THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 8/4/10

THIRD EYE MUST BUY: SHADOWLAND #2 - IT'S HERE! MARVEL'S BIGGEST HIT OF THE SUMMER CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY! DAREDEVIL HAS GONE TO THE DARK SIDE, TURNED HELL'S KITCHEN INTO A GIANT PRISON/TEMPLE, AND KILLED BULLSEYE... and that was just issue #1! The breakout hit of the Summer, by far, has been Marvel's SHADOWLAND event. This series got very little hype or promotion before it's release, and we think that was a smart move by Marvel. Why? 'Cause it made the impact of the first issue even bigger. I think the first issue of SHADOWLAND was one of the best first issues of a Marvel event I've read since CIVIL WAR first kicked off. Just the way it was paced, the way everything was structured, the tension that was built between Daredevil and his former allies, and the big payoff at the end with Bullseye getting impaled on the sai much like he had done to Elektra many years ago.... these are all things that came together to make a fantastic read. And, now, a month later, we're getting the second issue of this red hot series, and folks, I read the advance of this one this morning, and it's freakin' great. There's a VERY big surprise appearance that especially made me geek out. Not to mention, writer Andy Diggle continues to develop the plot and characters like he had been doing in the first issue, showing us a Matt Murdock who falls more and more over the edge every day. All in all, the second issue of SHADOWLAND is definitely on par with the first, and I think you guys are gonna be pretty happy with this one. For those of you who haven't yet read SHADOWLAND, here's what it is: SHADOWLAND is a limited series where, essentially, the Streets of New York have become a battleground due to Daredevil completely going over the edge. Daredevil has always been one of those characters who's gotten raw deal after raw deal, so it only makes sense that one day he'd finally lose it, and lose it he has. Basically, after having taken over THE HAND (the deadly league of ninja assassins that've existed in the Marvel Universe for ages), Daredevil has decided he's going to mold the gang of Ninja Assassins into his own forces of justice. He turns Hell's Kitchen into a giant prison under his domain, kicks out all the law enforcement, and uses his ninjas to keep the peace. And it works, but it works too well. The Avengers quickly notice this, and kinda lean back... trying to trust Murdock's instincts on this one, and hoping his intentions are noble... and well, you know what they say about the Road to Hell. It's paved with good intentions. Anyways, the first issue culminated in Daredevil breaking both of Bullseye's arms, and running him through with a Sai... infront of EVERYBODY. And this, this puts DD at odds with the rest of the New York-based Marvel Heroes. So now the question is where do characters like Spider-man, Iron Fist, Moon Knight, Luke Cage, Elektra, and so on stand in regards to Daredevil's militant new stance on justice? And, that folks, is Shadowland in a nutshell. The series is great, with some tight, and compelling writing by Andy Diggle (writer of THE LOSERS) and the best work we've ever seen by artist Billy Tan (NEW AVENGERS). I haven't been this excited about an event in a while, and the fact that this one kinda crept up out of nowhere, makes it even better. We've still got limited copies of SHADOWLAND #1 in stock for you guys to hop aboard with, as well as DAREDEVIL #508, which is one of the tie-ins. Click here for a preview of SHADOWLAND #2 Click here for the official THIRD EYE SHADOWLAND Checklist ALSO ARRIVING THIS WEEK, SHADOWLAND: BULLSEYE ONE-SHOT - BULLSEYE'S SECRETS REVEALED and MORE SHADOWLAND DEVELOPMENTS in this one-shot WRITTEN BY JOHN LAYMAN, CREATOR OF CHEW! A double-dose of SHADOWLAND awesomeness this week, as we get this killer one-shot tie-in that reveals the secrets of Bullseye. Now, that he's dead, the truth is coming out, and after years, and years of haunting the Man without Fear, and most recently, serving on the DARK AVENGERS, we get to learn this formidable and homicidal maniac's secrets and motivations. I also read the advance of this one this morning when I checked out SHADOWLAND, and I gotta say, it's a great tie-in. A nice solid one-shot written by John Layman (the co-creator of the IMAGE COMICS hit, CHEW), that really brings an interesting angle to the often enigmatic, but always insane BULLSEYE. Plus, there's some neat little tidbits I don't want to spoil that are dropped within in regards to the events of SHADOWLAND. Click here for a preview of SHADOWLAND: BULLSEYE #1 one-shot Click here for the official THIRD EYE Shadowland Checklist CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #3 CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY, DELIVERING THE PERFECT BLEND OF PURE SHOCK AND AWE WITH EXCELLENT STORYTELLING One of our big store favorites here is AVATAR's CROSSED series. And, the latest round of depravity, CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES has been living up to our expectations big-time. And by expectations, we mean having all of our senses assaulted with each new issue that comes out. Seriously though, don't just write CROSSED off as cheap shocks and gross-outs, 'cause it's far far from that. Avatar's CROSSED comics carry some of the finest talent working in comics today in both the writing and art departments. The original CROSSED series which is available here at Third Eye in trade paperback, was created by GARTH ENNIS (THE BOYS, PREACHER) and had the fantastic pencils of JACEN BURROWS making each horrifying issue that much more horrifying. The newest installment, which is actually a separate stand-alone story, self-contained, and set apart from Ennis's first series, is being written by the vastly underrated David Lapham. Lapham made a name for himself back in the '90s with what I still consider to be one of the best crime comics ever done: STRAY BULLETS. It's a damn shame they don't have any trades in print for that series, 'cause it was doing stuff with crime comics that no one at the time was doing, and still holds up as great reading. Now, if you're not familiar with CROSSED, here's the deal... it's sorta like a zombie story, but there's no zombies. And, I know, the first thing that jumps to mind: it's like the CRAZIES, right? Well, yes, no, and not quite. See, in the world of CROSSED, there's a disease, spread by bites, body fluids, and so forth, that basically when it infects someone it reduces them down to their most base primal and evil desires. In other words, it literally turns them into a sadist who's only mission from that point forward is to cause as much pain and hurt as possible. Now, this is where things get interesting, and start to differ from the realm of zombies like you and I know. These individuals, see, they've still got their capability to plan, plot, and put together strategies. In other words, they know if they set a house someone's hiding in on fire, then the people inside'll come running out.. for them to kill, or do worse to. And, that is what makes CROSSED so interesting, the sentience of the Infected. Combine this with the strong development of the actual survivors, each one being given a unique personality, and a sense of character that helps pull you in deeper, not to mention the VERY disturbing subplot about the father figure in FAMILY VALUES, and CROSSED delivers probably one of the best horror comics on the stands. The current series, FAMILY VALUES, serves as a perfect spot to jump on, and we currently have issues #1 and #2 in stock to get you caught up on this one. For those of you who want to go all the way back to the beginning, and folks, we recommend it just cause of how awesome the first series was too, you can pick up the CROSSED trade paperback here at Third Eye which collects issues #0-9. CROSSED comes with the THIRD EYE Seal of Approval, and we feel that if you're into stuff like WALKING DEAD, THE BOYS, PREACHER, ect, then you'll love this one. BRIGHTEST DAY #7 - WHO WIELDS THE WHITE LANTERN? THE SECRET IS REVEALED HERE AS DC'S MUST-READ SERIES OF THE SUMMER CONTINUES! Geoff John's big follow-up to BLACKEST NIGHT, and the official DCU REBIRTH Geoff Johns and crew continue to keep us on the edge of our seats with BRIGHTEST DAY, and this week, we finally get to see who wields the White Lantern. Is it really Deadman, and what happens when he tries to charge the White