself PERFECTLY to the story. I really enjoyed it, and if you can get down with a good all ages comic, I highly recommend it. For those of you who have little Third Eye Faithful at home, and are always on the lookout for a good all ages read, Takio is a great choice. AXE COP RETURNS THIS WEDNESDAY WITH AN ALL-NEW LIMITED SERIES IN AXE COP BAD GUY EARTH #1 And, now, BACK IN STOCK, the AXE COP trade paperback Who doesn't love AXE COP? One of the most hilarious things we've seen in quite some time, the world of Axe Cop and his partner Dinosaur Soldier, returns this Wednesday in an all-new limited series from Dark Horse featuring a new, and never-before-seen Axe Cop story. What's the story behind BAD GUY EARTH? Well, it's not just legions of Third Eye Faithful who've taken notice of Axe Cop, but also the real police know about him, too. And if there's one thing the police don't like, it's a guy with an axe who's stealing all the bad-guy busting glory. Now, Axe Cop and his partner, Dinosaur Soldier, are being treated like bad guys, not only by the police, but by the President of the United States too. And, when a pair of nasty villains barge in from outer space and turn the U.S Army into actual bad guys, who gets the call to fix things? AXE COP! Highly recommended for those of you who get a kick out of just plain funny reads, Axe Cop is awesome. We'll also have the original AXE COP graphic novel back in stock this Wednesday as well. BRIGHTEST DAY #21 - THE CONCLUSION OF BRIGHTEST DAY ENDS, BRINGING TOGETHER THE RETURNED HEROES AND VILLAINS INTO ONE AREA.. COULD THIS BE THE POSSIBLE SET-UP FOR FLASHPOINT? Brightest Day. Holy Cow. Is this getting awesome, or what? The series has been a fantastic rebirthing of the DCU as a whole, but man, Geoff Johns has been really killin' it on the last few issues, as the heat has turned way up, and we're seeing all of the plot threads he's laid out in the series starting to come together. If you're looking to get into the DCU, we highly recommend going back and hopping aboard with BRIGHTEST DAY #0, and working your way up to current. Trust us, folks, it's worth it. We've got all the issues in stock to catch you up, or you can snag the first hardcover which collects #0-#7, and then catch up from there. As for what's going down now? Well, as we near the conclusion of BRIGHTEST DAY, all of the resurrected heroes and villains are being brought together in one major convergence to discover just what the mystery of the White Lantern is and why they're back. But, remember back in Brightest Day #0, that one or two panel incident with the Reverse Flash? We can only wonder if the outcome of Brightest Day may have something to do with Reverse Flash, and the onset of FLASHPOINT. Either way, BRIGHTEST DAY has been top notch since the first issue, and we highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already. VENOM BY DANIEL WAY ULTIMATE COLLECTION TPB - PREPARE FOR THE NEW VENOM SERIES WITH THIS SLAB OF AWESOME COLLECTING THE ENTIRE 18-issue VENOM ONGOING SERIES Wolverine hosting the Venom Symbiote too? Dude, I gotta tell ya: we love Venom here at Third Eye. I mean, if you grew up reading comics between 1990 and now, then I think it's safe to say you've probably got a soft spot for the murderous symbiote and it's original host, Eddie Brock. And, with all the press Venom's been getting with the recent debut of the new Venom: Flash Thompson, all we can say is this is the perfect time to catch up on your Venom reading, folks. This massive tome of Venom awesomeness collects the long out of print, and elusive VENOM #1-18 that Daniel Way (DAKEN, DEADPOOL) and Sam Keith (THE MAXX!) did back in the day. And, it is totally awesome stuff, folks. After being separated from Eddie Brock, Spider-man's arch-nemesis has resurfaced near the Arctic Circle, hopping from host to host with the greatest of ease and on the run from the enigmatic forces with their own agenda for the elusive alien. Ravenously hungry, and craving adrenaline to satiate his appetite, Venom cuts a bloody swath towards civilization. In the northern regions of Canada, he sets his sights on a new host: Wolverine. And, as the action moves to NYC, Spider-man and the Fantastic Four are forced to play damage control as not just one but two BLOODTHIRSTY Venom creatures cause havoc. And, this is where Eddie Brock comes in. IMAGE COMICS'S SOLD-OUT MEMOIR #1 NOW BACK IN STOCK THIS WEDNESDAY AT THIRD EYE - A CREEPY, ATMOSPHERIC READ. