THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 4/28/10

THE HEROIC AGE is HERE! INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #25 *PERFECT JUMPING ON POINT* NEW STORYLINE RESILIENT BEGINS HERE! FIND OUT WHY THIS SERIES HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR FAVORITE MONTHLY SUPERHERO BOOKS FOR NEARLY A YEAR STRAIGHT! Meet The New Iron Man Armor! PLUS, WIN A FREE THEATRICAL POSTER FOR IRON MAN 2 THIS WEDNESDAY AT THIRD EYE! If you haven't been reading Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca's incredible run on Iron Man with the ongoing INVINCIBLE IRON MAN series, then now you have the perfect opportunity to find out why this is the BEST Marvel book we're reading month in, and month out. No hyperbole here, folks, Fraction and Larroca have managed to make Invincible Iron Man feel like a must-read title each and every month for two years straight. No fill-in creative teams, no big delays between issues, just issue after issue of great storytelling, great artwork, and bigger than life Marvel madness. I never thought that Iron Man would be the Marvel book I looked forward to the most on a monthly basis. Why? 'Cause I grew up reading comics in the era where Iron Man was kinda not so cool... you know, the whole kid Iron Man brought back to the future to stop evil Tony Stark era... yeah, the '90s, it was a mess. And, while I did dig the Kurt Busiek run that came out in the late '90s, the character never really clicked with me until I got into INVINCIBLE IRON MAN. I'll have to admit though, it was a perfect synergy, because the first issue of this current run came out right around the same time that the IRON MAN movie came out two years ago. That first IRON MAN movie was so good, and captured the essence of what made the Armored Avenger cool so well that my mind was kind of opened to how cool the character could be. And, then, in step Mr. Fraction and Mr. Larocca with the debut of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, and I was hooked. See, Fraction and Larocca's INVINCIBLE IRON MAN captures that perfect blend of bigger-than-life action, hard-hitting drama, and overall swashbuckling appeal that the IRON MAN movie had. The way that Stark is characterized is perfect, and the way that they are able to deal with technological situations, while keeping a very human feel to the characters involved is truly unique. See, for me, one of the pitfalls of Iron Man stories was they would get too bogged down in the technical details, and neglect the characters, but Fraction is able to balance the future-tech awesomeness of Iron Man with strong character-driven stories that make for some fantastic reading. And, the artwork has been consistently great since issue #1. Larocca has managed to keep a consistent, timely pattern of work, and really brings the world of Iron Man to life very well in the series. Seriously, folks, I love this book, and if you're not reading it yet. You need to give it a shot this Wednesday. The Perfect Jumping On Point - This Wednesday's issue #25 is the perfect spot to jump onto INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, and find out why this is one of the best monthly Marvel books on the stands. If you've ever been curious about following an Iron Man title, or heck, if you're just a fan of good comics, then now is your chance to jump in without coming into the middle of a previously running story. Issue #25 start fresh with an awakened Tony Stark who's empire is in financial ruin, and his memory is missing certain blocks and pieces of actions he's done. In other words... that whole Civil War escapade? He's still trying to figure all of that out. Now, he's trying to rebuild both his own company, as well as his legacy as the Armored Avenger. And, at the other side of the table? Hammer Industries, and their answer to terrorist threats: Detroit Steel. A new corporation intent on building robotic bodyguards piloted by former military men to be sold off to private corporations to protect their financial interests. Now, I've just finished reading the advance copy that we got of this, and I've gotta say... it's probably one of the best issues of the run so far. And, I thought that the whole Stark Disassembled thing would be hard to top, but I was wrong. This is a great start, and a great entry point to the series, but beyond all that.. it's just a damn good comic. There's a fantastic two or three interplay between Thor and Stark that's probably one of the strongest character-driven moments in a comic that I've seen in a long time, and I was extremely impressed with how that played out. I mean, such a powerful story moment, and it's just conversation, just two characters talking. As for how this issue serves as a jumping on point, it's a fantastic area to come in fresh, and it reads well without any back-story on what's been going on in the Iron Man title. There's a couple of references here and there, but all in all, #25 serves as a great spot to come aboard. The New Armor Revealed - The other big milestone about this issue is that it shows the debut of the latest, and greatest in the evolution of the Iron Man armor. When I first saw shots of the new armor a few months ago, I wasn't totally sold on it, but seeing it in action, and watching how it's incorporated into the character... it's freakin' awesome. There's a very cool retro, almost '80s-kinda feel to the new armor, but with a 21st century spin. It has a timeless feel to it, but also still comes off as cutting edge. And, with this being the armor that Marvel is deciding on going with for Iron Man from here on out, this makes issue #25 of Invincible Iron Man one of those milestone armor-changing issues. Much like the appearance of previous incarnations of the armor that stuck around in the past. The Heroic Age is Here; What is the Heroic Age? - Ever since the start of SIEGE, Marvel has been throwing around references to an upcoming HEROIC AGE for their titles. And, in my opinion, nothing showcases the feel and direction of the HEROIC AGE better than INVINCIBLE IRON MAN. What is the Heroic Age? Basically, SIEGE is closing the book on the last decade of stories running through the Marvel Universe. The Heroic Age is the start of a new book, a new journey, and a new direction for the Marvel Universe as a whole. The Heroic Age represents a bold, new era for the Marvel Universe's greatest superheroes as they emerge from the darkness of things like CIVIL WAR and DARK REIGN with a renewed sense of hope and optimism. The last ten years have been a very long, and trying time for the Marvel Universe, and with the HEROIC AGE, it looks like we'll be seeing