Ring? BRIGHTEST DAY has been doing a fantastic job of keeping things interesting, and we really attribute that to the strong creative team working on the series. The fact that GEOFF JOHNS (writer of BLACKEST NIGHT, and a zillion other great titles) is helming this one makes it a must-read alone, but, throw in the great art team of Ivan Reis, and Patrick Gleason, and you've got yourself one hell of a good comic. If you're not familiar with BRIGHTEST DAY, we recommend clicking here to read the Wikipedia entry on it. In a nutshell though, BRIGHTEST DAY is essentially DCU: REBIRTH. Just like Geoff Johns rebuilt the worlds of GREEN LANTERN and the FLASH from the ground up, he's doing the same thing with the DCU as a whole in the aftermath of the incredible BLACKEST NIGHT event last year. It focuses in on a cast of characters that were all once dead, and ended up resurrected as the result of BLACKEST NIGHT's outcome. And folks, trust us, characters like AQUAMAN, HAWKMAN, and FIRESTORM have not been this cool in a long time. You can find the checklists to BRIGHTEST DAY on the left sidebar, which'll give you the rundown on any books that're tying into the main storyline going on in the BRIGHTEST DAY series. In our opinions, we can't recommend checking BRIGHTEST DAY out enough. It's a great read, with a great creative team, and it's also a perfect spot for those of you who've been thinking of getting into the DC Universe, or haven't really followed any DC books in a while, to jump aboard. THIRD EYE MUST BUY: AVENGERS PRIME #2- THE REUNITING OF THOR, IRON MAN, AND CAPTAIN AMERICA CONTINUES IN THIS MUST-READ LIMITED SERIES THAT SETS UP THE CURRENT AVENGERS BOOKS! Dude! I am stoked to see this one showing up this week. The first issue of this delivered a killer blend of new school-style storytelling with the same kind of energy and wonder of the old school Walt Simonson Thor stuff. Seeing Marvel's Holy Trinity getting zapped into the surrounding Realms of Asgard, and being pitted against frost giants, goblins, and all sorts of other baddies that would look right at home in a Peter Jackson movie, is just plain awesome. AVENGERS PRIME is a five issue limited series by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (the guy who's penning AVENGERS and NEW AVENGERS, and who also wrote SIEGE) that is the gap in between the end of SIEGE and the current AVENGERS books right now (AVENGERS, NEW AVENGERS, SECRET AVENGERS). In other words, it explains what happened in the midst of a destroyed Asgard, and shows us how three of the Marvel Universe's biggest guns came back onto good terms with one another. See, Cap, Iron Man, and Thor, haven't really been on the best of terms for the last five years, since that whole CIVIL WAR thing went down. And, in the current Heroic Age books like AVENGERS, NEW AVENGERS, and SECRET AVENGERS, it shows them all working side by side. Well, AVENGERS PRIME is the book that shows us how their friendship was renewed, and how we got to the point where the Marvel Universe has three AVENGERS teams. The first issue of this one read fantastic, with Bendis delivering some of his best work in shaping these characters and how their friendships with one another have come and gone throughout the years. And, the art... holy crap, guys, it's ALAN DAVIS, and it's ALAN DAVIS with Mark Farmer inking him, so the artwork looks great. Alan Davis is one of those guys, much like Art Adams, who's been around for years, and his stuff still looks crisp, modern, and cutting edge. The plot of the limited series kicks us off with Tony Stark and Steve Rogers arguing over all of the things gone past amongst the rubble of Asgard. There's no dancing around the problems and differences these two have, we just get right into the heated argument. It's Thor who has no patience for the bickering, and with the destruction of his city and the death of many of his people, these things don't matter... and then, things get crazy, and the Avengers are dumped into some very otherworldly realm. It's pretty damn cool to see Steve Rogers fighting off hordes of trolls in a land that seems much more up Thor's alley. All in all, we're pumped for the second issue of this one this week, 'cause if it's half as good as the first one, then we're in for a treat. Click here for a preview of AVENGERS PRIME #2 *HEROIC AGE* TALES FROM WONDERLAND: RED ROSE ONE-SHOT TAKES US BACK INTO ZENESCOPE'S TWISTED TAKE OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND! We're suckers for ZENESCOPE'S twisted takes on classic fairy tales, and the best of the bunch on those is their WONDERLAND series. The WONDERLAND trilogy, consisting of RETURN TO WONDERLAND, BEYOND WONDERLAND and ESCAPE FROM WONDERLAND may be over (the first two installments are both available in graphic novel format, with the third and final, ESCAPE, coming soon to graphic novel), but Zenescope is delivering some killer one-shots this Summer that explore many of the denizens of Wonderland in greater detail. This week, it looks like the story of Rose Red is being tod in the TALES FROM WONDERLAND: RED ROSE one-shot. A countess obsessed with discovering the secret to eternal life is drawn into a world of utter madness and pure terror. And, while she may have found immortality, the price she'll pay is one she might not be willing to pay. Also, in the back of this issue, we get to see Chapter Two of the story of Charles Dodgson's rise to power, and his eventual fall. If you missed Part 1, don't worry, it was in the TALES FROM WONDERLAND WHITE KNIGHT one-shot, which we still have limited copies of in stock, so you can still snag one. These Wonderland one-shots are a great spot to jump on and check out how you like the Zenescope Wonderland stuff before diving into the actual Wonderland trilogy. Give it a shot, we think you'll dig it. It's got all the bases covered: violence, great art, and fun, tongue-in-cheek dark humor mixed with some very twisted takes on classic fairy-tale stories. ATTN FABLES FANS: DON'T MISS THE CINDERELLA FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE TRADE PAPERBACK THIS WEDNESDAY! It's always rad to see a new visit to the FABLES universe hit trade paperback. Why? Cause the series reads so damn good in trade, and it's spin-off series are no exception. This 6-issue limited series spotlights Fabletown's top secret agent as she must stop the illegal trafficking of supernatural artifacts, and she's gotta foil this dark plot before Fabletown ends up getting exposed to the Mundy world. This one fits nicely along side the other FABLES books, and I'd say I dug it more than the 3-issue LITERALS mini-series, and maybe even a bit more than many of the JACK OF FABLES arcs, even tho those can be pretty rad too. NEAL ADAM'S BATMAN: THE ODYSSEY #2 HITS THIS WEDNESDAY BRINGING THE NEXT KILLER INSTALLMENT OF THE LEGENDARY ARTIST'S BATMAN STORY! This mini-series is a big deal for one reason, and one reason only: it's Neal friggin' Adams, writing AND drawing. This is THE guy who redefined Batman in the '70s (alongside Dennis O'Neil) and took him off the path of Adam Westdom, and onto the path to the Dark Knight we all know today. The first issue gave you that great sense of going back in time to a classic Batman story with Adam's artwork. Now, while it is weird to see Batman carrying a gun, it's interesting to see how Bruce relays one of his earlier adventures, carrying a gun to boost his confidence. No, he's not out to bust a cap like Jason Todd did when he was wearing the mantle of the Bat. The book delivers a very cool, hard-edged out of continuity take on Batman, but it's really the art that shines on this one. I mean, it's Neal Adams, and getting to see him draw anything, especially Batman, is a big deal. If you missed issue #1, don't worry, we've still got copies in stock to get you caught up. THIRD EYE MUST BUY: S.H.I.E.L.D #3 - JONATHAN HICKMAN DELIVERS THE SECRET HISTORY OF SHIELD IN THIS COMPELLING LIMITED SERIES! LEONARDO DaVinci? AGENT OF SHIELD! ISSAC NEWTON? AGENT OF SHIELD! IMHOTEP? AGENT OF SHIELD! This one's a MUST-READ, folks, check out issues #1 and #2 if you're not reading this one.. serious DaVinci vs. Galactus awesomeness within! Guys, if you're not reading SHIELD by JONATHAN HICKMAN, you are missing out. This is one of the freshest, and most innovative things that I've seen Marvel do in a long time, and between Hickman's fantastic writing and Dustin Weaver's incredible artwork, it is most certainly must-buy material. So, what