THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE COMICS FOR WEDNESDAY 5/25/2011

CROSSED 3D - The Most Intense Horror Comic You'll Ever Read Goes 3D This Wednesday As an old school gorehound, I'm a huge fan of the AVATAR PRESS series CROSSED, which, to date, has not been topped in terms of sheer horror. Every entry into the world of CROSSED has proven to be a top-notch, well-written, well-illustrated foray into the depths of horror and madness that anyone looking for a good horror comic could ask for. I mean, maybe it's cause I'm a child of the '80s, but seeing a new installment of CROSSED grace the shelves always reminds me of the countless gore-soaked horror comics I'd come across in between skateboarding to 7-11, and renting THE BEYOND for the 15th time. I could keep rambling about how much I love the series, but instead, let me just talk to you about what CROSSED is, and more importantly: what CROSSED 3D is. :) Okay, so the story behind CROSSED in a nut-shell, is that it's a survival horror saga originally created by THE BOYS and PREACHER writer GARTH ENNIS. In the world of CROSSED, a disease infects people with a cross-like rash on their face, and fills them with a terrifying need to commit acts of pure, unadulterated evil. The thing that makes CROSSED so horrifying (and so entertaining) is that the Crossed are not like zombies: they're still alive and kicking, and have their ability to plan, plot, and devise all sorts of horrible ways to lash out at the world around them. This is one of the most clever twists to the series, and is what keeps us all coming back again and again. Of course, there's also the long track record that CROSSED has had between earlier installments for solid storytelling, and top tier art. Garth Ennis and David Lapham are the two writers behind the series, and both have proven that they're more than capable of balancing that fine line between shocks and thrills with character development and suspenseful storytelling. Wanna read earlier CROSSED stuff? We'd recommend starting with the first CROSSED trade paperback (collecting the entire 10-issue maxiseries that Ennis originally launched with, available now at Third Eye), and then moving onto CROSSED FAMILY VALUES (currently only available in single issues, but we've got 1-7 in stock now), and then the most current run, CROSSED PSYCHOPATH (only 2 issues in, both in stock now). However, if you haven't read CROSSED before, you can still jump in anywhere you'd like, as each story is separate and not connected to earlier installments. Which leads us to this week's CROSSED 3D. A perfect opportunity to try out the world of CROSSED, CROSSED 3D is a bold move for Avatar, and honestly: it looks AWESOME. The story behind CROSSED 3D, penned by David Lapham and IGNITION CITY artist Gianluca Pagliarani, is about one of the last surviving human doctors who gets trapped in a New York skyscraper, and must be rescued by a rag-tag group of survivors with prior military or police experience. Now, the problem here? New York City is one of the most populated cities in the country, which means it's filled with millions of CROSSED, and it's up to a handful of scattered survivors to rescue one of the men who may be responsible for finding a cure for the CROSSED plague. CROSSED 3D hits the shop this Wednesday, make sure you snag yourself a copy and find out why this series is always at the top of our reading list! WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS NEARS IT'S END WITH THREE MASSIVE CHAPTERS THIS WEDNESDAY: GREEN LANTERN #66 *Ch. 7*, GREEN LANTERN CORPS #60 *Ch.8*, and GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #10 *Ch.9* Geoff Johns, writer of the recent smash-hit FLASHPOINT, and of course, the now-classic BLACKEST NIGHT and BRIGHTEST DAY series, has been keeping us on the edge of our seats with his work on WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS. More in tune with the epic SINESTRO CORPS WARS, WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS is a story that follows after the events of BLACKEST NIGHT and BRIGHTEST DAY, and shows us how uneasy alliances between Lanterns like Guy Gardner and Red Lantern