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. ISSUE #2 STILL IN STOCK AND AVAILABLE We're totally stoked to see Image getting more copies of MEMOIR #1 out to stores. This new series crept by many, and even though we ordered a buttload, it still blew outta here due to the overwhelmingly positive buzz it's gotten. Now, back in stock, this tale of a small town that had the memory of each inhabitant completely erased three years ago, and has been in a downward spiral ever since has gotten us enthralled. After the initial media frenzy surrounding the town dies down, an arrogant journalist has come to the town to see if he can break the story where no one else has before. Before long, he will learn that if you dig long enough, you might not like what you discover. The book has an impressive high concept, and the first two issues have been damn good so far, with a very creepy, and atmospheric vibe running through. If you missed #1 the first go around, we highly recommend snagging a copy this Wednesday and giving it a shot. And, we do still have copies of #2 available if ya wanna snag that one too. HEROES FOR HIRE #4 HITS THIS WEDNESDAY, AND CONTINUES TO PROVE WHY THIS COULD BE THE BEST MARVEL BOOK YOU'RE NOT YET READING I gotta tell you, Third Eye Faithful, I am totally digging Abnett and Lanning's run on HEROES FOR HIRE. This is probably the freshest the book's been in quite some time, and this latest incarnation is a true hit. It's a completely different tone than Guardians of the Galaxy, but just like Guardians (another title that Abnett and Lanning really made shine), Abnett and Lanning are taking an under-used corner of the Marvel Universe and making it into something very kick-ass as they revitalize the street-level heroes and vigilantes of the Marvel U. The series has a very Birds of Prey-esque feel to it as well, which is kinda cool, as we watch Misty Knight orchestrating a team of assorted vigilantes for a common goal. It's pretty cool to see each person playing a certain part in a mission, and how well Knight coordinates the team. Of course, I don't want to give away the big twist at the end of #1, but the big twist that sets up the first arc of the story has also gotten us pretty hooked as well. A great read, with some great artwork, we highly recommend the book. Missed 1-3? We've got all the issues in stock and available for you to catch up. Click here for a preview of HEROES FOR HIRE #4 MARVEL .1 CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH DEADPOOL #33.1 - BEEN WANTING TO JUMP ABOARD DEADPOOL? THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO Marvel's new .1 Initiative has been a major success, as we've seen many of you guys getting stoked for some of the great series out there, and by the fact that you can easily jump on board with just one issue. For those of you who may not be familiar with how the whole .1 thing works, basically, the .1 issues are special issues of a series that are written in a way that makes them easy for new readers to jump on without being lost, while at the same time setting up for the next big direction or arc of a series. In other words, this means if you've been meaning to check out Deadpool, you can jump on board with #33.1, and not worry about having to go back and scope out the past 32 issues. A pretty painless way to hop onto a series, ya know? :) Although, we know the fun of collecting, and going back to get the older issues of a series, so if you do end up deciding to go back and fill in any gaps, we've got you covered here at Third Eye. Anyways, this Wednesday, things kick off into a brand new direction for the Merc with a Mouth in DEADPOOL #33.1, as ol' Wade Wilson comes face to face with the immensely powerful psychopath... the Wrecker. A perfect opportunity to jump aboard the monthly ongoing DEADPOOL series, give this one a shot this Wednesday. Click here for a preview of DEADPOOL #33.1 THE MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN THIS WEDNESDAY IN MARVEL ZOMBIES SUPREME #1 - FEATURING THE ZOMBIFIED SQUADRON SUPREME! You can't keep a good ghoul down, right? Okay, I promise, no more cheesy late night horror host puns. Seriously though, Marvel brings the Marvel Zombies back from the dead again this Wednesday with a brand new series, and it actually looks pretty slick. They were once the Squadron Supreme, heroes exiled from another dimension to our own, but the twisted science of the Project Pegasus facility infected this Marvel incarnation of the JUSTICE LEAGUE with a virulent zombie strain. And, now, Jill Harper's desperate special ops team must contain this outbreak before it wreaks havoc on the rest of the Marvel U. A different approach for the MZ books, so this one looks pretty fresh and interesting, and of course, gory as all get out. Click here for a preview of MARVEL ZOMBIES SUPREME #1 THIRD EYE STAFF PICKS Steve - FANTASTIC FOUR #588 - This is in the running for Best Single Issue of the Year. Highly recommended. Wow. That's all I can say. Trish - CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #1- David Lapham turns things up AGAIN and AGAIN with this new CROSSED series. So disturbing! TORMA - AGE OF X - I'm loving this crossover so far and the first two chapters that hit this week were top notch.