THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 8/18/10

THIRD EYE MUST BUY: SECRET AVENGERS #4 - 3 Reasons Why This Is One of Our Biggest Marvel Must-Reads! Grab Issues #1-3 and Get Caught Up! Okay, so four issues in, and each month, I rave more, and more about why Secret Avengers is one of my favorites in the new Heroic Age line-up of Marvel titles. And, while I know that nearly everybody is already reading this one, I feel that it's my duty to tell you guys one more time why I love this series so much, and why you need to jump on if you haven't already: 1. The Team It's got one of the coolest team line-ups we've seen in a superhero book in a long time. I mean, sure, it's great to see a book that features the biggest of the big guns, and sure, it's cool to get that nostalgia rush from familiar settings and characters, but Secret Avengers manages to put together a team that has at least one of everybody's fan-favorite "cult following"-type characters. In other words, if you're a big time Nova fan, he's here, and he's kicking ass. If you're like me, and you really dig Moon Knight, well, bam, you got him. And, then there's more traditional Avengers material, like The Beast (yes, from the X-Men) acting as the team's science guy, Steve Rogers in his new Nick Fury-esque role leading the team, and long-time Iron Man ally, War Machine, handling the heavy artillery. Add into the mix diverse characters like Valkyrie (imagine a really pissed off, and slightly more bloodthirsty female version of Thor), The Black Widow (for all the down and dirty espionage awesomeness), and the Irredeemable Ant-Man, 'cause, well, every team needs an obnoxious loudmouth, and heck, you've got yourself one hell of an interesting team. It's this dynamic line-up that makes reading Secret Avengers such a blast, and keeps us coming back for more. 2. High Concepts Grounded In Reality Make An Interesting Mix - Writer Ed Brubaker (ya know, the guy who's done killer reads like CRIMINAL, INCOGNITO, CAPTAIN AMERICA) makes Secret Avengers unique by taking that old school team book appeal of having mission-driven storylines, and then completely hosing it down in his own brand of psychotronic storytelling, which makes for one hell of a great read. See, with Secret Avengers, it's totally not out of the ordinary to see the team stalking around on the planet of Mars, and while this could be corny in any other book, Brubaker and Deodato manage to make it work too freakin' well. Deodato brings a very H.R Giger/Ridley Scott's ALIEN feel to the outer space aspect, as Mars is littered with weird caves, tunnels, and hieroglyphics all throughout. Add in that the layers of espionage and intrigue that Brubaker is building the plot with, and then mix with a dose of old school Steranko Nick Fury Agent of Shield craziness, and it makes for some very compelling reads. 3. The Creative Team - You're getting two guys at the top of their game, and it shows. Deodato is fresh off his work on Dark Avengers, and his artwork makes the book work exactly right for what it is: a covert ops team of Avengers who've been assembled to clean up the messes of Norman Osborn, and many others, so the public knows they never even existed. The mood, the atmosphere, and the attention to detail that Deodato brings is fantastic. Ed Brubaker is writing the superhero book he was born to write here, and it's probably his best superhero stuff since his early work on Captain America with the Winter Soldier saga. His characterization of each team member is unique, his introduction of the villainous characters is perfect, and the plot behind the first arc has been top notch all the way. Good creative team = Good Book. Now, does this sound like something you're itching to read? Well, we've still got limited quantities of issues 1, 2 and 3 in stock to get you caught up to this week's issue #4. Do not miss out on this series, folks, it's one of the best books on the stands, and the early issues are already starting to become hard to come by, so grab 'em while we've got copies in stock! For those of you who've already been on board with Secret Avengers, well, you saw the madness that happened at the end of issue #3, so we know you guys are stoked about what's coming next. And, if this week's cover to #4 is indicative.. holy crap. Plus, the puppet master behind this whole thing? We might just get to meet him in this issue. Click here for a preview of SECRET AVENGERS #4 THIRD EYE MUST BUY: BRIGHTEST DAY #8 - Geoff Johns's DCU Rebrith Continues This Wednesday - Who Is The One and Only White Lantern? Okay, so, first off, you're probably wondering why I'm using the cover to Brightest Day #7... well, it's cause Brightest Day #8 is supposedly a big issue, and DC is keeping the cover image, and all spoilers under tight lock and key. I gotta say, I'm pretty pumped to see what the hell is gonna be going down.. 'cause after issue #7, we learned some pretty interesting things about Deadman and why he's been especially chosen by the White Ring to solve the mysteries of the White Lantern. Now, going into issue #8, it looks like we're going to learn WHO the White Lantern ends up being, for real, and with many of the possible candidates, I'll admit, I'm intrigued. All in all, Brightest Day has continued to be one of the best things I've been reading this summer. It delivers each and every issue, and while it's bi-weekly schedule gives it kind of a weird rhythm of story development one issue, action the next, it has been really really good. What is BRIGHTEST DAY? Well, essentially, Geoff Johns, the writer of last year's mega-awesome BLACKEST NIGHT (now available in hardcover here at Third Eye), has defined Brightest Day, his follow-up to Blackest Night, as DCU: REBIRTH. In other words, this series provides an excellent entry point for those of you who have been meaning to try the DC Universe, but it also serves as a great refresher of things for those of you who've already been following DC. Basically, Johns and crew are rebuilding the DCU from the ground up, and are giving some specific focus to forgotten characters like Aquaman, Firestorm, Deadman, ect. The series so far has really done a great job of defining these characters, shaping the current direction of the DCU, and providing a damn good story in the process. For those of you who're thinking about jumping into the series, we've got all the issues in stock, #0-#7, so you can get caught up pretty easily still. While BLACKEST NIGHT is not mandatory to understand what's going on in BRIGHTEST DAY, we do recommend checking out at least the core Blackest Night story. Why? Well, other than the fact that it totally kicked ass, it's a good primer for a lot of what's going on now with the White Lantern stuff. Be sure to check out our checklists for the series and it's tie ins at: BRIGHTEST DAY Checklist Pt 1 & BRIGHTEST DAY Checklist Pt 2 THIRD EYE MUST BUY: THE BOYS: HIGHLAND LADDIE #1 - HUGHIE GETS HIS OWN SOLO LIMITED SERIES by GARTH ENNIS! A CRUCIAL SPIN OFF OF ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SERIES! I'm pretty stoked to read this one when it hits on Wednesday. This mini-series spinning off of one of our favorites, The Boys, hits this week, written by THE BOYS writer Garth Ennis, and focusing on Hughie's character. Basically, his origins, his background, and his motivations. So, what's the scoop? Well, you know how in the BOYS we were kinda getting the backgrounds on all the different characters and their pasts? Well, this is Hughie's story, but it's a little too big to be told in the pages of the series, not to mention he's not popping up in the monthly series as much currently. Also, in Highland Laddie, we're going to see the origin of another Boys character, but Ennis is leaving that one as a surprise. And, as we've seen from his work on stuff like THE BOYS, CROSSED, and PREACHER, Garth Ennis does surprises well. Now, obviously, there's going to be comparisons drawn to Highland Laddie and last year's Boys mini-series, Herogasm, but Ennis said that Highland Laddie is way more closer to the tone and mood of THE BOYS than Herogasm was. In other words, Herogasm was more played for laughs, which was cool, whereas Highland Laddie is a much more serious (yet I'm sure, still dementedly funny) tale. Also, for those of you who're not yet reading THE BOYS, by Garth Ennis, well, now is the perfect time for me to give you the scoop on what's become one of our favorite series here at Third Eye. Also, this Highland Laddie limited series serves as a nice spot to jump on and try the book as well. So, WHAT is THE BOYS all About ? Okay, let me say this first: It's my favorite thing Garth Ennis has written since PREACHER. And, that's a bold statement, considering all the really cool stuff that Ennis has done in between PREACHER and now. Stuff like PUNISHER MAX, CROSSED, HITMAN, his war stuff in BATTLEFIELDS, and more, have all been great reads, but it's THE BOYS that I always find myself comparing to PREACHER. Why? 'Cause it maintains that same style of heartfelt storytelling, shocking plot twists, and of course, the sometimes depraved humor of Preacher. But, at it's core, it's a long, epic story exploring the kind of themes that Ennis explores best. The plot of the BOYS is basically about a world where superheroes are the next step in National Defense. They're the equivalent of a private security company like Blackwater, which contracts out to the U.S to provide security for extraordinary situations. The actual superheroes in question, are all, for the most part, horrible, horrible people. They're negligent, often causing people to die in the middle of their encounters. They're corrupt, abusing their power to satisfy their depravities. And, they know that there's very little that can be done to stop them from doing what they want. In come THE BOYS, The Boys are a group of individuals who, as we learn, have all had their lives somehow screwed up because of the superheroes (or as they're called by the Boys, The Capes), or by the corporation that employs them. The Boys work for the CIA to make sure that the superheroes stay on their leash, and don't get too out of control for the U.S Government. They do this by doing everything from blackmailing and spying on the Capes to pumping themselves with a steroid-like compound and beating the hell out of them. The Boys, led by Butcher, are an interesting bunch, and it's the strong characterization that Ennis brings to them that really makes the book interesting. Hughie, is the character that we kinda see the story through. He's a guy, who, in the first issue, has his fiancee completely destroyed as a superhero throws a bad guy without looking, and it literally rips her body from her arms, pulverizing her into a wall. He's left holding onto her arms, and from there, he joins the Boys. And, then it gets crazier, and crazier. This series is fantastic, and it's about six trade paperbacks deep. We can't recommend it enough. Pick up Volume 1 this week if you're not already reading the Boys, we guarantee you'll love it. For those of you who're already reading THE BOYS, we know you'll be checking out Highland Laddie, cause lets face it: a double dose of Ennis's depraved exploration of super-humans is never a bad thing. THIRD EYE MUST BUY: BATMAN BEYOND #3 - The Batman Beyond Revival is Kicking Ass! We Couldn't Be More Stoked to See Terry McGinnis's Return! "Hush Beyond" Continues! Dude, the return of BATMAN BEYOND has been one of the most exciting things of the summer for me. This animated series still remains as one of the best exploration of the Bat-mythos, in my opinion, and it's great to see DC returning to this world and exploring it again. The writing and art on this one recapture everything that made Batman Beyond great, and manage to take the world of Terry McGinnis further into new directions as well. But, know what the most kick ass part about this is? It's giving us a "Beyond" take on one of the most infamous Bat-villains in the last twenty years: HUSH. It's still not clear if this is the same Hush as the one we all know, but so far in the first couple issues, we've seen a killer on the loose that's been dubbed Hush by the media. I think it's