THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE COMICS FOR WEDNESDAY 12/30/09

BLACKEST NIGHT #6 ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY, AS THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN THE SERIES YET!



Okay, of course, the biggest thing this Wednesday is the release of BLACKEST NIGHT ISSUE #6. This is one of the most pivotal issues in the series, and from everything I've seen, it definitely lives up to the hype. DC did a great job of picking this as the one book they shipped this week, as this is probably going to be one of the Best Issues of 2009. And, just in the nick of time, with this being the last week of the year!

For those of you who have yet to find comfort in the warm, fuzzy death-shrouds of Blackest Night... you have gotta check this out. In a nutshell, every dead DC character is rising up as vengeful Black Lanterns (Zombie Green Lanterns?), and going around tearing the hearts out of the living. There's been a WHOLE lotta stuff that's gone down, so rather than getting you confused with my rambling... go here, and read the Wiki entry to get an idea about what the Blackest Night is all about!

Looking to get started with Blackest Night? We recommend either going back, and snagging GREEN LANTERN: SINESTRO CORPS WAR v.1 trade paperback, to start at the very beginning, OR, if you'd like to catch up quicker, picking up GREEN LANTERN #43 *PRELUDE TO BLACKEST NIGHT*,and then going straight into the mini-series.


SIEGE THE NEW YEAR THIS WEDNESDAY, AND GET FREE AVENGERS ID CARDS, FREE ORIGINS OF SIEGE ONE-SHOTS, FREE MARVEL CALENDARS, AND, HEY.. FREE CAKE!



Okay, so Marvel can't sit this party out, and they've provivded us with a TON of freebies to give out to YOU just for coming through our doors this Wednesday here at Third Eye. Of course, the coolest of which, being the AVENGERS ID CARD, but you know, the second coolest being the ORIGINS OF SIEGE one-shot which features an ORIGINAL, NEW CONTENT PROLOGUE to SIEGE by Brian Michael Bendis, as well as several character bios, and origins.

In addition to the Origins of Siege, and the AVENGERS ID CARDS, there's also a spiffy Marvel 2012 Calendar we'll be giving out all day on Wednesday as well. So, definitely make sure you come in Wednesday to grab your's, because supplies are limited!

Click here for a preview of the ORIGINS OF SIEGE one-shot!

And, more SIEGE THE NEW YEAR GOODNESS, Third Eye Triple Threat Sale ALL day Wednesday 11AM-9PM! Plus, Black Lantern Cake!
And, as if all these goodies weren't enough reason to come launch into a brand new decade with us here at Third Eye.. we're having a killer sale event! We're going to be hosting our first ever Triple Threat sale, where we'll be randomly tagging various graphic novels, action figures, hardcovers, and more with colored tabs (don't worry, they won't damage the books! :) ).

Here is how the color system works out:

YELLOW - 40% OFF
RED - 30% OFF
BLUE - 20% OFF

Finally, everyone who comes in on Wednesday December 30th, will receive a raffle ticket to go see (semi)legendary metal rocker THOR at SONAR on January 8th! We'll be doing the drawing next Monday in the newsletter!

And, that's not all we got going on this week here at Third Eye to prepare for 2010!
Each day, we'll be running a special promotion as we count down to New Year's Day! Here's a look at what we have going on!

TRY SOMETHING NEW TUESDAY 12/29/09 - Buy the first issue or volume of a series, and get the second issue or volume 20% Off!

"SIEGE THE NEW YEAR" WEDNESDAY 12/30/09 - Blackest Night #6 arrives, and features some HUGE reveals! Plus, everyone who comes by on Wednesday will receive a FREE "Origins of SIEGE" One-Shot, a FREE Avengers ID card, and a free Marvel 2012 Calendar. Plus! We'll have cake, and soda to give you that sugar rush to keep you going, and we'll be hosting our big Triple Threat Sale.

THIRD EYE'S "YEAR IN REVIEW" THURSDAY 12/31/09 *NEW YEAR'S EVE* - We'll be spotlighting the best books of 2009 all day on the 31st, and giving some glimpses of things to come in 2010. All of these spotlighted titles will be 15% off.

BRING A FRIEND FRIDAY 1/1/09 *NEW YEARS DAY* - Bring a friend in Friday that's never been to the shop before, and get coupons for both you and your friend good for 20% Off Your Next Visit! Of course, it's gotta be a friend that's looking to get into comics, or experience the joy that is Third Eye! :)

INDY COMIC BOOK WEEK ALL WEEK THIS WEEK HERE AT THIRD EYE!

We're proud to say that we here at Third Eye are one of a handful of stores here in Maryland that are official sponsors and hosts of Indy Comic Book Week! We've always been firm believers that if a comic is good, it's good no matter who publishes it, whether it's from the major publishers, or some guy in his basement.. if it's good.. it's good! And, that's why we're totally down with the idea that this is a perfect week to showcase some fantastic indy books! On our new issue rack this week, we'll have a mix of Indy Spotlights, and Best Of 2009 choices, and below, is a few highlights of the books we've gotten in for Indy Comic Book Week. A lot of these are so below the radar that they're not even carried by major distributors like Diamond, and man, there are some true GEMS out there!

The Road To God Knows by Von Allan

Here's one that I actually just finished reading today, and it really hit me. While I feel that the art has a little bit of a ways to go, the writing on this one is so damn heartfelt, and full of feeling, that I was really into it. It might be that the subject matter is kind of close to home for me, and some of my own personal family experiences, but this is REALLY good stuff.

The Road To God Knows is a heartwrenching graphic novel about a girl and her mother who happens to be schizophrenic. The way that it's written is very respectful of the subject matter, and actually handles it well. Marie's (the daughter) mother is not portrayed as a villain, but the pain that she causes Marie is very real. Von Allan manages to capture the honest-to-god helplessness and frustration of someone who has to deal with that kind of situation, and I swear, this one really keeps you turning the pages. Marie finds her escape in rock music, and pro-wrestling, and the background plot is how her and her friend are trying to earn money to go see a wrestling show that's coming to town.

I know it sounds like a real downer, but it's always a joy to find a comic that makes you feel something, and this is one of the best I've come upon. I honestly will be ordering a big stack of these tomorrow, in addition to the ones we've already got in, because I was so impressed. I highly recommend giving this one a peek if you're into true life drama stuff.

NEON GIRL by Dennis Pacheco

NEON GIRL is a fun, tongue-in-cheek superheroine comic that offers a fun, irreverent take on the superhero genre. Neon Girl's sort of an everywoman superheroine who's strong, and confident, but has to deal with the lameness of every day life. It's humorous, it's fun, and the art is neat. A cool liittle mini-comic!

INVISIBLE SAM: THE UNREMARKABLE MAN by Adam O Pruett

Invisible Sam: The Unremarkable Man is about an ordinary guy, that lives in an ordinary world, and feels completely invvisible to it. It's kind of a depressing look at one man and how his dreams never came to be... but it's done in a really funky, humorous art style, so it comes off as very bittersweet.

OLD MAN WINTER and OTHER SORDID TALES by J.T YOST

Old Man Winter is a nice companion piece to Invisible Sam, as it features a an old man, and his small circuit in life. It's very character-driven, and kind of makes you think twice when you see that poor old guy eating by himself at the diner. Again, kind of sad, but still good.. lets break the sad trend with the next spotlight!

Supertalk by Various

To break the trend of all the downers, here's a look at a cool one we're pumped about called SUPERTALK. Remember back when the Beastie Boys were good? You know, before they started getting all touchy-feely and weird.... well, this is the Paul's Boutique of Indy Comics. Fresh, funky, and awesome, it's got some great indie contributors making it a fun read.

ROBOT 13 from Blacklisted Studios

Another one of my favorite new indies is ROBOT 13 which kind of feels like a cross between BPRD/Hellboy and the X-Files. Basically, it's a disembodied skull, floating in an old deep-sea diver's suit, carrying a harpoon, killing monsters of Greek myth. What's not to love? It's two issues in, and we've got both back in stock now at Third Eye!

THIRD EYE YEAR IN REVIEW

The big surprise hit this year was most definitely STUFF OF LEGEND from newcomers Th3rd World Studios. We were lucky enough to get our hands on a preview of this before it hit, and made sure to have plenty in stock to meet the massive demand. This awesome story of Toy Story meets Saving Private Ryan if it was directed by Guilermo Del Toro took Third Eye by storm, and we honestly can't recommend it enough. We currently have both issues 1 and 2 in stock here at Third Eye, for those of you who may have missed it!

If you're not yet reading Irredeemable, then you are really missing out. This amazingly well-done take on the concept "What happens when Superman goes EVIL?" has had us on the edge of our seats every month. The reason it's so good? Writer Mark Waid LOVES Superman, more than anybody, so he knows every nuance, every misstep, every detail, that would make the Man of Steel go wrong. Incredible stuff. You can catch up by grabbing the first trade paperback for just $9.99 here at Third Eye, and then hopping onto the singles with issue #5 for only .99 cents!