is SHIELD? "Everythin begins with an idea." That's what Hickman writes in the first panel of SHIELD #2, which repeats a line delivered in the first issue. It's pretty much the one line motto of this series. Basically, the story of this SHIELD series is that the super-spy agency SHIELD, that we know from the Marvel Universe has much more clandestine origins than we could have ever imagined. Basically, the concept is if entities like Galactus, the Celestials, the Brood, and others have been around for thousands and thousands of years, then who was around to prevent them from laying waste to the world way back when? And, that's where the Brotherhood of the SHIELD comes in... a group of the world's most powerful thinkers and creators. Basically, Hickman is taking REAL historical characters, like Issac Newton, Galileo, DaVinci, and more, and weaving them into the fabric of the Marvel Universe. The first issue shows us some of the most awe-inspiring pages I've seen in comics in a long time. Huge fights against the Brood in the deserts of ancient Egypt, with En Sabah Nur in the background, fighting alongside Imhotep. Leonardo DaVinci strapping himself into a winged flying device and hurtling to face Galactus and his herald. Nostradamus literally tearing holes in the fabric of reality. Basically, we're seeing how DaVinci, Galileo, and others were the prototypical superheroes and supervillains of the past. And, how this all affects the current present of the Marvel Universe is what we're most excited to learn. This week, issue #3 clues us in on the secrets of Sir Issac Newton, and shows us how Galileo defeated Galactus long before the Fantastic Four ever did. And, man, Dustin Weaver's art looks GOOD on this book. Just look at the preview, I dare you to not get stoked about this guy's art. He's fantastic. SHIELD is most def a must-read title, and if you missed issues #1 or #2, don't worry, 'cause we have limited quantities of both still in stock to get you caught up to where the series is with this week's issue #3. Click here for a preview of SHIELD #3 VERTIGO CRIME: FOGTOWN Graphic Novel DELIVERS A FANTASTIC SLICE OF GRITTY CRIME NOIR! The VERTIGO CRIME books have been pretty consistent in delivering visceral noir awesomeness with each new installment. Even when one is just so-so, it's still pretty damn good. And, this week, the next in the VERTIGO CRIME line is the surprise twist-laden FOGTOWN. Now, this one is going to be tough for me to do a write-up on because so much of the impact of the book is in it's surprises, and plot twists.. and trust me, there's some good ones within, but what I can tell you is that it's one of the stronger entries into the VERTIGO CRIME line-up so far. The story centers around Frank Grissell, a private detective who's a cold-hearted bastard. The plot of the book is prostitutes begin showing up dead in San Francisco's streets circa 1953, and Grissell has no plans to get involved, but get involved he does, when a woman shows up at his office looking for her missing daughter. It's Grissell's assistant and lover, Valentine, who takes on the case, because Grissell himself would prefer to stay away from missing child cases, for reasons, well.. you'll see. The thing that's neat about this one that kinda defies traditional noir detective storytelling is that Frank has almost as many secrets surrounding him as the case that he's trying to solve. The characters that wevae in and out are a seedy blast of '50s style crime noir, and help immerse you in the story even more. If you've dug the previous VERTIGO CRIME stuff, we'd recommend giving this one a go, as it's pretty damn good. DC ELSEWORLDS RETURN WITH SUPERMAN: LAST FAMILY OF KRYPTON #1 THIS WEDNESDAY! We're a sucker for a good Elseworld's tale here at Third Eye, and while we love the current direction of the DCU, the one thing that we do miss is having Elseworlds. See, when I was growing up reading comics, there was no multiverse, it was either an Elseworld, or it was somehow explained to be part of the same continuity as everything else. So, you didn't have an Earth-3, Earth-Prime, ect ect. And, while I've grown to dig the whole Multiverse thing with it's return in Infinite Crisis and 52, I still miss the days of Elseworlds. I remember you'd see at least three or four of these a year, maybe more, and while not all of 'em were good, it was still cool to see DC doing their own WHAT IF? style series. And, for those of you asking What's an Elseworld? then that's what it is pretty much, the DC version of a WHAT IF? An imaginary story, basically. Ever wonder what it'd be like if Batman was around during the Whitechapel murders, and went head to head with Jack the Ripper? Well, there's an Elseworld for that. Ever wonder what would happen if Superman's shuttle landed in communist Russia, and he was raised by Stalin? There's an Elseworld for that. Anyways, this Wednesday, SUPERMAN: LAST FAMILY OF KRYPTON #1 marks the official return of Elseworld-style storytelling. The hook on this one? Well, when baby Kal-el is rocketed to the distant planet Earth from his doomed homeworld, in this story, he's not alone. How does a world handle the emergence of The Last Family of Krypton as Jor-El, Lara, and Kal-El make Earth their adopted home. SUPERGOD #4 - WARREN ELLIS'S EPIC LOOK AT A SUPERHUMAN ARMS RACE CONTINUES IN THIS WEDNESDAY'S SUPERGOD #4! FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF CROSSED! It's been a bit of a wait since issue #3, but folks, you and I both know that this one is gonna be worth the wait, for sure. From the incredibly talented WARREN ELLIS (TRANSMETROPOLITAN, IGNITION CITY, ect ect), and the publishers of series like CROSSED, comes SUPERGOD, and for those of you who're not reading this great book, then here's the lowdown: Supergod is the story of what an actual superhuman arms race might be like. Playing off of how humans often envision their deity of choice to be the absolute, in the world of SUPERGOD, each nation has built their own superhuman defense in the image of their god. But what happens when these nations can't control these "Supergods?" That's when things get crazy. Imagine a 8 foot tall Krishna-looking superhuman setting flame to the land around him, imagine one of our own U.S Pilots being resurrected from the dead and having his body grafted with technology, to become our Supergod. This book is pure sci-fi superhero awesomeness, and is probably one of the coolest takes on the superhero genre we've seen in quite some time. If you missed the first three issues, we've got copies of each in stock to get you caught up. Trust us, folks, this series rocks. THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: BALTIMORE PLAGUE SHIPS #1 from HELLBOY & BPRD creator MIKE MIGNOLA delivers the AWESOME in a BIG WAY THIS WEDNESDAY! Here's one that looks freakin' AWESOME. Mike Mignola, the maestro behind such awesome series as HELLBOY, WITCHFINDER and BPRD, is branching out with this killer new series: BALTIMORE: THE PLAGUE SHIPS. The artwork looks incredible, and the story sounds fantastic. What's the scoop? Well, months after a devastating plague ends World War I, Europe is suddenly flooded with deadly vampires. WTF, right? Well, Lord Henry Baltimore, a soldier determined to wipe out the monsters, is on the hunt for the creature responsible for this chaos and his own personal tragedy. What he uncovers though, is a terror as horrific and frightening as any he's seen on the battlefield. Pure pulp horror-noir awesomeness, and we cannot wait to get our hands on it and read it this week. THOR: RAGE OF THOR ONE-SHOT - A YOUNG, BITTER, AND RESENTFUL THOR FRESH OFF THE TRIALS HIS FATHER HAS PUT HIM THROUGH LETS LOOSE PURE GOD OF THUNDER BRUTALITY IN THIS ONE-SHOT! If there's one thing we love here at Third Eye, it's a good THOR one-shot. There's just something about the God of Thunder that lends himself to solid, self-contained stories that work in many different settings. This one-shot which kind of follows the same theme set up in the AGES OF THUNDER one-shots (available now in the THOR: AGES OF THUNDER trade paperback) where we watched as Thor was put through many trials and attempted humblings by his father, Odin, picks up with a bitter, and resentful Thor who has left Asgard and decided to go live among men. But, like always, Thor can't get any peace, as the bloody tides of Asgard wash up on the shores of Earth, and threaten to destroy everything Thor has learned to love