pretty safe to say this is a new incarnation of Hush, and is not the original, considering this one's pretty athletic and is fighting Mcinnis as if he was young. We're watching as Batman's surviving Rogues gallery is getting thinned out in interesting and strange ways. There's even a new Catwoman who pops up, and she actually comes off as a pretty interesting character. All in all, the Batman Beyond revival is kicking major ass, and if you loved the show, or just love good Elseworlds-style Batman stuff... we highly highly recommend checking it out. We've still got issues #1 and #2 in stock to get you caught up on the series! THIRD EYE MUST BUY: THE IDES OF BLOOD #1 - Caeser Conquers Transylvania, Vampire Roman Gladiators, and a Serial Killer Mystery that makes you think of SE7EN.. This one is AWESOME looking. "True Blood" meets "Spartacus" This series looks freakin' kick-ass. I read the concept, checked out the preview pages, and maybe I'm just a sucker for alternate history stuff, but, this one looks really rad. Ides of Blood is a new six-issue limited series from Wildstorm that follows an alternate history where Caesar conquered Transylvania and subjugated its inhabitants - who also just so happen to be bloodsucking undead - as a slave class in the ever-expanding Roman Republic. As the political landscape begins to change at a rapid pace, things alter just as quickly on a personal level for vampire slave-turned Roman-soldier Valens, who suddenly finds himself tasked with hunting down a vampiric serial killer draining the life out of Rome's rich upper class. The series, from the preview pages, looks awesome, and it's loaded with blood, sex, and all the other things you'd want out of the Roman Empire and Vampires put together. The series takes place around 44 BC, at the height of Caesar's power, and the exact year of the would-be emperor's assassination. The addition of vampires definitely makes things interesting, and completely alters the path of things going. This one looks like a crazy awesome mash-up of many different genres, and I can't wait to get a chance to read the whole shebang this week. Click here to read more about IDES OF BLOOD #1 THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: MARVEL UNIVERSE vs. THE PUNISHER #2 - "I AM LEGEND" with THE PUNISHER... YOU MUST READ THIS AWESOME "WHAT IF?"-Style Limited Series.... THE THING wears a necklace made of human hands, for God's sake! HOW AWESOME IS THAT? And we still have copies of issue #1 still available! Dude, the first issue of this four-issue WHAT IF?-style mini-series freakin' blew me away. I was seriously impressed. I mean, the concept sounded rad, but I had no clue how much fun this was going to end up being. So, what's the deal on this one? Well, it's pretty much what it sounds like... it's I AM LEGEND with the Punisher as the Last Man on Earth, and the Marvel Universe as his playground. Basically, five years ago, a plague swept through the Earth, turning everyone, human, hero, villain, god and monster, into sadistic cannibal predators. As Spider-man, The Hulk, the Thing (who rocks a necklace made of human hands!!) and many others start a feeding frenzy, the world falls in a wave of insatiable violence. And, now, five years later, the Punisher, the Last Gun on Earth, spends his days hunting these crazy, whacked out predator Marvel characters. This one rocks, and is simply put, straight up, bloody awesomeness. Click here for a preview of MARVEL UNIVERSE vs THE PUNISHER #2 If you missed issue #1, no worries, 'cause we've still got some copies left in stock to get you caught up! ATTN: SCOTT PILGRIM FANS - CHECK OUT SEEDLESS This Week from Corey Lewis - AWESOME little graphic novel that kicks out a Scott Pilgrim-esque tale that's like MEGA MAN meets the CALIFORNIA RAISINS. IT'S AWESOME. Dude, this one looks SO FREAKIN' COOL. Corey Lewis, the creator of the cult hit Sharknife, returns with this brand new graphic novel series, SEEDLESS. Lewis comes from the same school of comic storytelling as creators like Bryan Lee O'Malley (Scott Pilgrim) and Brandon Graham (King City). He manages to blend a ton of different comic styles effortlessly into one hyper-active, pop culture fueled mess of awesome. So, what is Seedless all about? Seedless is about three little alien grape warriors from another planet who come to Earth battling with a crazy grape named Crazy. Crazy is looking for 'seeds' on planet Earth, and the only way for the grapes to stop Crazy is to use their 'gel powers' and the advanced robots they pilot called 'Robotstomps.' In the midst of all these crazy grapes, you've got Harmony. Harmony is kinda the human character that's there for readers to relate to, and well, she also happens to be a quick-witted, and very kind girl. She's the daughter of an inventor, and ends up falling in league with these crazy mech-suited grapes. The trio of grape warriors? Funky, Pulse, and Dash. The classic teenage hero archetypes, ya know? Funky's the progressive and optimistic one, Pulse is the powerful hothead, and Dash is the silent ninja. So, I know what you're thinking, this sounds totally bizarre, right? Well, that's cause it is, but trust me, Lewis delivers a tight, well-told story that delivers the same kind of video game-fueled, character-driven awesomeness of stuff like Scott Pilgrim, and more recently, Super Pro KO. Check it out this week! SIXTH GUN #3 - AWESOME STEAMPUNKY WEIRD WEST STORYTELLING HITS THIS WEEK! MISS ISSUE #1 AND #2? WE'VE GOT 'EM IN STOCK TO GET YOU CAUGHT UP! The new Oni Press series, SIXTH GUN, is freakin' awesome. This steampunk occult Weird West delivers a killer read. Mixing up elements of series like HELLBOY, The Dark Tower, and the HBO series, DEADWOOD, The Sixth Gun is a great read that tells the tale of the Pinkerton Detective Agency being hired by the mysterious Mrs. Hume to recover various artifacts of power; a lantern, a tarot deck, a gun. But it's the Sixth Gun that seems to be the most dangerous, rumored to be so vile that it's not only indestructible but that Hell itself wouldn't take the item back. And, it's that artifact that not only the Pinkertons, but an independent agent called Drake Sinclair is also trying to find. The problem is, once someone's touched the gun, they're bound to it for life, and that's when things start getting sticky. The series has a lotta atmosphere, with art that's kinda reminiscent of P. Craig Russel, bringing a very Mike Mignola Hellboy feel to the whole thing. It's loaded with lots of really rad occult artifacts, and steampunky Old West goodness. Cursed weapons, demons from Hell, and more make this one heck of a read. If you missed issues #1 and #2, we've still got copies in stock to get you caught up. SHADOWLAND THIS WEEK: A DOUBLE-DOSE WITH SHADOWLAND DAUGHTERS OF THE SHADOW #1 & SHADOWLAND POWER MAN #1 From the depths of SHADOWLANDS, a legacy born in blood stands revealed. Spinning out of the uber rad SHADOWLAND event, we're going to see just what is up with the all-female hit squad that's working for Daredevil? Who is Colleen Wing and what's her secret connection to the Hand? And, what is the mysterious birthright that compels her to fufill Matt Murdock's bloody crusade to purge new York of corruption by any means necessary? Click here for a preview of SHADOWLAND DAUGHTERS OF THE SHADOW #1 Straight out of the streets of Shadowland: the all-new, all-different Power Man! Who is he? Why is he one of the few heroes to oppose Daredevil's rule over Hell's Kitchen? And, what's his mysteriou connection to Iron Fists's dojo, and the notorious Bullseye? It's up to Luke Cage and Iron Fist to solve this mystery, and find out just what the new Power Man's deal is. Click here for a preview of SHADOWLAND POWER MAN #1 TRUE BLOOD #2 - THE UNTOLD TALE OF SOOKIE, AND THE REST OF THE TRUE BLOOD GANG CONTINUES THIS WEEK by TV Series Creator ALAN BALL and Show writers ELIZABETH FINCH & KATE BARROW! Miss Issue #1? We've got copies in stock to get you caught up! True Blood is one of the most kick-ass shows on TV right now. There's no denying it. It's that kind of HBO series that really just stands tall as a great watch, and we're totally hooked. And, luckily, the comic book series is just as kick-ass. Written by Alan Ball, the creator of the TV series, and show writers Elizabeth Finch & Kate Barnow, this series is OFFICIALLY in True Blood continuity and explores untold stories of the world of True Blood. Awesome, awesome stuff. If you missed the first issue, we've still got a very limited amount of #1s in stock to get you caught up. AVENGERS & INFINITY GAUNTLET #1 - ATOMIC ROBO creator BRIAN CLEVINGER RE-TELLS THE CLASSIC MARVEL STORY WITH HIS OWN UNIQUE FRESH STYLE! Gotta tell ya, folks, I've been recently discovering how awesome some of these re-tellings of classic Marvel tales can be. Not only do they make great All Ages books, but they're also just plain cool self-contained storylines where anyone can pick 'em up and enjoy without having to know a ton of back story. And, sometimes, they actually bring a very fresh, funky kinda feel to the original source material, like in the case of this week's upcoming AVENGERS & THE INFINITY GAUNTLET. Brian Clevinger, who's pretty well known in the indie comics circles for his killer Tesla-fueled WW2 Robot badass, ATOMIC ROBO, is handling the writing duty on this limited series that brings us a brand new telling of Thanos's acquiring of the Infinity Gems, and his quest to destroy the galaxy. Joined by the highly underrated Brian Churilla (Artist on THE ANCHOR), this book looks like so much fun, I can't wait to sit down and read the full issue. Just bigger than life, over-the-top Marvel madness the way you like it, with a modern edge. Click here for a preview of AVENGERS & THE INFINITY GAUNTLET #1 THE LAST PHANTOM #1 - Dynamite Entertainment brings The Ghost Who Walks back into the spotlight! Dynamite Entertainment delivers a brand new series, and continues their revival of classic pulp characters (ala Green Hornet, Lone Ranger, ect) with the brand new LAST PHANTOM series. Like they've done with many other characters, the Phantom has been redesigned with the utmost care by Alex Ross, so it maintains the classic style but also has a sharp, modern look. The story? I'm not sure, they haven't really shown us much, but the preview pages look pretty damn slick. Click here for a preview of THE LAST PHANTOM #1 UNCANNY X-MEN #527 *THE FIVE LIGHTS CHAPTER 2* - THE FOLLOW UP TO SECOND COMING CONTINUES, AS WE GET CLOSER TO "GENERATION HOPE" The X-Books are better than they've been in ages, and between the awesomeness of CURSE OF THE MUTANTS, and what's going on over here in UNCANNY, we're hooked hardcore. In the wake of SECOND COMING, we saw that the first chapter of THE FIVE LIGHTS (in UNCANNY X-MEN #526) brought the emergence of five new mutants. The first new mutants since M-Day. And of course, the X-Men are interested. Meanwhile, Hope is in search of who her parents actually are, as well as some very cool explorations of how her power works. It looks like this plot is going to be leading us into the upcoming Generation Hope storyline, which pretty much signals more mutants emerging now that Hope is here to carry out the role she was born to. Click here for a preview of UNCANNY X-MEN#527 *THE FIVE LIGHTS PT 2* STAFF PICKS Steve - GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS #1- We all know that I'm a big sucker for all the GL stuff happening right now, but the first issue of this new ongoing series was better than I had even thought it was gonna be. Really solid characterization, amazing artwork, and some serious fan-favorite moments. Can't wait for more. Trish - WALKING DEAD #76 = Not quite the jaw-dropper that we got with #75, but still really really good. Torma -THANOS IMPERATIVE #3= THIS SERIES IS THE BEST THING EVER. Cthulhu Marvel Universe aka the Cancerverse gets it's own origins revealed here... PLUS, MORE GIANT ENGINES OF DESTRUCTION. Matt - X-MEN #2 *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS* = Never thought I'd be so hooked on the X-Men again, but this new series is total fun. Vampires vs X-Men? Too good.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 5/5/10