a focus on the bigger-than-life, swashbuckling kind of stories that we've all come to love and enjoy in books like Fraction's IRON MAN, Brubaker's CAPTAIN AMERICA, Hickman's SECRET WARRIORS, and most recently, Bendis's SIEGE event. In other words, we're going to see a renewed take on supervillains being supervillains, and the heroes being the heroes, while still maintaining the cutting edge 21st century storytelling that we've grown used to over the last decade. INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #25 could not be a more perfect title to usher in the HEROIC AGE. And, for those of you who may have missed it a couple weeks ago, check out the first issue of the new ongoing Black Widow series, as that also carries the HEROIC AGE banner, and was a fantastic read. And, if you end up digging INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #25 - We know once you guys get a taste of the awesomeness that is Fraction and Larocca's Iron Man run, you're gonna wanna go back and read some of the earlier stuff. We currently have nearly all of the back issues of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN in stock, and are well-stocked on the entire STARK DISASSEMBLED story arc that began in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN 20 and ran through to INVINCIBLE IRON MAN 24. If you'd rather catch up with the trade paperbacks, we've also got the first three volumes of Fraction's INVINCIBLE IRON MAN run available in trade paperback and hardcover. Speaking of hardcovers, have you seen this killer INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC? For those of you looking to catch up in one fell swoop, take a peek at this killer oversized hardcover collection of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN 1-19, and it's only $39.99. This beautiful slab of Iron Man awesomeness collects the first big chunk of the Fraction run, and for only $40, it's a hell of a deal. WIN A FREE THEATRICAL POSTER OF IRON MAN 2 WHEN YOU PURCHASE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #25 THIS WEDNESDAY So, Marvel has hooked us up with a few of KILLER IRON MAN 2 posters, and while we only need one of these bad boys here in the store, we figured we'd do something cool with the others... we're gonna give it away! We'll be randomly inserting a winning slip into a three random copies of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #25 this Wednesday. When you get your copy home, and crack it open to read it, you'll find out if you won the poster or not. Of course, we're counting on whoever the winner is to make sure they give us a ring or an email to let us know they won it! We'll be running this as a one-day promotion only on Wednesday, so make sure you snag your copy this week! Click here for a preview of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #25 *RESILIENT CHAPTER ONE* BRIGHTEST DAY SHINES IT'S LIGHT ONGREEN LANTERN CORPS #47 THIS WEDNESDAY! We're only a couple of books in, but so far, from what I've read in BRIGHTEST DAY #0, the first issue of The Flash, and most importantly, last week's GREEN LANTERN #53... BRIGHTEST DAY is KICKING ASS! Last week's GREEN LANTERN was probably one of the best issues of the series I've read, and dude, the cliffhanger at the end... DAMN! For all of you who may have thought things were going to tone down with BLACKEST NIGHT at it's end, don't jump off yet, 'cause last week's Green Lantern was one of the best issues in the run so far. And, this is why I really cannot wait for Green Lantern Corps #47 this week. We saw during the events of BLACKEST NIGHT how the Corps was affected. And, honestly, I really think that out of all the books that tied in with BLACKEST NIGHT, Green Lantern Corps really got a chance to shine. The book went from being to one I looked forward to on occasion to one of my favorite DC monthlies, and a lot of that is due to the dynamic that Tomasi was able to write into the book against the backdrop of BLACKEST NIGHT. Now, while I don't want to drop any spoilers, I will say that after the last page of last week's GREEN LANTERN, I'm really pumped to see how a certain Corps member is going to be acting in this issue. I'm also excited about seeing how the Corps picks up the pieces after the cataclysmic tragedies of BLACKEST NIGHT. The whos, and the hows of the survivors of BLACKEST NIGHT, and what the road ahead of the Corps looks like. I have a feeling that out of many of the books that BRIGHTEST DAY is going to be affecting, Green Lantern Corps will be one of the most interesting, and dynamic in the changes that are to come. Just by judging from what we've seen so far, and the new attitudes of certain characters... it's gonna be one hell of an interesting summer for the GL books. Click here to read more about GREEN LANTERN CORPS #47 *BRIGHTEST DAY* Click here for the official THIRD EYE BRIGHTEST DAY CHECKLIST ROBERT KIRKMAN'S (writer of WALKING DEAD & HAUNT) KICKS OFF NEW STORY ARC FOR INVINCIBLE WITH INVINCIBLE #71! A GREAT JUMPING ON ARC FOR ONE OF THE BEST SUPERHERO BOOKS ON THE STANDS! With all this talk of WALKING DEAD getting the TV series in the Fall, and all the hype that HAUNT's been building, we feel that it's about time that Kirkman's incredible ongoing superhero saga INVINCIBLE gets some spotlight. This book is one of the most consistently well-written, well-illustrated reads on the stands. It's hard to put into words all the things that we like about INVINCIBLE here at Third Eye, but, all we can say is it's just... good.. You know how you watch a movie, and you can't figure out why you're so into it, you just are? Well, that's INVINCIBLE. The way that Kirkman tackles traditional superhero concepts is so fresh, and so believable that it just keeps us coming back for more, and more. The characters that he's built up over the course of the last 70-some odd issues have really taken on lives of their own. And, the twists and turns he's dished out over the course of these 70 issues, well, lets just say they rival WALKING DEAD in how bad they punch ya in the gut. This Wednesday, the biggest storyline to hit INVINCIBLE yet begins with INVINCIBLE #71. The Viltrumite War, which is a storyline that Kirkman has been building up to for quite some time kicks off, and we couldn't be more stoked. Now, aside from the fact that we're pumped about The Viltrumite War, we're also pretty stoked to say that INVINCIBLE #71 provides a great opportunity for new readers to jump aboard. And, while INVINCIBLE is so damn good you're gonna wanna go back and read all the trades that came previously, you can jump in with this week's issue #71 and last month's INVINCIBLE RETURNS #1 (still in stock here at Third Eye) to find out what all the fuss is about this incredible superhero book. Give it a shot this week, INVINCIBLE carries the Third Eye seal of approval, big-time. ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #1 DEBUTS THIS WEDNESDAY FROM MARK MILLAR (writer of NEMESIS, KICK-ASS, OLD MAN LOGAN) and LENIL FRANCIS YU (SECRET INVASION ARTIST) The first run of Millar's ULTIMATE AVENGERS this year with Pacheco on art was a solid read, and helped re-establish the world of the ULTIMATE AVENGERS, in a more proper way, after some missteps during ULTIMATES 3. However, while we thought Millar was on point, we could tell that the first round of ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS was definitely the set-up for something bigger, and after last week's conclusion, and a chance to sit down and read the advance of ULTIMATE AVENGERS 2 #1... we think we were right. Hot damn, this one was a killer read. The first issue of this limited series reads like a demon, it's very good, very fast-paced, and has that frenetic energy and style that you'd expect from a Millar-written book. The artwork really shines, with Yu delivering some of his best stuff in a while, in my opinion. And, of course, as to be expected from the ULTIMATE universe, there's plenty of fresh, and interesting new takes on the Marvel Universe. So, what's the actual story on the plot behind the new ULTIMATE AVENGERS storyline? Well, as we saw in the events of books like the first ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS, and NEW ULTIMATES, a schism has formed between Nick Fury and Captain America. Fury understands that there are jobs that need to be done at any cost, and Captain America, even though he may be as hard as nails in the Ultimate Universe, still cannot condone the shady nature of certain wetworks operations. And, this is where the split has come between Fury and Cap, and this is why we have NEW ULTIMATES and ULTIMATE AVENGERS. The NEW ULTIMATES kind of act as the bigger-than-life superhero replacements for the original Ultimates team, and feature a mix of the classic Ultimate Avengers with newer characters, whereas the ULTIMATE AVENGERS have shifted into more of Fury's personal hush-hush covert ops team that's willing to cut throats, snap necks, and complete the mission at any cost. In the first issue of this series, we're introduced to the Ultimate version of the Punisher, who has evolved into one of the most ruthless murderers on the streets. The opening sequences give us a good look at this. From there, things take an interesting direction (and mind you, I'm trying to avoid dropping spoilers here) for both the future of The Punisher, and Fury's team of Ultimates. Bloody, brutal, and cutting-edge, I really dug the debut issue of ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #1, and I'm really looking forward to seeing where this one takes us. Leinil Yu's art is incredible, and it really has us on the hook for more. While we feel that it's a pretty good jumping on point, we do still have the original run of ULTIMATE AVENGERS #1-6 well-stocked here at Third Eye for you to get caught up with. Click here for a preview of ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #1 JIMMY PALMIOTTI and JUSTIN GRAY (JONAH HEX, BACK TO BROOKLYN) DELIVER THE ULTIMATE HORROR STORY ONE-SHOT THIS WEEK WITH RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE! PURE '80s SLASHER-INSPIRED (FREDDY, JASON, YA KNOW THE DRILL) FUN! "THE HANGOVER" meets "SILENCE OF THE LAMBS" Here's a cool one-shot that we're pretty stoked to read this week. The writing team of JIMMY PALMIOTTI and JUSTIN GRAY is one of the most underrated duos working in comics today, and they prove month after month how damn good they are with their work on the sleeper DC hit, JONAH HEX. See, Gray and Palmiotti have a real knack for cool done-in-one storytelling, and this is why we were pretty pumped to hear about them doing this splatterpunk one-shot. RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE is a true tribute to the old days of horror comics when they were grimy, violent, and subversive things. It features a "slasher" inspired by the likes of Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers. The story focuses on a horror character created by a duo of comics writers who inspires a real-life serial killer in the style of their creation. The way that co-writer Gray describes it as "THE HANGOVER" meets "SILENCE OF THE LAMBS." A weird fusion of different genres that takes on one of society's biggest fears: that video games, comics, music and movies will create some sort of Frankenstein's monster. I'm looking over the preview pages, and it looks pretty badass so far. A bit of sharp humor, mixed with a true, old school splatterpunk horror comic, and it's definitely violent as hell. It's a clever story wrapped up in the genre cliches of '80s slasher flicks, and we highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good horror comic, or is a fan of all those old school slasher movies. Click here to read an interview with Palmiotti and Gray about RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE IT'S SIEGE MADNESS THIS WEDNESDAY AS THIRD EYE AS WE NEAR THE CONCLUSION OF MARVEL'S BIGGEST EVENT IN YEARS! THE STORY CONTINUES THIS WEEK IN THOR #609, THUNDERBOLTS #143, NEW AVENGERS #64, MIGHTY AVENGERS #36, and MORE! It's a big week for SIEGE as several key tie ins to Marvel's biggest storyline in quite some time lead up to the final issue of SIEGE (due out very soon). After the crazy events of SIEGE #3 where we saw Asgard reduced to rubble, and the true nature of The Sentry was revealed, we've all been dying to see where things are going next. And, this week, Marvel dishes out some crucial tie-ins that help fill the gap in between SIEGE #3 and SIEGE #4. And, folks, I gotta tell ya, I've been really impressed with the level of quality that the SIEGE tie-ins have carried. Each one of these has really felt important to the grand scheme of the storyline, and felt like they've had a purpose. It's often seen in big events like this where the tie-ins don't really live up to the quality of the marquee book, but, with SIEGE, I've been pretty happy with most of the tie-ins. First off, this week, we've got NEW AVENGERS #64which concludes the SIEGE arc running through NEW AVENGERS. I read the advance of this, and it's probably my favorite issue of the SIEGE tie-ins for NEW AVENGERS so far. The story is taking place right around the same time as the Asgard-crumbling events, and it really shows an very crucial angle on some key Marvel characters that doesn't get shown in the pages of SIEGE #3. I don't want to drop any spoilers, but this one is a great read, and long-time NEW AVENGERS fans will especially get a kick out of where the story is heading. One of my favorite tie-ins to SIEGE has been THOR. The first SIEGE tie-in that took place in THOR #607 was a HUGE issue in regards to the Marvel U, and kind of following up on the past events of CIVIL WAR, and their ramifications. The fact that the creative team of Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan have been dishing out some of the best damn Thor stuff we've seen since, well, since JMS left.. which I guess means there hasn't been a big gap in quality Thor runs, but still, they've been doing a fantastic job. And now this week in THOR #609, things are really getting crazy as we witness the forces of HAMMER raiding the Asgardians amidst the destruction of Asgard. Loki and Balder finally going head to head, and in the midst of this Thor is on a one way mission against an opponent that could rock him and Asgard to their very core: Ragnarok, AKA, the Thor clone that debuted way back in CIVIL WAR. And, rounding out the series of one-shots that've been hitting us throughout April fleshing out the details of SIEGE, we've got the SIEGE: SECRET WARRIORS one-shot from Jonathan Hickman. Now, nevermind the fact that I'm a total fan for SECRET WARRIORS, which is one of my favorite ongoing Marvel books out, but after reading SIEGE: SECRET WARRIORS, I think this may be my favorite of the SIEGE one-shots. I mean, the fact that we're finally seeing some development in regards to how Phobos (the son of Ares) is dealing with the events of SIEGE #2 is pretty damn cool. This issue was action-packed as hell, and Phobos shows just how big of a badass he can be. Plus, we get some very cool insight into just what Fury's plans are in regards to the events of SIEGE. The conclusion to the SIEGE tie-in to MIGHTY AVENGERS continues in this week's MIGHTY AVENGERS #36 as we see Hank Pym and Jocasta going head to head all by their lonesome against the killer android, ULTRON. Meanwhile, the rest of the Mighty Avengers are left to fight on the frontlines of SIEGE. This one fits in right near the end of SIEGE #3. One of the quirkiest books in the Marvel roster, Thunderbolts has seen the shady characters who're enlisted in the Thunderbolts going head to head with the Mighty Avengers. Now, as we're getting closer to the conclusion of SIEGE with THUNDERBOLTS #143, it looks like everything that's been set in motion by Osborn is coming to an explosive resolution. This one is the end of an era for the Thunderbolts, and sets the stage for the new direction and new line-up of the team coming out of SIEGE. Click here for the official THIRD EYE SIEGE CHECKLIST IRON MAN 2 PUBLIC IDENTITY #1 - THIS 3-ISSUE LIMITED SERIES BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND IRON MAN FILMS! A NEW TALE OFFICIALLY IN CONTINUITY WITH THE STORY OF THE MOVIES! You know, the rule of thumb on movie tie-in comics is that they SUCK. And, I've found this to be the case 98% of the time. However, this IRON MAN 2: PUBLIC IDENTITY mini-series actually looks pretty badass. The fact that it's got a creative team I'm familiar with (Barry Kitson's art is still some of my favorite, wish the dude did more stuff these days) is a plus, and the concept is actually pretty cool. Basically, Public Identity is a limited series that fleshes out the events that happened between the end of IRON MAN, and the beginning of IRON MAN 2. Since the sequel to IRON MAN takes place months after Stark's epic announcement of him being Iron Man, there were quite a few things that happened in the life of Stark and Iron Man between that and this. So, you could basically say that IRON MAN PUBLIC IDENTITY is IRON MAN 1.5 as it kind of sets us up nicely for what's to come in IRON MAN 2. Click here for a preview of IRON MAN 2: PUBLIC IDENTITY #1 INCORRUPTIBLE #5 - ONE OF OUR FAVORITE NEW SERIES CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY, AS THE ORIGIN OF MAX DARING'S SIDEKICK, JAILBAIT, IS REVEALED! The universe that Mark Waid has been building with his two unique looks at the superhero deconstruction genre, INCORRUPTIBLE and IRREDEEMABLE have had us so hooked it's not even funny. Both of these series have provided some of the most intriguing, and compelling looks at the world of superheroes that we've read in quite some time, and have continued to quickly build their reputation as being solid, consistent monthly reads. This week, we're getting the 5th issue of INCORRUPTIBLE, which reveals the origin of Jailbait, and just what her true nature is. Not reading INCORRUPTIBLE? Well, here's why you should be... while Waid is doing a fantastic job of taking the whole "Superman gone Evil" thing in new and exciting directions, it's INCORRUPTIBLE where we're really seeing a lot of new ground being tread. Nobody does the Superman Gone Evil thing as good as Waid has been in IRREDEEMABLE, there's no doubt about that, but nobody hardly touches on what happens when the big bad evil supervillain tries to go right.. at all. And, this is why INCORRUPTIBLE has become such a big deal for us to look forward to. Here's some back-story.. in the world of IRREDEEMABLE and INCORRUPTIBLE, the world's most powerful superhero, The Plutonian (think your classic Superman-esque figure here) goes mad and turns on the world he once protected. In the rain of fire and death the Plutonian has unleashed, big-time super-villain bad guy (picture a mix of Batman's TWO-FACE, and Spider-man's SANDMAN), Max Danger, realizes that someone needs to step up. He sees this as his opportunity for redemption, and begins his path to set the world right, and what appears to be, protect it from the Plutonian. Of course, the most interesting thing about INCORRUPTIBLE, is much like with IRREDEEMABLE, where elements that're familiar to us as comic readers are turned on their heads, or further explored by Waid as he toys with the dynamics of his world. Watching Max Danger try to do the right thing, but making all the wrong moves to do it, is fascinating, and adds a very compelling aspect to the world. Ontop of all this, the world that Waid is building between INCORRUPTIBLE and IRREDEEMABLE is probably one of the most exciting, new superhero universes we've seen come to be. It all comes together in a very natural, non-forced way, where the characters, major and minor, see development through the course of the story. If you want some good, cutting edge comic awesomeness, we couldn't recommend INCORRUPTIBLE or IRREDEEMABLE enough. Wanna get caught up? We've currently got issues 1,2,3, and 4 of INCORRUPTIBLE in stock for you to get caught