Everyone loves Nick Fury. It's a simple fact. He's a badass. And, Marvel has never done him better than in the Secret Warriors ongoing series from rising star writer Jonathan Hickman and legend Brian Michael Bendis. The whole idea of Fury, and a cadre of kids of supervillains and superheroes all grown up, makes for some very good reading, and the artwork is outstanding. HIGHLY recommended to get you your Marvel fix.

Chew is another breakout hit this year, and it definitely deserves the hype it's gotten. The concept? All poultry's illegal due to bird flu. Prohibition on Turkey, Chicken and more is the norm. And, Detective Tony Chu, a Cibopath, is the F.D.A's (who're now just as serious as the ATF) newest special agent. What's a Cibopath? Well, he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. He eats a hamburger, he can see the cow being killed... and, now, the FDA has him eating the remains of murder victims to find out how they died. A GREAT READ! Grab the trade of the first five issues for only $9.99 here at Third Eye, and hop onto the monthly with issues #6 & #7

How could we leave out Blackest Night? The best comic book event we've seen in almost a decade, this event has lived up to the hype in every way. Even if you're not a long-time DC, or Green Lantern fan, writer Geoff Johns has done an incredible job making this story accesible, and compelling to new and old fans alike. The cream of the crop when it comes to superhero comics right now. We highly recommend hopping aboard. The concept? The Black Lantern rings resurrect every dead DCU character you could think of as crazy zombie Lanterns.

Of course, we can't forget Marvel's biggest book this year (that wasn't Old Man Logan, but technically since that one began in 2008, we're going to leave it out, cause lets face it.. it'd dominate all the competition! :) ), Dark Avengers. Norman Osborn runs SHIELD now, renaming it HAMMER, supervillains like Bullseye, Venom, and Moonstone pose as Avengers Hawkeye, Spider-man, and Ms. Marvel. And, the entire Marvel Universe is flipped upside down. A must-read with great story from Brian Michael Bendis, and amazing art from Mike Deodato. We have both the single back issues going all the way back to issue #1, and the trade paperback collecting issues 1-6.

Another Third Eye favorite is INCOGNITO. Apocalyptic Pulp Noir from the creators of CRIMINAL, Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips. This was one of my favorite comics this year, bar none. AMAZING story that takes a look at a former supervillain who is bored with his new life in witness protection, and his downward spiral back into his old life. Can't recommend it enough!

DESTROYER from ROBERT KIRKMAN and CORY WALKER was another sleeper hit. First off, you may already know Kirkman as the man who writes the MEGA-HIT WALKING DEAD and INVINCIBLE. And, now you get his bloodiest book ever with Destroyer. Basically, take one senior citizen vigilante who is on his way out, and give him a mission to murder every single last one of his foes so his family will be safe.. and hey, you get Destroyer. Bloody, violent, and loads of fun. A great read.

The BEST Batman book we have read in many decades, Grant Morrison's Batman and Robin is a fresh, exciting, new-reader friendly approach to the dynamic duo. The fact that it's now Dick Grayson (Nightwing) and Batman's Son (Damian) in the respective cowl and masks, has made this book fresh as hell. It doesn't hurt that the artwork in every issue has been superb. We currently have all the issues in stock, so definitely check it out.

Goodfellas with Vikings. A crime story set in the 9th Century. This series has been INCREDIBLE! Gorgeous art, ultra-violent storytelling, and an intriguing concept about the most despicable two Viking brothers in history. Organized crime meets the Viking era... what's not to love? Catch up by grabbing issues 1,2,3,4 here at Third Eye

Barry Allen returns... and a whole new generation of comic fans learn why he is AWESOME! Geoff Johns, writer of Blackest Night, and Ethan Van Sciver, manage to make the Flash cool, relevant, and fresh all over again. And, if you ask us, it's about time! This character deserves a great book like this. For those of you who haven't read Flash Rebirth, we currently have all five issues in stock.

Brian Michael Bendis andd Alex Maleev are a true dream team. Their Daredevil was some of the best stuff in the business, and their work now on the new Spiderwoman series is OUT OF THIS WORLD. Gritty, dark, espionage-fueled storytelling with beautiful art, and a compelling, realistic story. Again, another one we can't recommend enough.

The relaunch of ULTIMATE COMICS was another great move for Marvel in 2009. Not only is Bendis way more refocused on Ultimate Spider-man (the best the book has been since before it hit issue #100), but Mark Millar's return to the ULTIMATE AVENGERS is VERY welcome, and has made that book into one of the top Marvel books coming out for us here at Third Eye. Each issue has been a solid read. We currently have all issues of Ultimate Comics Spidey, Ultimate Comics Avengers, and Ultimate Comics Armor Wars in stock here.

One of the best Vertigo series I've seen to launch in a while, and it's gotten criminally overlooked. Sweet Tooth kind of reminds you of that weird movie Gummo crossed with a post-apocalyptic take on Bambi. Awesome story, awesome art... you should really check this one out.. and hey, the first issue is only $1.00!

That's it for our year in review, although we have much more we'll be spotlighting here in the store. Those are just a few that we felt like rambling on about!

STAFF PICKS

Trish - Beasts of Burden #4 - So sad that it's almost over. READ BEASTS OF BURDEN. I promise you'll like it, especially if you're an animal lover.

Torma - Fall of Hulks Gamma - John Romita JR drawing the Hulk. What more could you want? Plus, it gives a very solid lead on just who the Red Hulk is...

Steve - PUNISHER #12 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 2* - If you forget that this is a Punisher story, and look at it as a REALLY REALLY awesome Legion of Monsters story, then you will too see why I love this story so much. The first one I was kind of like WTF... but, man, the second one.. I'm in love with this. GREAT art. Fun story. Can't get enough!

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 12/23/09

THE NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA REVEALED INCAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN: WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD ONE-SHOT THIS WEDNESDAY!

This is it, folks... is it going to be Steve Rogers rocking the Captain America duds again, or is it going to be Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier? The question to this, and many other things surrounding the epic, sweeping story that Brubaker has laid out with REBORN are answered this Wednesday.

Now, you're probably wondering "How come this is coming out before CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN #6?" Well, there's two answers to that. The first is that Marvel has pegged this as a pre-emptive epilogue to REBORN. The other answer is that the incredible art of Bryan Hitch tends to make the man run slow, and REBORN #6 should've been out by now. From what Marvel has told us though, reading this issue before Cap Reborn #6 doesn't mess with the sequence too much.

Anyways, I am very excited about this one, because not only have I been enjoying Brubaker's REBORN storyline, but his entire run on Captain America in general has been some of the best comic reading on the shelves. So, needless to say, I'm pretty stoked to see how this one follows up, and nears it's conclusion.

And, ontop of all that... this could possibly be (like it's no secret) the Return of Steve Rogers as Captain America! If you would've told me I'd be pumped about that in 1999, I would've been hard-pressed to believe you. While I respect the iconic nature of Cap, and some of the great stories of the past that've been told with the character (my personal pre-Civil War Cap story being Mark Waid and Ron Garney's incredible run on the series), I just never really saw that many stories that stood out with the character. In my opinion, it took the influence of Millar's characterization of Cap in THE ULTIMATES, and then, his 616-characterization in CIVIL WAR, to really get me into the character. Luckily, right around the same time that CIVIL WAR was happening, a (at the time) unknown writer by the name of Ed Brubaker was spinning some very gritty, hard-nosed espionage-fused stories with Cap. And, I've been a fan of the character ever since.

Who Will Wield The Shield is kind of a summing up of the last decade of Captain America stories. And, I hate to admit, that this is probably where the road to the end of Brubaker's run begins. Although, I could be wrong. Anyways, it looks like we'll be seeing the big decision made between who will be wearing the mantle of Captain America... Steve Rogers, or Bucky Barnes. The thing that makes this so exciting is that the development of Bucky as a character over the course of the last 50-some issues of Brubaker's run has been some of the best character development of a comic character I have ever seen. And, to be honest, while I'm excited to see how things play out with Rogers, I really would be sad to see Bucky not be Cap.

And, then of course, there's those spoiler pages in the back of DARK AVENGERS and NEW AVENGERS ANNUALS from the last couple of weeks... but, are we convinced that's who it appears to be? And, that all is what it seems? I guess we'll find out all the answers this week in WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD.

Click here for a preview of CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD one-shot

And, for those of you who haven't been following Brubaker's run on Cap, I want to give you the skinny on where it begins, and why it's been so damn good. He manages to combine elements of old school pulp fiction with a 21st century spin with the feel of old '70s and '80s exploitation movies. Brubaker's Cap run has been a high-quality superhero book with a definite espionage by way of grindhouse kind of feel to it.

