THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 6/15/11

WALKING DEAD VOLUME 14 TRADE PAPERBACK NO WAY OUT HITS THIS WEDNESDAY - SNAG THE TRADE, AND THEN JUMP ONTO THE MONTHLY WITH ISSUE #85 (IN STOCK NOW!) This Wednesday marks the release of something I know that many of you guys have been eagerly waiting for: the 14th volume of WALKING DEAD in trade paperback format. The series continues to get better, and better, and we just cannot get enough, as Kirkman leaves us at the edge of our seats each and every month. And, we know that many of you prefer to follow the series in trade paperback format, and so we know you're probably overjoyed to see the release of Vol.14 this Wednesday. Now, for those of you who've been waiting for the right opportunity to jump on board with the monthly issues... we've got you covered. Volume 14 will take you right up to issue #84, and then guess what.. we've got plenty of WALKING DEAD #85 in stock (although we're sure these'll be going fast on Wednesday, so make sure you snag your's) to get you caught up to the monthly series, so you only have to wait 30 days for your next fix of zombie madness. For those of you who are not yet reading WALKING DEAD... you have got to, got to, got to get into this series. We're so confident you'll like the first volume that if you don't, you can return it for your money back. It's one of the best comics on the stands, and it really is a testament to how well this one is written that it's managed to capture our imaginations for almost a decade now. And while the TV show did a great job of capturing the feel of WALKING DEAD... there is NOTHING like the actual book. For those of you who may think it's just a straight zombie comic, without any style or substance; you couldn't be more wrong. This book is rock-n-roll all the way through, and keeps you hooked with strong character development, compelling storytelling, and the most brutal freakin' cliffhangers you'll find in any medium. Trust us, folks, no matter what you're into: whether it's sci-fi, horror, superhero, crime noir, whatever.. you'll love WALKING DEAD. :) FLASHPOINT WEDNESDAY: THE NEXT ROUND OF FLASHPOINT INSIGNIA BADGES & TIE-IN TITLES ARRIVE THIS WEDNESDAY, AS WELL AS A VERY SPECIAL FLASHPOINT ONE-SHOT FEATURING GORILLA GRODD FLASHPOINT continues to rock us, and last week was no exception. All of the tie-ins for this event have been amazing so far, and we were particularly digging the EMPEROR AQUAMAN and CITIZEN COLD from last week. Now, moving forward, we've got four more FLASHPOINT tie-ins hitting the shop that come with insignia badges, as well as a very cool FLASHPOINT GRODD OF WAR one-shot that focuses on everyone's favorite killer gorilla. FREE FLASHPOINT BADGE WITH PURCHASE First up in this week's line-up of FLASHPOINT awesomeness we've got FLASHPOINT DEADMAN & THE FLYING GRAYSONS #1. I'm personally very excited about this one, 'cause a) DEADMAN is awesome, and b) Dick Grayson is one of my favorite DCU characters, and I'm pretty stoked to see the FLASHPOINT twist on Nightwing here. While, like many of the FLASHPOINT tie-ins, the details around this one are being kept under tight lock & key, I'm pretty intrigued to see what became of NIGHTWING in a world where he and BATMAN may have never worked together. There's also the implication that the Graysons never died, like in the DCU, and that could change things up too. This one hits on Wednesday, check it out! FREE FLASHPOINT BADGE WITH PURCHASE Next up is the FLASHPOINT LEGION OF DOOM, which looks totally and completely kick-ass. I mean, c'mon, it's THE LEGION OF DOOM! How can it not be rad? But, the fact that it's featuring the FLASHPOINT HEATWAVE, one of the FLASH rogues who has always felt like the yin to Captain Cold's yang, is pretty awesome too. Oh, and from what we hear, it has something to do with an INSANE assassination plot. :) FREE FLASHPOINT BADGE WITH PURCHASE And, then rounding out the trio of FLASHPOINT tie-ins that come with insignia badges, we've got FLASHPOINT: WONDER WOMAN and THE FURIES #1, which promises to show her war with AQUAMAN from the point of view of the FURIES. One of the coolest twists on the FLASHPOINT world has been the take they've had on characters like AQUAMAN and WONDER WOMAN, as two warlord-like characters who're waging war on one another, and neither could care less about the toll it takes on the world. We've been loving it, and we cannot wait to see the take on WW and the FURIES in this one. As an added bonus this week, and rounding out the FLASHPOINT awesomeness that awaits, we've got FLASHPOINT: GRODD OF WAR, a one-shot which shows us a long-time FLASH rogue, and a personal favorite of our's at Third Eye, GORILLA GRODD, having succeeded in taking over a portion of the