up with, and as for IRREDEEMABLE, we have both volumes 1 and 2 of the trade paperbacks, as well as the issues you'd need to catch up following volume 2. Give these series a try if you're looking for a really fresh take on the world of superhumans. Click here for a preview of INCORRUPTIBLE #5 EIGHTBALL & GHOST WORLD CREATOR DAN CLOWES DEBUTS BRAND NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL THIS WEDNESDAY! Oh man, first we got that killer Peter Bagge HATE ANNUAL #8 a couple weeks ago, and now we're getting a new DAN CLOWES graphic novel? Heck, all we need to finish out this trilogy of "Send Steve Down Nostalgia Lane" awesomeness is a new issue of Evan Dorkin's DORK. Seriously though, we are so pumped to see a new Dan Clowes book. I'll spare you a repeat of my ramblings from when HATE came out a couple weeks ago, but, the work of Clowes, Bagge, Dorkin, and others were really some of my stand-out favorite comics of the '90s when I was growing up. There was a really weird, and wild subversiveness to their stuff that was the perfect thing for a teenager into comics and punk rock. And, maybe it's the fact that it's so rare that we see new work from Clowes that I'm even more excited about this, but, nothing captures the spirit of indie comics like his work on EIGHTBALL, and so on. Anyways, this Wednesday, Clowes will be unleashing a new graphic novel, WILSON, which is being billed as Clowes's first original graphic novel. Meaning that none of this has been serialized in issues of EIGHTBALL before. Wilson is a completely new story, which focuses on a bitter, lonely man named Wilson. This graphic novel takes us in and out of Wilson's life through stand-alone vignettes that contain gags that stick in your throat, instead of going down easy. The whole thing combined with Clowes's trademark style of artwork fuses together to give us a story that follows one lonely man's existence and his desire to pull himself out of the repetitions of hostility and failure. In other words, Clowes is giving us a slab of misanthropic misery that's just as brilliant as all of his other work. This one's highly recommended for anyone who's into indie comics, and I really can't express how excited I am about it. Part of that might be the nostalgia of being a snot-nosed kid finding Eightball hidden on a comic rack somewhere, and reading it like 15 times in the back of my parent's car on the way to Ocean City, but, seriously, Clowes does some fantastic work, and if you haven't been turned onto his stuff yet, then give him a shot. Other Dan Clowes stuff we recommend: Ghost World - The most famous, this is the story they based the movie off of. Like A Velvet Glove Cast in Iron - A creepy look at aliens, satanists, and the weirdness that dwells beneath the surface of everyday people's lives. 20th Century Eightball - A collection of Clowes's one-or-two page gags, and strips. Caricature - The bittersweet story of a caricature artist. And, of course, there's a ton more out there too, but those are just a few off th top of my head that I'd recommend checking out here at Third Eye. And, rest assured you can find ALL of Clowes's stuff on our shelves here, 'cause dammit, it's good comics! :) FILM-MAKER KEVIN SMITH'S GREEN HORNET #3 CONTINUES THE HIT REVIVAL OF THE CLASSIC PULP HERO! SOMEONE WILL DIE THIS WEDNESDAY, BUT WHO WILL IT BE?! The revival of the Green Hornet has been a very pleasant surprise, and this Wednesday, we get the third installment in the headlining title of that revival with KEVIN SMITH'S GREEN HORNET. The director of Clerks, Mallrats, and more has really been breathing new life into the world of the Green Hornet, and we've been digging it so far. It's a fun series with a true blockbuster popcorn movie kinda feel to it. He's done a great job of adding a new dynamic to the Green Hornet, and so far, judging by the first two issues, we're pretty stoked about the direction the series is going. The dialogue is sharp, as to be expected from Smith, but you can definitely tell this one is his style of writing, even right down to the action sequences. And, now, this Wednesday, the big buzz is which Green Hornet character is going to bite it. While Dynamite has released a series of teaser images (like the one above), they're being pretty tight-lipped with who it is that's gonna bite it, and have given us several images teasing just who might be the one to bite the dust. If you've missed out on checking out Green Hornet, don't even sweat it, because we have plenty of the first two issues in stock to get you caught up. Check it out this Wednesday! FLASH REBIRTH HARDCOVER ARRIVES THIS WEEK COLLECTING THE LIMITED SERIES THAT BROUGHT BARRY ALLEN BACK, AND LEADS DIRECTLY INTO THE HIT NEW ONGOING FLASH SERIES! FROM THE CREATIVE TEAM THAT BROUGHT YOU GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH! The creative team that made Hal Jordan cool again with GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH has done the same thing again with their recent FLASH: REBIRTH limited series. And, now, this Wednesday, you can grab the entire thing in it's entirety to find out just how good of a job they did. Let me put it like this, I've never been a major Barry Allen fan, and after reading Rebirth, he's become a favorite. Just like he did with Hal Jordan, Johns has been able to take the silver age sensibilities of Barry, and meld them with the 21st century style of comic storytelling that makes characters so compelling. And, it's not just the characterization that's so good, but also the whole world of the Flash that Johns has managed to rebuild and flesh out over the span of this six issue mini-series. I'll go on record as saying that the Flash #1 (from the new ongoing series by Johns) was probably my favorite book I read that week, maybe only being beat out by Brightest Day #0 (only 'cause I'm a sucker for Deadman, and Maxwell Lord). And, having set down and read FLASH REBIRTH 1-6 in it's entirety once the series has ended, I have a much better understanding and appreciation for where Johns is headed with the new Flash series. So, if you've been waiting for The Flash to get good again, wait no longer, jump on with Flash Rebirth, and then check out the brand new ongoing series that's totally kick-ass. Click here to read more about FLASH REBIRTH THE SECOND COMING CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY IN X-FORCE #26 *X-MEN SECOND COMING PT 5* - FIND OUT WHY THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST DAMN X-MEN STORYLINES IN A VERY LONG TIME! AND TRUST US, FOLKS, THIS ONE'S GOT A HUGE SURPRISE! You know, I was wondering just how well they could keep the momentum going