about Earth. I checked out the advance of this one, and it's a great, self-contained THOR story. Definitely a nice one-shot to try to see if you dig before jumping into those killer Matt Fraction AGES OF THUNDER one-shots. Plus, the artwork is SICK in this one. Click here for a preview of THOR: RAGE OF THOR one-shot THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: NANCY IN HELL #1 - "BLACK SUMMER" & "NO HERO" artist JUAN JOSE RYP GIVES US WICKED FUN CHAINSAW-WIELDING CHEERLEADERS IN HELL IN THIS NEW IMAGE COMICS LIMITED SERIES! Juan Jose Ryp is one of comic's best kept secrets, folks. You may have noticed his art recently popping up in the most recent couple of issues of VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT. But before he did that, he totally blew us away on the two WARREN ELLIS books: BLACK SUMMER and NO HERO. His hyper-detailed style is a perfect fit for ultra-violent storytelling, and you can definitely tell he's channeling some serious Geoff Darrow awesomeness with his artwork. Anyways, Mr. Ryp is kicking off a killer new IMAGE limited series, which we think is gonna be a pretty big hit. And, not just 'cause of the dude's killer artwork, but because the concept sounds pretty damn rad. On the surface, the book looks like just plain ol' blood, guts, and fun, and to a degree, that's what it is. It's a cheerleader armed with a chainsaw carving her way through the undead and a horde of demons, but as you get drawn deeper into the story and the questions that the idea of Hell raises, the real meat of the book shows up. But, don't worry, there's still plenty of awesome looking monsters and chainsaws. So, yeah, Nancy, totally dead, wakes up in a creepy landscape where she finds decomposing lost souls, demons lurking in the shdaows, outcasts, chainsaws, booze, and certain doom. So, can Nancy escape Hell? Hey, as long as it's bloody, and looks as awesome as the preview pages we've already seen, then we hope she hangs around there for a while! THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: THE MARVEL UNIVERSE vs. the PUNISHER #1 - An alternate reality where the Marvel Universe has turned into hordes of bloodthirsty cannibals, and Frank Castle's the only one left to put 'em down. Think I AM LEGEND meets MARVEL COMICS. I gotta admit, when I first heard about this one, I was a little confused. I mean, hadn't Garth Ennis already done his Punisher Kills the Marvel U thing, and said all there is to say on the subject? But, then I read a little bit more into this one, and I gotta say: it's pretty rad. Just got done checking out the advance, and it's a blast. A much different twist, and a very cool "What If?"-kinda story. So, what the heck is it about? Well, a terrible plague has swept the Earth turning everyone - human, hero, villain, god and monster - into sadistic cannibal predators. As Spider-man, the Hulk, the Thing, and other infected start a feeding frenzy, the world falls in a wave of insatiable violence. Now, five years later, one man hunts the wasteland that was New York City. One man who stands against the hordes of monsters who hunt the night. Yup, it's Punisher, the Last Man on Earth, and he's gonna be taking down every stinkin' cannibal he can find. Click here for a preview of MARVEL UNIVERSE vs. THE PUNISHER #1 MAGNUS THE ROBOT FIGHTER RETURNS AS PART OF DARK HORSE'S VALIANT REVIVAL IN THIS WEDNESDAY' MAGNUS THE ROBOT FIGHTER #1 by JIM SHOOTER! Joining the ranks with the recently launched DOCTOR SOLAR, MAN OF THE ATOM, comes the next in Dark Horse and Jim Shooter's revival of the classic VALIANT characters: MAGNUS the ROBOT FIGHTER! Out of the Valiant characters, Magnus was always one of my major favorites, and I'm stoked to see what looks like an awesome come-back for the character. So, what's the scoop on this one? Well, it's set upon the continent-spanning city of North Am, a miracle of ingenuity and ambition, a technological paradise where "milespires" pierce the clouds and robots perform virtually all labor, freeing humankind to pursue leisure and bliss. But, behind the scenes, human mobsters use robot muscle, thug-bots, to terrorize the citizenry of North Am. Human trafficking, illegal psychoactive substances, violent crime and corrosive corruption are suddenly epidemic in the glittering utopia, with only the mighty Robot Fighter to stand against them. But nevermind all that, at it's core, why is Magnus cool? 'Cause it's a dude running around beating the hell out of giant robots? What's not to love? Check it out this Wednesday, as this first issue provides a perfect jumping on point for anyone who's ever been curious about these classic Valiant characters. MURDERLAND #1 - A MODERN DAY SCI-FI CRIME NOIR SET IN BALTIMORE CITY! Haven't seen any previews on this one, and honestly, I don't know a whole lot about the plot, but heck, what I have seen looks pretty cool, and any series that's set here in Maryland deserves a highlight here at Third Eye. Murderland tells the a story of doomed romance, bloodshed, and the outer limits of human potential, as they all unfold on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland. A reformed killer bent on bringing peace to his hometown, and his lover who has an unusual sci-fi-esque ability, kick off this first story set in the Murderland universe. This one sounds pretty cool, anxious to give it a read and see what it's all about. DEADPOOL #1,000 ONE-SHOT DELIVERS A KILLER ONE-SHOT PACKED WITH ALL-STAR CREATORS LIKE CROSSED writer DAVID LAPHAM, indie favorite PETER BAGGE, Vengeance of Moon Knight artist JEROME OPENA, and many many more! Ya know, there's a lotta Deadpool out there, so when something cool comes out sporting the Merc with a Mouth, I feel like we should make sure you guys get a heads up on it. Just cause I know, the character has been popping up everywhere lately, but there's still some really good reads featuring him, and this one-shot due out on Wednesday is one of those. Deadpool 1,000 is very much like last year's DEADPOOL #900, giving us a big thick 104-page special that brings an all-star cast of creators with it. And, that's why I'm stoked. I mean, Peter Bagge, he's the guy who totally made me love indie comics in the '90s with his series HATE, and he's a funny dude, so his Deadpool will rock. And, David Lapham, the twisted mind behind CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES? I cannot wait to see what he's got in store for ol' Wade Wilson. Toss in the sublime art of Jerome Opena, who made his name on the Vengeance of Moon Knight first story arc and the first story arc of the Dark Reign PUNISHER series, along with guys like Rick Remender, and you got yourself a great roster of talent. Plus, it's got mimes from outer space. How can you not wanna read it? Click here for a preview of DEADPOOL 1,0000 STAFF PICKS Steve - SECRET AVENGERS #3- This is one of my favorite new books. Brubaker is channeling some serious Steranko Pop Art sci-fi spy stuff here, and the team line-up in this one is one of the best I've seen. Highly highly recommended! Trish - AMERICAN VAMPIRE #5= AAAAAAAAAH This series gets better, and better. The characters are so well put together which is why I think I love it so much. You start thinking one way about a character, and then before you know it, your opinion has changed completely on them. Torma -BATMAN RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #4= Batman, Jonah Hex, time-travel awesomeness, what is not to love? This is one of the best Batman storylines I've read in a long long time. Matt - WONDER WOMAN #601 = J. Michael Straczynski has got me reading Wonder Woman and his first official chapter of the run is awesome. It's got a very cool revenge-story driven feel, and almost makes you think of like a KILL BILL meets Wonder Woman kinda story. Very cool stuff.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR *THURSDAY* 6/3/10

