THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 4/14/10

THE BLACKEST NIGHT HAS ENDED, AND NOW THE BRIGHTEST DAY BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY WITH BRIGHTEST DAY #0. THE MUST-READ DCU SERIES OF THE SUMMER STARTS HERE FROM BLACKEST NIGHT, AND ALL-AROUND AWESOME WRITER GUY... GEOFF JOHNS! GET A FREE GREEN RING WITH PURCHASE OF BRIGHTEST DAY #0! Looking for a good spot to try the DCU? Start here! THIRD EYE MUST BUY Here it is, folks, one of the biggest series to hit this Summer begins on Wednesday: BRIGHTEST DAY. In the aftermath of the larger than life epic, BLACKEST NIGHT, Geoff Johns and DC Comics are following up with BRIGHTEST DAY. Now of course, it goes without saying, if you read BLACKEST NIGHT, then you're already set and stoked for the BRIGHTEST DAY. That's a given. But, even for those of you who may have not followed BLACKEST NIGHT, we still recommend jumping on with this new series, as this is going to be Ground Zero for the new direction of the DCU. And, the fact that Geoff Johns is the man who's spear-heading this new direction has got us ten different kinds of stoked to see where things will be going. Why? 'Cause Johns is quite possibly one of the top five comic book writers working today, and his work especially with the DCU is some of the best stuff we've ever seen in regards to DC Comics. I guess before I lay anymore praise on Geoff Johns, Blackest Night, or what's to come with BRIGHTEST DAY, I should give you guys the run-down on the series, as well as where it's coming from. BRIGHTEST DAY IN A NUTSHELL?Brightest Day is a limited series that follows immediately after the events of BLACKEST NIGHT. It will be a bi-weekly limited series, and the book is being written by GEOFF JOHNS (the main man behind the core BLACKEST NIGHT series, as well as GREEN LANTERN, SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN, and FLASH). The majority of the art chores on Brightest Day will be handled by BLACKEST NIGHT series artist, IVAN REIS. So, right there, we've got a great start: Killer writer, killer artist. Okay, next. The actual story behind what BRIGHTEST DAY is about is pretty intense. Simply put, it's ground zero for the DCU. New stories begin for characters, old stories are wrapped up, and a whole new landscape will unfold for the DC Universe as a whole. If you've been on the fence about jumping into the DCU with all the buzz surrounding BLACKEST NIGHT, then now is your chance to come aboard, because BRIGHTEST DAY serves as a great place to come on. In addition, I don't think this even needs to be said, but for those of you who've been following BLACKEST NIGHT, this series is a must-read. The epic conclusion to BLACKEST NIGHT left us all wanting more, and also left us with many questions. Brightest Day is about giving us the answers to those questions. So, in a nutshell: BRIGHTEST DAY = The complete rebuilding of the DCU in the wake of BLACKEST NIGHT.This is DCU Rebirth. A More In-Depth Look At Brightest Day: Blackest Night, the eight-issue maxiseries that consumed the DC Universe throughout 2009 was probably the best comics event we've read here at Third Eye in a very long time. Fantastic writing, a natural progression of the story, and an ending that MADE SENSE! For those of you who're not familiar with BLACKEST NIGHT, click hereto read the Wikipedia entry on BLACKEST NIGHT. I'd love to explain it all here, but that'd be way too much to get into. All you need to know: Awesome story. Zombie Lanterns. Tons of dead DC characters. Awesome. Anyways, Brightest Day is the next logical progression for what Geoff Johns had played out through the course of BLACKEST NIGHT. It's basically DCU Rebirth, as DC President, Dan Didio has gone on record as saying. Brightest Day is essentially the next step in repositioning a lot of characters in the DC Universe and pushing them to the next level. A lot of the main characters in Blackest Night that we saw developed, will continue to be developed in BRIGHTEST DAY. The cast of BRIGHTEST DAY will be large, and from the sounds of it, it sounds like it'll be similar to 52 in how it develops characters throughout. The whole concept behind Brightest Day is that it's an extension of the end result of Blackest Night and where Blackest Night will take the DC Universe. And, in the aftermath of BLACKEST NIGHT, BRIGHTEST DAY serves as the anchor book to the whole Brightest Day storyline that will be touching the DCU. We're going to see a lot of exciting things happening here, and it really feels like this Wednesday is a bold, new day for the DC Universe, in terms of the direction of their stories and characters. Plus, there's so much from Blackest Night that still needs to be explored, and so many tidbits were dropped in #8.... we really cannot wait to read this one. And, in addition to all the coolness of Brightest Day, you even get a free Green Lantern ring when you pick it up this week at Third Eye! Supplies are limited! Click hereto read more about BRIGHTEST DAY #0 Click hereto view the official checklist for BRIGHTEST DAY. FLASH #1 DEBUTS THIS WEDNESDAY! GET A FREE FLASH RING WHEN YOU PICK UP THE FIRST ISSUE OF GEOFF JOHNS'S NEW ONGOING FLASH SERIES! THIRD EYE MUST BUY Geoff Johns must not sleep, seriously. The man is delivering book after awesome book to us on a monthly basis, and it's amazing he has ANY time to do anything but write comics. But, this, Third Eye Faithful, is a good thing. Why? 'Cause Geoff Johns is one of the best writers working today, and he's been making the DCU a fun, and interesting place again. Anyways, hot off the tails of FLASH: REBIRTH, the brand new ongoing Flash series begins this Wednesday. And, folks, I have to tell you, I'm so excited to see Johns do with the Flash what he did with Green Lantern many years ago. I don't know if some of you guys remember or not, but it was a very similar situation when Geoff Johns relaunched Green Lantern as an ongoing series. He'd just finished Rebirth which had done a solid job of "fixing" a lot of what had gone wrong with the character, but the Green Lantern was still a long way's from being the powerhouse fan-favorite that he is today. And, then Johns launched the GL ongoing series, and it's quick rise to prominence as a DC fan-favorite has been steadily growing ever since. We're thinking Johns will be seeing lightning strike twice with his new run on the Flash. Another reason why we're so pumped for this? Johns is no stranger to writing the Flash, and while his past runs on the character were nearly five or six years ago, before he'd become the superstar talent he is today, those runs still stand tall as some of the best Flash stories I've ever read. Johns gets that the Flash's Rogues and Supporting cast are just as important as the Flash character himself, and that's what really made Johns's Flash run stand out. The development of the Rogues especially grabbed me back then, and ever since, Captain Cold has been one of my favorite DCU villains. This new run on the Flash is another perfect opportunity for readers new to the character to hop aboard, and find out how awesome the world of the Flash can be. It's a fresh start after the events of FLASH: REBIRTH, where a lot of the mess that was the Flash's continuity was resolved. And, now, from what Johns has said, he has big plans for the Flash, and intends to be on this series for a very long time. He's going to be playing up the detective nature of the Fastest Man Alive, but at the same time keeping the breakneck frenetic feel that you'd expect from a Flash comic. Superhero CSI, seems to be a good way of putting it, ya know? Of course, what I'm most excited about is seeing the involvement of the Flash rogues, and some of the deadlier ones. There's a killer image of Abra Kadabra in the Flash Secret Files, and I'm so stoked to see more of those characters. Now, I know some of you may be saying "Well, this sounds awesome, but I've never read the Flash before... can I jump into this fresh?" YES. In the words of Geoff Johns, all you need to know when picking up Flash #1 is how to read. And you're good. How do you like that for a fresh start? :) Click hereto read an interview with Geoff Johns about his new Flash run! IRON MAN LEGACY #1 KICKS OFF A NEW IRON MAN ONGOING SERIES TO RUN ALONGSIDE THE ALREADY INCREDIBLE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN! Matt Fraction's INVINCIBLE IRON MAN has been one of the best Marvel books I've been following, so when I heard the news about a second Iron Man ongoing series being introduced, I'll admit, I was a little skeptical. I mean, how much Iron Man could I handle? But, I have to say, folks, I just got done reading the advance copy of IRON MAN LEGACY #1, and it's really good. It feels like it's the same caliber of quality as INVINCIBLE IRON MAN by Fraction, but, with a different style applied to it. From the start of the book to finish, it serves as an accessible self-contained read that introduces you to the world of Iron Man, his current place in the Marvel Universe post-Stark Disassembled, and then... ends with a VERY cool surprise twist. Big, bold, superhero awesomeness through and through. While it takes a few pages for the book to get rolling, once it hits it's stride, it's a damn good read. If you've been wanting to get into the Armored Avenger, and have been waiting for the proper jumping on point, then wait no more, 'cause IRON MAN LEGACY is the perfect place to hop aboard with IRON MAN. A good read, and a fresh start, and of course, if you're already reading INVINCIBLE IRON MAN by Fraction, then this is