Where to start? CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER VOLUME 1 TRADE PAPERBACK - This trade collects the first six issues of Brubaker's run, and begins the series with a bang by re-introducing the long-thought dead Cap sidekick, Bucky Barnes. Of course, as we learn through the course of the story, Bucky's history is not what we thought, and his re-appearance has him as a conflicted, hardened soldier with a mission to kill Steve Rogers. From, there the story follows in CAPTAIN AMERICA WINTER SOLDIER VOLUME 2, CAPTAIN AMERICA RED MENACE 1 & 2, and so on, and so forth.

Why It's So Good? Brubaker has managed to take the history of the Captain America series, including all of it's somewhat B Movie-esque supervillains, and fuse it with a modernistic, 21st century espionage-fueled approach that's had us on the edge of our seats ever since. Brubaker re-introduced Cap's wholesome teen sidekick, and revealed his history as a cold-blooded black ops killer, then he killed Captain America himself, and put the reformed Bucky in the costume. All the while, he's effortlessly blended old with new, and managed to tell one of the most compelling Marvel stories we've seen. The grindhouse feel he gives to Cap's bigger than life supervillains (like Arnim Zola... a robot with a giant face in it's chest) has given Cap a solid rogue's gallery to go to bat against.

THREE BIG BLACKEST NIGHT TITLES THIS WEEK! GREEN LANTERN #49 DELIVERS ANOTHER CRUCIAL CHAPTER OF BLACKEST NIGHT!



It's a good week for Blackest Night, folks, with three killer titles hitting the shelves of Third Eye carrying the Blackest Night banner. And, as we've already seen nearly everything tying into DC's Blackest Night has been high quality reading material.

The biggest of the three, of course, is the newest issue of GREEN LANTERN with GREEN LANTERN #49. The Green Lantern monthly title has been almost as essential as the Blackest Night mini-series itself, written by Blackest Night writer Geoff Johns, and filling in the gaps between issues of the core mini-series, each issue of this title has done a great job of moving the story along and explaining all the stuff that can't be fit into the core Blackest Night book. This week, we get to see John Stewart's role in the Blackest Night, and it's impact on him. John Stewart has always been one of my favorite Lanterns, and the whole GL spin on his past as US Marine is pretty freaking cool. Plus, we haven't seen a lot on him yet in Blackest Night, and it will be cool to see some more attention put on the character.

Next up, we have the first issue of one of those killer 3-issue limited Blackest Night miniseries that have been so good, and that's BLACKEST NIGHT JSA #1. I'm really excited about this one, for a couple of reasons. First off, I really love the Justice Society, and secondly, I really dig Wesley Dodds, the Golden Age Sandman. Also, the fact that a killer creative team consisting of James Robinson (Starman, Justice League Cry for Justice), and one of DC's rising star artists Eddy Barrows, along with the addition of classic Kyle Rayner-era Green Lantern writer Ron Marz, makes this one an exciting book to look out for.
From the looks of the preview, and the solicits, it looks like we'll be seeing a ton of dead JSA and JSA-related characters. Wesley Dodds, the Golden Age Sandman, of course is pretty awesome (for those of you who haven't read it before, I highly recommend the entire run of SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATER), and I'm hoping we'll see Ted Knight, Al Pratt, and more. Anyways, we'll be seeing the ultimate in the heroes of today fighting the heroes of yesteryear, with Dr. Midnite vs. Dr. Midnite, Mr. Terrific vs. Mr.Terrific, Sand vs. Wesley Dodds, and more. Plus, you know Golden Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott, will be playing a big role in this, and it'll be interesting to see where he fits into things (since his backstory and character is a tad different than most of your Green Lanterns).
Click here for the preview of BLACKEST NIGHT JSA #1

Finally, to round things off, we've got the Teen Titans #78, which admittedly, isn't as quite as highly anticipated as the other two, it still looks like it should follow-up on Teen Titans #77 *Blackest Night* (which was very solid, and still in stock here at Third Eye) pretty well. The thing that's exciting to me the most about this issue is that it's featuring a pretty sweet team-up between Deathstroke (one of my favorite DC characters), and his daughter Ravager, and of course, we know that means only one thing: they're gonna be hacking and slashing through a mountain of Black Lanterns. And, we all know that Ravager and Deathstroke have their fair share of fallen foes, and family that'll be rising up as Black Lanterns to dish out some ass-whippings.

AVENGERS INITIATIVE #31 *SIEGE*FEATURES SPECIAL SIEGE TIE-IN! ANOTHER DOSE OF SIEGE TO PREPARE YOU FOR THE BIGGEST MARVEL EVENT SINCE "CIVIL WAR"

The Road to Siege began with a bang a few weeks ago in the pages of SIEGE: THE CABAL, and now you can fill in another piece of the puzzle with this week's AVENGERS INITIATIVE #31, tying into SIEGE: THE CABAL. This is where it's explained why Taskmaster is now seated upon the Cabal, and shows Osborn's offer, and proposals to this often overlooked (but still, badass) Marvel villain.

And, meanwhile, on the Initiative end of things.. the Initiative gets called upon to assault an enemy that's carrying some heavy duty power. Could that enemy be Asgardian?

Clickhere to read a preview of AVENGERS INITIATIVE #31

LAST DAYS OF AMERICAN CRIME #1ARRIVES FROM RADICAL (PUBLISHERS OF FVZA, CITY OF DUST, ect) from THE WRITER OF FEAR AGENT & PUNISHER - ONE WEEK TO COMMIT THE LAST CRIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY!

Here's a cool one I got an advance copy of last month, and really dug. Rick Remender (writer of cult favorite FEAR AGENT, and the current Punisher run featuring Frankencastle) has made this one his new pet project, and it reads AWESOME. A great, gritty noir-influenced style of artwork matched with some fast-paced, tense storytelling make this one a very fun read.

What's the plot? In the not too distant future, the government basically plans to transmit a secret signal that will make it impossible for anyone to knowingly commit a crime. After the complexity of crimes like identity theft, and the rates of terrorism, this is their answer to preventing things from getting worse.

And, that's where our hero comes in to play, Graham Brick, a low-life career criminal who's never gotten a break. And, now, he finally comes on a killer way to make the heist that'll set him up for life. Of course, it's announced by the media that in just one week they'll be transmitting that whole Anti-Crime signal, and this leaves Graham with a problem: he has only one week to commit the last crime in American history.

It's as fun as it sounds, folks, and I'm already itching to see the next one. You can click here to read a preview of LAST DAYS OF AMERICAN CRIME #1

FALL OF HULKS GAMMA ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY FEATURING ARTWORK BY JOHN ROMITA JR!



Fall of Hulks ALPHA kicked things off with an awesome, old-school feeling origin story of the Intellectia, a gathering of assorted Marvel mad scientists, ranging from obscure characters like Egghead and the Mad Thinker to big baddies like the Leader, and Dr. Doom. And, now, this week, the other half of that arrives in the pages of FALL OF HULKS GAMMA! Before, I go any further...

IT'S JOHN ROMITA JR... DRAWING THE HULK. NOT JUST THE HULK. BUT LOTS OF HULKS! What more could you want?

Seriously though, it's not often that I get excited by the artist alone that's attached to a book, but Romita JR was born to draw BIG. His run on Thor with Dan Jurgens in the '90s was great, and trust me, it wasn't because of Dan Jurgens. And, his later work on Hulk was also awesome. But enough of my fanboy freakout over Romita JR, lets get onto just what you can expect this week out of FALL OF HULKS GAMMA.

This finishes up the set-up for the biggest Hulk storyline since World War Hulk, and leaves the stage set for the Fall of the Hulks. We don't know much, but what we do know is that a certain Hulk's death sets the entire Hulk family of characters into an unstoppable rage, and could really dish out some serious havoc for the rest of the Marvel Universe.

For those of you keeping track, here's a quick run down of what's out in the line of FALL OF THE HULKS so far:
FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA - still in stock at Third Eye
HULK #18 - still in stock at Third Eye
and now..
FALL OF HULKS GAMMA - in stock at Third Eye this Wednesday 12/23/09

CHEW #7 CONTINUES THE BEST NEW SERIES OF 2009! THE QUIRKY ADVENTURES OF A COP THAT EATS HUMAN REMAINS! GET THE TRADE WITH 1-5 for ONLY $9.99

Chew is the little book that could. This series came out of nowhere earlier in the year, and took the comics world by storm to become one of the biggest hits for IMAGE since Walking Dead. And, it deserves every ounce of hype it's been given. It's that damn good. This week, the saga of Tony Chu continues the second story arc of CHEW "International Flavor", and it looks like we're going to be seeing just how lethal an agent of the U.S Department of Agriculture can be.

And, of course, there's a lone F.D.A agent standing between her and her goal, and that just happens to be Tony Chu.

