THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 4/27/11

MATT FRACTION & OLIVER COIPEL BRING YOU... THE MIGHTY THOR #1 THIS WEDNESDAY! THE BIGGEST THOR SERIES EVER LAUNCHED DEBUTS! A PERFECT JUMPING ON POINT FOR READERS NEW TO THOR! Get a Free MIGHTY THOR Saga Handbook with Purchase of MIGHTY THOR #1 This Week! This book is going to be a rock star, folks. Seriously. It looks so freakin' good that even if you're not a major fan of the GOD OF THUNDER, you should still check this out. It looks to be recapturing the same kind of Marvel magic that Fraction made when he launched INVINCIBLE IRON MAN a few years ago, and judging by the consistency and high quality of Fraction's INVINCIBLE IRON MAN run, we're totally stoked to see what he has planned long-term for the GOD OF THUNDER. I mean, we could rant and rave all day about how much we dig Fraction's work, and his recent showing on FEAR ITSELF #1, just instills even more of that confidence in him as a writer. However, we'd be doing the book a huge disservice if we didn't give props to the inclusion of OLIVER COIPEL as artist on the series. Oliver Coipel is the man responsible for making J. Michael Straczynski's epic Thor run look so freakin' amazing. He's also the guy who brought Asgard crumbling to the ground in SIEGE last year. Coipel's superstar art style seems custom fit to the world of Thor, and brings a bigger-than-life quality to Thor, Asgard, and the rest of the realms in a way that very few artists can. In the same way that Walt Simonson redefined the world of THOR many years ago, we're expecting Fraction and Coipel to work the same kind of magic here. Now, why do you need to read this? Well, lets face it: Thor is awesome, but it's always so hard to find an accessible point to jump in with the character, ya know? I mean, all that Asgardian lore, and stuff, it makes it a little tough. That's why THE MIGHTY THOR is perfect for you to jump on with. Marvel is beginning a brand new ongoing series that is going to be the flagship Thor title of the Marvel Universe, and Fraction is starting the action off in a way that makes it easy for you to jump in with knowledge of only two or three things: Thor is the God of Thunder, and Son of Odin. He's got a magic hammer. And, he's one of the Marvel Universe's most powerful characters. Other than that, you can jump into this one fresh, and enjoy what looks to be one of the most exciting new Marvel series of the Summer. What's the direction of the title? This is Thor in the Marvel Universe, simply put. While JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY will keep the focus on Asgard, and Thor's supporting cast, MIGHTY THOR is the big-time flagship superhero-centric THOR title which will be featuring major Marvel characters, and casting Thor into some very interesting and dynamic storylines. In this new age for the Thunder God, Fraction and Coipel drop Thor and Sif deep into the heart of the fractured World Tree to reclaim an artifact from beyond time and space, an artifact that attracts the attention of the SILVER SURFER, and you know, when Surfer comes to Earth... Galactus can't be far behind. My description of this one can't do it enough justice. Just click the preview link below, and look for yourself. You'll see what I mean. This book is freakin' amazing looking. Coipel's art jumps off the page, and his take on Thor, Surfer, and Galactus is some of the most epic looking stuff I've seen in a minute. Folks, if you jump onto one new Marvel series this week, make sure it's MIGHTY THOR. We're giving this one our PICK OF THE WEEK stamp, and the highest recommendation. It's going to be an awesome series. ALSO: when you purchase your copy of MIGHTY THOR #1 this week, we'll be giving out a free copy of the rad new MIGHTY THOR SAGA #1 one-shot handbook which gives you a comprehensive catch-up on the last few years of Thor stories! Click here for a preview of THE MIGHTY THOR #1 SUPERMAN RETURNS THIS WEDNESDAY IN ACTION COMICS #900 AS LEX LUTHOR, NOW WIELDING THE POWER OF THE LANTERNS, FACES OFF WITH THE MAN OF STEEL! PLUS.... THE REIGN OF DOOMSDAY RAINS DOWN ON BOTH SUPES AND LEX! Written by PAUL CORNELL, RICHARD DONNER (yes, THAT Richard Donner), DAMON LINDELOF (co-creator of LOST), and more! This is it, Third Eye Faithful! The biggest issue of ACTION COMICS in a very long time hits the shop this Wednesday, and we could not be more stoked. This issue here is not just the big endpoint of Paul Cornell's epic BLACK RING storyline that's been focusing on LEX LUTHOR in ACTION COMICS, but it's also the grand return of Superman to ACTION COMICS, and a perfect jumping on point for anybody who has been asking the question: What's A Good Superman Title To Jump