a nice addition to your already awesome fix of the ol' shellhead. Click herefor a preview of IRON MAN LEGACY #1 SIEGE TRIPLE THREAT THIS WEDNESDAY WITH SIEGE CAPTAIN AMERICA ONE-SHOT,SIEGE LOKI ONE-SHOT, and SIEGE YOUNG AVENGERS ONE-SHOT! THREE CRUCIAL ONE-SHOTS LEADING DIRECTLY INTO SIEGE #4 Three excellent SIEGE one-shots will be hitting this Wednesday, and all three are great reads. I just finished reading through the advances Marvel sent us, and they're looking very cool. First off, we've got SIEGE: LOKI, which is done by the creative team behind the sensational sleeper hit, PHONOGRAM, Gillen & McElvie, and the two of them work very well together on this one-shot. It's a very cool look into Loki's behind the scenes machinations, and gets to the core of the great trickster. A must-read for any Thor fan, and especially those of you following SIEGE. If you want to watch how Loki has built his armies, beyond his alliance with Osborn. It's a good read, and there's a surprising appearance by a BIG TIME mystical Marvel bad guy that we feel may have something to do with the Sentry. This one-shot leads directly into SIEGE #4. Next up is SIEGE: CAPTAIN AMERICAby ABSOLUTION writer Christos Gage, and this one also delivers very nicely. It's set immediately after the events of SIEGE #3, where Asgard crumbled to dust because of the Sentry, and it picks up very solidly from that point to tell a killer story of just how Steve Rogers Cap and Bucky Cap are handling this whole mess. This story was a really cool way of exploring the dynamic that exists between two men both operating as Captain America. It's very cool to read one of those stories where you're reminded why Steve Rogers embodies the character of Captain America so perfectly. I REALLY enjoyed this one. A nice solid one-shot story that gives you a good Cap story which fits nicely into the events of SIEGE. And, then, finally, we get to see what the YOUNG AVENGERS role in all this is with SIEGE: YOUNG AVENGERS. This one also takes place immediately after the events of SIEGE #3, but before SIEGE #4, and shows a very cool look at one of our favorite Marvel teams and what's going on with them in the wake of SIEGE. The Young Avengers are trapped in the midst of a giant tomb that once was Asgard, and that's when the Wrecking Crew gets involved. Who doesn't love the Wrecking Crew? A very cool dose of YOUNG AVENGERS for those of us who miss their series still! THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #1 by WARREN ELLIS (CAPTAIN SWING, Ignition City, SUPERGOD, Planetary, Transmetropolitan, ect ect) and AVATAR PRESS DELIVERS THE MOST VIOLENT, IN-YOUR-FACE BARBARIAN COMIC BOOK YOU'LL EVER READ THIS WEDNESDAY! BEFORE HISTORY WAS RECORDED IN INK AND STONE, SOME MEN WROTE IT IN BLOOD! It's pretty obvious that we can't get enough of comics writer, WARREN ELLIS, here at Third Eye. The man delivers some of the best-written books on the stands, and never, ever fails to disappoint. So, when you take the talents of WARREN ELLIS and then mix it with a good ol fashioned hack and slash Conan-esque Barbarian tale... you know you're in store for a real treat. The Wolfskin story is a six-issue limited series that promises to deliver all the glorious blood, guts, and high concept ideas you've come to expect from Ellis, but this time, in an all-new setting for the writer: the world of barbarian fantasy. Working alongside IGNITION CITY artist Gianluca Pagliarana, Ellis brings us the tale of a man who's wandered the earth young and terrifying. He's wandered from the boreal climes of his former home among the Northish tribes to the bustling seaports of the southern fjords, neither escaping his past nor embracing his future. But, the nomadic berserker warrior named Wolfskin is about to learn that his past and future are going to collide. He's slaughtered his own tribesmen in the throes of an uncontrollable bloodrage, and to redeem himself, he's accepted a position as a guide and hired swordsman on a rescue quest to the volcanic, High Northish ice plains. A beautiful blend of brutal, bone-crunching barbarian madness and big idea sci-fi awesomeness, make sure you check out WOLFSKIN this Wednesday! GARTH ENNIS'S (writer of PREACHER & THE BOYS) CROSSED TRADE PAPERBACK ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! THE ENTIRE SERIES COLLECTED HERE! FIND OUT WHY THIS IS THE MOST DISTURBING, SICKEST SURVIVAL HORROR STORY YOU'LL EVER READ! This one is a big one a lot of you guys have been waiting for, and we're happy to say it's FINALLY here. 9 issues of the most disturbing survival horror madness you'll read, you'll be cringing for days to come. Seriously though, I'm pretty de-sensitized to most things, but after that ending spread on the first issue of Crossed, even I was like WOAH. But, that's not all there is to CROSSED, Garth Ennis, proves again why he's such a talented writer, because he's able to balance the bizarre gross-out moments and depravity with a very suspenseful, well-paced story that's got a very well-developed cast of characters. And, when one of them gets it... you feel it just a little bit more, because he does such a damn good job of developing them over the course of the story. What is CROSSED all about? CROSSED is a survival horror story in the truest sense. The plot is simple enough, basically, a disease breaks out that turns the infected into pure evil, and the Cross-shaped rash on their faces is where the term CROSSED comes from. Now, make no mistake, these are not zombies. These are living, breathing human beings who've had their moral compasses completely shattered, and been reduced to their most primal, and most sadistic impulses. All those things that exist in the corners of their brain have taken over their entire thought process, and as such, they just want to kill, and destroy. The disease is spread through a variety of ways. The thing that makes the CROSSED so damn dangerous, (and what makes the series so entertaining) is that they still have their human brains in tact so they can plot, plan, fly planes, drive cars, use guns, create strategies. So, imagine a swarm of zombies that figured out if they caused a fire on the house where the survivors were holed up, the survivors would come running out to their deaths. This is the CROSSED. All in all, this was one of the best indies we saw last year, and it just proves that Avatar is becoming a major player in terms of putting out some fresh, innovative stuff. Snag a copy of the CROSSED trade paperback this Wednesday, and find out what the fuss is all about. We guarantee you'll fall in love with it, and be disgusted by it, all at the same time. MARVEL'S FIRST HEROIC AGE TITLE LAUNCHES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH THE BRAND NEW BLACK WIDOW ONGOING SERIES! CHECK OUT DANIEL ACUNA'S INCREDIBLE ART ON THIS ONE! Marvel kicks off their new HEROIC AGE direction this Wednesday, and the first book of the bunch to carry the HEROIC AGE banner is the new BLACK WIDOW ongoing series. I'm personally very excited about this book for a couple of reasons. The first being that everything I've heard and read about Marvel's HEROIC AGE direction sounds incredible. Basically, imagine the kind of high-action, bigger-than-life, quality storytelling you get in books like INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, THOR, SECRET WARRIORS, and most recently, the currently running SIEGE event. Now, apply that kind of formula to the rest of the Marvel Universe, giving things a very cool cohesiveness. I'm pretty stoked about it. After reading the advance copy, I've gotta say, I really like it. Acuna's art has never looked better, and really gives the espionage-heavy story a cool modern-day Steranko-esque kind of flair. Very cool stuff. Without dropping any spoilers, I'll say that this one looks pretty promising, and there's some pretty cool twists in the book that have got me hooked for the second issue. The book itself provides a nice fresh, jumping on point for the character. So, even if you've never read a Black Widow comic before i your life, you can pick up on this one and not be lost. I really like the strong spy feel to the book, and I think it's a niche that the Marvel U could stand to be filled now that Spiderwoman has ended. The story starts off pretty straight-forward as we're introduced to some of Widow's supporting cast, but then it throws us head first into the shady, spy underworld of the Marvel Universe. It's no secret that both Wolverine and Iron Man play a role, but trust us, the characterization of the Widow in this is what really makes the book shine. Click hereto check out a preview of BLACK WIDOW #1 AMERICAN VAMPIRE CO-WRITER SCOTT SNYDER BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO MARVEL NOIR WITH IRON MAN NOIR THIS WEDNESDAY! This is probably the first Marvel Noir book I've been really excited about since the original titles launched over a year ago. The fact that newcomer Scott Snyder is writing it, and gave us a cool insight to what he plans on doing with it, is probably a big part of that. But, I think the biggest reason why I'm pumped for IRON MAN NOIR is that it's a whole fresh new approach for the whole concept of the Marvel Noir storylines. The Marvel Noir stuff is basically alternate timelines set in the '30s and '40s that take a gritty, pulpy crime-noir approach to existing Marvel characters. Some of the stories have been very good, and others have been kinda crappy, but all in all, the concept is pretty neat. Iron Man Noir looks to be a killer addition to the line, because it approaches the