BRIGHTEST DAY #1 *FREE WHITE LANTERN RING WITH PURCHASE!* ARRIVES, KICKING THE SUMMER OFF RIGHT COURTESY OF GEOFF JOHNS AND CO.! IF YOU LOVED BLACKEST NIGHT, MAKE SURE YOU'RE READING BRIGHTEST DAY! Issue #0 was just a taste. This Wednesday, the Brightest Day begins in grandiose fashion with BRIGHTEST DAY #1, and alongside it? The final Lantern ring to round out your power ring sets.. the White Lantern ring! Seriously though, I think it's pretty easy to say that this is one of the most highly anticipated books of the week. After reading BRIGHTEST DAY #0, I was completely sold on this event, and hooked to find out more, and more about what was to come. But, lets face it, this is the next logical progression in the storytelling that Geoff Johns blew us all away with in the 8 issue limited series BLACKEST NIGHT (still available in limited quantities here at Third Eye). There's no reason why we wouldn't be stoked to see where things are headed. And, after having read BRIGHTEST DAY #0, I gotta say, it looks like things are headed in some very exciting directions. This is the perfect time for new and old fans alike to enjoy the DCUniverse, as BRIGHTEST DAY serves as a fresh, and exciting ground zero jumping on point, but with enough links to the events of BLACKEST NIGHT to continue the storyline threads developed there. Not to mention that this is essentially, DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH. In a nutshell.. BRIGHTEST DAY is the resurrection of some key DCU characters, some major, some minor, in the aftermath of BLACKEST NIGHT. Basically, it's a ground-level rebuilding of the DCU, and is helping make characters that have either been neglected or inaccessible more fun to read. Of course, there's a very sinister plotline running through BRIGHTEST DAY, and here comes the real hook: Sometimes dead is better... okay, I know, Pet Semetary jokes aside, that's kind of the running theme in BRIGHTEST DAY. What if some of these characters were not meant to be resurrected? And, why were these select characters chosen by the White Ring's light to get a second chance? But, most importantly, what are the major ramifications of these character's returning in the grand scheme of the DC Universe. And, a look at that BRIGHTEST DAY #1 cover gives you a very haunting glimpse at what we're referring to. Why BRIGHTEST DAY is truly 100% Third Eye Must-Read Material? Well, first off.. it's GEOFF JOHNS. This guy writes some of the best damn superhero comics on the stands, and we've already seen that when it comes to DC Comics, he's the man. Now, picture this... Johns has been given a wide-open playground to basically rebuild the DC Universe. This is ground zero, and anyone who is a fan of rock-solid storytelling, and lest we not forget, the stellar art-team onboard, should be reading this series. Of course, there are a buncha tie-ins, and while we personally have been extremely pleased with the tie-in books, the only book you absolutely need to read to follow BRIGHTEST DAY is the core BRIGHTEST DAY title. But don't get me wrong, so far... the tie-ins have been freakin' great, especially GREEN LANTERN #53 and GREEN LANTERN CORPS #47. Now, secondly, it's a chance for us as fans to experience the truly unique experience of seeing the DC Universe as it's being rebuilt and restructured. In other words, if you've never followed a lot of DC, or you're an old fan who fell out of the loop, or maybe, you got hooked via BLACKEST NIGHT, then BRIGHTEST DAY serves as the perfect area to come aboard and find out how cool Geoff Johns's spin on the DC Universe is. In just one issue (referring to issue #0), he took a mix of characters that were familiar to us and then a little more unfamiliar, and gave them more life than they've seen in years. It's going to be pretty killer seeing this story evolve. Verdict on BRIGHTEST DAY So Far? I'm loving it, folks. I thought issue #0 was fantastic, and so far the books carrying the BRIGHTEST DAY banner have all been outstanding (Flash #1, Justice League #44, Green Lantern #53, and Green Lantern Corps #47). If you haven't given it a try yet, jump on this week with issue #0 (still in stock here at Third Eye), and BRIGHTEST DAY #1. And, finally.. BRIGHTEST DAY #1 comes with the White Lantern Power Ring! How could you not be stoked about that? I know everyone's itching to complete their sets, and this is the final piece that everybody needs... and hey, you get to read a killer comic in the process! :) Click here for the official THIRD EYE BRIGHTEST DAY CHECKLIST Click here to read more about BRIGHTEST DAY #1 IZOMBIE #1, FRESH NEW VERTIGO SERIES, DEBUTS THIS WEDNESDAY AT ONLY $1.00, AND IT'S FREAKIN' AWESOME! A LIVING DEAD GIRL DETECTIVE THAT HAS TO EAT BRAINS TO SOLVE CASES! FRESH AS HELL, THIS ONE DEFINITELY GETS THE THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL STAMP! Dude, for the last couple of years, Vertigo has been on a roll. They've been dishing out some of the freshest, and most innovative new series we're reading, and so far, very few have disappointed us here at Third Eye. This Wednesday, there's a new one coming out, and I was actually lucky enough to get a pre-read on this one, and I gotta tell you: it's BADASS. First off, I have always loved Mike Allred's artwork. And, while his stuff on Madman has always been some of my favorite stuff since I was a snot-nosed little punk, it's rare that we've gotten to see him really branch out from that area and do something as equally fresh and exciting as his work on MADMAN. Well, now he's getting his chance to show us what he's got all over again with this killer new Vertigo series, IZOMBIE. What's it about? I, ZOMBIE is a quirky series set in a world filled with paranormal creatures like werewolves, mummies and zombies. The story focuses on a young zombie girl named Gwen who uses her brain-munching tendencies to help others while at the same time putting a little cash in her pocket. See, Gwen learned quick that unless she eats a human brain once a month, then she begins to lose her own memories and personality and turns into shambling, growling ghoul like something out of Night of the Living Dead. But, ya know, she still doesn't want to run around munching on innocent peeps, so she takes a job as a gravedigger, and once a month, sneaks a quick bite on the freshest body in the cemetery. But, see, here's the catch, while the human brain helps keep Gwen's memories and personality intact, it also slowly "digests", and fills her head with the memories and personality of the former owner. So, she ends up finding herself compelled to finish any unfinished business that the dead person left behind. If they were murdered, she's gonna want to solve that murder. If they never told their pops they loved him, she wants to track down the grieving parents and make amends. The world of I, Zombie is filled with all sorts of other monsters, and creatures of the night, but given the same kind of unique spin that Gwen's received. Werewolves are people who find themselves overcome by the appetites and lusts of a wild animal. So, when the moon is full, they totally lose it. There's mummies, there's vampires, there's all sorts of craziness. And, folks, it's done in a way that works so well, I think you'll really dig it. It almost seems like someone is taking the FABLES formula of characters living in hiding amongst the real world, and applying it to monsters, and it really pops well. The writing in the first issue was very sharp, clever dialogue, and strong characterization. The plot points are very good at hooking you, and definitely carry a strong sense of fun to them. Allred's art is PERFECT for this as it captures both the creepiness and tension of the series, but also manages to play up some of the more light-hearted aspects as well. Plus, the first issue is only a buck, so it definitely can't hurt to try it, right? Click here to check out a preview of IZOMBIE #1 BATMAN AND ROBIN #12 *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE PROLOGUE CHAPTER 3* - THE FINAL INSTALLMENT OF THE PROLOGUE TO THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE! THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE BEGINS HERE! The Return of Bruce Wayne is probably one of the most highly anticipated story arcs of 2010, and the lead-up to it has been incredible. For the last couple of months, Grant Morrison has been paving the road for the RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE in his incredible BATMAN AND ROBIN series. Now, nevermind the fact that I feel BATMAN AND ROBIN is one of the best damn comics on the stands, and probably one of the most incredible takes on the world of BATMAN in a long time, but beyond all that, the RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE Prologue that began in BATMAN AND ROBIN #10 has really kicked things into high gear for the Caped Crusader. The addition of Andy Clarke as the artist for this story arc has been an excellent choice as well (probably the best artist on the book since Quitely's first arc, and that's saying something considering Cameron Stewart and Phillip Tan are both pretty damn good). I think what I've really dug the most about this arc has been the cool, Masterpiece Theater kind of take they've given the storyline. There's a real sense of detective work in how Dick Grayson and Alfred are trying to solve the mystery of Bruce Wayne being lost in time, and it's almost as if you're playing detective right alongside them, as Morrison delivers subtle clues throughout the book. Of course, there's the whole subplot of Damian being under the control of his mother, Talia, and being forced to kill Grayson, but we all know that the real story here is all the little tidbits dropped about Bruce Wayne. Things that will end up being crucial storyline elements, I'm sure, when the actual RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE mini-series begins next week. If you're looking to jump on board in time for the big RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE event, we've still got plenty of BATMAN AND ROBIN #11 and BATMAN AND ROBIN #10 in stock to get you caught up on the Prologue issues to the story arc. Issue #10 is a perfect jumping on point. Also, if you're curious about starting up on this incredible series from the very beginning, we've got ALL of the back issues (1-11) currently well-stocked, or you can just snag the BATMAN AND ROBIN hardcover which collects issues #1-6. Either way, we highly recommend checking out this crazy good series. The book just gets better, and better, and is really taking the world of Batman and his characters into new and exciting directions. The dynamic of Dick Grayson (Nightwing) as Batman, and Bruce Wayne's long-lost son, Damian (raised by the League of Assassins) as Robin has been one of the most interesting team dynamics in comics I think I've ever seen. There was a really cool part in the recent arc, where Grayson is talking about how he thinks he may have figured a way to bring Bruce Wayne back, and then Damian almost shows sadness, asking "Would we still be Batman and Robin?" It's kind of cool to see how he's adopted Grayson as a father figure in Bruce Wayne's absence. And, I think that's because Grayson seems more human, and not as shut-off as Bruce does, oh, and he's not lost in time, that helps, haha. The other thing that I really dig about Batman and Robin is it's truly a 21st century approach for Batman and Batman stories. While there were some fantastic stories in the '80s, and '90s, it felt like they'd taken the grim and gritty world to an extreme that was hard to get away from. While the character of Batman must always be the Dark Detective, it's cool to see this new approach and direction to his world. It's almost like Morrison has taken a stack of Silver Age '60s Batman comics and then smashed them all together with a healthy dose of sleek, post-modern comics storytelling to make something truly unique, fun, and compelling. Okay, it's obvious, Batman and Robin rules, and you gotta read it. I rave about it every time a new issue comes out. I know! For those of you already reading it, I'm a broken record, and you're like Steve, you're preaching to the choir, but man, this book is good stuff. Click here to check out a preview of BATMAN AND ROBIN #12 *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE PROLOGUE PT 3* ASTONISHING SPIDERMAN & WOLVERINE #1DEBUTS A CUTTING EDGE, EXCITING NEW LIMITED SERIES FEATURING TWO MARVEL CLASSICS BY "SCALPED" & "WOLVERINE: WEAPON X" WRITER JASON AARON and ADAM KUBERT - A THIRD EYE MUST BUY! Okay, this one's a big deal for a number of reasons, but we'll start with the creative team that's on board. Jason Aaron, writer of the critically acclaimed Vertigo series SCALPED, as well as the incredibly solid WOLVERINE: WEAPON X, and ADAM KUBERT, a comics art legend who's delivered incredible runs on everything from the Uncanny X-Men to Ultimate X-Men to Action Comics and Wolverine. This is a blockbuster creative team, folks, and it's definitely a creative team that's deserving of the "new" ASTONISHING banner that Marvel is delivering with this limited series and the soon-to-be-relaunched ASTONISHING X-MEN. Now, wait a second, I thought the whole Astonishing thing was just an X-Title thing, I know you're thinking. Well, it started out that way. See, Astonishing X-Men, at the time it came out, was the ONLY X-Book worth reading. But now, the bar has been raised, and the X-Books are actually kicking ass, and Astonishing is kind of lacking in identity, which is a shame 'cause it's still rocking hard. Marvel is trying something new here, basically think of books carrying the ASTONISHING tag as the equivalent to what DC has done with ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, or ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN. While it seems like the Astonishing books do fall into regular continuity, they provide rock solid, self-contained stories that deliver a kick-ass creative team doing kick-ass comics. And, to launch this banner, they've got ASTONISHING SPIDERMAN & WOLVERINE and ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS. This week, we're getting the Spidey/Wolvie book, and after having read the advance copy, I can tell you guys, it's pretty damn good. So, what's this all about then, huh? Well, the story starts off with a somewhat ridiculous premise... but it works, thanks to Aaron's knack for taking the quirky and making it compelling. We start things with Spidey and Wolvie living amongst early man and dinosaurs in the late cretaceous age. See, they both ended up in this timeline somehow during an incident set in the regular, current Marvel U. And, in this world, we see Logan has adopted the cavemen as his own tribe, teaching them things, whereas Spidey has kind of self-imposed his own exile, and is now seen as a "Spider-God" by the natives. The story sounds kooky, but it actually works very well, and Kubert's art really fits it nicely. We even get to see Spidey getting back to his old school roots a bit, which is nice. In fact, this is probably some of the best characterization I've seen of Spider-man in a while. I won't go any further into detail, but, the plot develops in an interesting way, and I wonder if this story might lay some clues on how they intend to bring back a certain fan-favorite way down the road. All in all though, this one reads like a REALLY good Spider-man story, and reminds you of the Spider-man you knew and loved way back when. Remember how Marvel would do those killer 4-issue Wolverine/Spider-man team-ups, or Spider-man/Incredible Hulk, or whatever? Yeah, it's like a VERY well-written, and super pretty version of one of those. In other words, it tickles the nostalgia bone, AND provides a good story at the same time. I, for one, am looking forward to reading more of this one! Click here for a preview of ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN AND WOLVERINE #1 SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #1FOLLOWS-UP THE FREE FIRST ISSUE THAT TOOK US ALL BY SURPRISE ON FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! SUPERMAN vs. GENERAL ZOD.. FINALLY! WOW! I really was taken by surprise with the WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #0 that we got here on FREE COMIC BOOK DAY this past Saturday. Honestly, I thought that DC had really set the bar pretty high last year with BLACKEST NIGHT #0, and while I don't think WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #0 beat that one out, it was still a FANTASTIC way to kick off this series and get people exposed to what looks to be a really cool storyline. Now, before we start, don't expect this one to be the large, year-long, universe-encompassing event that BLACKEST NIGHT was. Instead, this one feels more like a nice tight, short event that is going to set up for some incredibly cool stuff. At it's core, this is the final showdown between SUPERMAN and his infamous, longtime nemesis GENERAL ZOD. James Robinson and Sterling Gates really put forth a solid effort in introducing new readers to what's been going on in Superman's corner of the DCU. What grabbed me though, was Eddy Barrows's gritty Superman who shows that this is not going to be a clean fight between him and Zod. All in all, I was really impressed by the freebie, after expecting it to be more of the lame Daxamite and Kryptonian overkill. Anyways, enough rambling.. you're probably wondering (if you missed the WAR OF SUPERMEN freebie, which we still have in stock if ya wanna check it out) just what the hell this storyline's all about. Well, basically, it's Zod vs. Supermen, but Zod's heading to Earth with an army of hundreds of Superman-level superpowered beings and he plans on scorching it to the ground. And, of course, there's only Superman, and his supporting characters to stand in the way. All in all, sounds like a great way to kick things off, and I'm pretty excited to see what follows up on that #0 issue from FCBD. Click here for a preview of WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #1 "WALKING DEAD", "INVINCIBLE" & "HAUNT" WRITER ROBERT