AVENGERS PRIME #1 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* - THE LIMITED SERIES THAT REUNITES CAPTAIN AMERICA, IRON MAN, and THOR, AND HELPS SET UP EVERYTHING HAPPENING WITH THE AVENGERS NOW! Okay, I just finished reading the advance of the first issue on this one, and I'm freakin' impressed. If there was any one book that seems to embody the feel, and appeal of what Marvel is calling their new "Heroic Age", AVENGERS PRIME sure does fit the bill. Maybe it's the artwork by the iconic Alan Davis, or maybe it's the fact that we're getting just a damn good story featuring Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man, but this one just screamed with energy. I'm serious, folks, I'm really impressed. What is AVENGERS PRIME? Avengers: Prime is a 5-issue limited mini-series that takes place immediately after the events of SIEGE, but from the looks of it, before the events of AVENGERS and SECRET AVENGERS. This story looks like it's the ultimate "Getting the Band Back Together" kind of tale, as we see the much anticipated reunion of Steve Rogers (Captain America), Iron Man, and Thor. Otherwise known as the Big 3 of the Marvel Universe, and the trio that embodies the word AVENGER. Now, as many of you know, these three have had MAJOR differences with one another over the course of the last ten years. From the very start of CIVIL WAR, all the way up til recently, and even though they worked together in taking down Osborn during SIEGE... it doesn't mean that everything is OK between these guys. But, that's where AVENGERS PRIME comes in... this mini-series shows us the Big 3 reuniting, and what's led to the new direction of the AVENGERS in both AVENGERS and SECRET AVENGERS. Now, besides all of that... it's a freakin' KICK-ASS read. Like, this one feels on the level of a big event book in how much action Bendis packed into it. And, Alan Davis, with Mark Farmer inking him, has never looked better. The story itself starts out with the three standing amidst the ruins of Asgard with Thor, asking him what they can do to assist in the rebuilding... and then, everything goes wrong. While I don't want to drop spoilers, I will say that this one takes our Avengers Prime here into some very dangerous territory. As far as how it read? It's fantastic. I mean, if you were reading SIEGE, you should read this, as it feels like it picks up directly from where SIEGE ends. Even if you skipped SIEGE and you're checking out all the new Heroic Age stuff, this one is worth a go. It's just a great way to get up to speed with the three most important Marvel characters happening right now. And, we can't help but acknowledge the perfect timing of this mini-series with the arrival of both Captain America and Thor movies in the near future to join the Armored Avenger. So, final verdict? Action-packed, incredible artwork, and Bendis working at the top of his game to deliver a compelling read... AVENGERS PRIME #1 is most definitely a THIRD EYE MUST BUY this week! Click here for a preview of AVENGERS PRIME #1 *HEROIC AGE* BRIGHTEST DAY #3 - THE REBIRTH OF THE DC UNIVERSE CONTINUES THIS WEEK AT THIRD EYE, AND AFTER ISSUE #2... WE GOTTA SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! DC's BRIGHTEST DAY has been one of the boldest, and most exciting new things we've seen in 2010, and so far, not one issue has failed to knock us off our feet. I'll admit, we were wondering if Geoff Johns and crew could keep up the same momentum he was carrying with BLACKEST NIGHT in this bi-weekly series, but, dude, I think this one is going to turn out surpassing BLACKEST NIGHT in terms of how good it is. BRIGHTEST DAY, otherwise known as DCU: REBIRTH, is the series focused on the events following last year's mega-hit BLACKEST NIGHT series. Basically, it was revealed that there was a cosmic Lord of the Dead by the name of Nekron who had sparked up his own little Lantern Corps, and sent the Black Rings out into the galaxy, resurrecting nearly every dead DC Comics character you could think of. And, when they rose up, they were out with one mission: to rip out people's hearts, and wreak havoc. And, it was awesome. Super awesome. In fact, if you haven't read BLACKEST NIGHT yet.. you need to pop in the shop, and grab the series while we still all the issues in stock. 'Cause it's THAT good. Anyways, when BLACKEST NIGHT ended, it was revealed that there, of course, was a White Lantern, and what did the White Lantern rings and power do? They brought life. And, now, a chosen few have been given second chances on Earth again, and just like in Pet Semetary, when Herman Munster uttered those creepy words... we're learning that sometimes dead is better, and we're loving it. Basically, BRIGHTEST DAY is showing us that it's not necessarily a GOOD thing that these characters have returned, and we're seeing the impacts of it. Now, at it's core, BRIGHTEST DAY is also serving as the Rebirth of the DCU as a whole. In other words, you've been hearing about all the cool new stuff DC's been doing, and how they've been stepping up their game on many of their titles, and you've been wondering where a good point was to jump in? Well, BRIGHTEST DAY is most definitely that. This is the complete rebuilding of the DC Universe from the ground up, and it's a perfect place for those of you who haven't followed the DC Universe in a while, or have been waiting for a killer storyline to kick off, to jump in with. Anyways, the previous issue of BRIGHTEST DAY, BRIGHTEST DAY #2, was a fantastic read, and moreso than any issues in the series so far, this one really showed that BRIGHTEST DAY is worthy of it's nickname, DCU REBIRTH. We watched as Johns and Tomasi tinker with the origins of many star players in a way that simultaneously reminds us what makes them unique, but also opens up many doors for new stories. And, then, we're left with another killer cliffhanger ending, and you guys know about who I'm talking about... so I cannot wait to see what happens in issue #3 this week. If you're looking to jump onboard of BRIGHTEST DAY, we currently have plenty of issue #0, #1 and #2 in stock to get you caught up. So, feel free to check 'em out this week at the shop! Plus, we have all the issues of all the other side-line stories that are fitting into this killer storyline stocked as well. Click here for the official THIRD EYE BRIGHTEST DAY CHECKLIST Click here to read more about BRIGHTEST DAY #3 SERENITY: FLOAT OUT ONE-SHOT *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* FROM JOSS WHEDON & COMEDIAN PATTON OSWALT GIVE FIREFLY FANS ANOTHER DOSE OF AWESOMENESS THIS THURSDAY @ THIRD EYE! One of the best damn Sci-Fi universes created, Joss Whedon's Firefly/Serenity world has had many of us enthralled for years, and while it's few and far between that we get to re-visit it, when we do, it's always worth the wait. And, now, we've got a new addition to the Serenity canon, with this week's SERENITY: FLOAT OUT one-shot featuring tales of the Serenity universe's past, and everyone's favorite starship pilot, Wash. This one's being helmed officially by comedian Patton Oswalt (who himself is a well-known comic book head) and Joss Whedon. And, apparently, it's got a HUGE surprise cameo that'll send all of you long-time Serenity and Firefly fans reeling. Heck, I'm usually pretty good at guessing these things, but even I'm on the edge of my seat to find out who it is. Finally, there are supposed to be some hints about future SERENITY/FIREFLY stories being dropped within this one-shot as well... could it be, maybe, an ongoing SERENITY/FIREFLY comic series? That would rock so hard. Anyhow, there's really not a whole lot else to say about this one, other than it looks great, and lets face it, if you're as much of a fan of the show as I am, you were already planning on picking this one up before you got to the write-up here. For those of you who are already SERENITY/FIREFLY fans, but haven't read any of the comics, we currently have both the previous series in stock in collected form: SERENITY: BETTER DAYS Trade Paperback SERENITY THOSE LEFT BEHIND Hardcover Click herefor a preview ofSERENITY: FLOAT OUT one-shot JOKER'S ASYLUM BEGINS A NEW SERIES OF ONE-SHOTS BY A-LIST TALENT FEATURING BATMAN'S DEADLIEST AND CRAZIES ROGUES! THIS WEEK: JOKER'S ASYLUM: RIDDLER ONE-SHOT by ETHAN VAN SCIVER! Man, I love it when they do stuff like this. Every so often, DC will kick off a round of one-shots with some of their more high profile creators doing some very cool stand-alone, self-contained stories about the characters you've always wanted to know more about, and that's exactly what they've got planned this month with the Joker's Asylum. The first one of these one-shots to debut is this week's JOKER'S ASYLUM: THE RIDDLER one-shot, and it looks fantastic. Looking over the preview pages, I'm very impressed, they've really stepped up their game on these one-shots. Each one-shot is narrated by The Joker and tells a special self-contained stand-alone story that gives us an inside look into the insanity of Batman's rogues gallery. The first of these features the Riddler, and after a quick page or two of introducing who, why, and what he is, throws us into one of the best damn Riddler stories I've read in a long time. He's such a great villain, and we just don't see enough comics featuring him. This one really digs deep into who he is now, and how he's been slipping further and further into his own sickness, despite his temporary dabbling on the side of the angels. This one's a must-read for Batman fans, and after how impressed we were with last year's Joker's Asylum one-shots, we recommend checking these out for some fun, self-contained stories featuring the one thing we all love about the Caped Crusader: his awesome, awesome bad guys! Click here to read more about JOKER'S ASYLUM: THE RIDDLER one-shot THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: IZOMBIE #2DELIVERS MORE BRAIN-MUNCHING, QUIRKY VERTIGO ZOMBIE AWESOMENESS THIS WEDNESDAY! SWEET! We loved the first issue of last month's IZOMBIE (still available at Third Eye, and for only a buck too, how can ya beat that?). This quirky, high-energy new little Vertigo book delivered something fresh and unique amongst all the new series coming out, and we definitely took notice of it. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Mike Allred is dishing out some of the best artwork he's done since Madman on this book. What is IZOMBIE? I,ZOMBIE is the story of Gwen, a gravedigger in Eugene, Oregon who lives in the graveyard, and hangs out with her ghost friend Ellie every night. Gwen's got a little bit of an issue though, see, Gwen's a zombie, and she has to eat a brain at least once a month, or else she ends up going Romero, and turning into a mindless, shambling "Braiiiiiins" kind of ghoul. By eating a brain once a month, she keeps her personality in tact, and keeps herself from turning into a danger to others. And, as a gravedigger, she's able to harmlessly munch away on a fresh corpse's brain once a month.. but therein lies the rub: Gwen absorbs the memories, and personality of whoever's brain she devours. And, if it just so happens that person died as a result to wrong-doing, or had affairs that were left unsettled, Gwen finds herself compelled to take care of these, which adds a very cool almost detective-esque slant to the book. But, that's not all, one of the things I liked most about the world of I,ZOMBIE is how it's this kind of quirky, almost retro horrorland of awesomeness. In other words, vampires, werewolves, and more all exist here, and have all found their niches. One cool example of this is how there's different breeds of werewolves, you know, because of the canine connection, and some folks instead of turning into bloodthirsty wolves at the sight of a full moon turn into were-terriers. Were-terriers! How killer is that? IZOMBIE is a fun, fresh new series, and we highly recommend checking it out. We've still got plenty of the $1.00 #1 for you to hop on with. Click here to read more about IZOMBIE #2 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL* HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #1 *HEROIC AGE*DEBUTS THE ALL-NEW ONGOING SERIES FEATURING THE "MR. AND MRS. SMITH" OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE! Okay, first off: Hawkeye is Hawkeye again. This alone is worthy of celebration. Many of you know that Hawkeye is my favorite Avenger, and I can't tell you guys how stoked I am to see him not only returning to his original duds, but getting his own ongoing series, alongside his long-time flame, Mockingbird! Marvel dubbed this duo the "Mr. and Mrs. Smith of the Marvel Universe", referencing that movie with Brad Pitt and I think it was Angelina Jolie or somebody, and it seems to be a pretty apt description. Granted, I only saw the trailers for said movie, but it was about a wise-cracking, quarrelsome couple that worked as like secret agents or something, right? I don't know.. what I do know is that I thoroughly enjoyed last year's NEW AVENGERS THE REUNION mini-series, and I'm stoked to see us getting a monthly dose of Hawkeye and Mockingbird in the wake of the Heroic Age. The book reads very well, and provides a fun, action-packed espionage-fueled kind of read, but with a bit of levity to it. Imagine the light-hearted feel of something like Power Girl,or Secret Six applied to the Marvel Universe, and then mixed in with a crapton of guns, bombs, and craziness. Unfamiliar with the characters? No worries, while this one is totally a big treat for long-time Hawkeye fans, it still serves as a nice jumping on point into one of the new ongoing Heroic Age Marvel books. The characterization is sharp, the artwork fits the story perfect, and the book as a whole is a lotta fun. Plus, IT'S HAWKEYE! There's even a cool take on a classic Marvel baddie who appears at the end... and it's a pretty neat twist, I must say. Click here for a preview of HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #1 *HEROIC AGE* ZENESCOPE'S TALES FROM WONDERLAND ONE-SHOTS RETURN WITH THIS THURSDAY'S TALES FROM WONDERLAND: THE WHITE KNIGHT ONE-SHOT! One of our favorite guilty pleasures here at Third Eye is Zenescope's gory, and gorgeous WONDERLAND and GRIMM FAIRY TALES series. For the last few years, Zenescope has delivered us some wonderfully demented takes on the classic stories of Alice in Wonderland and her adventures through the looking glass. And, while the Wonderland saga ended this past Spring with Escape from Wonderland, the third and final installment in Raven Gregory's Wonderland Trilogy (with Return to Wonderland pt 1, and Beyond Wonderland pt 2 both available currently in graphic novel for those of you looking to catch up), Zenescope is back with some more of their killer Tales from Wonderland one-shots exploring the past, present and future of Wonderland. This week, they're starting things off right with the Tales from Wonderland White Knight one-shot which explores the back-story of the White Knight of Wonderland, a young boy born of an unholy union in ancient times who's found himself transported to a world of madness and mayhem. Donning a suit of magical armor he finds on a desolate battle field he becomes one of the few shining lights of purity in the dark world of Wonderland, and the twisted Queen of Hearts. For a fun, horrific, and always delivering on the artwork front spin on the classic Wonderland stories, definitely check out Tales from Wonderland White Knight this week. If you want more of the earlier stuff, we've got all the graphic novels collecting the Return to Wonderland, Beyond Wonderland, and Tales from Wonderland 1 and 2. The third part of the trilogy, Escape from Wonderland will be available in graphic novel soon. CONTINUING FROM LAST WEEK'S THANOS IMPERATIVE IGNITION, THANOS IMPERATIVE #1 KICKS OFF THE MAD TITAN'S RAMPAGE! Wow! Last week's THANOS IMPERATIVE: IGNITION *THANOS IMPERATIVE CHAPTER ONE* one-shot blew me the hell out away. I had high expectations, but, Abnett and Lanning met them BIG-TIME. The Return of Thanos is here, and we couldn't be more stoked. If there's any storyline that should grab you into the killer corner of Marvel that Abnett and Lanning have been building with the cosmic characters, then this is it. A great jumping on point to experience all the great stories that've been going on in books like Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova. What's the scoop on the THANOS IMPERATIVE? Well, if you'll remember back in Realm of Kings, there was a dark alternate universe we saw glimpses of. And, now, a dangerous mysterious fissure known as the Fault has opened, and the dark forces of this rival universe where there is no death are pouring through to claim and harvest the regular Marvel Universe. It's up to cosmic heavy-weights like Nova, The Silver Surfer, Quasar, Gladiator, and a surprise cosmic champion you're not gonna see coming, to stop thse folks. Of course, everyone's favorite rag-tag crew of space freedom fighters, the Guardians, have a plan, and it's a pretty crazy one.. what plan would that be? It's called THANOS. Block-buster widescreen cosmic madness that fuses the Marvel Universe with space operas like Battlestar Galactica and gritty futuristic warfare like Warhammer 40K, Abnett and Lanning deliver again big-time with the THANOS IMPERATIVE. If you missed THANOS IMPERATIVE IGNITION last week, don't worry, because we still have it in stock for you to hop aboard with. Click here for a preview of THE THANOS IMPERATIVE #1 NEW IMAGE SERIES: BULLETPROOF COFFIN #1 