Onto? Folks, ACTION COMICS is top notch, and with Paul Cornell (a primary writer on the DOCTOR WHO television series, and the man who's made ACTION the sleeper hit it's been for almost a year now) writing it, and red-hot superstar artist KENNETH ROCAFORT about to come onboard, now is the perfect time to jump on with this one. Plus, this is a landmark issue, and a must-have for your collection. The amount of talent packed into these pages is incredible, and I'm seriously more excited about this one than I have been any Superman book in quite some time. So, enough of my rambling, lets talk about why you need this book, and why I'm running off at the mouth like an idiot over it. :) First off, it brings us a very important chapter in the current REIGN OF DOOMSDAY storyline which has been keeping us hooked non-stop, week after week. It looks like Doomsday is going to be crossing paths with Lex, and Supes in this one. Secondly, it includes a very cool contribution to the story by the legendary RICHARD DONNER, the director of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE (the Chris Reeves flick). And, that's not the only Silver Screen luminary on board, DAVID GOYER, screenwriter of THE DARK KNIGHT and BATMAN BEGINS is also lending his creative juices to this one. Oh, and did we mention that they've brought in DAMON LINDELOFF, the co-creator of the televisino series LOST to help plot this as well? Team all of these guys up with PAUL CORNELL, and GEOFF JOHNS, and you're looking at a very all-star cast of creators involved. We wonder if DC's planning on turning the Superman books into one of their top-tier titles again, in anticipation of the new Superman movie that's in the works. Now, this one is almost 100 pages thick, filled to the brim, with the one thing that I think we've all wanted since Superman began walking around the country: Superman and Lex Luthor beating the living snot out of each other. See, there's been this really good, really under-rated arc going on in ACTION COMICS for the better part of the last year, written by PAUL CORNELL. And, it's been so critically acclaimed that NEIL GAIMAN even co-wrote an issue, and let his character DEATH of the ENDLESS guest-star (ACTION COMICS #894). This storyline which has shown us a post-BLACKEST NIGHT Lex Luthor seeking a rumored Black Lantern ring that's been left behind after the BLACKEST NIGHT has kept us enthralled all year long. It's really given us a very compelling anti-hero in Lex Luthor. A new breed of anti-hero, where there's no real redeeming qualities in the character, but at the same time, he's written in a way where the reader is able to identify with some of his motivations, despite the fact that he's a bad guy. Each issue of this run served as a solid done-in-one story where Luthor and a major DCU character would cross paths during his quest for the Black Ring. Through each chapter, Luthor has been given more character development than he's seen in years, and now, going into ACTION COMICS #900... it really feels like this is the proper time for a SUPERMAN vs. LUTHOR blowout. And, we haven't even thought about how Doomsday is going to be involved, as the REIGN OF DOOMSDAY crosses right into this massive issue, bringing the Man of Steel's killer into the fray. All in all, this is a great opportunity to jump on with Superman, and snag a very monumental issue of the series at the same time. Highly recommended, it's a tough week to pick a book of the week folks, but this is definitely one of our top choices. Check it out this Wednesday at Third Eye! BOOM! (publishers of HELLRAISER, 28 DAYS LATER and IRREDEEMABLE) debut their new ongoing PLANET OF THE APES series this Wednesday with PLANET OF THE APES #1 - An awesome in-continuity prequel that sits very nicely alongside the upcoming new film! We are so impressed by the recent output of independent publisher BOOM! Studios. They really began a winning streak with their killer IRREDEEMABLE and INCORRUPTIBLE series, and have followed it up very nicely with solid reads like 28 DAYS LATER, their new HELLRAISER series, and their work on stuff like DARKWING DUCK. And, we're REALLY stoked about their upcoming PLANET OF THE APES ongoing comic series. I mean, okay, so maybe I've got a soft spot for the PLANET OF THE APES world, and have watched the first few films way too many times, but, c'mon: this looks AWESOME. Taking place before the original 1968 PLANET OF THE APES movie, but true to the continuity of the first five films , this new ongoing comic series begins in a time when Ape society reaches a new golden age. But there are ripples of dissent in both the ape and human ranks. Tensions will rise and soon all will be caught in the chaos that