whole Marvel Noir concept from a brand new perspective: gritty, pulp science fiction. A dark story set against the backdrop of a society that's dreaming of a World of Tomorrow. Giant robots, crazy machinery, evil Nazis, the whole nine yards... it's a classic pulp hero story in the truest sense. The story? It's 1938, and Tony Stark, daring adventurer, is traveling the world in search of it's mythological treasures. From the Fountain of Youth to the hanging Gardens of Babylon, Tony's seen them all. But, it's all a cover for him to find a cure for the disease that's killing him... could a suit of iron and gears be his only hope? Click herefor a preview of IRON MAN NOIR #1 THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: KILL SHAKESPEARE #1 - FABLES MEETS MURDER MYSTERY... THE CREATIONS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ARE TRYING TO KILL HIM! Here's one that piqued my interest while browsing the previews of new books on the horizon. This all-new IDW series kind of channels a FABLES meets Murder Mystery feel, and it reads very nicely. A 12 issue series where Shakespeare's creations are literally coming to life, and some of his boldest heroes are going to have to go head to head with some of hist most notorious villains, this one sounds too damn cool. The story centers around Hamlet, who out of a desire to resurrect his dead father, must go on a quest to kill a reclusive wizard named .. William Shakespeare! Much like the spirit of stories like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Fables, Kill Shakespeare puts a very cool new school, edgy feel to Shakespeare's work. Give this one a peek this Wednesday, I have a feeling it's gonna be a pretty cool series. A must for fans of FABLES, UNWRITTEN, and STUFF OF LEGEND, I think this one's going to be pretty rad. And I'm probably the most Shakespeare-illiterate person you'll ever meet. :) Click hereto check out the trailer for KILL SHAKESPEARE #1 X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 3: NEW MUTANTS #12 CONTINUES THE BEST DAMN X-MEN STORYLINE WE'VE SEEN IN AGES! X-MEN SECOND COMING, two chapters in, and it's already becoming one of my favorite X-Men storylines in a long time. In fact, this crossover is becoming one of my favorite books to look forward to every week. It's been so long since the X-Books have been good, and this crossover has got me so hooked. The storyline is based around the return of Hope and Cable to the present, for those of you who don't know, Hope is the first and last mutant baby that's been born since the events of House of M and M-Day. The story that unfolded in Messiah Complex brought Hope into the picture, and now, with her being seen as the messiah for the Mutant race, and half the universe out to kill her, the X-Men have to protect her. On the other side of things, all of the X-Mens old anti-mutant bad guys have formed The Human League, and their mission: Kill Hope. Bolliver Trask, Cameron Hodge, Bastion and William Stryker. All grouped together to track down and kill the mutant messiah. Right from the first chapter in X-MEN SECOND COMING one-shot, this series kicks things into high gear. The best part of the crossover so far? The importance and identity that's been given to each of the different X-Teams. First off, Cyclops puts together an ALPHA team composed of the likes of Nightcrawler, Colossus, Psylocke, Wolverine, X-23, Magik, and more. These are the characters we actually care about, and it's so awesome to see them put to the foreground of the story. Secondly, in the first chapter, the motivations for the ancillary teams, like the New Mutants and X-Force is defined right off the bat. And, hell, it's got us pumped now to see where the New Mutants stand during all of this. Want to jump onto X-MEN SECOND COMING? We still have plenty of Chapter One and Chapter Two in stock to get you caught up. Click herefor a preview of NEW MUTANTS #12 *X-MEN SECOND COMING PT 3* Click herefor the official Third Eye X-MEN SECOND COMING CHECKLIST STRAIGHT FROM THE PAGES OF FIRST WAVE, THE GREAT PULP HERO RETURNS...DOC SAVAGE #1 BEGINS NEW ONGOING DOC SAVAGE SERIES THIS WEDNESDAY! If there's one thing we love here at Third Eye, it's the old pulp heroes. I've got a stack of classic paperback pulp novels on my bookshelves at home where the adventures of characters like Doc Savage and the Shadow practically reached out and grabbed you from those dusty old pages. And, with the DC Pulp Revival going on, big thanks in part to Brian Azzarello's FIRST WAVE, it looks like the classic Man of Bronze is getting his own ongoing series. Yup, this Wednesday, Doc Savage returns, and the series kicks off with the Man of Bronze being the target of a brazen attack on New York City. And, hold up, more pulp awesomeness comes in these pages as well, as you get as pecial back-up story featuring JUSTICE, INC... Richard Benson, the Avenger! With Crime Novelist Jason Starr (most recently known for his Vertigo Crime graphic novel THE CHILL) handling the writing chores on this one, it looks like it'll be a gritty, pulpy and awesome revival of one of the most classic pulp heroes of our time. Click hereto read more about DOC SAVAGE #1 THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: AVATAR PRESS (publishers of CROSSED, IGNITION CITY, CAPTAIN SWING, SUPERGOD, ect) PRESENT GEORGE R.R. MARTIN'S FEVRE DREAM! The fine folks at Avatar Press have delivered killer series after killer series for the last few years, and it looks like they're really outdoing themselves this time, as they bring in New York Times best-selling author, GEORGE R.R MARTIN (writer of the A Song of Fire and Ice novels). This one looks to be a blood-drenched, sinister tale of vampire clans, death and debauchery, legendary bloodmasters, and even a handful of epic steamboat races on the muddy Mississippi. In FEVRE DREAM, Martin takes us into a story of power, loss, and the fever of bloodlust. It's 1857, and Abner Marsh is a remarkably ugly man, but the best steamboat man on the river. When the sickly Joshua approaches him with a business deal that could provide enough money to build the boat of his dreams, it seems to be too good to be true. But there's something mysterious about Joshua, and well, I think you guys know where this one is heading. A true, gruesome modern American gothic vampire tale from the same publisher that brought us the twisted tales of CROSSED, and SUPERGOD, as well as the high-concept fantasy of IGNITION CITY. IRREDEEMABLE SPECIAL #1 ONE-SHOT DELIVERS AN ALL-NEW STAND-ALONE ISSUE THAT TIES UP MAJOR PLOT POINTS, AND DROPS ALL NEW CLUES AS TO THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF MARK WAID'S INCREDIBLE "SUPERMAN GONE EVIL" EPIC! If you're not reading Irredeemable yet, then you need to have your head examined, 'cause this book is one of the best, most compelling looks at superheroes on the stands today. Between the events of IRREDEEMABLE and INCORRUPTIBLE, Mark Waid has been doing a fantastic job of developing a fully-realized, compelling superhero universe. The story behind IRREDEEMABLE? In a nutshell, it's Superman gone Evil. What happens when the world's most powerful hero gets fed up with the world itself, and decides to destroy every inch of it. But, it's the fact that Waid himself is such a huge Superman fan, that makes the book so good. He knows the things that make the character tick, and applies those to Plutonian (his Superman stand-in) with IRREDEEMABLE. This Wednesday, the first year of IRREDEEMABLE wraps up with this very cool stand-alone one-shot where we see a never-before-seen glimpse at the Plutonian's heroic beginnings, as well as insights into his former team-mates, like Paradigm. Many secrets will be revealed here, many clues as to the future of IRREDEEMABLE will be given, and this thing is gonna be awesome from start to finish. Got your curiosity piqued? Pick up the first IRREDEEMABLE trade paperback here at Third Eye for only $9.99, and find out WHY we love this series so damn much. Click herefor a preview of IRREDEEMABLE SPECIAL #1 GREEN ARROW #32 - THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GREEN ARROW CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY! The revival of GREEN ARROW as a major part of the DC Universe has been one of the best things we've seen happening this Spring, and with a new Green Arrow series launching later this summer during BRIGHTEST DAY, we are really digging where this story is going. It's been a long time since we've seen Ollie back up in the spotlight where he belongs, and the RISE AND FALL storyline has definitely taken the Emerald Archer back to his gritty roots. This Wednesday, the RISE AND FALL OF GREEN ARROW continues as the ramifications of CRY FOR JUSTICE'S conclusion continue to be explored. In GREEN ARROW #32 this week, it looks like we're going to see how the Justice League deals with the nature of the Green Arrow's handling of Prometheus. Want to get caught up on RISE AND FALL? We've got all the previous chapters of the series in stock now. Click herefor the official GREEN ARROW: RISE AND FALL Checklist DARK HORSE COMICS DEBUTS A BIG, AND BOLD TALE OF BATTLE-MECHS, FUTURE POLICE, AND MORE THIS WEDNESDAY IN HELLCYON #1 We know that there's a lot of you out there who're suckers for a good mech-story, and this week, Dark Horse is kicking off a new limited series that's filled with giant battle-mechs, high-tech motorcycle races, and all the crazy Mech-Warrior/WH40K-style awesomeness you know and love. To be honest, we're not too familiar with the creative team on this one, but still, GIANT