THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 9/30/09

BLACKEST NIGHT DELIVERS THIS WEDNESDAY: GREEN LANTERN #46& BLACKEST NIGHT TITANS #2!1 TWO BIG BOOKS SPINNING OUT OF THIS CRAZY AWESOME EVENT!

Blackest Night continues to be one of the best damn things hitting the Third Eye racks. The storytelling all across the board continues to not only stay strong, and consistent, but even has been improving. Usually with big events, things kind of lose their way mid-way through. Not the case with Blackest Night. This one has been a solid hit, and all of the tie-in books have been A+ material.

This leads me to this week's Blackest Night Titans #2. The first issue of this REALLY impressed me. Let me start off by saying I have never been a big Titans fan. I really dug Geoff Johns's run on Teen Titans, and I've got a fond place in my heart for all the classic Marv Wolfman and George Perez stuff. But, outside of that, never been a big fan. Which is why it surprised me how into BLACKEST NIGHT TITANS I was. This was a great first issue, and as someone who hasn't been following the Titans for years upon years, I didn't feel lost at all. In fact, it was the perfect refresher and entry point into characters I hadn't paid close attention to in a very long time. Great artwork, great storytelling, I was impressed. And, hitting this week, we've got the second issue with BLACKEST NIGHT TITANS #2. If you missed the first one, fear not, Third Eye Faithful, we have plenty still in stock here at Third Eye for you to catch up with. Click here to check out a preview of BLACKEST NIGHT TITANS #2!

And, coming right alongside this week's Blackest Night Titans, is the next issue of the consistently fantastic GREEN LANTERN core title. If you're only following two books in this entire event, then this and BLACKEST NIGHT are the ones you need to be reading. In fact, Geoff Johns (who writes both), has been fleshing out minor plot points in the main series in the pages of the Green Lantern monthly. Last month, we got a nice little look at Sinestro and the Star Sapphire, and their encounter. And, for months, even before Blackest Night, we've seen Mongul slowly taking control of the Sinestro Corps. Sinestro's after Mongul, and Hal Jordan's after Sinestro.. could the two form an unlikely alliance? Well, from the sounds of things, it looks like all those Black Rings that're bringing the fallen Sinestro Corps members back from the grave are gonna put ALL three of these guys as marked men. How awesome does this sound, right? More of that solid, action-packed storytelling from Geoff Johns, paired up with some gorgeous art from Doug Mahnke. Click here to read more about GREEN LANTERN #46!


OCTOBER CREATOR SPOTLIGHT: GEOFF JOHNS, WRITER OF BLACKEST NIGHT, FLASH REBIRTH, AND MUCH MORE! PLUS, WIN A FREE COPY OF ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH



Geoff Johns has been the one man task force that's single-handedly brought the DCU back to center-stage. For the last few years, he's built a name for himself with critically acclaimed runs on everything from Green Lantern and JSA to Action Comics and The Flash.

The man has an incredible talent for taking characters that had once fallen out of favor with fans, or had never really been given the props they deserve, and making them into superstar titles. He's able to take Silver Age concepts and apply an amazing 21st Century approach to things that once may have not worked.

This month at Third Eye, we're going to be debuting our new and improved monthly Creator Spotlight. We plan on rotating this once a month, and spotlighting a different creator at the end of every month. Sometimes it'll be artists, sometimes writers, and sometimes specific teams of artists and writers that really mesh well together. We figured with how stoked everyone is about Blackest Night, we'd shine the light on Mr. Geoff Johns and some of his work you may not have already read.

Also, as an added bonus, we're going to be running a special promotion all through October, beginning this Wednesday (9/30, okay, we know it's not October, sue us), whenever you buy a trade paperback that's written by Geoff Johns, you will be given a raffle ticket for a chance to win a copy of the ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH (a $75 value) that's due out this April. We'll be having the raffle on October 31st, and the winner will be given a certificate to redeem for the ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH when it ships in April. And yes, you can get one ticket for EVERY Geoff Johns written trade paperback you purchase. So, if you get three or four trades written by the man himself, then you'll get three or four raffle tickets.

Why're we doing this? Cause Geoff Johns has written a lot of killer books, and we figure that a lot of you may have already read Rebirth, but still want the Absolute Edition, without having to buy the same story all over again. Well, here's your chance to get it... FREE!