world, and expanding his reign. Missed earlier FLASHPOINT tie-ins, or issues? We've got all the issues in stock now, and still have the special insignia badges that come with each one. Click here for the official Third Eye FLASHPOINT Checklist ALPHA FLIGHT #1 *FEAR ITSELF* - THE CANADIAN SUPER-TEAM RETURNS AS A PROMINENT PART OF FEAR ITSELF The return of ALPHA FLIGHT has many of you guys stoked, and trust me, I'm just as pumped as you are to see this one-of-a-kind super-team back in action. As one of the cooler concepts to pop up during the '80s, and as one of John Byrne's most kick-ass runs, ALPHA FLIGHT has earned a big spot in the hearts of many fans, and with FEAR ITSELF running in full swing, this is a great time for them to be brought back into the Marvel U. After a big debut in last month's ALPHA FLIGHT #0.1 Point One issue, we were brought up to speed on what's been happening with the team since we last saw them, and also, how they've been brought back into the forefront of the Marvel Universe. Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, the writing team behind fan-favorites like HERC, CHAOS WAR, and more are handling the writing chores on this one, and bring their knack for high-octane superhero action with a sharp wit to the title. Canada's original super-team is back, but will they survive the terror of FEAR ITSELF? With Canada gripped by fear, Alpha Flight has been named enemies of the state and their country has vowed to hunt them down. Now, Guardian, Sasquatch an the rest of the team must quell the influence of FEAR ITSELF and attemp to restore order to their homeland as they face their most daunting enemy yet -- their own government. Missed the 0.1 issue? Don't worry, we've still got copies in stock to catch you up this Wednesday in time for issue #1 Click here for a preview of ALPHA FLIGHT #1 JOE HILL (writer of LOCKE & KEY) gives us his dark take on super-heroes in THE CAPE one-shot this Wednesday! This killer story is back in print, and sets up for an upcoming THE CAPE limited series. And no, this has no relation to the TV show. :) Back in stock this week, we've got JOE HILL's (writer of LOCKE & KEY) THE CAPE one-shot, which completely and totally blew us away last year. This one-shot not only delivers the original CAPE story that totally got us hooked, but it sets up for July's upcoming THE CAPE limited series, which is going to be AWESOME. What is THE CAPE? The Cape is a dark, dark story. The concept may seem whimsical, but the story is actually a very dark look at childhood fantasies gone wrong. The story focuses on a man who pretended to be a super-hero as a boy. He wore a special homemade cape that went from being a blanket to a full-fledged superhero costume, and after getting injured while playing hero, his mother prevents him from ever playing hero again. Fast forward a decade and some odd years, and he's grown up living a relatively normal life where he struggles with a drinking problem. He's bitter, he's slightly abusive, and he's a mess of a person... and, then, he discovers his childhood safety blanket.. his cape.. and what happens next will leave your jaw on the floor. :) This is an awesome read, and if you're a fan of series like IRREDEEMABLE, then you need to check this out so you can be prepped for the upcoming mini, which we are stoked beyond belief for. Check it out this Wednesday! IMAGE COMICS DEBUTS GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES #1, BRINGING US A MODERN DAY WAR / HORROR STORY SET IN AFGHANISTAN Another kick-ass looking IMAGE title hits this Wednesday, delivering us a new limited series that plans to explore two genres we dig: war stories and outright horror stories. Graveyard of Empires is the story of a war waging on in Afghanistan, where Marines are facing a never-ending onslaught of Taliban forces. The question is: how could hell be any worse? The dead answer that, when they rise from their graves in The Graveyard of Empires, and the two warring factions must fight together against the legions of undead warriors. Click here for a preview of GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES #1 THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF BRIGHTEST DAY TO HIT HARDCOVER ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY IN GREEN LANTERN: BRIGHTEST DAY HC BRIGHTEST DAY was a very worthy follow-up to BLACKEST NIGHT, and GEOFF JOHNS weaved some pure comic magic as he completely rebuilt the entire DCU, and primed it for the upcoming DCU Relaunch that's due in September. And, as a perfect companion piece to the BRIGHTEST DAY, Johns also tied his GREEN LANTERN run into the series. Now, this Wednesday, this hardcover explodes out of BLACKEST NIGHT, and collects GREEN LANTERN #53-#62, which is the entirety of the