KIRKMAN DELIVERS A KILLER NEW ONE-SHOT THIS WEDNESDAY WITH PILOT SEASON: STEALTH! WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SUPERHEROES GET OLD AND BEGIN TO FALL APART? FIND OUT HERE! Oh man, here's one I've been pretty pumped about for some time. Ever since I got to the last page of that killer PILOT SEASON: DEMONIC one-shot a few months ago, I've been waiting for the next one of ROBERT KIRKMAN'S one-shots, and I think STEALTH is going to end up being one of the coolest ones yet. The main character of the book, is a young man named Todd Carey whose life is falling apart around him: he's recovering from a bitter divorce, his daughter is flunking out of college, and his father has been diagnosed with Alzehimer's disease. And, then, in the midst of all these problems, a famous masked vigilante known as STEALTH comes forward... and reveals that he's Todd's ailing father. See, his dad has to move in with him so Todd can take care of him, and he learns pretty quick that his father was Stealth. And, despite it all, his father is STILL trying to go out and fight crime, but he's doing it to disastrous results due to his Alzheimer's disease. And as you can imagine, this is a real burden for Todd, who is not sure how to handle what could be a terrible (unintentional) threat to society. The preview I read reads very well, and the artwork fits the story perfectly. They're able to make teh character look badass when he's in the Stealth suit, but it's also credible to believe that there's an old, senile man in the suit. Very cool character-driven pacing, and plus... who doesn't want to see a crazy old guy flying around and unintentionally causing disasters while his sun exasperatedly tries to save the day? BRIAN WOOD AND BECKY CLOONAN CONTINUE TO IMPRESS US MONTH AFTER MONTH WITH DEMO! MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT DEMO #4THIS WEDNESDAY! Man, the more Demo I get, the more I want. I'm kinda bummed to think that this round of DEMOs is just a six-issue stint, and I really hope Wood and Cloonan return to do more sometime in the future. Not reading DEMO? Well, let me give you the lowdown on WHY this comic kicks so much ass... the concept: average, everyday people in their late teens up into their early 30s who have something extraordinary happen to them, or develop inside them. Basically, a real world approach to superpowers, but, the book doesn't focus on that aspect of things at all, instead it takes a very cool, very introspective look at how normal people deal with unusual life situations. In other words, if you woke up tomorrow and could shoot death rays from your eyes... you probably wouldn't go out and save, or conquer the world. You'd probably walk around figuring out how not to look at something and turn it into a smoking cinder of bones and ash. Anyways, each issue of DEMO stands on it's own as a one-shot story. 32 pages. That's it. That's all you get. This means you can pretty much jump in or out with whichever issues you want, but once you read one: you'll wanna read 'em all. The only thing that ties the issues together is the theme of exploring normal people put into extraordinary situations. Past examples include the girl who can't stop dreaming about someone who's falling, becoming obsessed, and learning that these are visions, and then... well, I can't say anymore.. Or the boy who can't eat, who goes to disturbing lengths to get closer to the girl he's in love with.. And, this week, we get to see the tale of a young man named Colin who's been murdered by the local youth, or has he? DEMO #4: WATERBREATHER takes the revenge fantasy to new and disturbing heights as Colin grows up with a huge secret and crushing guilt, as well as a feeling that he doesn't belong on the surface of the Earth. If you're looking to check out DEMO, we still have all the previous issues in stock, so give 'em a peek! Click here to read more about DEMO v.2 #4 ZENESCOPE (PUBLISHERS OF "THE WAKING", "RETURN TO WONDERLAND", AND "NEVERLAND") PUTS THEIR UNIQUE TWIST ON THE STORY OF DANTE'S INFERNO THIS WEDNESDAY IN GRIMM FAIRY TALES: INFERNO #1 Zenescope's "Wonderland" and "Neverland" series are big guilty pleasures of our's here at Third Eye, and it's pretty exciting to see them heading into some new territory this Wednesday with the upcoming GFT Presents INFERNO limited series which gives us that horrifyingly twisted yet tongue-in-cheek fun Zenescope take on DANTES INFERNO. The Zenescope crew always deliver the freshest art, along with some fun, darkly humorous stories, and with Inferno, it looks like we'll be watching the story of a girl named Grace must go down into her own Dante's Inferno as she battles her demons. A must-read for all of you who dig the "Wonderland" books, "Neverland", and "The Waking." INCORRUPTIBLE VOLUME 1 TRADE PAPERBACK ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY COLLECTING THE FANTASTIC COMPANION SERIES TO MARK WAID'S IRREDEEMABLE! WE'VE SEEN THE GOOD GUYS GO BAD, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BAD GUY GO GOOD? You've been hearing me rave on and on and on for months about both IRREDEEMABLE and INCORRUPTIBLE, and this Wednesday, you can find out just why we're so big on this series when you check out INCORRUPTIBLE VOLUME 1. This trade paperback collects the first four issues of the companion series to Waid's "Superman gone Evil" epic, IRREDEEMABLE, and folks, trust me when I tell you that this is some seriously killer, high voltage post-modern superhero storytelling here. Waid takes the same care and approach that he does with IRREDEEMABLE, of taking the good guy, and deconstructing him, showing the reasons why he's gone wrong, and just how wrong he's gone, and applies that in reverse to the world of INCORRUPTIBLE. See, the story of INCORRUPTIBLE is that of supervillain Max Danger who when faced with the Plutonian's descent into fiery madness, decides that, in his words, somebody has to "step up." And, so Max Danger becomes Max Daring, and we see him try to do the "right" thing in every "wrong" way you can possibly imagine. And, that is what makes the story so compelling.. just like we've watched the Plutonian completely go unhinged, but in a tragic way, we watch as someone with a very simplistic view of the world (very similar to the Plutonian) tries to make sense of it.. but in his own, damaged way. I mean, the simple changing of his name from Danger to Daring, as if that changes his nature... is a good example of that. There's also the relationship between Max Daring and his sidekick, Jailbait, who he cuts his personal relationship off once he decides to walk the road of the righteous, but keeps her on as his sidekick, because he knows she'd do more harm than good on her own. All in all, INCORRUPTIBLE is just as good as IRREDEEMABLE, and it's really hard to say which one I like more. They both read very nice, and the shared universe that exists between the two books is forming nicely. It's truly an organic, and natural growth of a new, and original superhero universe, unlike the forced growth that a lot of smaller publishers do right off the bat. So, give INCORRUPTIBLE a shot this Wednesday and find out why we're so jazzed about it! UNCANNY X-MEN #524 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 6* - AFTER THE HEARTBREAKING END OF LAST WEEK'S X-FORCE #26, THE SECOND COMING CONTINUES.. IS RETRIBUTION ON THE WAY? Dude, SECOND COMING has been like, the best friggin' X-MEN storyline in many, many years. I haven't been this excited about X-MEN comics since I was like 14 or 15. Marvel has really managed to capture that sense of awe, excitement, and well, the most badass characters we all grew up with so well with this crossover, and I really can't wait to see what comes next. And, trust me, folks, after last week's X-FORCE #26 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 5*... this is all really bittersweet for me, because one of my favorite X-Men characters totally bit it. I won't say who, 'cause ya know, no spoilers, right? But, seriously, man, I was sad to see them get taken out. However, this whole friggin' storyline has been so good, and the fact that it's been so well-written that it made me care enough about the characters and events in the first place, well, crap, I'm sold, I'm hooked, I think you've done it Marvel.. you've finally made the X-MEN cool again (without Joss Whedon's help this time). Anyways, the SECOND COMING rages on this Wednesday in the pages of UNCANNY X-MEN #524, with SECOND COMING CHAPTER 6. I just got done reading the advance of this one, and dude, holy crap, whattatearjerker. Again, I'm trying to keep the spoilers to a minimum, but, man, this was a well-written issue, and a very nice middle-point for the SECOND COMING. For those of you who aren't yet familiar with SECOND COMING, it's a crossover event following the arrival of a young mutant girl named Hope. See, in the post-House of M Marvel Universe, she was the first and last mutant born since M-Day, and is believed to be the great hope for the survival of the mutant race. Of course, all those classic X-Men baddies like Bolliver Trask, Cameron Hodge, and so forth are out for her blood... And, now that she's here in the present, the X-Men have to keep her safe, to complete her mission. All in all, the series has been fantastic, and folks, again, we highly recommend it. Wanna jump onto the SECOND COMING? We've currently got plenty of all the chapters in stock here at Third Eye to get you caught up. Click here for the official THIRD EYE X-MEN SECOND COMING Checklist Click here for a preview of UNCANNY X-MEN #524 *X-MEN SECOND COMING PT 6* THE KILLER: MODUS VIVENDI - IF THERE WAS EVER A COMIC THAT CAPTURED THE FEEL OF THE MOVIE "LEON THE PROFESSIONAL", THE KILLER IS IT! THIRD EYE BRINGS YOU SOME INTERNATIONAL COMIC NOIR GOODNESS! One of comics best kept secrets is the French comic series, THE KILLER, which follows the day to day life of an unnamed assassin. Archaia has been bringing these over to the U.S for the last couple of years, and we're pretty pumped to see the newest one kicking off this week. The subtle, soft art combined with the talented storytelling of this series make for one hell of an engrossing read. A pure noir treat that grabs you by the collar, and pulls you in head first. In the very first arc of THE KILLER (Which we have available in graphic novel here at Third Eye), the writer introduces us to the Killer as he comes to the end of one part of his life. We learn how he rose to power from a college student, and then we get carried through several assignments he's on. The real trick about the Killer that makes it such an engrossing series is how the Killer is not a one-dimensional character. We see how he has hopes of getting out of the business to start a new life. Of course, if it was that easy, then there'd be no story to tell. The coloring, the panel layout, the art, the whole thing really makes for a fantastic read, and captures the sobering solitude and risk of what a REAL contract killer would feel perfectly. And, trust us, this guy is as cold as they come, but even so, the story is so well written, you can almost feel an empathy for the character and his goal: retirement by choice, not by death. This newest series, MODUS VIVENDI, serves as a nice entry point for new readers. We'd recommend giving this one a try, and t hen if you dig it, checking out the earlier graphic novels. The story kicks off with the Killer as he reappears on the scene, with no reasoning for why... boredom, fatigue, bad planning? An old associate recommends him for a quick-and-dirty freelance job. Kill a banker, and an international oil broker, simple as that. But, when he finds out his final target is a nun... things get tough. If you're into the darker, crime noir-esque stuff, we recommend giving THE KILLER: MODUS VIVENDI a look this Wednesday. X-MEN: SECOND COMING - REVELATIONS: HELLBOUND #1 - MAGIK RETURNS TO LIMBO, AND THE SOULSWORD'S IN PERIL AS BASTION IS ON THE HUNT! Speaking of X-MEN SECOND COMING, we get a nice double whammy of SECOND COMING awesomeness this week as the first issue of X-MEN REVELATIONS: HELLBOUND hits the stands. Now, lets face it, I think a lot of us grew up with Magik as one of our favorites, and whenever she gets some of the spotlight, it's always a must-read on that fact alone. But, this little 3-part limited series, which shows us Magik, gravely injured, and instinctively fleeing to the sanctuary of Limbo.. only to fall into the hands of one of her longtime adversaries, has got us pretty intrigued. All those old Magik and Limbo storylines kicked ass, and to see a return to that world set against the backdrop of Second Coming is awesome. From what I've read in the advance, it's pretty much a small sub-team of the X-Men sent into Limbo to rescue her, but they've gotta cut a path through hordes of blood-thirsty demons. As for how it read? Very good, not just the run-of-the-mill mid-event filler stuff, ya know. I think this one's gonna be a cool little three-parter. The fact that one of the main writers helming SECOND COMING, Chris Yost, is taking care of the writing chores is definitely a big plus. Click here for a preview of X-MEN: SECOND COMING REVELATIONS: HELLBOUND #1 WALKING DEAD HARDCOVER VOLUME 5 FINALLY HITS THE SHELVES THIS WEDNESDAY! AND TRUST US, FOLKS, IT IS WELL WORTH THE WAIT! It's always a cause for celebration and rejoice whenever a slab of WALKING DEAD arrives, whether it's in trade paperback, or if it's in hardcover.. there's so many people who eagerly await one format or the other, or sometimes both formats, that we just gotta share the exciting news with 'em! And, what more can be said about WALKING DEAD than what we've said a million times before... this is one of the BEST comic books on the shelves. Month after month, it remains a consistently favorite read here at Third Eye, and never, ever lets us down. I mean, it's not just a good zombie story, or a good survival horror story, or whatever, it's a GOOD story. The characters, the plot, the pacing, it's all so well put together, that it just pulls you in and does not let go. Seriously, I've been accused of being a crack dealer for turning people onto WALKING DEAD, that's how good it is. The story? It's simple... what happens when the Zombie movie ends. And, that's where the beauty is... the characters, the solid writing, the punch in the gut plot twists, these are just a few of the things that really make WALKING DEAD so damn fun every month. If you haven't read it yet... get the first hardcover, or the first softcover, or WHATEVER, and give this one a go. We keep plenty of all the volumes, in all formats, available here at Third Eye.. at all times. :) And, for those of you who're already in the know, we'll see you Wednesday for your WALKING DEAD 5 fix. AVENGERS THE ORIGIN #2 CONTINUES JOE CASEY AND PHIL NOTO'S FRESH, AND FUN 21st CENTURY RETELLING OF THE AVENGERS ORIGINS! If you haven't checked out the first of this 5-issue limited series, then you are seriously missing out on some really cool stuff. While they're not exactly re-inventing the wheel here with AVENGERS: THE ORIGIN, this limited series serves as a very cool, fresh, streamlined look at the early days of the Avengers. The real standout here though is Phil Noto's incredible artwork, and when you combine that with Casey's knack for respecting the history of the characters but also infusing a jolt of life and energy into their origins, it makes for a pretty fun Marvel read. Click here for a preview of AVENGERS: THE ORIGIN #2 ULTIMATE COMICS NEW ULTIMATES #2FOLLOWS UP THE FIRST ISSUE OF JEPH LOEB & FRANK CHO'S KILLER NEW ULTIMATES TITLE! The first issue of NEW ULTIMATES was a pleasant surprise, and between this and ULTIMATE X, I'm pretty impressed that Loeb may finally be on his way back to the higher caliber stories he'd told in the past. I think a big part of this is due to the fact that the Ultimate Universe gives him a wide open playground to do what he does best, and that's take a killer artist, and just go crazy with bigger-than-life over-the-top smashmouth superhero action. And, after the first issue of NEW ULTIMATES, I gotta say, he's on the right track. The artwork on this book is INCREDIBLE. I mean, it's FRANK CHO, so that's saying something right there, but man, he is really on point here. I just finished the Advance of issue #2, and it's pretty awesome. Frank Cho draws everything he does so damn good. You've got Ka-zar and Shanna the She-Devil flying around on dragons, and fighting Asgardian monsters. And, when we say monsters, we mean TONS AND TONS AND TONS of monsters. Not to mention, there's tons of lovely ladies, and we know Cho does a great job in that department as well. I don't want to drop too many spoilers, but, all I can say is that if you want an over-the-top high-action Marvel book in the vein of Ultimatum, then give NEW ULTIMATES a look. If you missed #1, we still have limited quantities in stock to get you caught up! Click here for a preview of ULTIMATE COMICS NEW ULTIMATES #2 STAFF PICKS Steve - Green Hornet #3 = This one may be a little surprising, 'cause I've been kind of on the fence about this series. The first couple issues were good, but this third issue was the payoff. It might've been my favorite read last week. The Kato moment is too cool, and folks, if you're not reading this series, now you have a reason to start 'cause of how badass an issue #3 was! Trish - WALKING DEAD #71 = Are you surprised? This one automatically makes pick of the week whenever it comes out. And, it was another great issue! Torma - THOR #609 *SIEGE* = Thor just becomes better, and better as a series, and the SIEGE tie-ins have been great. If you aren't reading this series, I recommend picking up with THOR #607 and catching up from there since that's where the current arc begins. Great art, and great story here! Matt - ULTIMATE AVENGERS 2 #1 = Leinil Yu's art is INCREDIBLE, and even though it's only one issue in, I think I like this Ultimate Avengers run way better than the one that just ended.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 1/27/10