Now, before we move on, we're going to give you guys a run down on some of our favorite Geoff Johns trades, including some lesser known ones you might not be familiar with:

The Flash: Blood Will Run - Collecting the beginning of Geoff Johns's amazing run on the Flash, Blood Will Run sets the tone perfectly for Johns's work on the Flash. I have to say that Johns's Flash stuff became my favorite Flash run of all-time, and if you're looking to find out what he was doing with Wally West before he took on Barry Allen, then Blood Will Run is where you want to begin.

Superman and the Legion of Superheroes - While Last Son was the first in Johns's awesome run on Action Comics (and a damn good start it was), Superman and the Legion of Superheroes remains our favorite Johns story in his Action run. Maybe it's because it made me appreciate how cool the Legion can be, but this was a solid story.

Infinite Crisis - The event that set the stage for the last few years of DCU history, this one is where Superboy Prime really came into his own as a pure jerk. Not to mention it brought back the multiverse in a pretty cool fashion. Johns shines on this one, big time, a sign of things to come.

Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Wars - Three trades, all awesome. If you haven't read this, and you're loving Blackest Night, then you gotta check it out. This sets the stage PERFECTLY for everything that is going on right now in the DCU.

The Thing: Freakshow & The Vision: Yesterday and Tomorrow - Geoff Johns did Marvel Comics? Yup. For a very short stint he did, and they ruled. In Freakshow, Johns shows the Thing travelling across the country where he encounters Kree and Skrulls fighting over a baby Watcher. And, then in the Vision limited series, Johns adds more depth to the Vision's character in four issues than anyone has in ages.

Green Lantern: Rebirth - How could we not mention Rebirth? Johns brought Hal Jordan back in this modern classic, and it still stands as one of the best limited series of this decade. Great artwork, and great storytelling make this one an absolute must-read.

The Possessed - Geoff Johns does Horror Comics. This one is pretty cool, and has an Exorcist meets Comic Book kind of feel to it. It also shows Johns's skills when it comes to telling different stories, and is a very cool one-shot survival horror/religious horror story.

Teen Titans: A Kid's Game - This book made me like the Teen Titans. A new generation of Titans featuring Tim Drake, Impulse, Superboy, and more. The first trade starts things off with a bang, with the very memorbale incident of Deathstroke blowing Impulse's kneecaps off.

Booster Gold: 52 Pick-Up - Who would think that Booster Gold could not only carry an ongoing series, but a successful one at that? And without Blue Beetle!? Well, don't get us wrong, we love Booster, but we were skeptical. Johns manages to kick things off right as he takes Booster in and out of time, through pivotal points of DCU history. A great, fun read!

JSA: Darkness Falls - The first trade in Geoff Johns's career-defining run on the JSA. David Goyer started things off right, but it was Johns who turned this book into a big hit. Too many good story arcs to get into here, but he is single-handedly responsible for bringing characters like Black Adam, Hawkman, and Dr. Fate back to the center-stage of the DCU.

These are just a few of Johns's awesome stories, be sure to check our Creator Spotlight in the store this week to see all the cool stuff this guy has done!

BATMAN: WIDENING GYRE #2 FROM CLERKS & MALLRATS DIRECTOR KEVIN SMITH HITS THIS WEDNESDAY! CHECK OUT THIS AWESOME NEW BATMAN BOOK! WE LOVE IT!



The first issue of KEVIN SMITH'S Widening Gyre book knocked our socks off. We dug Cacophony, but there were a few minor complaints we had with it. Just little stuff. Widening Gyre? No complaints, none at all. He's hit his stride with this one, and looks to be delivering some stellar stuff with this series. This one is set outside of the current Bat-continuity, so Bruce is still Batman, and Dick is still Nightwing. And, that's one of the things we really liked about the book. The dynamic between Nightwing and Batman. Nightwing is not dark, nor brooding, and Bruce has evolved into his stone cold self. So, the interplay between the two, including Nightwing reminscing about days gone past, was very good. The first issue gave us murder victims with roots and vines protruding from all of their bodily orifices, in a very bloody fashion, which then leads us straight to an Arkham Asylum that's heavily entrenched in plant-life. And, just when you think we're seeing a killer Poison Ivy story unfold, Kevin Smith brings in Etrigan, the Demon... and makes him one hell of a vicious character.

All in all, this one got off to a great start, and we're pumped to see where it goes next. Plus, Walt Flanagan's pencils have improved a lot since last year's Cacophony, and his style has actually grown on us a lot. If you missed #1, don't worry, we've still got it in stock to check out, and catch up with.

Click here for a preview of BATMAN: WIDENING GYRE #2!

ULTIMATUM HARDCOVER AVAILABLE AT THIRD EYE WEDNESDAY, COLLECTING JEPH LOEB AND DAVID FINCH'S OVER-THE-TOP MARVEL MELTDOWN EPIC!