after that incredible opening chapter of SECOND COMING in the X-MEN SECOND COMING one-shot, but, here we are, five chapters in, and dude, I'm hooked. It's great. They've totally brought back the excitement and buzz I used to feel for the X-Men universe back when I was in middle school. It's just a big, crazy storyline that's focusing on the characters we actually give a damn about, and it feels like it's leading up to even cooler things. This week, the 5th chapter of X-MEN SECOND COMING takes place in X-FORCE #26, and I'm pretty pumped. The artwork on X-FORCE is always top notch, whether it's Choi or Crain, it's always gorgeous, and getting to see Nightcrawler, Cyclops, and company being done by Choi is pretty killer. Also, after the events of X-MEN LEGACY last week, it's pretty damn cool to see Rogue as an interesting character again. Another stnad-out about the SECOND COMING has been the bad guys. It's been a while since we've seen X-Villains that were this cool, and the whole concept of Bastion, Cameron Hodge, Trask and others using their Human League to hunt down Hope is pretty interesting. Best part about it? The bad guys actually do something here. There's a ton of action that's running through this storyline, and it's not the anti-climatic letdown that a lot of past recent X-Storylines have been. As for this week's chapter, the less I say the better, as there's not a lot that can be said without dropping spoilers. All I can say is that this one has one hell of a surprise, and definitely shows that no one is safe during the events of SECOND COMING. For those of you who haven't yet hopped aboard with SECOND COMING, we've currently got all the chapters in stock that you need to get caught up. You can click here to check out the SECOND COMING checklist, and get caught up on what you need. Click here for a preview of X-FORCE #26 *X-MEN SECOND COMING PT 5* STUFF OF LEGEND ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY IN TRADE PAPERBACK! ONE OF THE THIRD EYE FAVORITES OF 2009, THIS SERIES DELIVERS A VISCERAL, TRIPPY "SAVING PRIVATE RYAN" meets "TOY STORY" BY WAY OF GUIELERMO DEL TORO KIND OF EXPERIENCE! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Here's one that was a HUGE favorite around the store last year. This little indie gem came out of nowhere, and it took everybody by storm. Everything from the writing to the amazing artwork to the overall presentation and format of the book was top notch, and Stuff of Legend really built a following amongst the Third Eye Faithful here. So, what is STUFF OF LEGEND? The way that I often describe it in terms of style and content is a cross between the gritty, dark violent turmoil of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and then a kind of surreal, creepy take on TOY STORY... if it was directed by Guilermo Del Toro. Seriously though, it's a very cool story, basically a young boy during WW 2 is kidnapped by the boogeyman, and his toys come to life to crossover into the Boogeyman's realm to rescue him. And, when they do crossover, they become much more intimidating versions of themselves. In other words, the cuddly Teddy Bear becomes a giant rip-your-head-off grizzly bear, and the Jack-In-The-Box shows his meanstreak. The book is a fantastic story in it's simplicity of dealing with toys come to life and the boogeyman, but there are themes much more complex at play such as love, loyalties, betrayal, war, and death. The story takes a very dark turn at the end of the first chapter, especially. And, the artwork is fantastic. The artwork, with it's sepia-tone style of coloring, really pulls you in, and makes you feel like you're THERE in the story. It fits the nature, and the mood of the story completely, and really makes the book stand out. The next arc of STUFF OF LEGEND is due out this summer, but in the mean-time, the fine folks at Th3rd World have put together this fantastic trade paperback collection. Make sure you snag a copy this week, and find out why nearly everyone at the shop is raving about STUFF OF LEGEND. THE WAKING #3 CONTINUES "WONDERLAND" CREATOR RAVEN GREGORY'S TWISTED, AND KILLER NEW HORROR SERIES! Zenescope has really hit it spot on with their newest series, THE WAKING, from "Return to Wonderland" writer RAVEN GREGORY. This killer series takes a traditional gothic horror ghost story and mixes it with the detective noir genre for some fantastic results. See, in the world of THE WAKING, murder victims are rising from their graves and looking to dish out grisly revenge on their killers, in true E.C Comics grandiose fashion. And, the detectives who're investigating these murders are dealing with the moral dilemma of whether they should dig deeper into the murders that could be seen as justice. The second issue really kept the dread that the first issue had going for it building, and that's where the zombies, and buckets of blood came into play. Now, this Wednesday, the third issue of THE WAKING hits, and we can't wait to read more. Gregory and Drujiniu are really delivering an atmospheric, mentally and visually creepy horror story that you just don't see that much anymore. Sure, it's bloody, and sure it's violent, but there's definitely a concerted effort to really deliver an atmosphere of dread, and creepiness. It actually has a slight E.C horror comics feel to it, but, without as much humor. If you missed issue #1, or issue #2, we've still got limited quantities of both to get you caught up. So, check 'em out this Wednesday! Click here to check out a video trailer for THE WAKING STAFF PICKS Steve - AMERICAN VAMPIRE #2 = Dude, the second issue of this new VERTIGO series totally blew me away. The whole take on how the biology of vampires work, and the development of the Pearl character was fantastic. This series could be to vampires, what Walking Dead was to zombies. Awesome stuff. Trish - CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #1 = You know, I thought Garth Ennis couldn't push the envelope any further than he did, but then David Lapham comes along and rips the envelope to shreds with the new CROSSED series. Read it, and when you see the ending.. you'll know what I mean. Torma - GREEN LANTERN #53 *BRIGHTEST DAY* = One of the best issues of Green Lantern I've read, and that's saying a lot. The way the relationship between the New Guardians is touched on, as well as the cliffhanger at the end were great. Matt - JOE THE BARBARIAN #4 = Morrison continues to increase the epic feel of this new Vertigo limited series. Each issue gives this one a modern day Lord of the Rings-kinda feel, and I'm really loving it. Very cool fantasy storytelling that you don't see done this well often.