GREEN LANTERN #50 *BLACKEST NIGHT* HAL JORDAN vs. the BLACK LANTERN SPECTRE! ATROCITUS RISES TO POWER! ALL THE COLOR SPECTRUMS UNITE! SPECIAL DOUBLE-SIZED ISSUE!



The biggest issue of GREEN LANTERN yet is hitting the stands this week with the double-sized 50th issue of the series penned by Geoff Johns, and illustrated by Doug Mahnke. All I can say, folks, is that this one is going to be EPIC. The solicitations aren't revealing much, but from where we've seen the story going in both Green Lantern and Blackest Night, it looks like some big stuff will be going down in this issue. Plus, it's an issue 50, and you know with hallmark books like GL, they pull out all stops for the 50th issue. Ontop of all that, each and every issue of GREEN LANTERN has served as a very special in-between story, filling in the gaps between issues of Blackest Night. After the events of BLACKEST NIGHT #6, I think you guys are just as eager as I am to see what's going to be going down in this one.

From what the solicits do say, it looks like Hal Jordan will be going head to head with the Black Lantern Spectre, who you know, as the friggin' spirit of God's wrath, is pretty unbeatable already. As a Black Lantern? He's going to be impossible. How is Hal going to tackle this, and what does the cover of GL tease with him done up in some VERY familiar looking armor mean? Is Hal going back to the way of Parallax? There's also some mention of Atrocitus finding new means of power that will make him the most powerful of the Lanterns. All I know is that this issue is going to be packing some big punches, and we cannot wait to see what they are.

Each, and every issue of Green Lantern has been building on the Blackest Night story in a very substantial and meaningful way, and if you're reading the main series, then you really need to be checking out the Green Lantern issues as well. They basically serve as Blackest Night 1.5, Blackest Night 2.5, Blackest Night 3.5, ect ect... very cool way of keeping things going, and expanding on important things in the storyline and keeping key elements from being glossed over in the main book.

Click here to see some rough preview pages of GREEN LANTERN #50!

BATMAN AND ROBIN #7 BEGINS "IN BLACKEST KNIGHT"... Does Black Hand really have Bruce Wayne's skull? The road to this spring's "Return of Bruce Wayne" storyline begins here!



And, as if DC wasn't already dishing out one huge, monumental issue wasn't enough, we're also getting the start of what will probably be the biggest story arc yet in Grant Morrison's red hot Batman & Robin series. Ever since the very beginning of BLACKEST NIGHT, everyone has been wondering just what the hell is up with that skull Blackhand has been carrying around and claiming as Bruce Wayne's. And, then after the events of BLACKEST NIGHT #5 where Batman was momentarily resurrected as a Black Lantern, and then put back to rest... we've all been puzzled as to just what the deal is. Well, now, these questions are beginning to be answered in this very special three-part story arc that begins in this week's BATMAN AND ROBIN #7, and it could only be titled none other than "In Blackest Knight."

While Morrison has said that his series would not be carrying the banner of Blackest Night, because he does enjoy keeping everything contained to the pages of just BATMAN AND ROBIN, he has said that it takes influence and plot-threads from the atmosphere of Blackest Night. The biggest one being: Where does the supposedly-deceased (or lost in time) Bruce Wayne exist in this environment? The book is also going to be featuring every prominent current Bat-character you can think of, ranging from big characters like Batwoman to obscure favorites like Knight and Squire (the English equivalents of Batman).

Why we're stoked? Well, as if we haven't given you reason enough already as to why we're pumped, with all the mention above about what it's all about.. this is simply put going to be one of the best story arcs in one of the best Batman runs we've ever seen. I mean, Batman and Robin already exists as one of the major top tier favorites here at Third Eye, and each issue is guaranteed, quality reading, but from the way Morrison has described this "In Blackest Knight" storyline... we feel that this could be a nice slice of Bat-history unfolding right before our eyes. AND, ontop of all that, it leads into the increasingly anticipated "Return of Bruce Wayne - Fight Through Time" storyline that will be launching this Spring. Add in the involement of Black Hand, and the atmosphere of Blackest Night, plus the teased reveal of what's going on with Batman's skull in Black Hand's grasp.