ATROCITUS, and Hal Jordan and Sinestro are only fuel for the fire that's tearing the GL Corps apart. Of course, the real danger here is the dark reach of Parallax that's extended into the central Power Battery, and has completely overtaken the wills of many of the Green Lantern Corps. Now, the uneasy alliances may be the only thing that's going to keep the Green Lanterns from ripping themselves to shreds. Each chapter has proven to be better, and better than the last, and now, moving forward, we're nearing the conclusion, with chapters 7,8, and 9 all hitting this week in the pages of GREEN LANTERN #66, GREEN LANTERN CORPS #60, and GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #10. One of the best "mini" crossovers we've seen in quite some time, WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS has been delivering in a major way with each installment, and we cannot wait to see where things go next as we near the conclusion. Missed any of the earlier chapters of this one? We've got plenty of copies in stock to get you caught up on each chapter of the run. Click here for our official WAR OF THE GREEN LANTERNS Checklist to get the full scoop on which chapters occur where. VENOM #3 - Rick Remender (of UNCANNY X-FORCE fame) Is MAKING THE NEW VENOM ONGOING SERIES ONE OF THE BEST MARVEL BOOKS ON THE STANDS! Rick Remender is quickly turning into one of my favorite writers. He's been totally blowing my mind every month with UNCANNY X-FORCE, and the brand new VENOM ongoing series that he and TONY MOORE (co-creator of THE WALKING DEAD, and original series artist) have launched has been the first time I think I've seen a VENOM series really "work" since the days of LETHAL PROTECTOR. Seriously, Remender GETS IT, and he knows what it takes to make a good comic. He really channels the kind of energy and excitement that series like the original X-FORCE, and VENOM had back in the day, while still putting a fresh, new spin on it, and kinda downplaying some of the hokier aspects of the original series. Anyways, the current VENOM ongoing series features Spider-man's long-time bully, FLASH THOMPSON, as the most recent host to the murderous symbiote. After having come back from serving in the military, and having lost his legs overseas, Flash Thompson is at his wit's end until the government approaches him with a proposition that hits him in two ways: He gets his legs back, AND he gets to be Spider-man. Anyone who knows the history of the character knows that Flash Thompson has always wanted to be Spidey, and has idolized him for years. Now, with the VENOM symbiote, and a special system which keeps it from "hulking out" and eating people's brains, Thompson can get his wish... as long as he continues to be the special agent angel of death that the U.S Government wants him to be. After last month's VENOM #2, and a very brutal throwdown between KRAVEN THE HUNTER and VENOM, we saw that Flash had lost control of the symbiote.. and now, with his employers ready to push the self-destruct button on him, will we see Flash regain control over the symbiote? This series practically crackles with energy, Remender has a great knack for pacing, and solid storytelling, and the artwork has been top notch. Even if you're not a big Spidey or Venom fan, you should check this out, 'cause it's just plain good comics. Missed out on issues 1 and 2? We've got copies of both in stock to get you caught up. WALKING DEAD #85 - HOP ONTO THE MONTHLY SERIES! This is the first issue which follows the upcoming WALKING DEAD VOLUME 14 Trade Paperback! Okay, folks, this one's a biggie. Not only is this the beginning of the next arc of WALKING DEAD, but it's also the first issue that follows the upcoming 14th trade paperback. And, we know how many of you guys are always itching to jump onto the monthlies with WALKING DEAD, 'cause lets face it: waiting for the trade is REALLY hard. Well, now's your chance. Volume 14 may not be out yet, but it's due soon, and we've seen from past experience, that the first issue following the latest trade paperback of WALKING DEAD always goes out of print fast, and becomes super difficult to track down. So, if you've been waiting to jump aboard, we recommend snagging yourself a copy of WALKING DEAD #85 this Wednesday. Now, as far as the actual issue goes, and for those of you who may already be following the series month to month, then you guys know that the less we say the better.. 