One of last year's biggest Marvel events was the destruction of the Ultimate Marvel Universe in the pages of ULTIMATUM. The plot? Plain and simple, Magneto goes mad, gets Thor's hammer, and proceeds to bring about the end of the world. Tons of characters die. TONS. I mean, if you want to see heads being squashed, or blown off by optic blasts, then you need to read ULTIMATUM.

What really made this series a great read was David Finch's stellar artwork. Finch always shines, but drawing widescale destruction, and nearly EVERY Ultimate Marvel character you can think of, really brought out the best in him.

This week, the hardcover collecting the entire run hits, and you can now witness everything from the Blob eating Wasp, to Hank Pym biting off the Blob's head... just trust us, folks, this one is CRAZY!

DIE HARD: YEAR ONE #1 - THE OFFICIAL PREQUEL STORY TO THE CLASSIC 1988 DIE HARD FILM! JOHN MCCLANE AS A ROOKIE COP? HOW CAN YOU NOT BE STOKED TO SEE WHAT THIS ONE'S ALL ABOUT!



There are some things that are just plain and simple true in American pop culture. You always shoot a zombie in the head. Sloth loves Chunk. And, don't feed Gremlins afer midnight. Another one of those beautiful truths is that DIE HARD ALWAYS rules. ALWAYS. Even, when it's not that great, it's still pretty damn good. So, you can understand how excited I was when I found out about this official prequel to the DIE HARD films, featuring a rookie John McClane, encountering his first catastrophe.

And, I know that a lot of you are big DIE HARD fans as well. While you get a good feel for the character in the first movie, this new ongoing series from Howard Chaykin features a much rawer, ready to bust some heads John McClane, who's fresh out of the Marines and straight into the NYPD.It's set in the '70s, a decade before the first film, and features McClane dealing with the ups and downs of being a young cop in '70s New York.

Click here to read an interview with Howard Chaykin about the new DIE HARD YEAR ONE series!


ED BRUBAKER'S SLEEPER SEASON TWO TPB DELIVERS THE SECOND HALF TO BRUBAKER'S CLASSIC SUPERHERO NOIR THRILLER! FANS OF INCOGNITO, CHECK THIS OUT!



Before Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips wowed us with CRIMINAL and INCOGNITO, they cut their teeth on a very underrated cult favorite known as SLEEPER. The first trade collecting the first 12 issues of Sleeper, "Season 1", came out earlier this year. The second trade, collecting the final 12 issues of Sleeper, "Season 2", arrives this Wednesday. And, we have to say, we're stoked. It's great to finally see this masterpiece in it's entirety available in collected format.

The story? Holden Carver aka the Conductor, is a man who has been placed undercover into a criminal empire of metahumans. What's Carver's power? After his body had been grafted with an alien artificat, he has an enhanced healing power.. and more importantly, the ability to store pain he receives and then transfer it onto others. Of course, in true noir fashion, he hates his abilities, and would love to be done with them.

The path that Carver takes to rise through the criminal empire, making the rank of lieutenant is a fascinating one, and will keep you page-turning all the way through. If you're a fan of either CRIMINAL, or INCOGNITO, then you must read SLEEPER. We currently have Sleeper Season One also in stock, as well as the prequel, POINT BLANK. However, if you've already read the first season, then we know you're going already anticipating this collection.


Marvel Brings It's Pulpy Roots Back With This Week'sSHANG-CHI: MASTER OF KUNG FU - DEADPOOL VERSUS SHANG-CHI! NEW FORMAT!



Way back in the day, Marvel used to publish some of it's more edgier, and mature titles under an imprint named "Curtis Magazines." The most well-known of these was the classic Savage Sword of Conan issues. The reasoning? Well, back in the '70s, the comics code was still in full effect, and if you wanted to publish stuff that wasn't code approved, you had to go the magazine route. This is kind of what brought about the popularity of magazines like Creepy, Vampirella, and Eerie. The result? Amazing, pulpy, gritty, and violent tales that were way ahead of their time. Characters like Dracula, and Conan, along with other characters that didn't fit the traditional Marvel mold all received the big, grand, black and white magazine treatment.