ensues! And amidst all this uncertainty, what is the fate of... The Lawgiver? This one's going to be an awesome read, folks, and with the PLANET OF THE APES movie already stirring up excitement with that recent trailer, you can expect this one to be one of the more popular licensed books of the summer. Personally, I've got a lot of confidence after reading the initial preview pages they've shown, and I can't wait to sit down and read the full issue this Wednesday. What I can say is this is a very violent, very brutal look at the world of PLANET OF THE APES, and the writers and artists on this one do not shy back from the bloodshed. INVINCIBLE VOLUME 14 VILTRUMITE WAR TRADE PAPERBACK HITS THIS WEDNESDAY - PREPARE TO GET STOKED, THIRD EYE FAITHFUL! THE BEST SUPERHERO BOOK ON THE STANDS CONTINUES! It's always a treat when a brand new trade paperback of ROBERT KIRKMAN (writer of WALKING DEAD) and RYAN OTTLEY's (artist of HAUNT) INVINCIBLE ships. This series continues to be one of the best Superhero comics on the stands, and even though we read it in the monthly issues, we still find ourselves going back and re-reading it whenever a new trade hits. Why? 'Cause it's THAT good. I'm not even going to go near talking about the newest volume, 'cause lets face it: the less spoilers bestowed upon anything written by ROBERT KIRKMAN, the better, right? Instead, let me preach to the uninitiated, and spread the word of INVINCIBLE. Robert Kirkman, the writer of WALKING DEAD, is known for taking a standard concept, and breathing new life into it. WALKING DEAD is a perfect example of this. He's just a damn fine writer, and really knows what he's doing. And, the thing that makes all of Kirkman's work pop so well is how he's able to build a large cast of characters, and make them feel real, so real that when something tragic happens to them... you feel it. And, just like with WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE does that same exact thing. In fact, even if you're not the biggest fan of the superhero genre, you should still try INVINCIBLE, because it's the only other thing on the market that comes close to the kind of cliffhangers, and punch-in-the-gut twists and turns that Kirkman delivers in WALKING DEAD. And, if you are a fan of the superhero genre, then you HAVE to be reading INVINCIBLE, as this is one of the best damn superhero books on the stands. Action-packed, loads of character development, clever ideas, and twists on age-old concepts make this series pop in a way that very few do. If Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created Spider-man in the here and now, it'd be INVINCIBLE. So, do yourselves a favor, and snag a copy of INVINCIBLE volume 1 this Wednesday if you've never read the series, and find out for yourself why we're such big fans of the book. For those of you who're already on board, we're sure we'll be seeing you this week for the latest and greatest in INVINCIBLE vol.14 FF #2 - Jonathan Hickman's brand new FUTURE FOUNDATION series is one of the best new Marvel books of the year! Even if you're not a FANTASTIC FOUR fan, do NOT sleep on this one! We are major fans of Jonathan Hickman, and his groundbreaking work on FANTASTIC FOUR, Third Eye Faithful. There's no doubt about that. In fact, most of Hickman's work has wowed us at some point, whether it's his Marvel work on FF, ULTIMATE THOR and SECRET WARRIORS, or his independent work on stuff like RED MASS FOR MARS and PAX ROMANA, the man is just an incredible comics creator. One of the true visionaries of the 21st century comics movement. And, now, as we're following up on the tragic death of JOHNNY STORM, a bold new era for the FANTASTIC FOUR has begun, as Reed has disbanded the team, and restructured them as something.. different.. and that something is called The FUTURE FOUNDATION. And, as we saw at the end of last month's FF #1 (still in stock and available here at Third Eye), Reed's big move in forming this new team is the inclusion of Doctor Doom in the ranks. Yes, Victor Von Doom has reunited with Reed Richards... to shape a better future, so it seems. And, this, folks, is infinitely cool to us. Now, factor in the inclusion of Spider-man as the other new member of the team, and the already killer plot-threads that Hickman's got running, and you've got yourself one whopper of a good book. Oh, and did we mention that the artwork looks AMAZING? Yes, Steve Epting is bringing his A-Game in a big way, and we're loving it. And, judging from the very early preview pages we've seen from the first issue of this one: THE THING is not too happy about Doom being invited to dinner. :) Folks, this is one of the best Marvel books to launch this year, if you haven't picked up #1 yet, snag it and #2 this week, and find out why we are so totally stoked for this series. It's freakin' incredible stuff, and we cannot wait to see where things go with it. Click here for a preview of FF #2 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* BRIGHTEST DAY CONCLUDES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED BRIGHTEST DAY #24 - ALL IS REVEALED, AND THE RAMIFICATIONS WILL SHAKE THE DCU FOR YEARS TO COME! A New Era for the DCU Begins Here! This is it, Third Eye Faithful. The BRIGHTEST DAY reaches it's end this Wednesday in BRIGHTEST DAY #24, and we are so stoked to see how this one turns out. After the crazy cliffhanger of issue #23 from a few weeks back, we've been on the edge of our seat waiting to find out what the arrival of SWAMP THING back into the mainline DCU continuity could mean. And with rumors of JOHN CONSTANTINE not being far behind, we're really stoked about these upcoming developments. BRIGHTEST DAY #24 is the grand conclusion to Geoff Johns and crew's bigger-than-life DCU REBIRTH story. The story of BRIGHTEST DAY, which started as a follow-up to BLACKEST NIGHT, and quickly became a ground-up rebuilding of the DC UNIVERSE as a whole, has been one of the best things DC has done in years. And, now, that they've re-introduced several classic DCU characters, introduced some new characters, and brought new life to some forgotten favorites, we're really eager to see where this one will be leading. All we know is that the end result of this week's BRIGHTEST DAY #24, will open up a brand new era for the DC UNIVERSE, and the ramifications will forever change the landscape of the DCU. We have a feeling that we're going to see something that's on the scale of how the DCU was affected after CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, and it's ilk. And, with FLASHPOINT right around the corner, and a very slight nod to the REVERSE FLASH in BRIGHTEST DAY #0.. we wonder if the conclusion of BRIGHTEST DAY will somehow set something up for FLASHPOINT (which we are so stoked for it's not even funny). Not reading BRIGHTEST DAY and wanna hop aboard? We've got the graphic novel, which collects #0-#7, and you can either start with that, or we have all of the back issues in stock #0-#24, and you can just start catching up that way as well. Either way, we highly recommend the series, and cannot wait to see how it finishes this Wednesday. J. SCOTT CAMPBELL'S DANGER GIRL RETURNS IN THIS WEDNESDAY'S DANGER GIRL AND ARMY OF DARKNESS #1 If you grew up reading comics in the late '90s and early 2000s, then you most definitely have fond memories of Abbey Chase, the world's most daring adventuress, and her partners in crime in DANGER GIRL. J. SCOTT CAMPBELL brought his incredible artwork to the center stage, and gave readers a pulpy, Indiana Jones meets Charlies Angels kind of adventure series that really captured the imaginations of fans everywhere. And, now, after many years of being absent from the racks of comic shops, DANGER GIRL is making a grand return in this new crossover with DANGER GIRL and ARMY OF DARKNESS. And, we're stoked about it. Totally stoked. As huge DANGER GIRL fans, it's great to see Abbey and the gang back, and hey, who doesn't love ARMY OF DARKNESS? What's the scoop on this one? Abbey has returned, and she's aiming to recover a dark and mysterious piece of ancient history. When Abbey learns that the elusive Book of the Dead has resurfaced and fallen into nefarious hands, she and the Danger Girls embark on a mission to track down the powerful tome. But when their journey leads them to cross paths with another seeking the book -- a man with a personal vendetta and a literal hand in the book's sordid history -- they find themselves spiraling through the most outrageous situations. Danger Girl. Ash. What's not to love? Click here for a preview of DANGER GIRL and the ARMY OF DARKNESS #1 MORNING GLORIES #9 - The hit Image series of last year continues to impress the heck out of us this Wednesday in it's latest issue! Not reading MORNING GLORIES? Grab the trade paperback of 1-6 for only $9.99! Nick Spencer continues to blow us out of the water with his work on MORNING GLORIES, and we're stoked to see where things are heading next on this one. Nick Spencer's creepy mystery about a prestigious prep school that does horrible things to it's students reads like the perfect mix of BRIAN K. VAUGHN'S RUNAWAYS and the television series LOST. It's compelling, enthralling, and never fails to disappoint, and we're totally stoked to see where the series goes next as we move ahead into MORNING GLORIES #9 this Wednesday. Ever since the Detention issue, we've been wondering: what happened to Jun that fateful night he sneaked