'cause lets face it: no one wants to see WALKING DEAD spoilered. All we can say is this: it's going to be awesome, just like the previous 84 issues. On a side-note, there is something very cool, and something very seldom done for WALKING DEAD, coming out alongside WALKING DEAD #85 this week, and it's a limited edition variant cover by the creator of the upcoming IMAGE COMICS/SKYLINE series WITCHDOCTOR. Witchdoctor looks set to be one of the coolest things Image is putting out this summer, and with a free preview in the back of this week's WALKING DEAD, we can see Mr. Robert Kirkman is stoked about the book. ALEX ROSS REVIVES THE CHARACTERS OF COMICS LEGEND JACK KIRBY IN KIRBY: GENESIS #0 - AND THIS FIRST ISSUE IS ONLY $1.00! Here's one that looks freakin' rad, folks. Alex Ross, the legendary artist behind things like KINGDOM COME, JUSTICE, and MARVELS pairs back up with his MARVELS collaborator, KURT BUSIEK, to revive the classic, creator-owned characters of comics legend JACK KIRBY. Now, any of you guys who know me, know that I am a BIG Jack Kirby fan. I think out of all the creators of comics from yesteryear, he is probably the most influential, and possibly (alongside Will Eisner), the most important. So, it's no surprise I'm excited about this. But as good as Alex Ross and Jack Kirby are, there's more to this than just that... so, lets talk a little bit about what KIRBY GENESIS is all about. After leaving both Marvel and DC, Jack Kirby had created many characters that were creator-owned, and many of these have gone undiscovered by many generations until now. Now, in this new storyline where a space probe to the stars brings back an unexpected message that changes the face of the Earth as we know it. Three ordinary people, and the entire world, are changed, and many of Kirby's classic characters are re-imagined in a modern context, like Captain Victory, Silver Star, and more. This one is going to be a blast, and personally, I can't wait to sit down and read it this Wednesday. Click here for a preview of KIRBY GENESIS #0 THE REIGN OF DOOMSDAY CONTINUES IN ACTION COMICS #901 *REIGN OF DOOMSDAY CHAPTER 7* THIS WEDNESDAY and PICKS UP WHERE THE EPIC ACTION COMICS #900 LEFT OFF Paul Cornell has been doing an incredible job with his work on ACTION COMICS, which began in issue #890 of the series, and after the MAJOR events that went down in last month's ACTION COMICS #900 between Doomsday, Lex Luthor, and Superman... we're pretty pumped to see what's in store next as the REIGN OF DOOMSDAY continues on. What's the REIGN OF DOOMSDAY? A couple of months ago, DOOMSDAY, the being responsible for killing the Man of Steel way back in the day, returned and began hunting down the past SUPERMEN. Carving a path through THE ERADICATOR, STEEL and CYBORG SUPERMAN, he's been absorbing many of their abilities, as he sets his sights on the Man of Steel. And, now, with Superman having returned to ACTION COMICS in issue #900, and having finished a massive battle between a Black Lantern Ring-wielding LEX LUTHOR, he's got to find out just how much his old foe has evolved. We've been totally digging both Cornell's run on ACTION (which we have available both in single issues and hardcover collection), AND the REIGN OF DOOMSDAY, and if you've been itching for a good Superman story, then we highly recommend checking this one out. We have limited amounts of the early chapters in stock of the REIGN OF DOOMSDAY, and plenty of recent chapters, to get you caught up. Click here for our official Third Eye REIGN OF DOOMSDAY CHECKLIST THE MIGHTY THOR #2 - THE ONE THOR BOOK YOU GOTTA READ! AMAZING STORY, AMAZING ART, from FEAR ITSELF writer MATT FRACTION and SIEGE/THOR artist OLIVIER COIPIEL! Missed issue #1? We've got copies in stock! Thor vs. Galactus? Marvel hit a home-run last month with MIGHTY THOR #1, which came at a perfect time, 'cause after the awesomeness that was the new THOR movie, I think that many