Knight and Squire? Another reason why I'm stoked about this arc is the involvement of Knight and Squire, the UK equivalent of Batman and Robin. These characters originally appeared way back in the Silver Age, and Morrison first brought them back in his classic run of JLA back in the '90s (JLA #26, collected now in JLA v.5: JUSTICE FOR ALL) and given more showtime as members of the Ultramarine Corps in Grant Morrison and Ed McGuinness's often overlooked, but killer JLA: Ultramarine Corps (available now in trade paperback at Third Eye) story arc. Most of you might remember them from the recent BLACK GLOVE storyline (BATMAN: THE BLACK GLOVE TPB). Out of all the members of the "International League of Batmen", Knight and Squire are my personal favorites, and their involvement in recent happenings throughout the DCU has been very cool to see.

Knight, an "English Batman" who can't handle the death of his father, and blows his inheritance on booze, drugs, and women, and ends up being dragged out of his self-destructive spiral by a tough, working class girl, is very intriguing. It's a really cool dynamic to see between the two, and there's definitely an Avengers (the Emma Peel AVENGERS) and even a little bit of a Doctor Who vibe to the dynamic between Knight and Squire, and it really makes them stand out as some of my favorite supporting DCU characters now.

All in all, this is a must-read story arc, and even if you've yet to jump onboard with Morrison's awesome Batman and Robin series, we highly recommend jumping in with issue #7, and checking out this arc.

If you've yet to check out Morrison's incredible re-invention of the Batman and Robin dynamic with BATMAN AND ROBIN, we currently have all issues, 1-6, in stock now at Third Eye, for you to catch up with.

Click here to read more about BATMAN AND ROBIN #7
Click here to read an interview with about the "Blackest Knight" storyline that begins this week in Batman and Robin #7

THE SIEGE CONTINUES IN NEW AVENGERS #61 *SIEGE*,and AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32 *SIEGE* STEVE ROGERS RETURNS TO THE AVENGERS THIS WEEK!



I gotta say, I am super impressed so far with the SIEGE tie-ins that have hit. Each one so far has done a fantastic job of not just being relevant to the overall SIEGE storyline, but truly making the books and characters they've spotlighted feel important, and integral to the overall scheme of things in SIEGE. Granted, there's only been a couple to hit the racks so far, but each one has delivered big time. Way better than past tie-ins to Marvel major events.

And, before I go forward in talking about this week's round of SIEGE awesomeness, let me tell you... check out last week's DARK AVENGERS #13 *SIEGE* and DARK WOLVERINE #82 *SIEGE*, both of these were very pleasant surprises. Dark Avengers #13 took a character I've had nearly zero interest in, the Sentry, and revealed the REAL origin of the character and how he fits into the scheme of things with SIEGE and Norman Osborn, and by doing so... they have made me dig the Sentry a hundred times more than I did before. I don't want to spoil anything, because I know some of you have yet to read this one, but, the origin Bendis has laid out for the Sentry gives him potential to become one of the coolest flawed characters, or over-the-top supervillain. There's just so many layers to the character, and his whiny, obnoxious demeanor now makes complete sense. As for DARK WOLVERINE #82, the character of Daken also became a thousand times more interesting for me as well. Again, a character that just never clicked with me, I found myself digging Daken a little bit more with his inclusion on the DARK AVENGERS, but, after seeing those last three pages of DARK WOLVERINE #82... he's much cooler now in my eyes. Now, what happened in those pages, is a HUGE spoiler, and I don't want to drop it, because it's a good payoff. But, dude, they really knocked things up a notch with Daken, his place in the Marvel U, and his place in Norman Osborn's world.. you will be surprised!

Now, lets talk about the books coming out this week that carry the SIEGE banner.
NEW AVENGERS #61 *SIEGE*
First off, we've got the next installment of NEW AVENGERS (a consistent Marvel favorite around here), with NEW AVENGERS #61. Again, Marvel reveals very little in the solicits for this issue, but just like with last week's DARK AVENGERS, and DARK WOLVERINE, we're expecting some pretty big surprises. What we do know is that this issue features a newly returned Steve Rogers Captain America and his reunion with the AVENGERS. Who does he trust? Who does he count amongst his closest allies in this grave new world? It's time to see how Marvel's greatest hero kicks some ass in the face of the God-Killer, Norman Osborn. Click here for a preview of NEW AVENGERS #61

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32 *SIEGE*



The issue preceding this, AVENGERS INITIATIVE *SIEGE PRELUDE* surprised the hell outta me! I haven't really followed the Initiative book that closely for a few months, because honestly, I just wasn't digging it. However, the SIEGE tie-in, and the inclusion of one of my favorite B-listers, TASKMASTER, piqued my curiousity as well. Man, was I impressed! It was a very cool look at how the "average" supervillain views their place in the world, and portrayed Taskmaster as your everyman supervillain who just wants to make some cash, and meet beautiful women... and now he's been roped into Osborn's Cabal of heavy-hitters, and is getting charred to a crisp by the likes of Dr. Doom!

This SIEGE tie-in that takes place this week in AVENGERS THE INITIATIVE #32 sees Tasksmaster, and many other supervillains just like him being thrown up against the combined forces of THOR, and the immortal Gods of Asgard. This is a little more than they had bargained for when they thought serving as Osborn's second wave of super-powered goons was a sweet gig.It should be a pretty cool issue, and if the characterization and writing in issue #31 was any indication, it'll be a really well-written, well-shaped issue. Click here for a preview of AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32


GEOFF JOHNS WRITES "BACK FROM THE DEAD" BLACKEST NIGHT ONE-SHOT ATOM & HAWKMAN #46 THIS WEEK, AND IT LOOKS KILLER! INDIGO LANTERN ATOM vs. BLACK LANTERN HAWKMAN AND HAWKGIRL!



The "Back from the Dead" one-shots that've been carrying the story forward in BLACKEST NIGHT this month have been pretty cool. There's been a couple where I've questioned their involvement, but overall, there's been some really good reads to come out of these. My favorites so far? Starman, of course, Power of Shazam, and the Suicide Squad/Sinister Six arc.

But, the big one is this week's ATOM AND HAWKMAN #46, and it's got us stoked for more than just one reason. First off, it's being written by GEOFF JOHNS, the man behind BLACKEST NIGHT and GREEN LANTERN. And, then, it's got an up and coming artist by the name of Ryan Sook rocking the art duties. If you haven't seen Sook's pencils, you should look him up, he's actually pretty good, and I'm hoping that this is the book that gives him some exposure.

But, most importantly, it's Geoff Johns exploring the fates of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, who we saw killed in the pages of BLACKEST NIGHT #1. It's no secret that Johns has a soft-spot for these characters, as one of his earliest DC works was the killer Hawkman run he and Rags Morales did. It's going to be very cool to see where he takes things with this one-shot, and the spin that he puts on two characters who have a huge part of their backstory based around the whole death and resurrection concept.

Ontop of all that, it features the Atom, who is now part of the INDIGO TRIBE, who's being hunted by Black Lantern Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Personally, after the big events of BLACKEST NIGHT #6, I'm anxious to see all the different characters who were given rings, and while I'm a little more jazzed on Scarecrow as a Yellow Lantern and Lex Luthor as an Orange Lantern, it's still pretty damn cool to see the results of Atom being inducted into the Indigo Tribe explored.

Click here to read more about BLACKEST NIGHT ATOM & HAWKMAN #46

Have you been following all the Blackest Night "Back from the Dead" one-shots? Each one is the next issue after the "final" issues of many series that were cut down in their prime, giving these books one more chance to tell their stories, and casting the Blackest Night shadow on every corner of the DCU.

In case you've missed any of them, we currently have all of the "Back from the Dead" Blackest Night checklists in stock, here's a list of what's been released:
The Power of Shazam! #48 by Eric Wallace
- The Question #37 by Greg Rucka
- Suicide Squad #67 by John Ostrander and Gail Simone
- Phantom Stranger #42 by Peter Tomasi
- Catwoman #83 by Fabian Nicieza
- The Atom and Hawkman #46 by Geoff Johns
- Weird Western Tales #71 by Dan DiDio
- Starman #81 by James Robinson


KICK-ASS #8 CONCLUDES MARK MILLAR (WRITER OF OLD MAN LOGAN) AND JOHN ROMITA JR'S ULTRAVIOLENT, YET HUMOROUS TAKE ON THE WORLD OF COSTUMED VIGILANTES!



The finale to Mark Millar and John Romita JR's ultra-violent, yet humorous real-world take on costumed vigilantes arrives this Wednesday, after much delay. And, even though it's been almost five months since issue #7... we couldn't be more stoked. And, of course, there's the little fact that the trailers have been showing up everywhere for KICK-ASS these days, and they look... AWESOME.

For those of you who've been following KICK-ASS, then the series needs no explanation. For those of you who haven't, we'd recommend waiting, because the graphic novel will be hitting in a week or so, and the early issues of this series have been out of print and impossible to get a hold of since last summer.

What's the scoop on Kick-Ass? Meet Dave Lizewski, an ordinary high school student who loves comic books. He loves 'em so much he uses them as inspiration to become a costumed crime-fighter. After buying a wetsuit on eBay, and turning that into his superhero costume, he goes out, and ends up getting his ass kicked. Like, really bad. So bad, they put him in the hospital, and it takes him months to recover. He gets out of the hospital, swears off the idea of fighting the good fight, burns all of his comics, but.... something just won't let him give it up. He goes out, one more time, in costume, and sees a guy getting beaten by a few guys. He tries to interfere, and they blow him off... so he pulls out his batons, and starts wailing on these guys from behind. And, every single person witnessing this begins to record it on their phones. And, an internet celebrity sensation is born, as the video is uploaded to YouTube, Facebook, and so forth. He's dubbed KICK-ASS by the world, and uses his newfound confidence to continue his crime-fighting career. Of course, his second time out.. he ends up getting into a bigger mess, and that's when Hit Girl comes into the picture. A 10 year old girl slicing dudes apart with Katana swords. And, that's when we find out there's more than just one costumed amateur crimefighter out there taking out bad guys.

The book is violent, and is fueled by a frenetic energy that makes each issue a fun, breakneck fast read. Mark Millar (OLD MAN LOGAN) demonstrates his knack for dialogue well, and the book is by far one of the most clever we saw last year. For those of you who're already hooked, we know you're gonna be eagerly awaiting this one, and for those of you who've yet to jump onboard, the graphic novel should be arriving next week.

Click here for a preview of KICK-ASS #8

CHEW #8 *INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR PT 3*CONTINUES THE BREAKOUT IMAGE SERIES OF 2009! ARE YOU READING THIS INCREDIBLE TAKE ON DETECTIVE PROCEDURALS MIXED WITH A LITTLE CANNIBALISM? IF NOT, GET CAUGHT UP THIS WEEK WITH CHEW VOLUME 1 TPB (1-5) FOR ONLY $9.99! THIRD EYE SPECIAL OFFER: TRY CHEW v.1 THIS WEEK, AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, BRING IT BACK FOR A FULL REFUND!



The second story arc of IMAGE's best new series of 2009 continues this Wednesday, as we see Detective Chu tracking down a prize-winning fighting bird. One that's impossible to defeat, and now that it's missing, there's some people who want Poyo (the feathered ass-kicker) back, and Detective Chu's on the case. How does this tie in to the case Chu's been working? I guess we'll find out!

Click here for a preview of CHEW #8!

For those of you who haven't yet tried CHEW, you have gotta check this series out. Even if you're not normally a fan of the more off-the-wall books, you will be hooked on this one. It really is a great read, and combines killer art, and killer story to make for a compelling series.