ROBOTS fighting GIANT ROBOTS is total win in our book. "HATE" CREATOR PETER BAGGE'S OTHER LIVESVERTIGO - AN AWESOME SLICE OF LIFE CRIME NOIR FEATURING THE LIVES OF WORLD OF WARCRAFT & SECOND LIFE PLAYERS! Last week, I talked to you guys about how one of my all-time favorite comics was the '90s indie hit, HATE. And, now, this Wednesday, comes a new Vertigo Original Graphic Novel, from the artist and writer of HATE, PETER BAGGE. I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this a few months ago, and I was hooked. It kept me up until 1AM, reading from start to finish. Bagge's command of characters, emotions, and just his overall skill of storytelling is fantastic. The story, OTHER LIVES, is a dark comedy / crime noir that centers around the way people reinvent their identities, with and without the help of virtual reality and the Internet. So, basically, you see the way one of the characters re-invents himself and distances himself from his low self-esteem teenage years, the way two of the other characters escape their own mundane lives with things like SECOND LIFE, and then the giant mess that evolves from all of this as they all betray each other, and go behind each other's backs. And of course, there's a very cool subplot about illegal activities, hence the crime noir angle. I read this one over the winter, and it really is a good story. It's one of those ones that just creeps up on you, and pulls you in by how well the characters are written. The way they interact with each other, and the dialogue, in true Bagge fashion, just sucks you in, and then when you're deep into just the simple conversations of these characters, he throws a plot twist that turns you on your head. All in all, this is a big must-read, and I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys a humorous, well-told and well put together storyline. Plus, it's PETER BAGGE, and anytime he cranks out something new, it's a cause for celebration. Click here to read more about PETER BAGGE'S OTHER LIVES. WANT A GOOD COMIC FOR YOUR KIDS? CHECK OUT THE NEW MARVEL SUPER HEROES THIS WEEK WITH SUPER HEROES #1 One of the questions I get asked a lot is "Steve, what's a good comic for my kid to read? You know, something that's not too over-the-top crazy, or wrapped up in current events, but is also cool." Well, folks, I've been waiting for this one to come out, because it's the perfect book to get your kids get into comics. Marvel has relaunched their Marvel Adventures line, restarting them at #1, and giving them a new direction and new approach. This line is the perfect way for you to introduce your son or daughter, little brother or sister, nephew or niece to the Marvel Universe. It's self-contained, totally all ages content, and has action-packed stories featuring the Marvel characters kids want to see. Click hereto check out a preview of MARVEL SUPER HEROES #1 SAMUEL L. JACKSON WRITES COMICS!? CHECK OUT COLDSPACE #1, WRITTEN BY SAMUEL L. JACKSON, IN BIGGER THAN LIFE BOUNTY-HUNTING HARDBOILED SCI-FI NOIR! It's no secret that Samuel L. Jackson is a huge comic book fan. In fact, he's a devoted follower to the Church of Wednesday, and grabs his comics every Wednesday at his local shop, from what we've heard. And, normally, when a celebrity decides he's going to take a crack at writing comics, we're a little skeptical, because to be honest... nine times out of ten, they just attach their names to the book, and throw it out there. However, with the new BOOM! (publishers of IRREDEEMABLE) series COLDSPACE, it looks like that's not the case. Sam Jackson and Eric Calderon (the writer/producer on Afro Samurai) will be handling the writing chores on COLDSPACE. COLDSPACE is a very cool, hardboiled crime noir story set in the far reaches of deep space. A real sci-fi crime noir that features an on-the-run outlaw who crash-lands on a hostile planet that's about to burst into civil war. He finds himself in the crossfire between two warring factions, but in the chaos, he sees the opportunity to make money off of the war. From the previews we've seen, this one looks to be a pretty killer Sci-Fi tale, and we can't wait to give it a read this week. It doesn't hurt that we're all big Samuel L. Jackson fans here at Third Eye, and with BOOM!'s track record for innovative, fresh new series, this one looks like it could be a great read. Click herefor a preview of COLDSPACE #1 GREEN HORNET YEAR ONE #2 CONTINUES MATT WAGNER'S PULPY FLASHBACK COMPANION SERIES TO KEVIN SMITH'S GREEN HORNET RELAUNCH! The Dynamite relaunch of GREEN HORNET has been really delivering big-time. In fact, we're actually surprised how good both of the books launched from it have been so far. The one that really took us by surprise though was Matt Wagner (Grendel, Mage, ect) and Aaron Campbell's GREEN HORNET: YEAR ONE series. Wagner definitely GETS the character of GREEN HORNET, and in the first issue, he provides a very cool pulpy tale that has a modern day edge to it. The first issue of the series was a great read, and definitely channels the style of storytelling he dished out in books like SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATER. In the YEAR ONE series, Matt Wagner takes the reins of the first Green Hornet, Britt Reid, and sets the story during the 1930s, when the Green Hornet radio program first aired. The first issue had a fantastic old pulpy style to it, and the pacing was on point. It seems like this first story arc seems to be a straight-forward Origin of the Green Hornet, but the artwork on it really gives it an edge. I know the first issue was so good that I'm pumped to read this second issue quick on Wednesday. This week, in GREEN HORNET YEAR ONE #2, Wagner continues to explore the earliest adventures of the Green Hornet and Kato. If you're looking to hop aboard, we still have plenty of GREEN HORNET YEAR ONE #1 to get you caught up. THE LIGHT #1 FROM IMAGE COMICS DELIVERS A CREEPY, NEW SURVIVAL HORROR STORY! Here's another new one that looked pretty cool from the solicits. A brand new survival horror story from the folks at Image Comics, from the writer of OLYMPUS and the artist on Surrogates, comes this crepy sounding new 5-issue limited series. The story behind THE LIGHT is basically about a mysterious virus that infects anyone who looks into an electric light. The few survivors who're on the run include a father escaping town with his blindfolded daughter as the infected burn alive from the inside out. It's a vicious looking tale of survival that's in the vein of 28 DAYS LATER meets 30 DAYS OF NIGHT. Focusing on a terror that we can all relate to, and the broken protagonists doing their best to overcome the absolute despair of the situation, this one sounds like the perfect match for the survival horror genre. PUNISHERMAX #6 BEGINS A NEW STORY ARC IN SCALPED WRITER JASON AARON'S KILLER PUNISHER MAX RUN... ENTER: MAX BULLSEYE! A GREAT JUMPING ON POINT! PunisherMAX has been fantastic since Jason Aaron relaunched it. It's probably the best the series has been since Garth Ennis's incredible epic run. This Wednesday a brand new story arc begins, introducing the MAX equivalent of Bullseye, and it looks like it should be killer. If you've been on the fence about trying this one, then this week's issue #6 is a great opportunity to hop aboard. Aaron's PUNISHER run has been just as brutal, and unrelenting as Ennis's run. His take on the Kingpin in the confines of the MAX world was disturbing as hell, and definitely gave us a whole new perspective on the classic oversized bad guy. We cannot wait to see what he does with Bullseye. If you were a fan of Ennis's PUNISHERMAX, or enjoy stuff like THE BOYS, then you should really be reading the current run of PUNISHERMAX. Click hereto check out a preview of PUNISHERMAX #6 SAVAGE AXE OF ARES ONE-SHOT HARKENS BACK TO THE OLD DAYS OF THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN BLACK AND WHITE MAGAZINE-SIZE COMICS! In the spirit of the pulpy, black and white Savage Sword of Conan magazine-size comics of yesteryear, Marvel is doing a pretty killer looking one-shot this Wednesday spotlighting Ares. In this special anthology one-shot, we see Ares, the greatest warrior the world's ever known, who's lived for thousands of years, wandering the earth and waging war on his enemies. And, this one shows just how brutal the God of War has been throughout his days and time. It looks like each of the different stories spotlight the God of War and his role in different time-periods, and it looks pretty damn killer. Click hereto check out a preview of SAVAGE AXE OF ARES #1 STAFF PICKS Steve - BATMAN AND ROBIN #11 *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE PROLOGUE PT 2* = Batman and Robin continues to be one of the best comics coming out, and this issue was my favorite so far. The whole element of seediness that's applied to parts of the Wayne family tree make this very compelling, and all the clues and development that's going to be so crucial once RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE starts, has been great. Trish - THE BOYS #41 = The Boys kind of reminds me of WALKING DEAD, where there'll be slow parts, and then all of the sudden the series becomes my favorite thing to read again every month Torma - UNCANNY X-MEN #523 *X-MEN SECOND COMING PT 2* = BEST. X-MEN. STORY. EVER.. or at least in the last few years! Matt - INVINCIBLE RETURNS 1= Invincibles like my favorite book, and it's awesome to see a nice spot for people to jump onboard. Definitely cannot wait for the Viltrumite War.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 8/12/09!