BRIGHTEST DAY tie-ins of GREEN LANTERN. In this volume, Johns explores the development of the NEW GUARDIANS, which consist of Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Carol Ferris, Saint Walker, Atrocitus, Indigo-1, and Larfleeze, and how they must agree to disagree if their next missions are to succeed. But, when one of the strangest beings from Green Lantern's past returns... the future of the Lanterns and the universe at large falls into question. An awesome read with the very talented Doug Mahnke handling art, and of course, Geoff Johns hitting homeruns with his expert storytelling, we couldn't recommend a better companion piece to the BRIGHTEST DAY hardcovers. X-MEN #13 *FIRST TO LAST CHAPTER 3* - Looking for the perfect X-MEN storyline to jump onto after seeing X-MEN FIRST CLASS? Read this! It's great! Damn, can Chris Yost write some good X-MEN or what? We are totally loving what he's doing with the current story arc running through X-MEN, which is X-MEN FIRST TO LAST. Not only is this a great arc for those of you who've been holding out for a good X-MEN book to jump onto, but it's just an all-around good story for long-time X-Fans as well. Yost has proven himself in the past as more than capable when it comes to writing good X-MEN, with his past work on stuff like X-FORCE with CLAYTON CRAIN, and the MESSIAH COMPLEX trilogy (specifically SECOND COMING). The story of this one is rad tho, a new cast of villains are introduced in the form of The Evolutionaries, who remind you a lot of characters like The Celestials. Basically, the Evolutionaries go from planet to planet selecting the dominant species, and exterminating the rest. You can probably see where this is heading. Of course, there's a mystery surrounding the Evolutionaries and how they possibly fought Xavier and his original First Class of X-MEN back in the day. The question is: why does no one remember this? And, that's what we're intrigued to find out. One of the coolest aspects of FIRST TO LAST, is how the original '60s X-MEN team is plucked from the past, and dropped into the future right alongside their present-day counterparts. And, guess who's been brought along with them? That's right, MAGNETO and the BROTHERHOOD OF EVIL MUTANTS. We're talking head-crushing, bad-ass MAGNETO too, not the MAGNETO that got a little more mellow in the comics as time went on. Totally stoked. If you missed the first two chapters of this one, snag X-MEN GIANT-SIZE #1, and X-MEN #12 to grab chapters 1 and 2 of FROM FIRST TO LAST. Click here for a preview of X-MEN #13 CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #3 - The most horrifying installment of the CROSSED saga yet continues! Survival horror at it's finest! One of our consistent favorites here at Third Eye is the ultra-vicious survival horror series, CROSSED, from AVATAR PRESS, the publishers of NEONOMICON and CALIGULA. CROSSED brings the same kind of visceral repulsive appeal that those old album covers to bands like DEATH and CANNIBAL CORPSE used to bring. But, beneath the gore, and the shocks, David Lapham is telling a compelling story with plenty of depth and character development that keeps us coming back again and again. What is CROSSED? CROSSED is a survival horror series about a disease which causes a cross-like rash to form on the infected's face, and it instills in them a desire to commit acts of pure, and utter evil. Each CROSSED series stands on it's own as a self-contained story set in the world of CROSSED, and folsk, let me tell you, PSYCHOPATH is probably the most in-your-face of the recent CROSSED tales. Focusing on Harold Lorre, a serial murderer, who managed to survive when the outbreak occured, and quite possibly, the most evil man alive, Lorre has gone from being the hunter to being the hunted, and he must use his wits to survive the horrors of the CROSSED. What makes the CROSSED so frightening is how they maintain their human ability to think and plan, so imagine if all those blood-thirsty zombie hordes could actually devise clever ways to trap and torture their victims BEFORE eating them? There is no help, there is no hope, there is no escape. There are only the CROSSED. Missed issues #1 and 2? We've got copies in stock to catch you up. In addition, if you wanted to go all the way back to the beginning, we've got the original CROSSED series available in trade paperback. LOVE THE SIXTH GUN? TRY DEADLANDS: THE DEVIL'S SIXTH GUN FROM IMAGE COMICS THIS WEDNESDAY, WITH THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF DEADLANDS ONE-SHOTS DELIVERING STEAMPUNKY WILD WEST AWESOMENESS ALSO, MAKE SURE TO VISIT US SATURDAY 6/18 FOR A SPECIAL IN-STORE APPEARANCE BY DEADLANDS CO-CREATOR CHARLES SELLNER We're big fans of Weird West stuff like THE SIXTH GUN, and