DEBUTS THIS THURSDAY WITH SOME OF THE WEIRDEST, MOST WHACKED OUT STUFF YOU COULD IMAGINE! Relive the Golden Age of Comics! That's what the solicit for Image Comics's BULLETPROOF COFFIN reads, and after reading the preview pages of this one, I'm inclined to believe... but it's a different Golden Age. If you took an archivist dosed on LSD and sent him digging through the catacombs of history for the most obscure, and bizarre Golden Age comics you could find, then you would most definitely come back with BULLETPROOF COFFIN. A modern day ancestor to the raw energy, and complete weirdness of long-forgotten Golden Age madness. So, WHAT is BULLETPROOF COFFIN? First off, lets start off by saying that Shaky Kane is one of the most unique, and stylized comic artists working right now. He cut his teeth back in the UK on books like Deadline and 2000AD, and after looking at the simple yet ultra-detailed pages of BULLETPROOF COFFIN, I'm convinced that this guy is one of the better ones I've seen. His work reminds you of Moebius meets Geoff Darrow run through a blender of old Tank Girl comics. Now, onto what BULLETPROOF COFFIN is: Bulletproof Coffin is a series of comic strips that re-tell classic golden age UK comics in a surreal, tripped out manner, as well as fictious comics created specifically by Hine and Kane. Characters like the Unforgiving Eye, The Shield of Justice, Ramona Queen of the Stone Age, and the Coffin Fly. Surreal, twisted, and gorgeously illustrated, BULLETPROOF COFFIN kicks ass. Check it out this week at Third Eye! And look at this death tank! DMZ VOLUME 8 HEARTS AND MINDS HITS THE SHELVES THIS THURSDAY AT THIRD EYE! It's always a good day when you get a new DMZ trade paperback, and this Thursday is one of those days. Brian Wood's incredible politically-charged guerilla journalism meets Escape from New York story has been keeping us compelled for nearly half a decade, and we know that there's many of you folks who're eagerly awaiting this next slab of collected DMZ awesomeness, like we are. But, for those of you who have not yet tried DMZ, I feel like this is a good opportunity to hype up a book that I feel is one of the better Vertigo series on the stands. So, what is DMZ about? A near-future America is torn by war between the Free Armies, who control New Jersey and the inland, and the United States, ensconced in New York City's boroughs. Basically, NYC has become the stand-still DMZ in the midst of a 21st Century Civil War. In the middle of all this, Matty Roth, hired as a phototech intern to a famous battlefield journalist, is stranded when the rest of his crew is killed. Overcoming the initial panic, he decides to remain as the sole embedded journalist in the devastated, largely depopulated city. It's a career-making assignment, if it doesn't get him killed. Befriended by former med student Zee, who runs a clinic, Matty discovers a society struggling to survive amid skirmishes and snipers, hell, you can almost hear the Talking Heads's LIFE DURING WARTIME playing as you read the book. And, this week, we've got the 8th volume of this incredible series ready and waiting for you to scoop it up. If you're interested in hopping aboard DMZ, start with DMZ v.1 ON THE GROUND, which has the first 5 issues, for only $9.99! Click here to read more about DMZ v.8 HEARTS AND MINDS Trade Paperback. NEW IMAGE SERIES: DUST WARS #1 DEBUTS THIS WEDNESDAY BLENDING ALTERNATE WWII SCI-FI MADNESS WITH KICK-ASS FEMME FATALES AND POP CULTURE AWESOMENESS! If there's one thing we're a sucker here at Third Eye, it's alternate history stories, especially ones that're steeped in science fiction, and feature kick-ass soldier chicks. This new series from IMAGE COMICS looks to be another surefire shot of awesomeness, and we cannot wait to get our hands on a full copy to read. The pages we have seen look fantastic, and we're pumped to see more. What is DUST WARS? Dust is an alternate sci-fi universe set amidst the events of WORLD WAR II, and inspired by real WWII stories blended with a splash of sci-fi, pop culture, femme fatales & kick-assery. Imagine giant robots, steam-powered death machines, and more, and you're on the right track to what DUST WARS is all about. The series takes place around the 1950s in a cold war that's in some way similar to our own, but in other ways far far different. In this reality, Nazi Germany survived the second World War and in this uneasy peace both sides have developed robotic monstrosities, genetically engineered intelligent apes, and re-animated zombie soldiers, as well as other bizarre weaponry that they're about to pit against each other in a whole new war. In this sci-fi military mash-up, the Allies and the Soviet Union are teaming up to finally put a stop to those Nazi bastards! It all started when the Axis found a space ship full of technology and build incredible modern robot weapons to take over the world. So when D-Day happened the Axis countered the Allies offensive with the reobots, and that's where Dust Wars is set, a 20-some year cold war between the Allies and the Axis. The artwork in it looks fantastic, and who doesn't love the pulpy retro-sci-fi idea of giant robots, kick-ass commando chicks, and zombie soldiers? Check out DUST WARS #1 this Thursday at Third Eye! RED HOOD LOST DAYS #1 - THE UNTOLD TALE OF JASON TODD'S TRANSFORMATION INTO THE MENACING RED HOOD! Just in time for the latest DC Animated feature, BATMAN: UNDER THE HOOD, this killer mini-series from Judd Winnick, author of the original UNDER THE HOOD story arc, explores who Jason Todd is, and more importantly who the Red Hood is. Many of us simply know Jason Todd as "the Robin that got his brains bashed out by the Joker", but, there's a lot more to him than that. This limited series tracks the time from the Red Hood's rebirth to his return to Gotham. In this series, we get to understand the Red Hood/Jason Todd in a new way. It explains both how he's sympathetic, and an unrepentant monster. And, after what Grant Morrison did with this character in his 3-issue Batman and Robin arc, I'm personally very intrigued to see more of how he went from somewhat stable to completely off the deep end. For those of you looking for a little more back-story on the Red Hood/Jason Todd scenario, we recommend checking out these two trade paperbacks, in stock now at Third Eye by Judd Winick and current GREEN LANTERN artist Doug Mahnke. BATMAN UNDER THE HOOD Vol.1 TRADE PAPERBACK BATMAN UNDER THE HOOD Vol.2 TRADE PAPERBACK Click here to read more about RED HOOD: LOST DAYS #1 SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #4 INTRODUCES THE WORLD OF TERRY McGINNIS and BATMAN BEYOND INTO THE REGULAR DC CONTINUITY, AND SERVES AS A PRELUDE TO THE NEW BATMAN BEYOND SERIES RELEASING THIS SUMMER! There's no denying that the animated series, BATMAN BEYOND, still stands the test of time as one of the best explorations of Elseworld / What If? scenarios in regards to the DCU. And, the fact that it was an animated series that did it, with such a high level of quality, makes that fact even more impressive. For years, the show has had a cult following, and the characters of that world have always been near and dear to many of our hearts. And, now, with the advent of a new series debuting later this Summer, DC is bringing the world of Terry McGinnis and Batman Beyond into regular DCU continuity. So, what's the deal? Well, this Superman/Batman annual shipping this week serves as an official Prelude to the Batman Beyond limited series due out later this summer, and answers a lot of those questions of how this fits into the continuity of the DCU. See, we learned already in Countdown to Final Crisis that the Terry McGinnis Batman was shown to be an inhabitant of Earth-12. It looks like the introduction of McGinnis and Batman Beyond into the mix, could very well be a look at a possible future for the Batman mythos. In this annual, we get to see the fate of Superman hanging in the balance, as well as a very old and very vindictive nemesis. Click here to read more about SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #4 MOUSEGUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD #1 DEBUTS THIS THURSDAY, ALLOWING CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED CREATORS TO EXPLORE THE WORLD OF DAVID PETERSEN'S MOUSE GUARD! We just can't get enough of David Petersen's world of little meeces running around trying to kill each other with battle axes, and stuff. Seriously though, the Mouse Guard comics