BLACKEST NIGHT #2 CASTS IT'S DARK SHADOW THIS WEDNESDAY AS THE SUMMER'S BIGGEST STORYLINE CONTINUES! PLUS, BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #1 DEBUTS & MORE!

HOLY COW! Have we been digging the Blackest Night books. EVERYTHING has been a solid A+, so far. From the compelling origins of the different color Lantern Corps being laid out in the pages of TALES OF THE CORPS 1-3 (which we currently have all in stock, if you still need 'em!), to the GREEN LANTERN issues carrying the crossovers (Martian Manhunter tossing a building and bellowing "I am as strong as Superman, why does everyone keep forgetting that?" is a classic!). I'm serious, guys, this is some of the best stuff I'm reading currently, and it's so refreshing to see a universe-spanning event that truly looks to be delivering major changes to everything.

The first issue of Blackest Night was STELLAR. And, the ending, while I don't want to spoil it for anyone.. was a very twisted beginning to kick things off! And, now, this Wednesday, the dead will continue to rise in the pages of BLACKEST NIGHT #2! DC has been very tight lipped and close to the vest with previews for the issues of this series, so all I can go on is my gut instinct of what we can expect in this issue... however, judging from one of the covers featuring a gnarly undead Aquaman riding a giant seahorse, I think we're gonna see some blood in the water this Wednesday, along with who knows what else! Click here to read more aboutBLACKEST NIGHT #2!

BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #1 EXPLORES THE CAPED CRUSADER'S PLACE IN THE BLACKEST NIGHT AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS RISE FROM THE GRAVE!

Out of all the Blackest Night tie-ins, this is one of the ones I am most excited for. The speculation as to whether Bruce Wayne is really dead or not is huge, and with Dick Grayson's parents, the Flying Graysons, being rumored to return as Black Lanterns... we know this one is going to be a killer read! Judging from the preview, it looks like we also get to see a personal Third Eye favorite, Deadman, coming into place with the Blackest Night. As a character who is always hearing the dead speak to him, you know he's gotta be losing his mind in the wake of Blackest Night.

Seriously though, the artwork in the preview, and the synopsis we've read of what the story in this special limited series, have got us very excited to see where things will be going with this one! It's the perfect recipe for comic goodness: one part Batman (and we do love our Batman here at Third Eye), one part Blackest Night... 32 pages of pure undead Batman madness! Click here to check out the preview of BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #1!

BLACKEST NIGHT: GREEN LANTERN CORPS #39 - THE BLACK LANTERN RINGS TEAR THEIR WAY THROUGH OA AND ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE!

And to complete the trifecta of Blackest Night awesomeness this Wednesday, we've got a very special Blackest Night tie-in happening in the pages of the consistently awesome GREEN LANTERN CORPS! This week, in GREEN LANTERN CORPS #39, all hell breaks loose, literally, when the Black Lantern rings have descended upon Oa, and are rising every dead Corps member you can imagine from their resting places. This one is a must-read, as it's very interesting to see a good bulk of the Black Lantern Corps being torn from their graves and risen to unleash on the galaxy. And, hey, lets face it.... it's BLACKEST NIGHT, folks! We're loving everything, and the fact that it's the same duo of writers penning everything (GEOFF JOHNS and PETER TOMASI), we know we're getting solid tie-in books here, not just event filler. Plus, me personally, I cannot wait to see what dead GL Corps members are going to be brought back as Black Lanterns! Clickhere to read the preview of GREEN LANTERN CORPS #39!

MARK MILLAR (writer of OLD MAN LOGAN, KICK-ASS & more) DEBUTS ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #1 THIS WEDNESDAY! A MUST-READ, AND ONE OF OUR MOST ANTICIPATED MARVEL BOOKS OF THE SUMMER! THE PERFECT SPOT TO JUMP ON-BOARD!

So, I already gushed a little bit up above about how much I loved MARK MILLAR'S run on the ULTIMATES and ULTIMATES 2, but, man, look out, cause I am so stoked to see this book hitting, that it's ridiculous. First off, it's being penned by one of the most exciting comic book writers around today, MARK MILLAR, the creator of OLD MAN LOGAN, KICK-ASS, WANTED, 1985, and so many more modern classic stories. Secondly, it's him returning to what are in my opinion some of his best creations. Yes, the Avengers have been around for a very long time, but it's Millar who reminded us all why the Avengers are cool. I remember back when ULTIMATES #1 first came out, nearly 8 years ago. I had just begun working at the comic shop I grew up working at, and while I had enjoyed some Avengers runs (Busiek/Perez, the classic '80s stuff, ect), I was never the biggest fan. And, then came the Ultimates. Millar redefined how to tell bigger than life yet realistic super-team stories with the book, and in my opinion, his work on it has been one of the bigger influences on modern superhero storytelling today. I feel that we would not be getting films like IRON MAN, and the upcoming Thor, Cap, and Avengers flicks without the ideas he put forth in the Ultimates. Simply put, the Ultimates changed comics.

And, now Millar has returned to the book, launching a brand new series, that provides the perfect jumping on point for anyone who is either a fan of the original two ULTIMATE runs, or brand new to the ULTIMATE UNIVERSE. While we're on that subject, let me give those of you who missed the Ultimate concept a quick rundown on what the deal is.

Basically, Marvel's Ultimate line is a streamlined, more cutting edge version of it's universe. Character concepts are changed, the dynamics of the universe are different, and the whole thing provides a nice self-contained world of comics to enjoy.

The Ultimates themselves, are the Avengers, and their story is by far, my favorite. Instead of beginning as a straight-forward superhero team, the Avengers are treated as more of a military-funded Black Ops unit built off of the Super-Soldier serum. In this world, the Hulk is a rampaging murderer, Hawkeye is a cold-blooded former CIA assassin, Captain America is an old-school John Wayne-esque character who's not afraid to do what it takes to win a battle, and Tony Stark is the drunken playboy we all know and love.

What can you expect out of the new Ultimate Avengers series that's beginning this week? Well, we don't know a lot, other than the creative team looks AMAZING, and the plot of the first arc looks to be about Captain America going rogue from SHIELD after finding out about the Red Skull, who just happens to be his illegitimate son... grown up to be a crazed terrorist. And, Nick Fury has to put together a Black Ops unit of Avengers to go get him... all we can say is this book is going to be AWESOME! Whether you've never read an Ultimate book before in your life, or if you're an old fan, you do not want to miss out on this one, folks!

Click here to check out the preview of ULTIMATE AVENGERS #1!

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #1 DEBUTS THIS WEDNESDAY, AS MARVEL MASTERMIND, BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS & JAW-DROPPING NEW ARTIST DAVID LAFUENTE BRING THIS BOOK BACK TO IT'S FORMER GLORY!

Another modern classic for solid storytelling, and intriguing concepts was Brian Michael Bendis's ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN series. We will admit that once the series started to get towards it's end, it did lose some of the sharpness that made it such a great, consistent read. However, with the new relaunch of this (alongside Millar's ULTIMATE AVENGERS), we are very excited and confident that this book is going to be a heavyweight for good story and good art like it was once before.

What's Ultimate Spider-man? It's a concept very similar to Ultimate Avengers, but with Spidey. Basically, Ultimate Spidey exists in the same Ultimate universe as the Ultimate Avengers. And, it's much more streamlined. While there's been a lot of secrecy and mystery regarding this book and what direction it will take, the original series featured a young teenage Peter Parker who actually aged as we read the story. It updated everything for modern times, and it really gave a cool look into how other youger (teenage and college age) Marvel characters interacted in this strange world forced onto them. Peter Parker dating Kitty Pryde, his heart-touching relationship with MJ, and a much more sadistic, and monsterous Green Goblin all made this book into a great read.

And now, with the new series, it looks like Bendis is becoming refocused on telling the most exciting and interesting Spidey stories around. The artwork is friggin' fantastic, and it's Bendis, so you know the story will be a sharp read. Best of all, if you've never read Ultimate Spidey before, now is the perfect chance to jump on, as it all begins again right here. For those of you who already know the awesomeness of Ultimate Spidey, then you're already on board, I'm sure. Clickhere to check out a preview of ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #1!

ADVENTURE COMICS #1 FROM BLACKEST NIGHT WRITER GEOFF JOHNS KICKS OFF THE RETURN OF SUPERBOY, AND GIVES US ONE OF THE COOLEST LOOKING BOOKS WE HAVE SEEN!