Mike Mignola's recent WITCHFINDER arc, so it's no surprise that we're pumped to see the debut of IMAGE COMICS DEADLANDS series this Wednesday, which promises to deliver a series of compelling one-shots set against the backdrop of a steampunk, supernaturally-tinged Old West. And, of course, we're going to be kicking things off in true Third Eye fashion, with a very special in-store appearance this Saturday by DEADLANDS co-creator, CHARLES SELLNER, who'll be on hand signing copies of the book, and talking about the plans for future DEADLANDS titles. This first one-shot brings us the creative team behind the indie darling, HIGH MOON, as they tell the story of inventor Copernicus Blackburne, who's putting his very own immortal soul up for wager in his Faustian quest to build the world's most evil gun. Giant steam-punky pistols, supernatural weapons, and demonic curses abound in the first of the DEADLANDS series and we cannot wait to sit down with this one. Want more information on our DEADLANDS in-store event this Saturday? Click here for full scoop. LEGION LOST FINALLY AVAILABLE THIS WEDNESDAY IN THE GORGEOUS NEW LEGION LOST HARDCOVER One of the most classic LEGION OF SUPERHEROES stories NOW AVAILABLE One of the most epic storylines the LEGION OF SUPERHEROES have experienced was LEGION LOST, which was done by a creative team that would all go onto become comics super-stars. DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING, the team behind everything from the awesomeness of Marvel's cosmic odysseys like ANNIHILATION and THANOS IMPERATIVE to recent faves like HEROES FOR HIRE, and OLIVIER COIPEL, artist of MIGHTY THOR and J.M Straczynski's THOR run all came into their own on this amazing 12-issue epic that finds the Legion stranded in a distant galaxy, on the home planet of a vicious alien race known as the Progeny. While half the Legion attempts to repair their damaged spaceship, the rest attempt to forge an alliance with the peaceful Kwai. But can the Legion help the Kwai defeat their oppressors and still make it back to Earth? A cult classic in it's own right, we're totally stoked to see this one back in print. FEAR ITSELF: AVENGERS #14, YOUTH IN REVOLT #2, AVENGERS ACADEMY #15, FEAR ITSELF HOMEFRONT #3, and INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #505 ALL DELIVER FEAR ITSELF AWESOMENESS THIS WEDNESDAY FEAR ITSELF hits big all over the Marvel Universe this Wednesday, as we see the second issue of YOUTH IN REVOLT, with FEAR ITSELF: YOUTH IN REVOLT #2, and after really digging the first issue of YOUTH IN REVOLT, we're stoked for #2. Also, hitting for FEAR ITSELF, we've got AVENGERS #14, which delivered one of the best FEAR ITSELF tie-ins last month in issue #13, as well as AVENGERS ACADEMY #15, which is one of my favorite sleeper hits right now from Marvel. In addition, FEAR ITSELF HOMEFRONT #3 delivers the third issue of that very cool in-between-the-issues series, and INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #505 follows up on the KICK-ASS ending of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #504 which showed the recently super-charged GREY GARGOYLE turning half of Paris to stone. Check out our official Third Eye FEAR ITSELF Checklist by clicking here. KIRBY GENESIS #1 HITS THIS WEDNESDAY, RE-UNITING MARVELS CREATIVE TEAM KURT BUSIEK & ALEX ROSS AS THEY BRING LIFE TO JACK KIRBY'S FORGOTTEN LEGENDS! It's no doubt that JACK KIRBY is probably responsible for nearly 65-75% of everything we know and love about comic books. This one man single-handedly built universes, and weaved the mythologies that we all know so well today. And, there's a whole library of Kirby characters and worlds that have gone undiscovered, and under-exposed for decades, that're now being brought to life by the legendary "MARVELS" creative team of KURT BUSIEK and ALEX ROSS. Two of the most talented guys in the superhero genre have reunited to bring life to Kirby's creations: Captain Victory, Silver Star, the Glory Knights, and many more. In KIRBY GENESIS, a message to space has been heard and answered -- but what has come to Earth isn't what anyone would expect. As cosmic visitors begin to be revealed to the world, a deadly batttle begins, and three ordinary individuals are caught up in the midst of it. We are stoked for this, folks, and can't recommend it enough. It looks great. Click here for a preview of KIRBY GENESIS #1 LIL DEPRESSED BOY TPB VOL 1 SHE IS STAGGERING - THE FIRST FULL STORY ARC OF ONE OF OUR NEW IMAGE FAVES... ONLY $9.99! Man, I LOVE this comic.. and, no, it's not just because they've got a Sleater Kinney record on the cover. Although, that does help. Li'l Depressed Boy is a great read that conjures up the same kind of subcultural humor that JTHM did back in the day. Instead