people were looking for an easy-to-jump into, and kick-ass Thor title to check out. And, folks, THIS is it. FEAR ITSELF and INVINCIBLE IRON MAN writer MATT FRACTION really knocks it out of the park on this new ongoing THOR series which quickly has climbed up my reading list to a must-read title. So, what is THE MIGHTY THOR? Well, with the original THOR title reverting back to it's old JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY title, and going for a more fantasy/Asgard-oriented approach (which is also pretty kick-ass), Marvel has given us a much-more "Thor in the Marvel U" kind of title with the new MIGHTY THOR series. You wanna read THOR without getting lost in a sea of Asgardians that you're not that familiar with? This is the book to read. This is THOR laying down the Thunder God smackdown, and with the artist of the Straczynski THOR run handling the pencils on this one.... it looks AMAZING. Fraction brings his A game and delivers an accessible, action-packed Thor book that is easy to jump right into, and is packed with the same kind of Marvel magic and solid storytelling that he brings to books like INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, and most recently, FEAR ITSELF. So, what's the plot with the first arc? The Silver Surfer arrived in issue #1 with a message: Galactus, the World-Eater, is coming, and he has his sights set on Asgard as his next meal. Loki and Sif must ally alongside Thor to defend Asgard against GALACTUS, but will the trio of legendary Asgardians be enough to keep a weakened Asgard (and Thor) from succumbing to The World-Eater? Missed issue #1? We've got copies in stock to catch you up! Click here for a preview of THE MIGHTY THOR #2 BUTCHER BAKER, THE RIGHTEOUS MAKER #3 - IMAGE COMICS ASKS THE QUESTION: WHAT IF THE COMEDIAN FROM WATCHMEN HAD HIS OWN COMIC? Okay, before I proceed, I know: this is the cover to issue #4. Sorry, folks, but the cover to issue #3 is a bit risque for the Third Eye newsletter, haha. But, that just tells you how over-the-top this series is. We're loving BUTCHER BAKER, and totally digging this crazy, ridiculous, and darkly humorous take on super-heroes. If you're a fan of stuff like THE BOYS, then you'll love BUTCHER BAKER. Just imagine if THE COMEDIAN from WATCHMEN had his own comic, and that kinda sums up how this series feels. The story centers around Butcher Baker, a retired "patriotic"-themed superhero, who now spends his days in debauchery, until Jay Leno and Dick Cheney come to him with one last job offer... and, BAM!, off we go, in his crazy giant bigrig truck, Butcher Baker starts laying down the smack. We guarantee you'll dig this crazy, totally ultra-violent, and completely fun take on the world of superheroes. And, just like many other recent Image hits, the first printings on this one are pretty sought after, but we've still got plenty of first prints of #1 and #2 (as well as second prints for when those run out) in stock to get you caught up to this week's #3. HELLRAISER #2 - BOOM! has a HIT with this new HELLRAISER series written by CLIVE BARKER himself! Missed #1? We've got copies in stock to get you hooked up! Okay, I think I can skip the whole rundown about how I'm a huge horror movie guy, and cut to the chase on this one, since we've already gone over that when talking about CROSSED 3D up above. The new HELLRAISER series from BOOM! (IRREDEEMABLE, PLANET OF THE APES, ect) is simply put: KICK-ASS. I think having CLIVE BARKER on board with this one is a huge boon for BOOM, as you can definitely tell that this is the master of the macabre himself writing a brand new chapter into the HELLRAISER mythology. We haven't seen Clive explore the world of Pinhead, and his kin in a VERY long time, and this in-continuity, canon exploration of the HELLRAISER world is very welcome. I also feel that the addition of Leonardo Manco on the art chores is a BIG help as well, as you've got to have a solid artist to really bring the Cenobites to life, and Manco definitely pulls it off. A must-read for Barker or Hellraiser fans, or heck, horror fans in general, check this one out. Missed issue #1? We've got copies in stock to catch you up. VERTIGO