THIRD EYE SERIES SPOTLIGHT: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN by FRACTION & LAROCCA

THIRD EYE SPOTLIGHT

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN (ongoing series, MAY 2008-Present)

By Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca

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Good comics should be read. In fact, we want you to read good comics. We want your friends to read good comics. We want EVERYBODY to read good comics, because that means only one thing: more good comics will get made. At the end of the day, it's the readers who decide what succeeds, and what doesn't, and we feel, as your self-appointed comic missionaries, it's our duty to call attention to just plain ol' good comics.

Nothing stands out as a more shining example of this than the incredible run Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca have had on INVINCIBLE IRON MAN. Issue #22 just arrived this week, and it proves that this series just continues to get better with every issue. The funny thing is, two or three years ago, I was not an Iron Man fan. I tried to get into the book, I really did, but I just couldn't get into the character. The Layton/Michelini stuff was before my time, and while Kurt Busiek's run was solid, I still couldn't get the character to click for me. I did really dig the Iron Man EXTREMIS storyline by Ellis, but again, that was short-lived. Now, maybe you could chalk this up to the incredible timing of releasing INVINCIBLE IRON MAN alongside the killer IRON MAN movie, but this book hooked me from issue 1. In fact, I think that INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, as a series, is a perfect example of Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios achieving a rare, synergy of perfection. The Iron Man movie reminded everyone why Iron Man was cool, and then Fraction and Larocca picked up the ball, and ran with it, and showed everyone why Iron Man comics were cool.

The series kicks off with an accessible storyline that anyone, whether you've followed Iron Man regularly, or you've never read him before, can enjoy. The use of Ezekiel Stane (Obadiah Stane's son) is a great gateway bridging what you're familiar with from the movie into the world of the comics. The trick though, is they're able to make this happen without it being a heavy-handed "we're trying to link the comics up to the movie" approach. It feels very natural, and organic. The first story arc serves as a way to re-introduce us to Iron Man, bring us up to speed quick on the character, and then kicks off into a high-octane arc where Ezekiel Stane is trying to destroy Stark Industries. From there on, we see classic Iron Man villains, and supporting cast re-introduced to readers, leading up to the next story arc featuring a Tony Stark that's on the run, and a Pepper Potts that's donned the "Iron Woman" armor.