What's Chew all about? Well, picture this: all poultry is illegal due to bird flu. A state of prohibition on chicken, turkey, and more exists similar to the prohibition placed on Alcohol in the early part of the 20th century. Speak-easies serve chicken dinners. Crimes are committed to further profit in a world where poultry is treated like sought-after drugs. And, that's just the backdrop of the story. The real kicker is the main character, Tony Chu. See, Tony Chu is a cibopath, meaning that he receives psychic impressions from whatever he eats. Eat a hamburger, see the cow getting killed. Eat an apple, smell the pesticides being sprayed. It's a tough life. And, then one day, he somehow figures he can use his abilities to track down the names of several murdered girls through some unorthodox methods... and that brings us to now, where we have Tony Chu working for the FDA, eating the remains of the dead to solve cases. It's one of the freshest books we've seen here in quite some time, and we really can't recommend it enough.

You can pick up the trade paperback now at Third Eye consisting of CHEW #1-5 for only $9.99.

Click here to read a preview of CHEW #7


VICTORIAN UNDEAD #2 - SHERLOCK HOLMES. ZOMBIES. STEAMPUNK AWESOMENESS THROUGH AND THROUGH. Miss issue #1? We still got it in stock to catch you up!



Here's one that was a surprise success at the shop, but I guess we shouldn't be too surprised, because... Sherlock Holmes + Zombies = Total win. Seriously though, the new Wildstorm series VICTORIAN UNDEAD is definitely another welcome addition to the solid roster of self-contained books like NORTH 40 that Wildstorm's been adding to it's line-up.

So, what's it all about? A meteor's crashed to London, and uh oh.. the dead begin to rise after an odd sickness has taken a good part of the city. Meanwhile, Holmes and Watson are taking on some dastardly villain... who appears to be a crazy 19th century Robot. And of course, through the means of taking on this case... they get drug into this whole mess of the dead rising and trying to.. EAT PEOPLE'S BRAINS!

Seriously though, the first issue of this was a VERY solid read, and it's got me excited about the second one. I love seeing new twists on old concepts, and this book takes two somewhat stale storytelling concepts (zombies & Sherlock Holmes), and mixes the two to make one hell of a fun read. The characterization of Holmes is on point, and it really reads like a great detective book despite the somewhat wacky premise. Not to mention, the artwork is pretty superb and does a great job of conveying the mood of the story.

Bottom line? If you're a fan of steampunky stories, or zombies.. you should check this out, because it's got enough of both elements to keep you coming back for more.

The second issue arrives this Wednesday, and we still have limited quantities of issue #1 in stock, so if you want to hop on, you can then.

Click here to read more about Victorian Undead

PUNISHER #12 *FRANKENCASTLE CHAPTER 2* - THE PUNISHER... LEADER OF THE LEGION OF MONSTERS? THE SECOND ISSUE IN THE QUIRKIEST, FRESHEST-LOOKING APPROACH TO A MARVEL CHARACTER YET!



So, about a month and a half ago, the Punisher had his head lopped off by Daken (in DARK REIGN THE LIST PUNISHER one-shot). And, his body parts, all dismembered, and what-not, got dumped into the sewers. Well, they were gathered up by the Legion of Monsters. Yes. THAT Legion of Monsters. Morbius. Werewolf by Night. Man-Thing. You know the drill. And, he was cobbled together into a patchwork Frankenstein-like monstrosity. See, there's some mystery squad of Samurai dudes running around killing all the Marvel monsters. All the Fin Fang Fooms, the Kirby giants, and of course, the '70s frightmares like Werewolf By Night.

And, this is where the concept of Frankencastle comes in... the Legion of Monsters decides that they need his military strategy genius, and decides to put it to good use by resurrecting him as this ridiculous looking Frankenstein thing.

This sounds like it shouldn't be good, BUT IT IS! Rick Remender (FEAR AGENT), and Tony Moore (Walking Dead, Exterminators, Fear Agent) manage to deliver an over-the-top quirky and fun read in the first issue of this book, and a lot of it is due in part to Tony Moore's unique art-style. Plus, the colors look SHARP on Moore's art, and fit the mood of the book perfectly.

Remender manages to keep his tongue-in-cheek without being cheesy, and after describing the concept, I'm sure you're as puzzled by me about how he does that, but folks, he makes it work.

This one's a real curiousity for me, I really enjoyed the first one, but page after page, I was like "WTF?"... in a good way.. in a "I have to keep reading to see where this is going to go" kind of way.

So, if you're looking for something fun, something fresh, and something different out of Marvel, then you should definitely pick up PUNISHER #11 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 1* where the story starts. We still have it in stock here at Third Eye, in limited quantities.

For those of you like me who read the first one, and dug it, I know you're gonna be waiting on the second part this Wednesday.

Click here for a preview of PUNISHER #12 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 2*

CRIMINAL: THE SINNERS #3 HITS THE SHELVES THIS WEDNESDAY! THE BEST COMIC YOU'RE NOT READING! FIND OUT WHY CRIMINAL IS A MUST-READ! ISSUES #1 & #2 STILL IN STOCK!

CRIMINAL is flat out the best crime comic I think I've ever read. And, that's a tall order, because crime noir has been pretty well-represented in the world of comics over the past couple of decades. I mean, I loved me some Sin City, and 100 Bullets, but nothing tops CRIMINAL. Criminal is more than just a comic book, it's an experience. When a new issue comes out, I can spend a good thirty minutes sunk deep within it. Every page, every panel, is packed with so much atmosphere, and storytelling that it really accomplishes that rare feat of sucking you into another world and not letting go.

The alchemy of art and story from Brubaker and Phillips pulls you in, and doesn't let go.. and just when the story ends, leaving you on the edge of your seat... you're still left with a good four to six pages of awesome back-matter to read about crime noir. A lot of times, Brubaker has guest-writers come in, and talk about their favorite aspects of genre fiction. Guys like Patton Oswalt rapping about their favorite crime movies from the '60s just makes the entire package better.

And, folks, this is a book you do NOT want to wait for trade on. The back-matter does not get reprinted into the trades, so you are really missing out on the whole experience.

Seriously, there are very few books that I will proclaim universally as something everybody should be reading, but CRIMINAL is most definitely one of those books.

Now, I've sung it's praises more than enough, you're probably wondering just what the hell CRIMINAL is all about?

Each story arc of CRIMINAL is self-contained to 4-6 issues. While the characters all exist within the same world, you can read CRIMINAL in any order you please. This means that the current arc, THE SINNERS, is a perfect entry point for those of you who haven't yet read CRIMINAL. The shared world thing is just a part of what makes CRIMINAL so cool, as it's neat to see a background character you barely notice in an earlier story become a prominent figure in a later story (as was the case with "Bad Night"). The current arc, the SINNERS, is all about someone who is killing off "made men".. criminal power-players, if you will, who should otherwise be untouchable. And, since the underworld can't exactly go to the police, they bring in enforcer Tracy Lawless to investigate things. A conflicted man who doesn't even want to be working in this world in the first place.

The characterization in this book is so sharp, that by the time you finish the first issue, you'll feel like you've known Lawless all your life. And, with the developments of CRIMINAL: THE SINNERS #2, I personally can't wait to see where things are going in issue #3 this week.

If you haven't yet read CRIMINAL, we'll the previous two issues, in addition to issue #3, well-stocked this week, to make it easy on you to catch up. Don't miss out on one of the best series of this decade.

Click here to read a preview of CRIMINAL: THE SINNERS #3

"THE BOYS", "PREACHER", & "CROSSED" WRITER GARTH ENNIS'S BATTLEFIELDS: HAPPY VALLEY #1 BRINGS US MORE OF ENNIS'S GRUELLING, BLOODY WAR STORIES! IF TARANTINO'S "INGLORIOUS BASTARDS" WAS A COMIC, THIS WOULD BE IT!



He's taken superheroes to their darkest extremes in THE BOYS. He's given a whole, twisted new meaning to survival horror in CROSSED, and he's written countless other epics (including the legendary PREACHER series)... Garth Ennis is a man who knows how to do comics right. But, there's one thing, that's a personal labor of love for him, and it really shows. Some of his best material happens to fall under the genre of war stories, and Ennis manages to tell some of the most brutal, well-paced, yet accessible war stories you could think of.

This go around, he's back with a brand new series called BATTLEFIELDS: HAPPY VALLEY, and the first issue debuts this Wednesday. The year is 1942. And a young Australian Ken Harding arrives in London, anxious to play his part in the aerial bombing of all those Nazi bastards. Losses are high, and morale is low, but our hero remains unphased until he meets his crew: a foul-mouthed, battle-hardened gang of guys who take no prisoners. And, now they're headed to the heavily guarded industrial heartland of Ruhr, known to the fighter pilots as Happy Valley.

We've seen Ennis's previous war stuff, and it's always dripping with blood, and realism, while at the same time keeping in habit with his knack for strong characterization, and sense of dark humor.