What's the scoop on CHEW? In a world where all poultry is illegal due to the outtbreak of Bird Flu, and an underground market has developed for the real thing, Detective Tony Chu exists. Chu, though, happens to be cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. He eats a hamburger? He sees the cow being killed. He eats an apple? He can smell the pesticides being sprayed on the trees. It makes his life very unpleasant, and because of that, he only eats beets. You can't get a strong psychic residue from dirt. And, then, in the first chapter of CHEW, Chu is on a case with his partner, undercover, at a speak-easy that serves chicken. He has the soup, thinking it'll be his safest bet, and he can't blow his cover... and then he sees images of girls being killed. He can feel the killer nearby, charges into the kitchen, and well, lets just say, after that incident, the FDA (who is like the ATF in this world) hires Chu on to eat the remains of murder victims to determine how they died. Sound awesome, doesn't it?

Try CHEW v.1: TASTER'S CHOICE TPB this week at Third Eye, and if you don't like it, we'll give you your money back!
Wanna hop onboard with CHEW? The first trade paperback collects issues 1-5, and we've got plenty of issues #6, and #7 to catch you up to where the series is currently. We have so much faith in this series, and we personally like it so much, that we're pretty sure you're gonna dig it. If you try the trade, and don't like it, bring it back, and we'll give you a full refund for it!

GEOFF JOHNS'S (BLACKEST NIGHT WRITER)SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN #4 CONTINUES THE BEST SUPERMAN STORY WE'VE READ IN YEARS!



Man, has this been a good mini-series or what? You know, it's funny, a few years back, I was the least likely person you could find that'd be raving about a Superman title. The character never clicked for me, but then the combination of Grant Morrison's incredible ALL-STAR SUPERMAN (available now in TPB here at Third Eye) and then later, Geoff Johns's killer run on ACTION COMICS (collected in trades likeSUPERMAN: BRAINIAC, and SUPERMAN AND THE LEGION OF SUPERHEROES) got me hooked. I went back and rediscovered some of the great stories of yesteryear like John Bryne's Man of Steel run, and Alan Moore's take on the Man of Tomorrow, and I realized that Superman can be one of the coolest characters in superhero fiction when he's written well. And, Geoff Johns gets that. He understands what makes the character appealing, he understands how to keep the iconic feel of the character while still adding a human, believable feel to the character. He realizes that what makes Superman so human is the fact that he's not human at all, but from another planet.

The SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN series has been a great read, month after month, with the gorgeous pencils of GARY FRANK (who's Superman resembles Christopher Reeves more than just a little bit), and the stellar writing of GEOFF JOHNS.

What's the scoop? SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN is a six-issue limited series that re-introduces, and explores the origins of the Man of Steel, but with a 21st century spin. Essentially, it's Johns showing us who Superman is, why he can be such a great character, and at the same time, developing the world around the character. Each issue seems to be focusing in on a key part of Superman's life, we start issue #1 with him as an adolescent, first discovering his powers, and then having his origins revealed to him by Ma and Pa Kent. The second one showcases him as a teenager, and his first meeting with the Legion of Superheroes, who idolize him in the future, and the third, the best of the bunch, focuses on him as a young man in his early 20s, his first day in Metropolis and at the Planet, and a very iconic, first time revealing Superman to the world. Each issue shows the paralells that run between Superman and Lex Luthor, their upbringing, and how they're getting to where we've all come to know them. We currently have all issues out so far, 1-3, well-stocked here at Third Eye, so if you haven't yet jumped on, be sure to try the book this week, it's REALLY good. Trust us, folks, this isn't just a rehash of everything we already know... this is a 21st Century take on the MAN OF STEEL, and the superb characterization shows us why Geoff Johns is the man born to write this character.

This Week in Superman Secret Origin #4? We see the real turning point where Luthor decides it's time to turn his priorities towards ridding the world of the Man of Steel. There's hints of Parasite being introduced, as well as a look into his Kryptonian past.

Click here for a preview of SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #4

IRREDEEMABLE #10 CONTINUES TO BUILD ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING NEW SUPERHERO UNIVERSES WE'VE SEEN IN A VERY LONG TIME WITH MARK WAID'S "SUPERMAN GONE EVIL" STORYLINE!



Every single issue of IRREDEEMABLE makes this series better, and better. What could've been a simple, one-trick pony with the concept of a powerful superhero gone evil, has turned into a compelling new world being shaped by Mark Waid in the pages of Irredeemable, and now Incorruptible. Simply put, this is superhero awesomeness at it's finest, and it just gets better with each issue.

The world of Irredeemable is one where the equivalent of SUPERMAN, The Plutonian, snaps after years of being taken for granted, betrayed, and abused by the very world he protects. Through series of flashbacks, we see small events that led to his descent into madness, and each issue, the story gets richer. Mark Waid is on point big time with this one, and he makes the story work, by building up the entire supporting cast, and world of the Plutonian. From his former team-mates, to his arch-enemies, the Plutonian's world becomes more interesting with each issue.

If you haven't yet tried IRREDEEMABLE, snag up the first trade paperback for just $10 here at Third Eye. We guarantee you'll be hooked.

If you're already aware of what is one of the greatest superhero books hitting the stands now, then we know you're as anxious to see where things go with Modeus in this issue.

Click here for a preview ofIRREDEEMABLE #10


AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #619 *THE GAUNTLET PT 8* THE NEWLY RETURNED, AND EXTRA-VICIOUS MYSTERIO CONTINUES HIS TORMENT OF THE WEBCRAWLER THIS WEDNESDAY IN WHAT'S BEEN THE BEST RUN OF SPIDEY IN RECENT MEMORY!



First off... this cover is AWESOME. Secondly, if you're a Marvel fan, or a lapsed Spidey fan who fell off during the whole Mephisto nonsense, then you need to hop onboard AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. It has been one of the best returns in quality of a character that we have seen in a long time. The Rhino issue from two weeks ago proves that, and last week's start of the Mysterio arc continued the trend.

What's the Gauntlet?
The Gauntlet is an over-arching storyline that's been running through AMAZING SPIDER-MAN since issue #612. It's basically the re-introduction of many of Spidey's classic Rogues Gallery, as they wear him down one by one, for the eventual return of an all-new, all-brutal Sinister Six. So far, each 2-3 issue arc has done wonders with reintroducing these classic villains, and adding a new level of excitement to the world of Spider-man. And, lets be real, Spidey's Rogues Gallery is one of the best, up there with Batman's.. it's only fair to see these villains being given their due.
Click hereto read the checklist of titles associated with the GAUNTLET

Mysterio!
Last week in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #618, we saw the return of MYSTERIO to things, and I have to say, I like what they've done reintroducing him a lot. I think Mysterio, and the new Rhino are probably my favorites so far, and it looks like we've got some killer storytelling to look forward to in the next couple of chapters involving Mysterio. PLUS, Marco Martin is doing the art, and he is one of the most perfect fits for Spidey I think I've seen in quite some time. A very cool, retro-esque style that definitely fits the overall tone of where the Gauntlet has been heading.

Clickherefor a preview of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #619 *MYSTERIO PT 2*

BLACKEST NIGHT JSA #2 BLACK LANTERN LOIS LANE IN PURSUIT OF SUPERMAN?



The first issue of BLACKEST NIGHT JSA was a personal favorite for me because I have always been a big fan of the Justice Society. DC handles the idea of "legacy" characters so well, and JSA has always done a fantastic job of reflecting this. If you were reading Blackest Night Superman, you're probably wondering where Earth-2 Lois Lane, now a Black Lantern, went... well she's in the pages of BLACKES NIGHT JSA in pursuit of Black Lantern Superman. And, this can only mean one thing: Power Girl's days could be numbered.

PLUS, a whole slew of classic JSA members have returned from the grave, and are hungry for pain, death and misery.

Click here to read more about BLACKEST NIGHT JSA #2


CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #6 CONCLUDES THE EPIC SAGA OF STEVE ROGER'S RETURN THIS WEDNESDAY!



The epic saga of Steve Rogers return concludes here this week in CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #6. We know, it's a little late, considering both Cap #602, and Who Will Wield the Shield have already shipped, but while late titles suck, we're glad Marvel decided to keep things progressing and didn't let the delay on this one slow down everything else in the Marvel U (being that Rogers plays a big role in the currently ongoing SIEGE event).

This whole story arc though has been an incredible read from start to finsh, delivering the bigger than life pulp-fusion storytelling that makes Brubaker one of the best writers Cap's ever had. And, in this issue, we see the events that precede CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD, and their effects on the future of the Marvel Universe. It's the Cap and the Avengers vs. The Red Skull, and someone's going to go down big time.

We're excited to see where things are going now, considering that a good deal of Brubaker's run on Cap has been spent developing the character of Bucky Barnes, and his place in the world as the replacement for Captain America. It should be interesting to see his handling of Steve Rogers, in a world that's a few years removed from what Rogers remembers last (Civil War, ect).

If you haven't yet checked out REBORN, we currently have the entire series in stock now at Third Eye, which includes CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #1-5 (and now #6), and the CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN: WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD one-shot.

Clickhere to read a preview of CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #6!

ROBERT KIRKMAN (writer of HAUNT and WALKING DEAD) debuts next PILOT SEASON one-shot this Wednesday with DEMONIC



When you've got Robert Kirkman writing a book, we tend to pay attention. The man behind some of our top Third Eye favorites like HAUNT, WALKING DEAD, and INVINCIBLE tends to not disappoint. And, after the killer success of his MURDERER one-shot, and it's quick sellout at the publisher (c'mon TOP COW, give us a second printing!), we're stoked to see what he has in store for us next.

This week, Kirkman's going to be rolling out the next in his PILOT SEASON one-shots. Basically, the PILOT SEASON is a series of one-shots he's writing where he's doing one-shot "pilots", and then letting the fans vote to see which one becomes a regular series. This week, it's DEMONIC.

What's the scoop on DEMONIC? When is murder justifiable? It's justifiable to defend yourself, right? It's justifiable if you're defending your family, right? But, is it justifiable if you're killing in defense of yourself or family, AND to quench the thirst for souls of an ancient demon?

Meet Scott, a superpowered vigilante who kills bad guys. But, he's not killing them out of his own vendetta for justice, but instead to quench the thirst of an ancient demon's need for souls, or else he risks losing his family to that same very demon. Now, the question being asked here is: is the demon for real? Is Scott just a guy who's mind was shattered by the weight of receiving superpowers, and uses the demon deal to explain his murders? And, a reason for his powers to exist.

Honestly, this one sounds freaking cool, and it's Kirkman, so we know that the story is going to be way on point. Not to mention the interior art looks gorgeous by Joe Benitez.

Click here to read more about PILOT SEASON: DEMONIC


FROM THE FOLKS WHO BROUGHT YOU RETURN TO WONDERLAND, COMES A TWISTED RENDITION OF NEVERLAND IN THIS WEDNESDAY'S NEVERLAND #0! ONLY $1.99!



Here's one that we're pretty stoked about at Third Eye. The folks at Zenescope who've brought us their Grimm Fairy Tales & Wonderland sagas with a dark twist, are unveiling their next big series this Wednesday, and it's exploring the mythology of Peter Pan, Neverland, and Captain Hook with a very dark twist. One thing we can almost guarantee sight unseen is that the artwork in this book will be stunning, because that's one of the big things that Zenescope has become known for.

From what I've read of the series, it sounds like it may be an all-new take on the subject, going as far to possibly be casting Peter Pan as the actual villain in this rendition of Neverland. What we do know from Zenescope's track record is they will apply a very different, and very dark twist to the Peter Pan mythos, and we're pumped to see where it goes this week. Check it out this Wednesday at Third Eye for only $1.99!