I'll admit, when I first heard that Geoff Johns's (the mastermind behind just about EVERYTHING that rocks at DC Comics these days, from Blackest Night to Flash Rebirth and beyond) next project was the new ADVENTURE COMICS, I was a bit skeptical. We're talking about one of my favorite comic writers here, but, at the same time, I've never been a big Superman or Superboy fan. However, it was Johns who got me hooked on Superman again with his stellar run on Action Comics over the course of the last couple years. And, then, as the release date to this book got closer, I started to dig more on it... and now, I am just as excited as everyone else is about this one, folks. Geoff Johns gets it. He knows how to make Superman, Superboy, Lex Luthor, and everyone and everything in between cool. I mean, hell, he gave the Legion of Superheroes a much needed shot in the arm, and I had never been a huge Legion fan until I read his take on the characters.

Now, with the brand new ongoing ADVENTURE COMICS, Johns is going to take all of these things and dose them with his comic magic. I read the preview of this one, and holy crap, it's freaking GORGEOUS. Great artwork, and great storytelling have got me anxiously awaiting the real deal this Wednesday. I know I already said this, but Johns GETS IT. He knows how to play up these characters strengths so you realize why they've been around so long, and why they have the devoted following that they do. He just knows what buttons to push to make you realize how great and timeless a good superhero comic can be. Click here to check out a preview of ADVENTURE COMICS #1!

ED BRUBAKER (writer of INCOGNITO, CAP: REBORN & more) DEBUTS THE MARVELS PROJECT THIS WEEK! THE OFFICIAL ORIGINS OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE EXPLORED AND REVEALED!



See, what I mean, guys? There's so much good stuff out this week, it's amazing! It's funny that we're writing about this one right after talking about Adventure Comics. Marvels Project was another series that I was kind of skeptical on. Ed Brubaker, is right up there with Geoff Johns as one of my modern day favorite comic writers, and Steve Epting, is a vastly underrated artist who I feel is on the verge of breaking out as a superstar. However, I was a little unclear on what to expect from Marvels Project.

Then, I read the .pdf of the full preview that Marvel sent to retailers last month, and dude, I'm sold. This book is not only incredibly well-written, but it's beautifully illustrated to. It's another series I'm extremely excited to see. The concept, now that it's clear to me, is perfect. The official origin story of the Marvel Universe. That's right, the 616 in-continuity Marvel Universe. And, judging from the first issue, it is AWESOME.

It all begins with a bed-ridden, old school Marvel Western character Kid Colt, telling a little known Marvel character, the Angel about the first arrivals of the Superhumans. And, we learn, that the entire origin of the Superhuman characters of the Marvel Universe has it's roots in an arms race between Allied Forces and the Nazi forces during World War II. The creation (and then quick cover-up) of the android HUMAN TORCH is a good spark to things. There's one scene in particular that really stands out to me, where the Nazi forces are using giant fishing nets to troll the ocean for Atlanteans. After pulling a large net of dead and dying Atlanteans to use in their experiments for the super-soldier secret, there's this great spread of Namor rising up from the ocean atop a wave, using the waves to break the necks of Nazi soldiers, and kill an entire boat of troops, without remorse. Incredible!

The narration is spot on, the artwork is razor sharp, and the overall concept of the secrets and origins of the Marvel Universe being revealed make this one a must-read.

While we'll be doing an early release for the book tomorrow night (TUESDAY AUGUST 11th) at the Marvel 70th Anniversary Party, you can rest assured that we'll still have plenty of these bad boys waiting for those of you who can't make it in until Wednesday. This one's going to be incredible, folks, don't miss out! Clickhereto check out a preview of MARVELS PROJECT #1!

CROSSED & THE BOYS WRITER GARTH ENNIS DEBUTS NEW AVATAR SERIES "CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD: THE LAST BATTLE" THIS WEDNESDAY! A TRUE TALE OF APOCALYPTIC HORROR WITH THAT DEPRAVED, TRADEMARK ENNIS HUMOR!



You know, one thing is for sure... Garth Ennis is a big favorite here around the store. Many of you have become big fans of him, and we're so stoked to share his twisted tales with you guys. From his classic, landmark series PREACHER to his current output like THE BOYS and CROSSED. And, while we've only got three issues of his trademark depravity left with CROSSED, worry not, Third Eye Faithful, there is something on the way to fill the void!

CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD: THE LAST BATTLE is a brand new mini-series which brings us Ennis doing Armaggedon 101. I mean, you know you're in for a wild ride when your protagonist is the Anti-Christ. If you're curious about some of the back story on Wormwood, then we'd recommend snagging the original CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD trade paperback, but don't worry, this new series provides a perfect jumping on poin for new readers as well. Basically, Danny Wormwood, is the Anti-Christ. Instead of playing along, and helping bring about the end of the world, he decides, hey... lets just leave humanity to their own devices and see how things play out. Meanwhile, he goes onto be a successful TV exec, bring Joan of Arc back from the past for some fun, and more. Of course, his dad, THE DEVIL, is not happy with this. So, Danny averts the apocalypse, only to make things worse.. now Hell is being run by a corrupt Pope, and well, things are just going to be a ridiculous, morbid mess in true Garth Ennis fashion. We wish we had a preview to link you too, but Avatar never puts those up in time for the newsletter, dammit! :) We promise though, if you're digging CROSSED, you gotta give this one a peek.

DARK X-MEN CONTINUES THIS WEEK INUNCANNY X-MEN #514 UTOPIA PT 4!

The Dark X-Men has been one of the cooler things knocking around this summer. It definitely picked up things in the realm of Dark Reign quite a bit. And, the introduction of Osborn's Dark X-Men has added a whole new level of dynamic to the world of the current Marvel Universe. And, things continue to rage on this week in the pages of UNCANNY X-MEN #514 as the tensions continue to rise between the Dark Avengers and the Dark X-Men! Clickhereto check out a preview of UNCANNY X-MEN #514 *DARK X-MEN UTOPIA PT 4*

BATMAN REBORN CONTINUES! BATMAN #689 CONTINUES WINICK & BAGLEY'S KILLER RUN ON THE CORE BATMAN TITLE AND RED ROBIN #3 BRINGS US RED ROBIN & RAS AL GHUL TEAM-UP ACTION!

The Batman books have been the best they've been in years ever since the conclusion of BATTLE FOR THE COWL this year. Dick Grayson rocking the cowl is the perfect breath of fresh air into making all of these books a great read again, and all the other mixing up of the Batman universe that's taken place in Bruce Wayne's absence have had us hooked on every single issue!

First off, this week, we've got the next issue in Judd Winick and Mark Bagley's killer run on the core BATMAN title. This is the core of the line, and is the book that focuses on solely Batman, and how Dick Grayson is dealing with carrying the mantle of the Dark Knight. And, it's GOOD! The first issue in this current run began with BATMAN #687 (which does a very nice job of bridging the gap between Battle for the Cowl #3 and BATMAN & ROBIN #1), and continues on in Batman 688, which leads us to this week's BATMAN #689. It's not just enough that Grayson is coming to terms with being the Batman, but, also the fact that he's trying to round up all those zany Arkham escapees. And, while he's busy, it looks like we're going to see things heating up with TWO-FACE, and his plans for Gotham City. Clickhere to check out the preview of BATMAN #689!