If you're a fan of the Boys, Crossed, or any of Ennis's other work, we HIGHLY recommend giving his war stuff a shot this week with Happy Valley.

Click here for a preview of GARTH ENNIS'S BATTLEFIELDS: HAPPY VALLEY #1

THOR #605 - DR. DOOM VS. THOR! ASGARDIANS TURNED INTO HORRIBLE CYBORG MONSTROSITIES! THE NEW DIRECTION OF THOR IS AWESOME!


First off, if you missed issue #604 of THOR, you need to pick it up, and hop aboard the current arc of Thor, cause it's SMOKIN'! We were pretty skeptical about how well the new creative team would do following up a major act like JMS, but they picked up the ball and ran with it, kicking off a brand new story arc that's bringing all the cool Dr. Doom/Asgard connections to full culmination. If you did miss THOR #604, don't worry, because we still have it in stock here at the shop, in limited quantities, so you can still hop aboard the monthly series with only two issues to catch up.

As for what's to expect this week in the newest installment of THOR.. simply put.. it's DR. DOOM versus THOR in a throwdown that's sure to be epic. #604 ended with Doom's Asgardian cyborg hybrid monstrosities coming into plain sight, and then.. a certain God of Thunder appearing on the horizon to deal out some righteous justice.

Click here for a preview of THOR #605

IMAGE UNITED #2 ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY, AND CONTINUES THE HIT NEW SERIES THAT KEEPS SELLING OUT! FIND OUT WHY THIS LIMITED SERIES PENNED BY ROBERT KIRKMAN (WALKING DEAD, HAUNT) & ILLUSTRATED BY ALL THE IMAGE FOUNDERS IS A HIT! #1 STILL IN STOCK AT THIRD EYE!



The first issue of IMAGE UNITED went to a second print almost immediately, and it looks like the second issue will be going to as well. But, worry not, folks, we've got PLENTY of copies of IMAGE UNITED #2 coming in this Wednesday, and trust us, you're gonna wanna give it a look. It's actually pretty damn cool what they've accomplished with IMAGE UNITED, combining the talents of all the classic IMAGE founders on one book written by Robert Kirkman.

So, here's how it works: Spawn appears in the book.. McFarlane draws him. Witchblade appears. Silvestri draws her. Get the idea? The book itself was a fun read, and is an action-packed nostalgic joyride for anyone who grew up reading comics during the IMAGE era in the '90s. Bigger than life, with a well-paced story from Robert Kirkman, and tons of killer arrt, IMAGE UNITED is a blast.

Of course, the big reveal at the end of issue #1 was pretty cool... the villain of the series? Al Simmons, you know, the original Spawn, the guy we all remember from back in the day. And, yes, that's him above with the horns. See, it looks like ol' Al has found that destiny they always eluded to in those issues of Spawn way back in the day, and now he's out to wreak havoc on the entire Image universe.

All in all, it's not a plot-heavy book, but IMAGE UNITED is a blast, and provides a fun read, and a fun trip down memory lane for a lot of us who grew up reading comics in the '90s. If you need us to put a copy in your box, just shoot us an email!

Oh, and if you missed out on issue #1, don't worry.. we had a feeling it'd be a hit, and still have a decent amount of issue #1 hanging out here at the store for you to catch up with.

THIRD EYE ASKS "ARE YOU READING?" ABSOLUTION FROM AVATAR PRESS.. THINK ROBOCOP MEETS DEXTER




Here's one that I wanted to spotlight because I feel that it's an AWESOME series that's continuing to fly under the radar here at Third Eye. While issue #5 ships this Wednesday, and I'm stoked about that, I wanted to take a moment to give an overview on the whole series and why I'm digging it so much.

First off, the story of Absolution is set in a world where "vigilante police forces" have been established. Basically, special police departments equipped with superhuman abilities to handle crime in the most extreme ways possible, HOWEVER, they are still required to uphold the same code of ethics as any other law enforcement official... in other words.. they can't go around making dude's heads explode.

And that's where our (anti)hero comes in. John Dusk is one of these special police officers who has crossed the line from law officer to serial killer, albeit, of criminals. In the first issue, we're led to believe that Dusk has seen many horrors before making this decision, and it culminates in him letting a rapist murderer die of blood loss.

From there, after getting his first taste of justice, he begins leading a double life, compulsively executing criminals, and evil men.

This series has all the makings of a modern day take on the age-old tale that stories like Robocop (but without the trademark satire), Judge Dredd, and more have explored. It kind of reminds you a little of DEXTER, mixed with a world of superhumans.

Plus, the art just gets better and better with every issue! We currently have all issues of ABSOLUTION instock here at Third Eye for you to catch up, otherwise, I'm sure those of you already reading the series are pumped for issue #5 this Wednesday!

HELLBOY: BRIDE OF HELL ONE-SHOT GIVES US A STRONG DOSE OF HELLBOY AND MIKE MIGNOLA TO END THE YEAR!

Nobody does creepy, mythology-rich horror comics like Mike Mignola. Nobody! I've been a Hellboy fan since I was just a snot-nosed kid in a Cramps t-shirt, and I gotta tell you, it's only gotten better since then. This week, we get a nice little Christmas gift in the form of a Mignola-written one-shot with Richard Corben art. If you just want a good Hellboy story, done in one, then this one's a gotta-read. Or, if you've never read a lot of Hellboy before, then now's your chance to give it a try!

In BRIDE OF HELL, a young girl has been kidnapped and Hellboy's tracked her down to rural France, where she's about to be sacrificed to Asmodeus. This one's definitely a pulpy, weird tale filled with love gone wrong, demonic revenge, ghosts, and the tombs of King Solomon.

Click here for a preview of HELLBOY: BRIDE OF HELL

IRREDEEMABLE #9 & IRREDEEMABLE VOLUME 2 TRADE PAPERBACK ARRIVE THIS WEDNESDAY TO FILL YOUR "SUPERMAN GONE EVIL" FIX!



Are you reading IRREDEEMABLE yet? If you're not, you really should be. It's one of our big favorites here month in and month out, and is one of the most well-written superhero books coming out right now.

We've got a double dose of IRREDEEMABLE this week for you, with both the 9th issue hitting (which continues from the epic reveals of issue #8), and the second volume of the IRREDEEMABLE trade paperback, which collects issues #5-8.

Why should you be reading IRREDEEMABLE? First off, the book practically pulsates with an insane post-modern 21st century comic book energy. It's the story of the Plutonian, your standard Superman arch-type, who has gone mad, and started slaughtering the world around him. Basically, it's SUPERMAN gone EVIL, and it's great.

Why is it so good? The reason why it reads so well is because the series writer, Mark Waid (the man who did KINGDOM COME), is quite possibly the biggest SUPERMAN fan... in the world. He loves SUPERMAN, he loves the world of SUPERMAN, and he gets the character almost better than anyone else. And, this, this is what it takes to write a well-done take on what would happen if the Man of Steel went wrong? And, what did it take to get him to that point? Because Waid is such a fan of Superman, and his history, he is able to make all those little details that most writers would miss, count.

I don't know, there's a certain kind of electric excitement I get when I pick up a new issue of IRREDEEMABLE (and now the companion series, INCORRUPTIBLE), where I know I'm going to be thrust into a world of superheroes that SHOULD be cookie-cutter, but aren't. They're more fleshed-out, and three-dimensional than most characters that've been around for years.

Simply, put IRREDEEMABLE rules, and you need to check it out! The first trade paperback is only $9.99, and we can either catch you up in the single issues, or you can just follow up with Volume 2!

STAFF PICKS

Trish - Green Lantern Corps #43 - I made this my pick just because of the fact that it was such a fun read, and it was so easy to get into, even though I'm not as familiar with the Green Lantern Corps as Steve or Torma. I do like Guy Gardner, and seeing him running around ripping off arms, and kicking ass was AWESOME.

Torma - Dark Avengers #12- TOTAL MAYHEM! The best issue of DARK AVENGERS yet. They finally do something awesome with the Sentry, and it is bigger than life. There's a great final page splash that gives a nice reference to what's coming in SIEGE!

Steve - INCORRUPTIBLE #1 - Man, am I easy to read or what? I was hyped for this one like hell, and it totally lived up to the hype. Incorruptible takes everything you always THOUGHT a sketchy, shady supervillain would do... and makes it happen.. and then shows how tricky his road to redemption is. A great read for Irredeemable fans, and non-fans alike.