DELIVERS THE STRANGE ADVENTURES ANTHOLOGY THIS WEDNESDAY WITH STRANGE ADVENTURES #1 FEATURING "SWEET TOOTH" creator JEFF LEMIRE, "100 BULLETS" creators AZZARELLO and RISSO, and MORE! A MUST-READ Dude, I am SO stoked for this one. I love it when they do these weird little anthologies filled with all sorts of kick-ass comic creators, and heck, you throw a Paul Pope cover on it, and I'm sold a thousand times over. DC COMICS & VERTIGO resurrect the STRANGE ADVENTURES banner this Wednesday with a brand new anthology that showcases marquee talent doing modern day weird science, and not-so-weird science fiction tales. Featuring creators like JEFF LEMIRE (of SWEET TOOTH fame), PAUL CORNELL (ACTION COMICS, DOCTOR WHO), and 100 BULLETS creative team BRIAN AZZARELLO and EDUARDO RISSO, this one looks to be freakin' sweet. I'm particularly pumped for Azzarello and Risso's SPACEMAN story which will be serialized in each issue of STRANGE ADVENTURES. Imagine if DC/VERTIGO brought their unique take to the HEAVY METAL Magazine style of comic storytelling, and that sums up STRANGE ADVENTURES pretty well. Check it out this Wednesday! FF #4 - One of Our Top 5 Favorite Monthly Marvel Books! Jonathan Hickman is DESTROYING on this one, folks, you GOTTA read it! Missed 1-3? We've got 'em in stock to catch you up! I've said it once, and I'll say it again, Jonathan Hickman is making the FF one of my favorite monthly Marvel books. Seriously. And, I've never even been a big-time FANTASTIC FOUR fan, but ever since he kicked off his run on that title which culminated in the HUMAN TORCH biting it... I've been hooked. I mean, he's just delivering some of the most plain awesome storytelling I've seen on ANY Marvel book, and heck, if he's able to bring some new blood into the FANTASTIC FOUR, then I'm all about it. Hickman just brings that extra special something to the book that's impossible to really pinpoint, but you can definitely sense it when reading the title, 'cause the pacing, the storytelling, the characterzation, all comes together in a very organic, and natural way that really keeps us interested. Beginning this Wednesday.. it's time.. THE WAR OF THE FOUR CITIES is here, and after substantial build-up of these mythical kingdoms and lost lands in the earlier parts of Hickman's run, all hell breaks loose. Just remember, Third Eye Faithful: All Hope Lies in DOOM. Missed issues 1-3? We've got 'em in stock to get you hooked up! Click here for a preview of FF #4 '68 #2 - TOTAL ZOMBIE MAYHEM FROM IMAGE COMICS WITH KILLER ART BY NAT JONES! MISSED #1? WE'VE GOT COPIES IN STOCK We're a sucker for a good ZOMBIE book here at Third Eye, and man, is it just me, or is this a horror-comic heavy week? Walking Dead, Crossed, Hellraiser, Avatar's NOTLD, and now '68? Loads of gore this week. Anyways, not all zombie comics are the top notch reads we've come to expect from a series like WALKING DEAD, but '68 delivers a VERY good zombie title to follow in WD's footsteps. The series is set during the Vietnam War, and shows a zombie outbreak that goes down in the heart of Vietnam during the darkest stretch of the Vietnam War. Nat Jones, who has been a favorite of mine ever since I first saw his work on stuff like THE NAIL and the Frazetta-inspired DEATH DEALER comics, does a GREAT job of bringing this one to life, and making it look fun and nasty. Missed issue #1? We've got copies in stock to get you hooked up. THE COBRA CIVIL WAR RAGES, AS THE SEARCH FOR THE NEW COBRA COMMANDER CONTINUES IN COBRA #1 *COBRA CIVIL WAR PT 3*, the first issue of the new COBRA ongoing series! It's been a long time since we've enjoyed GI JOE comics this much (with the exception of the PHENOMENAL GI JOE COBRA limited series), but the current storyline running through IDW's GI JOE books has had us hooked big-time. The COBRA CIVIL WAR is the storyline that follows in the wake of COBRA COMMANDER'S death. Now, that there's a void of power in the COBRA organization, many of it's senior members are in a brutal competition to assume the role of Cobra Commander, and take control of the group. And, it's up to GI JOE'S finest to make sure whoever takes the helm is who they know will be the easiest to