of poking fun at goth and industrial , this one plays around with hipsters, and it's a blast. When the Li'l Depressed Boy meets a strange girl, she drags him from his self-seclusion into a world of style points bowling, zombie fighting, laser tag battles, punk rock shows, and house parties. And, he's totally in love with her because of it. What will he do to learn her real name? What will be her perfect birthday gift? And, how the heck do you eat fried rice without chop sticks? This one's a blast, and with the first full story arc being collected for only $9.99, it's a great deal as well. Snag yourself a copy this week, and find out why we're totally stoked about this one. FANTASTIC FOUR BY MARK WAID (IRREDEEMABLE) & MIKE WIERINGO ULTIMATE COLLECTION BOOK 1 TPB With how awesome Hickman's run on FANTASTIC FOUR has been, especially since the launch of his new FUTURE FOUNDATION series, it's easy to overlook some of the other classic runs on the series, which is why we're pumped that Marvel's reminding us of this one with a nice ultimate collection of it. Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo came onto FANTASTIC FOUR, and totally knocked it out of the park with a run that practically crackled with raw sci-fi superhero energy. Giant bugs, living equations, exploding unstable molecules, and the secret behind the Yancy Street Gang... all take place in this sometimes playful, but always awesome run on FF by IRREDEEMABLE writer MARK WAID, and the late, great MIKE WIERINGO who's art still looks great to this day. An awesome read, which leads up to some very big FF-related developments, including the eventual reveal of the connection between DOOM and VALERIA. This volume also leads up to the second book which gives us one of the coolest Doom stories ever: Doom delves into the mystic arts, and imprisons Franklin Richards in HELL. An awesome run, we can't recommend it enough, Third Eye Faithful, hop on board with this TPB! JOHN LAYMAN, writer of CHEW, delivers GODZILLA: GANGSTERS AND GOLIATHS #1 THIS WEDNESDAY We're huge Kaiju fans here at Third Eye, so it's no secret that we can't get enough of the KING OF MONSTERS and his recent return to comics. IDW has been doing a great job of handling the return of GODZILLA, and has been giving us a whole slew of classic giant monster goodness to hook up our Kaiju fix. And, this Wednesday, a brand new limited series, from JOHN LAYMAN, writer of CHEW, kicks off which blends some very interesting elements into the classic dynamic of a good Godzilla story. Detective Makoto Sato is on an unrelenting quest to bring down the Takahashi crime syndicate. Sato's efforts earn him a one-way trip to a tropical getaway, courtesy of the Tokyo underworld. The exotic locale? MOSNTER ISLAND! Alone and facing death at the hands of both gangsters and goliaths, Sato must use his wits to survive.. and enlist the aid of some very unusual friends. INCORRUPTIBLE VOLUME 4 TRADE PAPERBACK - THE FLIP SIDE TO MARK WAID'S IRREDEEMABLE GETS IT'S FOURTH INSTALLMENT THIS WEDNESDAY Just like we're huge fans of Waid's IRREDEEMABLE, which gives us a look at what would happen if SUPERMAN went totally insane, and started torching the world, we're also big fans of the sister series to IRREDEEMABLE, INCORRUPTIBLE. And, this Wednesday, volume 4 of INCORRUPTIBLE hits the stands, which we know many of you guys will be happy to hear. What is INCORRUPTIBLE? It literally is the flipside of IRREDEEAMBLE. One of the Plutonian's (the Superman arch-type) super-villains gets a divine inspiration to change his ways when he sees the Plutonian going mad and torching the world. And, from there, we're taken on a very compelling journey of a man who has done wrong for so many years that even when he tries to do right, he still struggles to actually succeed. Just like with IRREDEEMABLE, Waid builds a very fascinating world, and the intrigue of knowing that an eventual showdown between Max and the Plutonian is in the works just makes it even better. Not reading the series? Snag volume 1 of the TPBs this Wednesday, and get caught up! STAFF PICKS STEVE: FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN #1- The FLASHPOINT tie-ins have been so freakin' good, and EMPEROR AQUAMAN is probably my favorite so far. Such a cool twist on the character. TRISH: CALIGULA #2 - Gah! And, you thought CROSSED made your skin crawl. David Lapham and Avatar are a perfect match for the real world horror of CALIGULA. TORMA: IRON AGE ALPHA #1 - AWESOME read. I was skeptical about another DARK PHOENIX returns story, but this is shaping up to be very good. TONY (PRINCE FREDERICK): GHOST RIDER #0.1 - Quite possibly the best GHOST RIDER issue I've read in a long time. Very true to the spirit of the stuff you grew up with and loved.