out of the dorms? And who was that he ran into ? It looks like we're going to find out this Wednesda yin MORNING GLORIES #9. Click here for a preview of MORNING GLORIES #9 Not reading MORNING GLORIES? You are missing out on one of the best IMAGE books out if you're not. Why should you read it? Well, here's the scoop: The MORNING GLORY ACADEMY, to outsiders, is a place of learning for those gifted enough to warrant a place there. For those attending the school though? It's a place that's run by insane teachers who regularly try to kill them, a monster patrolling the halls, and a secret hidden deep within it's bowels that will change their lives forever. And, with six newcomers now attending, we're learning the secrets of MORNING GLORY Academy first hand. An awesome, supernatural mystery that will appeal to fans of Y THE LAST MAN as much as it will fans of LOCKE & KEY, if you're not reading MORNING GLORIES, snag the first trade paperback which collects issues 1-6 for only $9.99. We can't recommend this one enough! TOMB OF DRACULA PRESENTS THRONE OF BLOOD #1 ONE-SHOT - A VERY IMPORTANT ONE-SHOT IN RELATION TO THE MARVEL UNIVERSE, AND FEAR ITSELF! DON'T MISS THIS ONE ON WEDNESDAY, FOLKS! Last year, one of the sleeper hits of the Summer was the crucial DEATH OF DRACULA one-shot that pretty much set up some very important aspects of Marvel's major storylines for the summer of 2010. It also helped re-introduce readers to the rich pantheon of Vampire characters that exist within the Marvel Universe, and opened things up for some very exciting storylines in the future. This week, we're seeing the release of TOMB OF DRACULA PRESENTS THRONE OF BLOOD #1 one-shot, which is looking to be another sleeper hit that you're going to want to have. Our guy at Marvel gave us a little nudge, and told us that this one will have some major storyline impacts on the future of FEAR ITSELF, as well as upcoming events within the MARVEL UNIVERSE, and after reading the advance on this one: he's definitely right. This is a great set-up issue for some really exciting stuff that's coming down the Marvel pike, and I can definitely see a very real connection to what's going on in FEAR ITSELF in this one. What's the scoop on this one? Long ago, the seeds of a vampire cataclysm were planted in the Marvel Universe. One lone vampire rose above the rest, and operated in the shadows as the world around him changed. Prepare for a clash of steel, blood, and the undead in Throne of Blood, as Marvel changes the way we see vampires, and shows us the true meaning of FEAR ITSELF. All we can say is this: the Marvel version of DRACULA is a total bad-ass, and getting him involved with FEAR ITSELF? Epic. We're stoked, don't miss out on this one, Third Eye Faithful! Click here for a preview of TOMB OF DRACULA PRESENTS THRONE OF BLOOD #1 GRANT MORRISON'S BATMAN INCORPORATED CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY IN BATMAN, INC #5 I am so hooked on MORRISON'S latest and greatest in the Bat-verse, with BATMAN INCORPORATED. This amazing series is a spiritual successor to his ground-breaking run on BATMAN AND ROBIN (which is also still rocking under the skilled hands of Tomasi and Gleason), and continues to deliver the post-modern mix of quirky weird science and classic Dark Knight adventure that we've come to love from Morrison's work on BATMAN. After having gone public with the world, and admitting he's been financing BATMAN for years, Bruce Wayne is taking the idea of BATMAN global, and that's what the BATMAN INC series is all about. He's literally aiming to put a BATMAN in every country across the world, because he does not want the world to ever be without a Batman again. And, after a short trip to Japan, and a confrontation with the ancient, obscure, and awesome Bat-manga villain, LORD DEATH MAN, Batman has arrived in Argentina, and is preparing to recruit his Batman in that country. Meanwhile, England's other Batman (not Knight), has stumbled across a monstrous conspiracy, and it'll be up to Batman and his international allies to stop a plot that threatens to transform the world. We know it sounds out there, folks, but this is what we love about Morrison's work on Batman. He takes bigger-than-life ideas, and he makes them WORK. He's a very talented writer who knows how to deliver in a major way with these kinds of stories. If you're not reading BATMAN INC, and you're a BATMAN fan, you gotta remedy that right away. We've got issues 1-4 in stock to get you caught up to this week's #5. Hop aboard, and find out why this is one of the best Bat-books we've read in quite some time. GODZILLA: KINGDOM OF MONSTERS #2 hits THIRD EYE this Wednesday! Giant Monster Madness from ERIC POWELL, the