handle. Will it be Serpentor? Destro? Baroness? That's the question we're all asking, and as things continue with the crossover in GI JOE COBRA #1, we can't wait to find out. Missed the earlier chapters (GI JOE VOL 2 #0, GI JOE VOL 2 #1, and SNAKE-EYES ONGOING #1)? We've got copies in stock to catch you up. AMERICAN VAMPIRE VOLUME 2 HARDCOVER - Our favorite VERTIGO series currently running hits it's second volume this Wednesday! Scott Snyder has been one of the real stand-out superstar writers of 2010/2011 for us, and his VERTIGO series AMERICAN VAMPIRE has quickly turned into our favorite VERTIGO series currently running. It's a fascinating, compelling take on the Vampire genre, which brings the kind of mature, multilayered storytelling and strong characterization that we've seen in modern classics like Y THE LAST MAN, SCALPED, and PREACHER. What is AMERICAN VAMPIRE? American Vampire is an ongoing series which explores the notions of vampire evolution and traces the bloodline of a new kind of vampire, an American species, with new powers and characteristics, through various decades of American history. The story focuses strongly on the original AMERICAN VAMPIRE, Skinner Sweet, who was the first Vampire to be turned on American soil, and Pearl Jones, an aspiring actress in the '20s, who after being ripped to shreds by a group of vampires, is brought back as a vampire herself by Skinner Sweet. The series bounces around throughout various decades, and part of the fascinating storytelling going on is how the primary characters are portrayed throughout different eras, while watching the bigger story linking up throughout each installment. One of my current favorites, and one of the best Vertigo books I can recommend, if you're not reading this one, then you gotta give it a shot. Snag a copy of AMERICAN VAMPIRE volume 1, or if you prefer the single issues, we've got all of them in stock for you to jump on with. Either way, we really feel you'll dig this one, and cannot recommend it enough. This week marks the release of the second collection of AMERICAN VAMPIRE stories, and for those of you who've been following this one strictly in collected format, you're in for a treat, as things REALLY get interesting with the beginning of this book. FEAR ITSELF: IRON MAN 2.0 #5 and SECRET AVENGERS #13 FEEL THE EFFECTS OF FEAR ITSELF AS THE HAMMERS CONTINUE TO FALL Marvel's blockbuster summer crossover, FEAR ITSELF, continues to keep us on the edge of our seats. This is probably the best Marvel event we've followed since CIVIL WAR from a few years ago, and we've even been digging most of the tie-in issues, which have, for the most part, all brought something very interesting, and exciting to the bigger story. This week, we get a double-dose of FEAR ITSELF, in the pages of SECRET AVENGERS #13 and IRON MAN 2.0 #4, both of which are series I really dig, and hey, both of which happen to be written by the one, and only NICK SPENCER (MORNING GLORIES, INFINITE VACATION). In SECRET AVENGERS #13, Steve Rogers must mobilize his shadow ops crew of the SECRET AVENGERS, to do the things that must be done to keep the world from falling apart in the face of FEAR ITSELF. Meanwhile, in IRON MAN 2.0 #5, one of the major villains of FEAR ITSELF and one of THE WORTHY, shows up to claim his power and wreak havoc. War Machine must pair up with The Immortal Iron Fist to fend off this avatar of the Asgardian GOD OF FEAR. WALKING DEAD & INVINCIBLE writer ROBERT KIRKMAN'S SUPER DINOSAUR #2 STOMPS INTO THIRD EYE THIS WEDNESDAY - WE LOVE SUPER DINOSAUR, AND YOU WILL TOO! Missed #1? We've got copies in stock to catch you up We're HUGE fans of ROBERT KIRKMAN here at Third Eye. Whether it's his work on WALKING DEAD, or his unique, 21st century spin on the superhero genre with books like INVINCIBLE and ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN, Kirkman has a great knack for really delivering a good story, and a fresh spin on concepts that you'd think would never work. And, nothing proves this more than SUPER DINOSAUR, Kirkman's latest series, which we are totally hooked on. I mean, when you say it out loud.. go on, say it.. SUPER DINOSAUR.. it doesn't exactly