What's New @ Third Eye For Wednesday 12/9/09

• ACTION COMICS #884


• ADVENTURE COMICS #5 *BLACKEST NIGHT*


• ADVENTURE COMICS #508 VARIANT


• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #614 *THE GAUNTLET PT 3*


• ANCHOR #3


• ANGEL HOLE IN THE WORLD #1


• ARMY OF DARKNESS ASH SAVES OBAMA #4


• ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #20


• BATGIRL #5


• BATMAN THE CULT TP *NEW PRINTING*


• BATTLESTAR GALACTICA FINAL FIVE TP


• BLACK WIDOW DEADLY ORIGIN #2


• BLACK WIDOW DEADLY ORIGIN #2 SECRET VARIANT


• BOOSTER GOLD #27 *BLACKEST NIGHT*


• BOOSTER GOLD BLUE AND GOLD TP


• BOYS DEFINITVE EDITION HC v.2


• BPRD WAR ON FROGS #4


• CITIZEN REX #6


• CLASSIC GI JOE TP v.6


• COMPLETE IDIOTS GUIDE TO CREATING A GRAPHIC NOVEL


• COMPLETE DRACULA #4


• COVER GIRLS OF THE DCU CATWOMAN STATUE


• DANTES INFERNO #1


• DARK REIGN THE LIST PUNISHER ONE-SHOT *BACK IN STOCK*


• DARK REIGN UNDERSIDE TP


• DARK X-MEN #2


• DAYS MISSING #5


• DAYTRIPPER #1


• DC HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2009 #1


• DEAD RUN TP v.1


• DEADPOOL #18 *DEADPOOL JOINS THE X-MEN! PT 3*


• DEATHLOK #2


• DMZ #48


• DOOM PATROL #5 *BLACKEST NIGHT*


• ENDERS GAME WAR OF GIFTS ONE-SHOT


• EX MACHINA TP v.8 DIRTY TRICKS


• FARSCAPE DARGOS QUEST #1


• GEN13 #33


• GENEXT UNITED TP


• GHOST RIDER HEAVENS ON FIRE #5


• GHOSTBUSTERS PAST PRESENT FUTURE ONE-SHOT


• GI JOE MOVIE SNAKE EYES #3


• GI JOE VS COBRA FALL SPECIAL CRIMSON STRIKE


• GOD COMPLEX #1


• GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #27


• GROO HOGS OF HORDER #2


• HOUSE OF M HC SPIDER-MAN FANTASTIC FOUR X-MEN


• INCARNATE #3


• INCREDIBLE HULK #605


• INU YASHA TP v.43


• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #21 *STARK DISASSEMBLED PT 2*


• JLA YEAR ONE TP *NEW PRINTING*


• LEGION PROPHETS GN


• LOVE BUZZ GN


• MAGOG #4


• MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN TP v.14 THWIP


• MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS #298


• MODERN WARFARE 2 GHOST #2


• MS MARVEL TP v.7 DARK REIGN


• MUPPET SHOW #0


• NATION X #1


• NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #3


• PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #137


• PHONOGRAM 2 #6


• PILOT SEASON MURDERER #1


• PUNISHER NOIR #4


• PUNISHERMAX #2 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*


• REALM OF KINGS IMPERIAL GUARD #2


• REBELS #11 *BLACKEST NIGHT*


• RED ROBIN #7


• RUNAWAYS GOOD DIE YOUNG TP


• SCOOBY DOO #151


• SECRET SIX #16


• SHIELD #4


• SKY DOLL TP v.1


• SPIDER-MAN AND THE SECRET WARS #1


• SPIDER-MAN RED-HEADED STRANGER PREMIERE HC


• STAR TREK ALIEN SPOTLIGHT CARDASSIANS


• STAR WARS CLONE WARS #11


• SUPER FRIENDS #22


• SUPERGOD #2


• SUPERMAN SUPERGIRL MAELSTROM TP


• SWORD #2


• TANK GIRL NUGGETS ONE-SHOT


• TERRA TP


• TITANS #20


• TOY STORY #0


• TOYFARE #150


• TRANSFORMERS ONGOING #2


• TRANSFORMERS ONGOING #2 VARIANT


• TRANSFORMERS ONGOING #1 *BACK IN STOCK*


• ULTIMATUM TP MARCH ON ULTIMATUM


• ULTIMATUM X-MEN FANTASTIC FOUR TP


• UNCANNY X-MEN FIRST CLASS #6


• UNWRITTEN #8


• VAMPIRELLA SECOND COMING #4


• WALKING DEAD #68


• WAR MACHINE #12


• WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #3 *GAUNTLET SIDE-STORY*


• WHAT IF CLASSIC TP V.6


• WHAT IF WORLD WAR HULK


• WIZARD MAGAZINE #220 PLATINUM


• WOLERINE UNDER BOARDWALK ONE-SHOT


• X NECROSHA GATHERING *NECROSHA*


• X-MEN FOREVER #13

X-MEN NOIR MARK OF CAIN #1

X-MEN SPIDER-MAN TP

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR THURSDAY 12/3/09

NEW COMICS ARRIVE ON THURSDAY THIS WEEK DUE TO LAST WEEK'S THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Two Big Events in December @ Third Eye!

Secondly, we've got two new exciting events we'd like to tell you guys about that we're going to be throwing in December:

Comics 80s Night @ Third Eye!

The first of which is our first official Comics '80s Night. Who doesn't love the '80s? Come by, grab a free '80s comic, score some good deals on trade paperbacks collecting stories from the '80s, and hang out, talk comics, and listen to the sweet '80s playlists that we're going to put together for the shop. Clickhereto view the flyer.

"Siege The New Year at Third Eye" Day Before New Years Eve Event!

Next up on the agenda, Wednesday 12/30/09 (the day before New Years Eve!), we'll be running an all day event from 11AM-9PM. We'll be hosting special sales on select items, and giving away some great freebies. Whats the swag you can get just for coming in on the 30th?
Origins of Siege One-Shot - A FREE prologue one-shot to Marvel's big Siege event! All new story from series writer Brian Michael Bendis - FREE
Marvel 2010 Calendar - Need a calendar to start the new year? We're going to be hooking you up with this very nice Marvel 2010 calendar. And trust us, this isn't just some throwaway cheapie, it's a legit, real deal quality calendar! -FREE
Exclusive Avengers ID Card - The coolest of all the items being offered, we're going to have a slew of these Avengers ID cards to find themselves proudly in your wallets. - FREE
These items are exclusive from Marvel, so make sure to come to the Siege the New Year party to grab them!

OTHER SIEGE THE NEW YEAR PLANS
Special sales on select items
The Release of Blackest Night #6!
Free Third Eye New Year Cake! :)

THIRD EYE THANK YOU RAFFLE WINNER ANNOUNCED!

All right, if you came and saw us last Wednesday, you should have gotten a raffle ticket. Now, as a Thank You to you guys, we're going to be picking the winning ticket tonight, and the winning ticket receives a $50 Gift Card to Third Eye. If your ticket is the winner, then you need to e-mail or call us, and let us know you have the winning ticket. All that's left after that is to bring it in on your next trip to redeem your $50 gift card.

The winning ticket is: 613059

If we do not hear from you by Monday of next week, we will be drawing another ticket, and announcing it in next week's newsletter.

SIEGE BEGINS THIS WEEK! THE MARVEL EVENT TO END ALL MARVEL EVENTS BEGINS HERE! IT ALL STARTS THIS WEEK IN "SIEGE: THE CABAL"-GET A CHANCE TO WIN AN EXCLUSIVE SIEGE:CABAL DAVID FINCH VARIANT WHEN YOU PICK UP SIEGE: THE CABAL THIS THURSDAY!



First off, before you read on, we're going to be doing a special promotion this week. When you purchase SIEGE: THE CABAL this week here at Third Eye, you'll be entered into a prize drawing for the 1 in 75 David Finch sketch cover of SIEGE THE CABAL!
The Marvel Event to End All Events Begins NOW! For the last seven years, Marvel has been building one amazing universe. It all began in AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED, and then culminated in the events of CIVIL WAR which led us directly into the DARK REIGN. Now, after seven years, Marvel is beginning the end of an era with SIEGE. Siege is the Marvel event to end all Marvel events. Basically, everything that's come to be over the last several years, from the events of CIVIL WAR and HOUSE OF M to the recent machinations of Norman Osborn in DARK REIGN, are all coming to a head. The real high point of all this is that Marvel will be closing out the first decade of the 21st century with SIEGE, which will in turn usher in a whole new era for the Marvel Universe.

The most obvious change that we've been told to expect from Siege is the reuniting of Thor, Captain America and Iron Man. The holy trinity of the Marvel U. The big 3 of the Avengers. After over a decade of not having an Avengers team that carried those three at the same time, it looks like we'll be seeing a triumphant return to that.

But, before we get there, it needs to be said that things are going to be pretty horrific for our heroes. We're going to see characters die, we're going to see characters change, and we're going to see big changes sweep the entire Marvel Universe.

Now, lets talk about why we're stoked about this here at Third Eye, and more specifically, what the scoop is on the official beginning of SIEGE in the SIEGE CABAL one-shot is all about.