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41 DEBUTS THE ALL-NEW JUSTICE LEAGUE LINE-UP AND ALL-NEW DIRECTION FEATURING DICK GRAYSON AS BATMAN, HAL JORDAN, DONNA TROY, AND MORE!



Another one I'm really excited to see this week is the first issue of Jame Robinson's JLA featuring the all-new line-up. The JLA has such a long, rich history that it's always interesting to see a new team brought in, and I've been enjoying James Robinson's JLA enough that I have high hopes for this one. The line-up is interesting, and for the most part, is one that I think is pretty solid in terms of believability, impact on the DCU, and storyline potential. It's a good mix of classics like Batman (albeit Dick Grayson), JLA mainstays like Green Arrow, heavy-hitters like Green Lantern, legacy characters moving up the ranks like Starfire, Cyborg, and Donna Troy, and then some oddballs like Dr. Light, The Guardian, and Congorilla.

Yes, I'm excited about a book featuring Congorilla. I know, I can't believe it either.

Seriously though, this is a great opportunity to hope aboard JLA if you haven't already been following the book, and it's a pretty promising start for some killer story arcs to launch out of this issue with the new team.

Click here to see some preview pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41

JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #6 ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! READ THE SERIES THAT'S PAVED THE WAY FOR THE NEW JUSTICE LEAGUE LINE-UP!



James Robinson has been setting up the previously mentioned JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA roster change for a while now in the pages of this killer 7 issue limited series. This limited series, which began after the events of FINAL CRISIS, features a rag-tag gathering of Justice Leaguers, current, and former, who've had enough seeing their friends die time and time again. It's in this series that the heroes step up their game quite a deal, and bring it to the bad guys head to head as they investigate a string of murders tied to (one of my personal favorite) an older JLA villain by the name of Prometheus (often described as the Anti-Batman).

They end up discovering a whole string of murders that tie back to Prometheus, as he has been on a quest to create the ultimate mass murder weapon: a teleporting device he plans to use to wipe out entire cities. Prometheus has been bringing it to the JLA pretty badly, and the events of this limited series are what set up for the brand new team and direction of JUSTICE LEAGUE in JLA #41.

Miss an issue? Haven't read Cry for Justice yet? We currently have the previous 5 issues all well-stocked here at Third Eye, so if you wanna check the series out, catching up is no problem at all.

Click here to read more about JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #6!

ROBOCOP RETURNS THIS WEDNESDAY IN DYNAMITE COMICS 'S (Publisher of THE BOYS, COMPLETE ALICE IN WONDERLAND, and MORE) CUTTING EDGE ROBOCOP #1



Who didn't grow up in the '80s or '90s that wasn't obsessed with ROBOCOP? It's funny, because all the things that make the original ROBOCOP movie great (lets just forget the two sequels) were completely lost on me as a kid. I just knew it was awesome seeing a cyborg cop running around blowing people up. I recently watched ROBOCOP again a few years ago, and man, Paul Verhoeven really had something cool with that flick. Great social satire, and commentary, in a neat, distinctly late '80s cyberpunk vein, meshed with some of the craziest ultraviolence you'd catch on a movie theater screen back then.

And, this, is why I'm stoked for Dynamite's launch of a ROBOCOP comic. The character of ROBOCOP, and his world, lend itself very nicely to the modern style of comic books. And, Dynamite, who has proven they're not afraid to let the blood spill, or to take a sarcastic approach to a subject (see THE BOYS), means that this should be a pretty solid read for anyone who's a fan of Verhoeven's cult classic flick.

Click here to read a preview of ROBOCOP #1

WALKING DEAD #69... NO WORDS NEEDED TO DESCRIBE THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN ONE OF THE ALL-TIME TOP 5 THIRD EYE FAVORITE SERIES!



Words can't do this series justice. In fact, the less I say about this next issue, the better. As you can see, big things are about to begin to be revealed, and we can't wait to see what's happening next.

Are you reading WALKING DEAD in trade, and want to jump onto the singles? Can't stand waiting months at a time to find out where the most compelling comic series on the stands is going next? We currently have both of the issues that follow after WALKING DEAD v.11 (released two weeks ago), issue #67, and #68, so all you need to hop aboard the monthly is Walking Dead v.11, #67, and #68.. trust us, it makes waiting a little bit easier.

For those of you not reading WALKING DEAD yet... all I can say is: pick up the trade paperback of Volume 1 as soon as you can. I have yet to find one person who didn't like it. This is some of the best writing in comics. If you think it's just a zombie story, you're way off... this is character development, cliffhanger plots, and more. You'll be hooked.

THOR #606 CONTINUES THE KILLER DR. DOOM vs. THOR STORYLINE THAT LEADS DIRECTLY TO SIEGE! NEED TO CATCH UP? WE HAVE PLENTY OF THOR #604, and THOR #605 (chapters 1 and 2 of the new arc) IN STOCK!



If you were digging JMS's run on THOR, and left when he did.. then you are missing out on some of the finest THOR storytelling since JMS's run began! Beginning in issue #604, and carrying over from the finale of JMS's run, we see that Doom has been using the blood and organs of Asgardians to fuel his war machines, even going as far as to twist the Asgardians into hideous cyborg monsters to do his bidding. Of course, Thor is not down with this, and that leads us to some major throwdowns involving THOR, the Destroyer armor, and Dr. Doom!

Both THOR, and IRON MAN have been running parallel directly into, and alongside SIEGE, and out of many of the ongoing Marvel books, I feel that this series and INVINCIBLE IRON MAN are two of the most crucial to be reading if you're getting amped up on what's going down in SIEGE. Plus, Thor's been a good book for over three years now, and just keeps on getting better. The new creative team of young gun rising star writer Kieron Gillen, and young gun rising star artist Billy Tan are delivering some of their best work on this one. Don't believe me? Check out those preview pages... tell me the art's not kicking.

It looks like in this issue we're going to see what secrets Doom has up his sleeve, in addition to where Loki's allegiances really lie. Is this going to be Doom's play for power in taking over Asgard?

Clickhere to read a preview of THOR #606


ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #1 FROM BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS REVEALS THE ULTIMATE UNIVERSE'S GREATEST EVIL!



Brian Michael Bendis, the main man responsible for some of the Ultimate line's biggest stories delivers this new limited series featuring many ultimate fan favorites like Spidey, Iceman, the FF, and more. This limited series is supposed to explore one of the Ultimate universe's greatest threats, but outside of that, there isn't a whole lot of info on the series. What we do know is the preview pages look sweet, and Bendis normally delivers big time on anything set in the ULTIMATE universe.

Clickhere to read a preview of ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #1

PUNISHER #13 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 3* HITS THIS WEDNESDAY! FIND OUT WHY FRANKENCASTLE IS TURNING INTO ONE OF MY PERSONAL BIG CULT FAVORITES! ONE OF THE BEST "LEGION OF MONSTERS" STORYLINES EVER WITH A GREAT QUIRKY, STEAMPUNKY BAD GUY!



Folks, I am loving Frankencastle. I'll admit, the first issue, I was kind of left with my jaw hanging page after page, thinking one thing: WTF? But, then I read the second issue, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance to win me oer, because it did big time.

First off, you have two very talented guys working on this thing. Rick Remender, and Tony Moore. This is the same creative team who did some really cool stuff on the DARK HORSE series FEAR AGENT. Tony Moore also did the artwork on the first trade of WALKING DEAD. His art in Frankencastle looks to be some of his best work yet, and the colors on it are PERFECT. Most importantly, it fits the quirky, funky tone of the story just right. Secondly, it's a very fun, fresh idea that brings some forgotten old characters back into the spotlight, and shows us why they're cool.

The thing is though, you cannot go into FRANKENCASTLE expecting a straight-forward PUNISHER story. In fact, Frankencastle is more of a REALLY AWESOME Legion of Monsters story than it is a PUNISHER story, and I think that's why it works so well.

What's the scoop? Punisher got his head cut off in the brutal DARK REIGN THE LIST: PUNISHER one-shot (still in stock here at Third Eye, if you missed it!), by Dark Wolverine (Daken). His body parts get dumped into the sewers, and retrieved by the remaining Morlocks, where they take them deeper into the Morlock tunnels to some very familiar frightful characters. Morbius the Living Vampire, Man-Thing, Werewolf By Night, the Living Mummy... they're all here. And, they patch the Punisher back together into an undead monstrosity that can only be called Frankencastle (due to the resemblance to Frankenstein's Monster). See, there's a legion of cyborg Samurai's led by a steampunk-esque madman who has one goal in life: DESTROY ALL MONSTERS! Morbius, and his monster brethern decide they need the Punisher's war time strategy to defend their dying people, and the Punisher (who's using a synaptic nerve medicine to keep his brain functioning, so he's not just a rambling madman) is reluctant to help. In fact, he keeps asking "Why did you bring me back?" And, it's not until the surreal final pages of PUNISHER #12 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 2*, where we see Frank come to the realization he has to help these people, as he cradles a young child Morlock (in a Devo shirt...) in his arms, a smoking hole in the youngster's chest.

I know, it sounds like it shouldn't work on any level. It sounds completely absurd, and ridiculous, but I think this is part of why I love it so much, and because of these things... it does work, and takes a completely different angle on the PUNISHER. I won't lie either, the incredibly fitting artwork of Tony Moore is a big draw too. He manages to capture the surreal, sideshow monster feel in vivid color, and it makes the story moves so smoothly.

If you haven't yet jumped onboard with FRANKENCASTLE, we still have PUNISHER #11, and PUNISHER #12 in stock, and those two chapters'll catch you up to the newest installment this week. If you're a fan of irreverent, quirky fun in books like CHEW, and COWBOY NINJA VIKING, then you should totally be reading this. It rocks.

For those of you who're on board, it looks like we're gonna see a giant chaingun-toting Frankencastle laying waste to the monster-hunters in glorious technicolor style.

Click here for a preview of PUNISHER #13 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 3*

TRANSFORMERS: LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERSBRINGS ON MORE CLASSIC G1-STYLE TRANSFORMER GOODNESS!



I'm a child of the '80s and '90s, so it's obvious that I've got a soft spot for everyone's favorite giant robots. The problem I had for a while though, was IDW's Transformer books often strayed too far from the characters I grew up with, and loved. While I really enjoyed the expanded mythos of the Transformers, I really had no interest in the inclusion of the stuff from the films. Well, it looks like with the introduction of the brand new TRANSFORMERS ongoing series, they're getting back to basics, and I can tell you from the responses I've seen from many of you, I'm not alone in my renewed excitement about the Transformers books.

This Wednesday, we get a new limited series from the creative team that brought us the killer MAXIMUM DINOBOTS, and it's featuring the Autobots, THE WRECKERS. Now, this can only mean one thing, right? Constructicons? We can hope.

Either way, I've been impressed so far by the new ongoing series in terms of the writing and the art, so I'm stoked to see where they go with this new limited series.

Click here for a preview ofTRANSFORMERS: THE LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERS #1

STAFF PICKS

Trish - JOE THE BARBARIAN #1 - It was a quick read, but hey, for a buck, you definitely get your money's worth. Really cool set-up for what should be one of the best Vertigo books of this year.

Torma - DARK WOLVERINE #82 *SIEGE* - GREAT issue. HUGE surprise at the end involving Daken and Osborn. You thought the end of PUNISHER DARK REIGN THE LIST was a surprise? Read this! TOTAL MAYHEM

Steve - DARK AVENGERS #13 *SIEGE* - This one gets pick of the week for the simple reason that it took a character I absolutely despised, and had me totally digging him by the end of just one issue. The REAL origin of the Sentry is revealed, and it's an ugly truth. Can't recommend checking this one out, folks, even if you haven't followed DARK AVENGERS in a while.