Next up, is the surprisingly impressive RED ROBIN series that features the Tim Drake and his new identity as the Red Robin. Honestly, when I read the first issue, I was kind of iffy on the series. I dug it, but wasn't sure how into it I was. After reading issue #2, I'm almost completely sold on this one being a good, solid new ongoing series. The whole idea of Tim Drake evolving from being Robin into Red Robin is cool, because it mirrors the same evolution that Dick Grayson took from being Robin to being Nightwing. And, this book is the ground zero title to follow to watch this character evolve into a new standard for the DCU. One of the things I've always enjoyed about a lot of DC's characters is the sense of legacy.. passing the mantle.. and the way these characters age and evolve into adulthood. It really gives you a sense of gravity when you see a character you grew up reading as a kid grow up with you.

Now, what was it about issue #2 that won me over? The ending which basically said that Ras Al Ghul and Tim Drake will be working together in a quest to find the Caped Crusader. I'm very curious to see the two interact, and what Ras Al Ghul's motivations are in this. Click here to read a preview of RED ROBIN #3!

DEADPOOL #13 WAVE OF MUTILATION PART 1 BEGINS! GREAT JUMPING ON POINT FOR NEW READERS! AND HEY, DEADPOOL DECIDES TO BECOME A PIRATE!!




Okay, we love a lot of things here at Third Eye. We love Deadpool, and we love the amazing rock band, The Pixies. And, when you give us a brand new Deadpool story arc that's title references one of our favorite Pixies songs.. well, you got yourself one heck of a book already there. But, wait.. there's more awesomeness than that.. Deadpool has decided to become a pirate! And, if those 7 words don't get you curious, then we don't know what will.

It's everyone's favorite fourth-wall breaking, wise-cracking contract killer... deciding to go off and be a pirate. How can this not be good?

Anyways, we've said it once, and we'll say it again, the current Deadpool ongoing series is A+ stuff. Always a blast, always fun, and always packed full of solid humorous stories and sharp, gorgeous art. Now, you throw him being a pirate into the mix, and we're just in love with the book even more than we were before.

For those of you who've been wanting to hop aboard this Deadpool ongoing series, and haven't yet, issue #13 provides a great jumping on point, so give it a go!

Click here to check out the preview of DEADPOOL #13 WAVE OF MUTILATION PT 1!

HERCULES: KNIVES OF KUSH #1 ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! A BRAND NEW TITLE FROM ONE OF OUR FAVORITE NEW PUBLISHERS, RADICAL COMICS (City of Dust, Hotwire,ect)

Radical Publishing has really made a name for themselves as far as putting out high quality books go. They've really carved a niche for putting out high quality stories with top notch art. The one that really grabbed our attention initially was CITY OF DUST, which delivered some gorgeous painted interiors and a compelling sci-fi/noir tale. After that, we discovered the awesomeness of CALIBER, their King Arthur in the Old West riff, and then they got us hooked with HOTWIRE, a cyberpunk ghostbusters kinda story.

And now, they're all set to do it all over again with this week's HERCULES: KNIVES OF THE KUSH. The legendary Hercules, who roams the landscape with a band of hardened mercenaries has set his sights on Egypt, and is coming head to head with a death cult only known as the Kush.

The depiction of Radical's HERCULES is brutal, and unrelenting, and if you dig the first issue of this new series, we recommend going back and scoping the HERCULES: THE THRACIAN WARS trade paperback, as it was a great read.

Stellar art, killer story. Another awesome new Radical book to get excited about! Click here to read more about HERCULES: KNIVES OF KUSH #1

ESCAPE FROM WONDERLAND #1 BEGINS THE THIRD AND FINAL INSTALLMENT IN ZENESCOPE'S WONDERLAND TRILOGY!


The fine folks at Zenescope have been putting out some consistently gorgeously illustrated material with their Wonderland comics for the last few years, and now the final chapter in their epic three part trilogy is here. Escape From Wonderland is the final installment in the Wonderland saga, and you know you can expect all sorts of crazy, twisted going-ons courtesy of the folks at Zenescope. Clickhere to check out a preview!

STAR TREK: NERO #1 FILLS IN THE 25 YEAR GAP OF WHAT NERO WAS DOING WHILE HE WAS WAITING ON SPOCK ALL THAT TIME!



The Star Trek movie of this year has my vote for the "big" movie of the Summer. It was amazing, and it pulled me in hard. And, because of that, I'm stoked to see anything that fills in all those killer little story and plot elements that surround the story. And, with this Star Trek Nero book, they're going to explaining just where the Romulan madman was for the 25 years he'd been waiting for Spock. Click hereto check out a preview of STAR TREK: NERO #1

TRADE PAPERBACK CRAZINESS! INVINCIBLE VOLUME 11, FABLES VOLUME 12, GARTH ENNIS'S PUNISHER WAR ZONE & MORE WALKING DEAD VOLUME 10s & IRREDEEMABLE volume 1s ALL IN STOCK WEDNESDAY

It's a great week for trade paperbacks, folks! First off, we've got more copies of WALKING DEAD VOLUME 10, and IRREDEEMABLE VOLUME 1 arriving on Wednesday, because we know that those of you who haven't already snagged those, are totally fiending to.
Next up, we've got the newest in the INVINCIBLE trade paperbacks with volume 11, and trust us, folks, YOU WANT TO CATCH UP ON THIS SERIES! It has been one of the best books coming out during the last 6 months. Fantastic stuff! We've also got Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's hilarious sequel to Welcome Back Frank, with Punisher War Zone hitting soft-cover, and then finally, FABLES volume 12 THE DARK AGE delivers you your next slab of FABLES awesomeness!

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #132 BEGINS "THE REPLACEMENT THOR" STORY ARC, WHERE HERC DONS THE GOD OF THUNDER'S DUDS, AND TAKES UP TO CALLING HIMSELF THE NEW GOD OF THUNDER. YES, YOU GOTTA SEE THIS! IT LOOKS RIDICULOUS.. AND AWESOME... AND RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME!



We've been flying the flag for INCREDIBLE HERCULES as one of the most underrated Marvel books out for a long time now. Fred Van Lente and Greg Pak deliver compelling yet hilarious story after story, using the Olympian party animal, Hercules, to explore the mythology of the Marvel Universe. But, now, we gotta say, this book is about to get really cool... I mean, the cover alone is enough to hook us. What happens when the Dark Elves in the land of Svartalfheim begin to get unruly, and the Odinson is nowhere to be found? Well, it's up to Hercules to become the substitute God of Thunder and lay the smack down.

Yes, this is a story where Hercules is running around dressed as Thor. And yes, it's going to rule.

Click here to check out the preview!

Are you reading Wednesday Comics?

We know we've been singing the praises of DC's current 12-issue weekly experiment, but we really can't say enough good about Wednesday Comics. It's just a fun read, delivered week in, and week out. Why does Third Eye love Wednesday Comics?
It's got one of the best rosters of creators we've ever seen... NEIL GAIMAN and MIKE ALLRED doing Metamorpho, PAUL POPE doing Strange Adventures, AMANDA CONNER doing Supergirl, The Kuberts, father and son, doing SGT ROCK, and much more. You really do get a great variety of styles and stories.

The format is so much fun. We love seeing the art on the big wide pages, and following each story from week to week.

It makes us feel sophisticated to sit down by the fireplace and read some kind of newspaper.

Seriously though, if you're not reading Wednesday Comics, folks, you're missing out. The stories are getting better and better, and we really hope that if and when this gets collected, they give it the oversized hardcover treatment, as the art would truly lose something in standard format.

Props to DC! We love our Wednesday Comics!