creator of THE GOON! What can I say? We're big Kaiju fans here at Third Eye. We love giant monster movies, and there is none more giant than Gojira himself, Third Eye Faithful! And, IDW knows it too! This is why we're totally in love with IDW's brand new GODZILLA: KINGDOM OF MONSTERS series, which is the perfect scratch for that giant monster itch we have here at Third Eye. After the first issue (and don't worry, Third Eye Faithful, we do still have copies available of the exclusive THIRD EYE cover where Godzilla is stomping on our store, so you can still snag your piece of Third Eye history!), the world is now in a panic as Godzilla reduces Tokyo to rubble. No one knows where the giant lizard has come from, and even the most extreme military counter-measures prove useless. As the people of Japan fend off Godzilla's wrath, the world's governments start thinking outside the box. And, unfortunately, Godzilla might not be the only monster-sized threat they have to worry about. Short Version: GIANT MONSTERS BEATING THE HECK OUT OF EACH OTHER. Written by ERIC POWELL, of THE GOON fame... what's not to love? DARK HORSE DELIVERS SOME GOOD OLD FASHIONED VICTORIAN ERA HORROR WITH A STEAMPUNK TWIST WITH THIS WEDNESDAY'S THE STRANGE CASE OF MR HYDE #1 The Jack the Ripper Mythos meet the classic tale of JEKYLL and HYDE! Who doesn't love a good old-fashioned Victorian horror story with some mad scientists, and steampunk aesthetics thrown in for good measure? This Wednesday, DARK HORSE COMICS, publishers of stuff like HELLBOY, WITCHFINDER, and other macabre gems will be debuting a brand new series which shows us that sometimes good police work just isn't enough. Or at least, that's what Inspector Thomas Adye of Scotland Yard finds out when he's assigned ot the Jack the Ripper case. He'll need the guidance of imprisoned madman Dr. Henry Jekyll, who's mind-splitting serum Jack might be using to commit his bloody murders. VENOM #2 HITS THIS WEDNESDAY - ONE OF THE BEST NEW MARVEL SERIES OF 2011. "UNCANNY X-FORCE" writer RICK REMENDER and WALKING DEAD artist TONY MOORE deliver BIG time on this new series featuring FLASH THOMPSON as VENOM! Venom vs. KRAVEN The HUNTER Oh man, is it a good week or what? The hits keep coming, and I am so pumped for the second issue of the new VENOM series that's due out this week. Rick Remender and Tony Moore know how to deliver pure comic magic, and I've been a fan of their work together in the past on stuff like FEAR AGENT and FRANKENCASTLE. Not to mention, Remender has been wowing the heck out of us with UNCANNY X-FORCE. The first issue of the new VENOM series delivered a very unique, and fresh kind of read. The whole angle of Flash Thompson being the new host for the symbiote is excellent. I mean, c'mon, he's always wanted to be Spider-man, so bad, and now he has his chance, but of course, there's a downside... and turning into a brain-eating maniac happens to be that down-side. I also love the new look of the VENOM costume on Flash, the very sleek, military-esque appearance that's held in check by a timer to keep him from hulking out and turning into the giant, drooling Venom we all know and remember. Plus, JACK O LANTERN? How can we not love this book? Anyways, moving forward this week in VENOM #2, a mysterious super villain has weaponized the Antarctic. Vibranium to sell to dictators, madmen, and terrorists across the globe. To stop this WMD, the US military unleashes it's most deadly black ops agent: VENOM. First stop on his hunt? The Savage Land! But who's hunting who? Venom is quick to discover that death stalks these jungle... and guess who they mean by death? KRAVEN THE HUNTER. Dude, this is going to kick ass. Just look at the art in the previews pages for this, and tell me you're not stoked on this book. Great art, great story, this is one of the best new Marvel books to come out this year, and we're pumped to see an old-fashioned throwdown between the new Venom and one of the coolest Spidey bad guys of all-time: KRAVEN. Missed the first issue of VENOM? We've got copies in stock to catch you up! Click here for a preview of VENOM #2 THE FLASH #11 - THE ROAD TO FLASHPOINT NEARS IT'S END, AS FLASHPOINT IS SET TO ARRIVE IN JUST TWO WEEKS! MAKE SURE TO SNAG THE CRUCIAL PRELUDES IN FLASH #9, #10, and this WEEK'S FLASH #11 Folks, Geoff Johns is most definitely the MAN when it comes to DC COMICS. He has really shaped the entire direction of the DC Universe, and after totally reviving the GREEN LANTERN franchise back in the day with REBIRTH, and then following it up with one of the coolest DCU stories in forever: BLACKEST NIGHT, he's now going to be doing the same thing with the FLASH. The preludes to FLASHPOINT continue, after having