have really earned a fond place in our favorite reads, and whenever a new series that takes us into the surreal, and magical world of Mouse Guard begins, we like to talk it up a bit. This Thursday, the arrival of MOUSEGUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD #1, allows several creators that've been handpicked by David Petersen to play in the sandbox he's created. A four issue anthology mini-series, we get to see various interpretations, as well as explorations of the Mouse Guard world and it's mythos by these assorted creators. What is Mouse Guard? Picture this: mice with capes and swords defending themselves against their predators as if they were the Knights of the Round Table. Told in Petersen's INCREDIBLE lush and detailed art which does a fine job of mixing the realistic and the fantastic: the mice and other animals always look realistic no matter how fantastic the situations they're in get, even when they're facing giant snakes or crabs. Things straddle the line between cute, but not too cute, as things often take a grim turn at times. In this world, The Mouse Guard protect its fellow creature and patrols the passageways between the villages of the Mouse Territories. In the first story, FALL 1151, members of the guard investigate the disappearance of a traveling grain merchant. During their search for truth, the three uncover a plot to attack Lockhaven, the home of the guard, fight hungry snakes, escape a fiery death, and even find a long-lost hero. And, that's just the first book. David Petersen's indie gem creates a fully realized, and fantastically illustrated world that will appeal to fans of series such as STUFF OF LEGEND in a big way. Okay, where do I start? You can pick up with Mouse Guard either by sampling it in the MOUSE GUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD limited series that debuts this Thursday, or you can go further back and hop on with these collected editions: MOUSE GUARD: FALL 1152 GRAPHIC NOVEL (available in both softcover and hardcover) MOUSE GUARD: WINTER 1152 GRAPHIC NOVEL (available in hardcover) DODGEM LOGIC #2 - ALAN MOORE'S CRAZY, WHACKED OUT MAGAZINE FEATURING COMICS, ART, AND MUSIC ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! We love ol' Alan Moore here at Third Eye, and while we love him for his awesome comics work, we also love him for his sheer oddity appeal. This week, the second issue of his quarterly magazine, 100% edited, and partially written by Moore, we get a whole nother 52 pages of full color content that is 100% advertisement free. And, not only do you get Moore's writings on comics, music, art and film, but you also get a FREE CD, and an eight-page mini-comic, written and illustrated by Moore. What more is there to say, folks? It's Alan Moore, it's weird as hell, and we love it! WARREN ELLIS'S FREAKANGELS VOLUME 4 HITS THE SHELVES THIS WEDNESDAY DELIVERING ANOTHER SLAB OF STEAMPUNK POST-APOCALYPTIC AWESOME! Now, it's pretty obvious that we're rabid devotees to the mad scientist of comics, Warren Ellis. This guy has been delivering some of the best damn serial fiction for nearly two decades, and he very rarely disappoints. And, I'm not just saying this because the man was kind enough to put my old band in one of his podcats way back when, although that doesn't hurt our appreciation for his fantastic works. One of the best things Ellis has done in recent memory is the incredible FREAKANGELS series, which focuses on twelve strange children with stranger abilities. So, for those of you who aren't already reading FREAKANGELS, allow me to give the rundown on what we consider to be one of the finest comics on the shelves here at Third Eye! What is Freakangels? Freakangels is the story of twelve strange children who were born in England twenty three years ago at the same exact moment. Six years later, the world ended. This is the story of what happened next. So, welcome to Whitechapel, some years from now, just barely above ground in a flooded England, where a clan of eleven strange people with purple eyes - the Freakangels - have carved out some sort of a life for themselves. A life that starts showing big cracks when a girl called Alice from Manchester turns up with a shotgun and a grievance, having met the lost, prodigal last Freakangel, who had very different ideas about what they should do with themselves and this flooded future in England. Because the Freakangels have a big secret: Something very bad is their fault. The series pulls heavily from the influences of steampunk fiction in terms of the style of the world it exists in, the appearance of the characters, and the overall feel of things. The story kind of reminds you of a grittier, darker steampunk riff on Brian K. Vaughn's RUNAWAYS in the way that it deals with the dynamics of the Freakangels and focuses on their relationships and characters, with their special abilities working more as background pieces. And, the artwork in this series is sooooo good. Wanna get started with Freakangels? We've got volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the graphic novels already in stock, check 'em out this week here at Third Eye! JONAH HEX NO WAY BACK ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL HITS THIS THURSDAY! FIND OUT WHY THE JONAH HEX STUFF IS ONE OF DC'S BEST KEPT SECRETS! All right, folks, if you've been sleeping on the current run of Jonah Hex stuff that's been around for the last few years, then you are missing out... but that's OK, 'cause DC is debuting the ultimate chance to check out some of the best, and most underrated comics magic on the shelves these days with JONAH HEX: NO WAY BACK. For over 50 issues, Palmiotti and Justin Gray have been telling some of the most hardboiled, gritty, and ultra-violent rough and tumble western stories you could imagine featuring DC's Man with No Name, Jonah Hex.. okay, so he has a name, but you get my point. We were lucky enough to get to read through No Way Back, and folks, it ROCKS. JONAH HEX: NO WAY BACK is what the Jonah Hex movie SHOULD be. If they took and did a page for page adaptation of this story, it would be the best Western movie in like 30 years. Gray and Palmiotti have taken the anti-hero they've grown accustomed to and elaborated their usual one-shot, single issue stories into a full scale graphic novel, and it's about as perfect as it gets when it comes to what anyone could want in a Western story. The longer format allows Palmiotti and Gray to really elaborate on themes and scenes that they couldn't normally expand on in the format of the regular monthly. The scope of the story is pretty epic, as it follows Hex travelling from Nevada to Arizona and finally to Heaven's Gate, Colorado. Along the way we find out more about Hex's origin than we've found out in all the series' issues prior. While the series relies mostly on the present of the Old West, the book ahs room to go back and show us how Jona's mother left him and how his bastard of a father treated him and blamed him for her departure. We also get to see the origins of Hex villain, El Papagayo, and why he hates Hex so much. All in all, this is a rock solid damn good Western tale. A story of a lone man riding into town with a checkered past and bringing hell, pain, misery and gunfire with him. Dirt in the blood Western gunfights, knife fights, gangs of bandits, and so much whiskey you can almost smell it, make this book a fantastic, and vivid read. If you want a damn good read, check this one out this week at Third Eye! STAFF PICKS Steve - THUNDERBOLTS #144 = Who saw this one coming? The surprise sleeper hit of last week, the new line-up of the Thunderbolts is killer, and the new creative direction is great. Luke Cage leading a team composed of Juggernaut, Crossbones, Moonstone, and MAN-THING!?! This is awesome. The ending was a great surprise too. Trish - GREEN LANTERN #54 *BRIGHTEST DAY* = Dex-Starr rocks! Ok so Green Lantern is good every month, but when the Red Lantern kittie is in there it makes it even better. Torma - SECRET AVENGERS #1 = AWESOME TEAM, AWESOME BOOK. They brought back the Serpent Crown and the cliffhanger at the end was killer. Loved the kind of way Brubaker channels that Steranko/Ditko espionage feel in a new school way Matt - BATMAN RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE 2 = Batman in the Witch-Hunting era? Too cool for words. Dug this one a lot more than issue one, probably because there was a lot less caveman talk. Can't wait for the third one!