The Creative Team - Marvel maestro, Brian Michael Bendis, has proven his track record many times before, and having him penning SIEGE means that all the plotlines and stories he's laid out over the last few years will be coming together big time. The addition of Oliver Coipel, who most recently delivered the incredible artwork seen on the JMS run of THOR, as the series artist looks to be the perfect match to an event of this level. And, the fact that the moody, dark art styles of Michael Lark will be kicking off things with Bendis in the SIEGE CABAL one-shot means we're in store for a very grim beginning for SIEGE.

The Characters - This is a book that's going to touch nearly every corner of the Marvel Universe, but the focus being placed on Marvel icons like Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America, as well as heavyweight villains like Dr. Doom, and Loki, mean that we're set for a very all-star cast of characters.

What It Means - Siege is going to be an incredible story, there's no doubt about that. But, it's the gravity of what it's about that has us hooked. This is the official end of an era for Marvel, and the beginning of a new era. Whether you've been following the events of the Marvel Universe hardcore for the last few years, or if you're a brand new reader, looking for a good entry point into modern day Marvel, Siege provides a great read for both.

Accessibile Storytelling and Blockbuster Changes - The other thing that I'm pretty excited about with SIEGE is the fact that it's going to provide an accessible launching point for the Marvel Universe to many. Basically, this is going to be a tight, solid event that we haven't seen the caliber of since CIVIL WAR. Things like Secret Invasion and World War Hulk are more of in-between pieces in the grand scheme of things, whereasa SIEGE carries a level of importance in the 616 Marvel Universe that we haven't seen since CIVIL WAR.

Surprises - Marvel has been pretty tight-lipped on some of the big twists and turns to be expected, but we've been told that there's going to be some very central characters dying, as well as some important characters returning. We're going to see things like the 50 State Initiative finally fall to pieces, and a return to solid stories being told in each character's individual books.

Norman Osborn Finally Gets What He Deserves - C'mon, you can't tell me you're not sick of this guy either? It's going to be pretty satisfying to see him go down big-time.

What is SIEGE: THE CABAL - SIEGE: THE CABAL is the one-shot that officially kicks everything off for SIEGE. This is the starting point. Ground Zero. And, this is the book you want to read as sort of the official prologue to Siege. Basically, we're going to see the dismantling of Osborn and his Cabal of villains that have been not-so-quietly running the Marvel Universe. Apparently, a big part of this unravelling, is due to Osborn and his desire to expand his dominion over the kingdom of Asgard. And, then there's the fact that Loki's been in Norman's ear since this whole thing began a while ago. We'll also see two new members who're replacing Namor, and Emma Frost, after their departure from the group.
But, here's the big draw... the first shots fired that are going to really lead us into SIEGE is the highly anticipated falling out, and throwdown between Osborn and Dr. Doom. And, we haven't even begun to talk about all the other tidbits dropped about where this one-shot is going to touch on other characters in the Marvel Universe.

Win a 1 in 75 SIEGE: THE CABAL David Finch Sketch Cover - To celebrate the launching of this monumental Marvel event, we're going to be running a special promotion this week. Beginning on Thursday with the release of SIEGE: THE CABAL, and ending Monday 12/7, everyone who purchases a copy of the regular SIEGE: THE CABAL book will be entered into a special drawing to win the rare 1 in 75 SKETCH cover by David Finch. This is a book that's already fetching $70 in pre-orders. You can win it totally free this week just by picking up SIEGE: THE CABAL!

To read a preview ofSIEGE: THE CABAL, clickhere

BLACKEST NIGHT DELIVERS TWO BIG NEW LIMITED SERIES THIS WEEK WITH BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #1 and BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN #1



Holy cow, is that cover awesome or what?? Okay, this week from the fine minds of the Blackest Night thinktank, we're getting two new three issue limited series tie-ins to flesh out some corners of the DCU that Blackest Night is now hitting. Both of these bad boys look incredible, but first, we're going to talk about BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #1.

Why we're stoked? First, the creative team. Geoff Johns, one of the best writers working in comics today, and the man responsible for the entire Blackest Night saga, as well as the writer of the core BLACKEST NIGHT mini-series and Scott Kolins, the artist of many classic Geoff Johns Flash tales, as well as the more recent FINAL CRISIS: ROGUES REVENGE, are the perfect freaking team for Flash. These guys wrote what is in my opinion one of the best Flash runs to hit comics with stories like ROGUES, IGNITION, and more. And, to see them delivering the Blackest Night twist on the Flash, is perfect.
Second, the story itself. It's Barry Allen and Wally West going head to head with all the dead Flash Rogues you know and love, who are now, of course, heart-eating Black Lanterns. Johns and Kolins have a track record of doing amazing stories with the Flash rogues, in fact, what they did by re-inventing the Rogues in their previous runs is incredible comics storytelling. And, to see them bringing their Flash magic to the world of Blackest Night is just too much. We are officially stoked. This one's gonna be incredible.
Third, it's Blackest Night! And, we've yet to see a bad Blackest Night book.




Blackest Night Wonder Woman is the other Blackest Night book hitting this week, and it looks just as promising as the Flash. Greg Rucka (writer of the current DETECTIVE COMICS/BATWOMAN, as well as the classic GOTHAM CENTRAL series) and Secret Six artist Nicola Scott (who is just plain AWESOME) will be delivering this three issue limited series that is supposed to be dishing out some HUGE changes to Wonder Woman as a character. And, you know what, we're pumped for this because she needs a new approach!
Why we're stoked? First, Wonder Woman needs a fresh start. Well, lets face it, it's been a while since Wonder Woman has been a central part of the DCU like she deserves to be. Ever since she snapped Maxwell Lord's neck, she's kind of existed in her own corner of the DCU. And, because of this, we really have kind of lost interest in the character. And, see, that's no good, because she IS a great character. There have been some mega-epic WW story arcs, from the Hiketia graphic novel to Jiminez's killer run to the classic Perez stuff. And, this Blackest Night limited series is supposed to deliver BIG-TIME changes and crisises to the character. The fact that it's happening under the Blackest Night banner (and it's no B.S when I say that I've enjoyed every single one of these tie-ins, except for maybe that Solomon Grundy final chapter) makes it even better.
It's Black Lantern Maxwell Lord! In the aftermath of Identity Crisis, and right before Infinite Crisis, Maxwell Lord revealed that he was one manipulative, power-hungry jerkface, and shot the Blue Beetle in the back of the head. And, Maxwell Lord got his just deserts when Wonder Woman, in a true case of Amazon justice, snapped his neck. The fact that Lord is now returned as a Black Lantern with a bone to pick with Wonder Woman is awesome.
Is Wonder Woman going to be the next to die? If SPOILER Kyle RaynerSPOILER could die, then we know that nobody is safe in the Blackest Night. There's also been some speculation about Wonder Woman dying and returning as a Black Lantern because of the hidden shot of her action figure in the upcoming Blackest Night waves. And, of course, the cover to issue #3 is classified... soooo.... we don't know.

Either way, both of these Blackest Night tie-ins look to continue the high quality level of storytelling that we've come to expect out of the Blackest Night event. And, we can't wait to see how they read this week!

HAUNT #3 - THE DREAM TEAM HIT OF THE YEAR CONTINUES AS ROBERT KIRKMAN (WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE) & TODD MCFARLANE (LEGENDARY CREATOR OF SPAWN) KICK THINGS UP A NOTCH!



One of the big breakout hits this year has been the new IMAGE series HAUNT by a literal comics dream-team led by Robert Kirkman (the writer of WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, and many other killer reads) & comics legend, Todd McFarlane (the creator of SPAWN). The book evokes that kind of visceral excitement, and just plain "woah.. awesome" that you got when you were a teenager reading comics. The violence is over-the-top, and the book doesn't shy away from gore, but there's a tightly written story underneath the breakneck action sequences that keeps the book interesting. The first issue was a set-up issue, no doubt, and while it was good, we still weren't totally sold. But, when the second issue arrived, and we tore through it, we knew we were hooked. You want a violent, fast-paced, fresh and exciting book? This is it right here. And, you know Kirkman, you know how he sets things up, gets you into a groove, and then completely turns everything upside down on you. Well, we can feel this coming in HAUNT. Damn, I'm loving this book.

For those of you who aren't up to speed on the story behind HAUNT, let me give you a quick recap... HAUNT is the story of catholic priest Daniel Kilgore and his brother Kurt Kilgore. Kurt was a black ops merc who gets killed after refusing to do the dirty work of the organization he was working for. Kurt returns as a ghost (due in part to the strange experiments that you see early in the book), and warns his brother of oncoming danger. Bad guys show up, try to kill him, and HAUNT is born... Basically, Kurt, has posessed the body of his brother, and dishing out cold hard revenge on all the bad guys. Ripping off dude's heads, fileting their brains, you know, usual vigilante-style stuff. And, of course, his brother, the priest, is not cool with this. This is the dynamic of Haunt. This is what makes it interesting. And of course, the over-the-top violence and breakneck action don't hurt.