begun in FLASH #9, and as we get closer and closer to the start of FLASHPOINT, we're finding ourselves more and more intrigued by all the killer teasers that're being dropped about the event. I think FLASHPOINT has potential to be the coolest thing that DC has done since BLACKEST NIGHT, and the way that it sounds actually reminds me A LOT of a DCU version of Age of Apocalypse. What is FLASHPOINT? Basically, the REVERSE FLASH has gone back in time, and done something he shouldn't have, and it's completely altered the DC UNIVERSE. This means that Batman's parents never died, and he runs Wayne Casinos. This means that Superman's shuttle never crashed, so there's no Superman of Earth. This means that Abin Sur never gave the ring to Hal Jordan, and remained the GREEN LANTERN of our sector. See where I'm going with this? And that's just the tip of the iceberg, folks. Geoff Johns hasn't let us down once, he always delivers, and this is looking to be some of the coolest DC stuff we've seen in quite some time. Wanna know more? Click here to read a bit more about FLASHPOINT, and check out our official THIRD EYE FLASHPOINT CHECKLIST Wanna get caught up on Johns's FLASH? You can either start at the very beginning with the FLASH REBIRTH trade paperback (also arriving this Wednesday), and then jump into the ongoing FLASH series he's been writing (we have issues 1-10 in stock and available now), or you can jump ahead to issues #9 and #10, and start with the FLASHPOINT preludes. MARVEL POINT ONE: AVENGERS #12.1 and SECRET AVENGERS #12.1 OFFER THE PERFECT JUMPING ON POINTS FOR TWO OF OUR FAVORITE MARVEL BOOKS! WANNA READ AVENGERS? START WITH THESE! "MORNING GLORIES" and "INFINITE VACATION" writer NICK SPENCER comes ABOARD SECRET AVENGERS! The MARVEL POINT ONE initiative has been one of the coolest things we've seen Marvel do. Basically, a .1 issue is an issue that takes place in between story arcs, and is written to not just be an excellent bridge between the two stories, but also to be an accessible jumping on point for new readers to a series. So, for example, lets say you haven't read AVENGERS yet, and you're like man, I wanna jump on with this one, but really don't want to backtrack to #1 right off the bat. Well, with the .1 issues, you can pick up that issue, and be pretty much caught up, and have a good handle on the feel of the series right from the get go. And, this Wednesday, we're getting two OUTSTANDING new Point One issues with AVENGERS #12.1, and SECRET AVENGERS #12.1. Both of these are personal favorite series of mine, and AVENGERS is a must-read. This is the flagship title of the MARVEL UNIVERSE, and if you're looking for a book to follow that captures the sweeping scale of the Marvel U, and everything that happens within, this is the book for you. Plus, the creative team is STELLAR, and on this point one issue, not only do you get the always talented BENDIS, but handling the art chores is the one, and the only BRYAN HITCH. This is the guy who totally redefined how many of us view the look of the Avengers with his run on THE ULTIMATES alongside MARK MILLAR. And, he's got Paul Neary inking him, so his stuff looks fresh as can be. What's the story on this .1 issue? There's a high stakes battle about to set off between the Avengers and the Intelligencia, and in the midst of all this, Agent Brand and SWORD return, and Spider-Woman goes missing. Bendis and Hitch deliver a great read on this one, and set up for the next major AVENGERS story arc. Click here for a preview of AVENGERS #12.1 Also, dropping this Wednesday is the .1 issue of SECRET AVENGERS, written by the one and only rising superstar NICK SPENCER. We've been totally wowed by Spencer on titles like INFINITE VACATION, MORNING GLORIES, THUNDER AGENTS, and IRON MAN 2.0, so we're stoked to see him joining Brubaker on SECRET AVENGERS. This issue shows us how word of Steve Rogers' clandestine operations has leaked to the world, kicking off a global race by the Secret Avengers to save compromised superhuman assets before they can be taken off the board. Behind it all, there's a mysterious figure in familiar garb, who'll force Steve Rogers to confront some very hard realities about his new role as a general. We love Nick Spencer, and we love Secret Avengers, so we are totally stoked for this one as well. Not reading SECRET AVENGERS? Jump on with this .1 and find out why this is one of the best Avengers books on the stands. Click here for a preview of SECRET AVENGERS #12.1 WALKING DEAD #84 - THE CONCLUSION TO NO WAY OUT HITS THIS WEDNESDAY.. AND AFTER LAST MONTH'S #83... WE HAVE TO READ THIS! The finest comic on the stands continues this Wednesday, as we prepare for our next monthly fix of Kirkman's