sound like this one has potential to wow us, right? But, that's where Kirkman comes in, and makes it AWESOME. Super Dinosaur is freakin' great, and Kirkman brings a nice balance of strong character development, believable dialogue, and most importantly: a lot of fun, to the kind of comic that ANYONE can enjoy. In other words, if you want a comic you can share with your kids or younger brothers and sisters, but still want to experience some KIRKMAN goodness, then SUPER DINOSAUR is it. The story is completely ridiculous, but works in every way possible. Basically, it's the tale of a boy and his pet T-Rex, who just happens to wear a mecha-suit, tote around rocket launchers, and loves to play video games. Folks, when you see Super Dinosaur playing a console game with his little T-Rex arms in the first issue, just like me, you'll be sold. This book's a blast. We can't forget to give props to artist JASON HOWARD who really brings his A game on this one, and delivers some of the best art we've seen from him. Missed issue #1? Don't worry, we've got copies in stock to catch you up to this week's #2. ZENESCOPE RETURNS TO NEVERLAND THIS WEDNESDAY WITH TALES FROM NEVERLAND #1 FEATURING TINKER BELL Imagine A NEVERLAND where PETER PAN is the VILLAIN and HOOK is the HERO. We're big fans of the Zenescope stuff, especially their forays into WONDERLAND and NEVERLAND with their RETURN TO WONDERLAND trilogy, and more recently, their NEVERLAND series. Call it a guilty pleasure, but their tongue-in-cheek, dark and twisted take on classic fairytale lore is a blast, and nobody does it better than Zenescope. This Wednesday, they're taking us back to the world of Neverland, where Peter Pan is the villain, and Captain Hook is the misunderstood hero with their new TALES FROM NEVERLAND one-shots. This first one shows the dark past of the one, and only Tinker Bell. Missed the orginal NEVERLAND series? We've got it both in single issue format, and in collected hardcover edition. Check it out this Wednesday! MARVEL'S SMASH HIT "5 RONIN" LIMITED SERIES ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY IN COMPLETE GRAPHIC NOVEL FORM WITH THE 5 RONIN HARDCOVER One of our favorite things this past spring was the 5 RONIN limited series that Marvel kicked out back in March. This 1602-esque re-imagining of various MARVEL COMICS Icons against the backdrop of feudal Japan was freakin' AWESOME, and with a combination of stellar storytelling, and top notch art, was one of our favorite reads of the Spring season. And, hot on the heels of the limited series, is this hardcover collecting all five issues of the 5 RONIN limited series into one volume, with a VERY sleek DAVID AJA Wolverine cover. :) Check it out this Wednesday! SKULLKICKERS #7 - THE BEST FANTASY COMIC ON THE STANDS, IF YOU'RE NOT READING THIS KILLER IMAGE SERIES, YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON SOME AWESOME READING! Snag the first trade collecting 1-5 for only $9.99 I'm a BIG BIG BIG fan of SKULLKICKERS, and it's proven itself to be one of the coolest new IMAGE series to come out in the last year, and that's saying something with the amount of awesome new reads that've been coming out of IMAGE this year. There aren't many good fantasy-geared comics on the stands, but SKULLKICKERS manages to not only be the best fantasy comic on the stands, but one of the best month to month reads in general. It's blend of amazing artwork, ARMY OF DARKNESS slapstick-esque humor, and rich, multilayered fantasy world setting makes it a must-read, and we love it. An easy way to describe SKULLKICKERS is by pointing out the feel of how it's like a buddy comedy set against the backdrop of a fantasy world. Sort of like THE HANGOVER meets WORLD OF WARCRAFT. However, there's a lot more going on here than just comedy, folks, as Jim Zub, Edwin Huang and Misty Coats are putting out some of the sharpest, and most clever fantasy stories we've seen. Ever asked the question: What's a good D&D or Lord of the Rings-esque comic? Skullkickers is the answer. Pick up the first trade collecting issues #1-6 this week, or snag the back issues, we've got 'em all in stock, and catch up to this week's #7. PLANET OF