The sublime fusion of Fraction's stellar fast-paced storytelling, and Larocca's realistic art makes the book a really enjoyable read. Fraction is able to play up the high concept technology idea of Iron Man, while grounding it in reality enough to keep the story from feeling like a technical manual. Of course, what makes any comic good is the level of characterization, and that's one thing Fraction nails from the get go, as you can almost hear Robert Downy Jr saying some of the lines that Tony Stark uses in Invincible Iron Man. He manages to make the villains believable, the supporting cast important, and most importantly, emphasize the huMAN part of IRON MAN. It's this kind of characterization that helps us as readers believe, and care about characters that're hidden behind iron masks, and cybernetic technology. There's also a very cool, yet subtle futurist bent to Fraction's writing, where a lot of the technology and ideas are things that you could actually visualize happening in the future. Balance this out with bigger than life Marvel magic, and some over-the-top supervillains, and you have the perfect recipe for a great technology-driven superhero title.

We can't forget about Larocca's artwork either though, which is fine-tuned to a science now. He manages to deliver some of the most gorgeous, realistic looking art on this series, yet when it comes to the fight sequences, and big action moments, he knows how to turn it up a notch or two, so you can almost hear the sounds of metal crunching, and smell the burning air surrounding a repulsor blast. Larocca's art is the best kind, as it's so good at what it does, that you barely notice it. What I'm saying is that it doesn't distract from the story, or pull you out of the fine tale that Fraction's weaving, and then when you actually see those bigger than life moments, you actually stop and say WOW.

Invincible Iron Man is currently an ongoing series, with no signs of the current creative team (Fraction and Larocca) leaving anytime soon. It is 22 issues in, and there are three collections available so far, collecting the run up to issue 19. If you're looking to get caught up on the series, here's a look at what you'd need to start:

• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN Volume 1: THE FIVE NIGHTMARES TRADE PAPERBACK (collecting issues 1-6), only $19.99, and now in stock here at Third Eye!


• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN Volume 2: WORLD'S MOST WANTED BOOK ONE TRADE PAPERBACK (collecting issues 8-13), only $14.99, and now in stock here at Third Eye!


• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN Volume 3: WORLD'S MOST WANTED BOOK TWO HARDCOVER *softcover coming soon* (collecting issues 14-19), only $19.99, and now in stock here at Third Eye!


• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN Back Issues - We currently have nearly all the back issues of this run going all the way back to issue #1, all in stock, and available!


• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN: STARK DISASSEMBLED Parts 1,2,3 - Want to jump onto the current story arc? Invincible Iron Man #20 is the beginning of STARK DISASSEMBLED, and then we have up to the most recent (#22), all available.

Other Killer Iron Man Reads

IRON MAN: EXTREMIS by WARREN ELLIS AND ADI GRANOV - A stellar six issue reinvention of the Armored Avenger, and his powers. Very cool, very sci-fi. Available now at Third Eye!

IRON MAN: DEMON IN A BOTTLE Hardcover by BOB LAYTON, DAVID MICHELINIE and JOHN ROMITA JR, CARMINE INFANTINO (collecting IRON MAN 120-128) - A true classic, this was a story that defined Iron Man for years to come. The Armored Avenger may be able to defeat Justin Hammer and his army of supervillains, but can he defeat his own alcoholism? Only $24.99, and now available at Third Eye!

IRON MAN: ARMOR WARS Trade Paperback (collecting IRON MAN 225-232) - Another classic story from the Layton/Michelinie, this one featuring Stark's Iron Man tech falling into the hands of several deadly super-villains, and showing just how far he's willing to go to get it out of their reach. Available now at Third Eye for $19.99.

Other Great Books by Matt Fraction

THOR: AGES OF THUNDER TRADE PAPERBACK (collecting AGES OF THUNDER one-shot, REIGN OF BLOOD one-shot, MAN OF WAR one-shot, and GOD-SIZED one-shot) - Fraction will be taking over on the regular ongoing THOR series this summer, and we're stoked for that. Why? Because of this awesome series of themed one-shots where Thor is being humbled by Odin! Some of the best THOR stuff we've read, we highly recommend checking it out. Only $19.99, and available now at Third Eye!

FIVE FISTS OF SCIENCE TRADE PAPERBACK - Steampunk awesomeness, you can't go wrong. Mark Twain, Nikola Tesla, and Bertha von Suttner are on a mission to bring world peace... by any means necessary. A very Lovecraftian skyscraper that's caused many a mysterious death seems to be just one of the results of a dark collaboration between secret society members like Edison, Carnegie, and Morgan. A great alternate history story, and a true hidden gem. Only $12.99, and available now here at Third Eye!

CASANOVA v.1 LUXURIA HARDCOVER - Fraction's series that was published in the slimline format similar to Fell (less pages, no ads, lower cover price) features a renowned thief named Casanova Quinn who's been blackmailed into being a double-agent in a deadly game of global espionage. A very cool, sci-fi/fantasy story that's got a great street-level appeal while still keeping that high sense of wonder. Features the incredible artwork of DAYTRIPPER co-creator GABRIEL BA. Only $24.99, and available now here at Third Eye.

THE ORDER volume 1: THE NEXT RIGHT THING TRADE PAPERBACK (collecting THE ORDER 1-7) - This one's an often overlooked favorite of mine that many have not heard of. I originally was intrigued by this because of Barry Kitson's art when it first launched, but it was Fraction's solid writing that kept me interested. The Order is an off-shoot of the Defenders, and is the official superhero team of CALIFORNIA in the post-CIVIL WAR 50-State Initiative Marvel-era. Imagine a dysfunctional super-team, where half the members are more concerned with their P.R than they are saving lives. Led by Tony Stark's body double from the old days, the Order was a fresh, and different look at the post-modern super-team in the Marvel Universe. Really cool stuff. Only $16.99, and available now at Third Eye!

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!