AMAZING WALKING DEAD epic. Seriously, this is probably the single best written comic, month in, and month out, and it NEVER disappoints. NEVER. Okay, I know, I'm biased, they totally got me in that last issue, and I'm so excited to see what's coming next now. But seriously, who doesn't love WALKING DEAD? Not reading this one, folks? I'm telling you: buy the first trade paperback for only $9.99, and if you don't like it, I'll give you your money back. That's how much confidence we have in this book. We KNOW you'll love it. No matter what you normally read, WALKING DEAD will grab you, as it's one of the best written, most compelling pieces of comic book goodness out right now. As for those of you like myself who're already hooked on this one: we'll see ya Wednesday for #84. :) Click here for a preview of WALKING DEAD #84 GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS #9 *WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS CHAPTER 6* - THE WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS RAGES ON THIS WEDNESDAY IN EMERALD WARRIORS #9! We are totally hooked on WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS. The two chapters that came out last week were HUGE, and delivered two fantastic reads, and now we're stoked to see where things continue to in this week's WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS CHAPTER 6 in the pages of GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #9. There's some very painful consequences that Guy Gardner must deal with after the events of last week's GL #65 and GL CORPS #59... and trust us, it's going to be interesting to see how this plays out. Not reading WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS? This is probably the most epic GREEN LANTERN storyline that Geoff Johns has done since THE SINESTRO CORPS WARS. In the post-BLACKEST NIGHT world of the GLs, the Corps is on the verge of tearing itself apart, and different factions have formed, with many of the Corps being taken over by an entity, and only a handful of Lanterns being left to keep the Corps from self-destructing. It's a compelling read that delivers one heck of a good story, and as always Johns brings it 110%. We're stoked to see where things go next, and I just have this strong hunch we may end up seeing Sinestro inducted back into the GL Corps. And, I gotta tell you guys, Tyler Kirkham's art on GL CORPS looks AWESOME. Wanna get into this one? We've got all the back issues in stock and available now to get you caught up! PETER BAGGE'S HATE RETURNS THIS WEDNESDAY WITH HATE ANNUAL #9 - ONE OF OUR INDIE FAVES GETS A NEW INSTALLMENT THIS WEEK! I gotta show some love to PETER BAGGE and HATE, folks. It's a comic that rarely ever comes out, and it's pretty under the radar for most, but HATE is one of my personal favorites. The series started our way back in the late '80s, and early '90s, and chronicled the adventures of suburban slacker Buddy Bradley from his wasted days kicking around his home in suburban New Jersey, to his disenchanted move to Seattle during the whole Grunge era, Peter Bagge really brought an excellent level of humor, and satire with a misanthropic edge to indie comix back in the day. And, what's cool about HATE, and it's cast, is that Bagge has been aging his cast of characters with each one of his semi-irregular annual one-shots. We've watched Buddy go from a teenage punk, to a jaded 20-something, to a family man in his mid-30s trying to raise he and Lisa's insane kids. It's just a fun, fun series, and I always get excited whenever one of these new annuals hits. I'd recommend snagging a copy of this, giving it a go, and if you dig it, I'll point you to the two omnibus-style trade paperbacks they've done which collect the entire run of HATE (20-some issues) into two massive, yet low-priced tomes. :) THIRD EYE STAFF PICKS Steve - GREEN LANTERN #65 - Man, this was one of the best issues of GREEN LANTERN in a long time. I am loving the whole WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS thing, and can't wait to see where it goes next. Trish - SUPER DINOSAUR #1 - So much fun! Kirkman manages to tell the perfect kind of all-ages story, just like Vaughn did with Runaways: appropriate and compelling for ALL ages, not just kids, and not just adults. This one was wacky and way fun. TORMA - INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #503- Another stellar FEAR ITSELF tie-in. Fraction really shapes this one out nicely since he's also writing the main FEAR ITSELF and plus INVINCIBLE IRON MAN just plain rocks. Tony (Prince Frederick) UNCANNY X-FORCE #8 - I had no idea I missed the Shadow King this much until I read this issue. Uncanny X-Force has got to be my favorite X-Book right now!