THE APES #2 HITS THIS WEDNESDAY CONTINUING BOOM!'S KILLER PREQUEL TO THE ORIGINAL 1968 PLANET OF THE APES FILM Missed #1? We've got copies in stock! What can I say? I'm a sucker for PLANET OF THE APES, and this new BOOM! series which acts as a prequel to the original (and of course, the best) PLANET OF THE APES film from 1968 is KICK-ASS. Ever wonder how things between the humans and the apes got to where they were at the start of the PLANET OF THE APES film? This is the book that explores that story, and much more. Another killer new series from BOOM, the folks behind HELLRAISER, IRREDEEMABLE, and much more. Missed issue #1? We've got copies in stock to catch you up to this week's #2. JIMMY PALMIOTTI AND JUSTIN GRAY, the team behind JONAH HEX,TIMEBOMB and more, DELIVER THE TATTERED MAN this Wednesday Two of my favorite writers, PALMIOTTI and GRAY, the team who have made JONAH HEX a top-notch (albeit a major sleeper) read for the last 67 issues deliver this killer new one-shot that blends crime noir, and the supernatural to make one heck of a cool story. Who is the TATTERED MAN? A spirit of vengeance spawned from the concentration camps of Germany lies dormant til it is resurrected in modern day New York and finds although times have changed, its work is far from done. A mix of horror, crime noir, and super-hero storytelling, this one reminds you of a modern day take on macabre vigilantes of days gone by like THE SPECTRE, RAGMAN, and more. Sounds pretty rad, and the art looks great, check it out this Wednesday! GARTH ENNIS and AMANDA CONNER PRESENT THE PRO... BEFORE ENNIS SHOWCASED THE DARK SIDE OF SUPERHEROES IN THE BOYS, HE BROUGHT HIS DARK SENSE OF HUMOR TO US VIA THE PRO! Now back in print, GARTH ENNIS (THE BOYS,CROSSED,PREACHER) and AMANDA CONNER (POWER GIRL) present to you THE PRO. Before Ennis was giving us his dark and disturbing take on superheroes in the pages of THE BOYS, he brought his dark sense of humor to the world of capes with THE PRO one-shot, the story of the world's first super-powered working girl. Featuring the fantastic artwork of AMANDA CONNER, the PRO is a blast, and if you dig stuff like BUTCHER BAKER and THE BOYS, you'll love THE PRO. Check it out this Wednesday at Third Eye! MORE STEAMPUNK AWESOMENESS FROM IMAGE COMICS IN CARBON GREY #3 THIS WEDNESDAY! MISSED 1 & 2? WE'VE GOT COPIES IN STOCK TO CATCH YOU UP We're totally hooked on IMAGE's new STEAMPUNK-charged series, CARBON GREY, which shows us an alternate history where a WWI-era inspired sci-fi world was dominated by violence, bloodshed, and in the case of CARBON GREY itself, amazing artwork that leaps off the page at you. What's the story behind CARBON GREY? The Sisters Grey have protected the Kaiser of Mitteleuropa for years, but one of the sisters now stands accused of his assassination. From there, we're taken on a bloody, and brutal journey of bladed soldiers and airborne fights of frenzy and fantaicism. There's a very epic feel to the story being told here, with a real sense of mythology and lore to the world that's being built. The real stand out, of course, is the artwork, which captures the steampunk aesthetic perfectly, and has us completely immersed in the story. Another great new IMAGE series, check it out this Wednesday, and if you missed 1 & 2, we've got copies in stock to catch you up. STAFF PICKS STEVE: UNCANNY X-FORCE #10 - The DARK ANGEL SAGA begins here, and as someone who got into comics full-swing back in the day with the AGE OF APOCALYPSE, this issue turned my favorite X-BOOK into my favorite book of the month (excluding FLASHPOINT).. totally great read, and a great start. TRISH: BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM #1 - Scott Snyder is like THE best BATMAN writer right now, and GATES OF GOTHAM was awesome awesome awesome. TORMA:AVENGERS #13 - This was GREAT. Seeing BACHALO on board as the artist is fantastic, cause while I do like ROMITA JR, I was ready for a new face on the book. Probably my favorite FEAR ITSELF tie-in so far. TONY (PRINCE FREDERICK): DRUMS #1 - Great new IMAGE book, with loads of cool voodoo mythology, voodoo zombies, and well, voodoo awesomeness. Definitely took me by surprise!