Want to get caught up on HAUNT? We've still got issues #1 & #2 in stock, so you can hop on without having too much to catch up on. Trust us, from the outstanding artwork to the top notch storytelling, HAUNT is comic goodness at it's finest.

Click here for a preview of HAUNT #3

FALL OF THE HULKS BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY IN FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA ONE-SHOT!



Spinning out of HULK and INCREDIBLE HULK, the gamma-irradiated throwdown of the century begins here this week in FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA. We love a big smash in the face brawl here at Third Eye, and the larger than life fistacuffs happening in the Hulk world have been among some of our favorite guilty pleasures.
This week the storyline that begins to wrap up all the loose ends from stories like RED HULK and WORLD WAR HULK begins. The story gives us a thinktank composed of M.O.D.O.K (everyone loves MODOK!), The Leader, The Mad Thinker, Egghead, Red Ghost and the Super Apes, and Dr. Doom. This is a group who's analyzed every battle, every defeat, and every angle concerning the Hulk to come up with the perfect battle plan to rid the Marvel Universe of every Hulk you can think of. Whether it's the classic Bruce Banner Hulk, the Red Hulk, Skaar, She-Hulk, or A-Bomb, they've figured out how to get rid of them all.
This is going to be the biggest Hulk storyline since World War Hulk, and serves as a great jumping on point for a lot of you who haven't been following the Hulk lately.
Why we're stoked? Sometimes you just want your comics to be larger than life, and a little bit ridiculous. Sometimes you just want a fun, old school-style storyline full of killer art, crazy villains, and some of the most brutal superhero fights you can think of. And, with Fall of the Hulks, we know we're going to get all that and more. Say what you will about Jeph Loeb's Red Hulk, but the book is fun, and we still read it every month. And, if you've been sleeping on Greg Pak's Incredible Hulk run, you're missing out. The whole concept of Bruce Banner teaching his son, Skaar, how to actually BE a Hulk is pretty damn entertaining.

DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 - A MUST-READ DARK AVENGERS ONE-SHOT FROM SERIES WRITER BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS



One of the consistently best Marvel books of 2009 has been Dark Avengers. This flagship title continues to be a top-of-the-stack read that we can't get enough of here at Third Eye. If you're not reading the current story arc that's going on in Dark Avengers right now with Molecule Man, you are seriously missing out. The book is the best it's been since the first three issues, and we really can't recommend it enough.
But, enough about Dark Avengers, lets talk about this week's DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 one-shot that fleshes out the story of one of our personal favorites, Marvel Boy.
When Marvel Boy was originally introduced by Grant Morrison back in like 2000, if I remember right, it was one of the coolest limited series I had read. The book represented so well everything that modern superhero comics were becoming, and really stuck with me. When Bendis began to use the character more with things like the Illuminati miniseries, it got me stoked. And, then when he disappeared in the pages of Dark Avengers 6.. it left me wondering.
Well, this week in the DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL, we wonder no more, because they're exploring the ramifications of Marvel Boy and his abandoning of the Dark Avengers. It's like the mob... you can't leave unless you die. This issue explores just how Osborn plans to deal with Noh-Varr, and also showcases just how powerful the new Captain Marvel can be.
And, just from looking at the preview pages, this book hums with post-modern comic energy. It looks like it'll be a good read.

Click here to read a preview of DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1

SUPERGOD #2 - The Second Issue of Warren Ellis's International Arms Race to Build the Perfect Superman Continues!



Supergod #1 BLEW US AWAY! Many writers have done the evil Superhuman thing, and hey, they've done it well (we LOVE Irredeemable, The Boys, and more), but the twist that Ellis has put on the idea is incredible. Basically, the world is in a superhuman arms race to build the first Superman. The first Supergod. And, coincidentally enough, each culture's Superman, resembles their religious figures and ideals. The first issue featured India being scorched to the Earth, Pakistan nearly beginning World War III, and ended with a glimpse of America's SUPERGOD, who of course looks like an average run of the mill guy.

The artwork, and writing in this made it one of the best new Ellis books we've read, and while the pacing was slow, it was a set-up book, and we know that this issue is where things are going to really fly off the hook.

If you missed #1, don't worry, we still have some in stock, so you can catch up this week with issue 1 and issue 2.

Click here to read a preview of SUPERGOD #2

THOR #604 - BRAND NEW STORY ARC, BRAND NEW DIRECTION! A GREAT JUMPING ON POINT TO ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS MARVEL HAS BEEN PUTTING OUT! THOR VS. DR. DOOM BEGINS HERE!



J.Michael Straczynski's run on Thor was INCREDIBLE! The finale last week (Giant-Size Thor Finale) was one of the best issues I read last week, and even as a good stand-alone Thor story, it was a great read. And, now that everything has been tied up, and set up for the new run, we cannot wait to see where things go with this book. Marvel is starting things off right with this first issue of the new direction. It's a great jumping on point, and even if you haven't read Thor in years, or never read Thor, it provides a solid entry point for new readers. For those of you who like myself were a bit bummed to see JMS go, fear not, because the creative team picking up for him looks to be a good one.
Why we're stoked? The book is being written by a rising star newcomer by the name of Kieron Gillen. Kieron Gillen has recently put out underrated cult hits like Phonogram, and on the Marvel side of things, he's the guy who's been making the Dark Avengers Ares limited series that's happening so awesome. He's definitely a name to watch, and we think Thor is going to be his breakout book. The art is being supplied by the incredibly talented Billy Tan, who delivered pencils on modern classics like the X-Men Space epic: Uncanny X-Men Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire. He also recently had a very solid stint on New Avengers.
And, then, onto the actual premise of the new story arc that begins here. Other than the fact that it serves as a new direction, and a great jumping on point, it's also the big throwdown between Dr. Doom and Thor that's been brewing ever since Doom and Loki's machinations began.
So, yeah, it's Thor vs. Dr. Doom, what more could you want out of a bigger than life over-the-top superhero tale? We feel that the new creative team is going to do very well on this book, and I guess we'll find out on Wednesday how it is.

Click here for a preview of THOR #604

DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #898 - DEADPOOL GOES LUCHA LIBRE WITH THE ZAPATA BROTHERS!



It's Deadpool gone Lucha Libre this month in the next issue of Deadpool Team-Up! From the creative team that brought us the killer DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS limited series last year comes this next edition of DEADPOOL TEAM-UP featuring the Zapata Brothers. I mean, what more could you want? Deadpool. Luchadore Bounty Hunters. A Drug Cartel. And a dead man with a huge price on his head?

The first issue of Deadpool Team-Up RULED, and we know we're gonna get our quotient of Deadpool funny this week with the next issue.

Click here for a preview of DEADPOOL TEAM-UP 898

JSA ALL-STARS #1 DEBUTS BRAND NEW ONGOING JSA SERIES THIS WEEK!



The JSA has experienced a real revival in the last decade and a half. Beginning with Geoff Johns's long run, and re-invention of the characters (available in trade paperback here at Third Eye), and then continuing with the current run of FABLES writer Bill Willingham, JSA has managed to maintain a top tier spot as one of those DC books that you just have to read.
And, now, there's going to be a double-dose of the Justice Society every month, with the brand new JSA ALL-STARS series kicking off. A new team, a new base, and new villains. The preview pages look solid, and we've seen nothing but good from most JSA books so far, so we're excited to see how this one turns out.

Click here for a preview of JSA ALL-STARS #1

365 SAMURAI & A FEW BOWLS OF RICE GRAPHIC NOVEL - BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL MEETS BONE



Certified Third Eye freshness coming to us this week in this 400-page slab of AWESOMEONESS that is being described by some as Blade of the Immortal meets Jeff Smith's Bone. Gorgeouslly illustrated full page panels, with clean linework reminscent of Jeff Smith's work, tell the story of an Edo-era swordsmen and his quest for survival and enlightement.

To be honest, we don't know whole a lot about this book, but after looking at some preview pages, we thought it was worth spotlighting, and we personally can't wait to get our hands on a copy and read it this week. This thing looks fresh as hell!

Click hereto check out the preview!

STAFF PICKS
Torma - Blackes Night #5 - The best issue yet! HUGE reveals, and some amazing twists. This issue was amazing. If you're following Blackest Night, get your butt into Third Eye and grab it!

Steve - Superman Secret Origin #3 - It felt like I was watching the best Superman movie ever made. There's one page, and you'll know the one I'm talking about when you read it that just made me smile from ear to ear. AND IM NOT EVEN A BIG SUPERMAN FAN! This book is so good!

Trish - Beasts of Burden #3 - If you're into Stuff of Legend, or stuff like Fables, then you should really check this one out. The character and life given to this book is great. This issue was a fun solo story about the little orange tabbie named Orphan. Trust me, this book rocks, don't let the cuteness scare you!