Now, Marvel has brought the format back this week with the return of one of their best cult favorite characters, Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. It's been a while since we've seen the Master of Kung Fu, and with the way that characters like Iron Fist and Moon Knight have been developed and evolved with modern storytelling, we're eager to see the treatment he receives. This is a special one-shot issue featuring some of Marvel's rising star talents, like JONATHAN HICKMAN (Secret Warriors, Pax Romana), Jason Aaron, Charlie Huston (acclaimed crime novelist), and more. Oh, and it also features a nice little showdown between Shang-Chi and some guy named Deadpool that seems to be making a splash, wonder who he is? :)

So, for only $3.99, you get a big thick 48 page slab of violent, pulpy kung-fu action in the grand tradition of the Marvel Mags of yore. Personally, I am stoked for this. It's something fresh, and it looks like it has some real teeth to it.

Click here to read a preview of SHANG-CHI MASTER OF KUNG FU SUPER ISSUE!

DC ANIMATED FEATURE, SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES, AVAILABLE TOMORROW AT THIRD EYE! PLUS, PICK UP THE GRAPHIC NOVEL THAT INSPIRED THE FEATURE!



DC has been releasing some very high quality animated features these past few years. From the recent (and very awesome) GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT to the Wonder Woman animated feature, they've been hitting them all out of the park. This week, one of my personal favorite stories gets the animated treatment, when SUPERMAN/BATMAN PUBLIC ENEMIES arrives.

Based off of the graphic novel by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness, this one is the perfect fit for the animated feature format, and we couldn't be more stoked to see McGuinesses's vibrant designs brought to life on the screen.

We'll have both the DVD of Superman/Batman Public Enemies, and the graphic novel that inspired the film, available tomorrow at Third Eye.

Click hereto watch the trailer for SUPERMAN/BATMAN PUBLIC ENEMIES!

PUNISHER ANNUAL #1 - A PRELUDE TO... FRANKENCASTLE? What is the deal with Punisher: Rest in Pieces?



This week, Punisher Annual, delivers the set-up for one of Marvel's quirkier stories this year. Personally, when I first heard mention of a "Frankenpunisher" storyline, I was kind of weirded out. I mean, I've said it once, and I'll say it again, Rick Remender's run on Punisher has been one of the best runs on the Punisher in a long time, outside of Ennis's MAX run. It's a completely different approach, but he has a very interesting way of fitting the character into the main line Marvel continuity that has had us coming back again, and again.

And, apparently, this one which synchs up with the DARK REIGN: THE LIST Punisher one-shot due out soon (with John Romita JR art too!), and the events that occur in that one-shot. From what I can gather, it involves The Punisher and Dark Wolverine putting a serious hurt on one another.

Either way, this Wednesday, the PUNISHER ANNUAL #1 is the set-up for the big events that are going to be happening with Punisher this year. All we know is it's been cryptically nicknamed Frankencastle by Marvel, and we're kind of intrigued to see just how exactly this is going to play out. It could either be REALLY awesome, or a dud. We have faith in Remender though to deliver.

Click here for an interview with Remender about his plans for the Punisher this year.


STAFF PICKS FOR LAST WEEK'S BOOKS!
Trish - SPIDER-WOMAN #1 - This was a great first issue. It reminded me of La Femme Nikita, the spy TV series. Very dark, and maturely themed, it's going to be cool to see Spiderwoman's place in the Marvel Universe develop.

Torma - INCREDIBLE HULK #602 - The artwork on this run starting with issue #601 (the perfect jumping on point) is amazing. Ariel Olivetti's incredible! This was a great issue, which gave us an old school battle royale between Skaar, the Son of Hulk and the Juggernaut. The Old Power vs. the Unstoppable.

Steve - SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #1 - I expected this to be good, but, dude, I was still blown away. I'm not a big Superman guy, but when he's done right, there's no denying that the big blue boyscout is one of this medium's most iconic characters. Geoff Johns sums it up in his re-telling of Superman's history, and the meeting between him and Lex Luthor... VERY well done!

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE 3/4/09

WAR OF KINGS OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF THIS WEDNESDAY WITH WAR OF KINGS #1!  This Wednesday kicks off the highly anticipated Marvel cosmic event WAR OF KINGS. This huge event has been steadily building since the debut of the ANNIHILATION, ANNIHILATION CONQUEST, and the events of the Uncanny X-Men: Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire storylines, not to mention the going ons with the Inhumans during Secret Invasion Inhumans.  Why should you read War of Kings? Well, first off, if you're a fan of epic science fiction in the vein of things like Battlestar Galactica, and the Warhammer 40K universe, then it's custom made for you. It's the Marvel universe meets Battlestar and Warhammer. Seriously.  But for real though, it's good stuff. It's Abnett and Lanning plotting, and as we've seen recently, they're doing some amazing things with books like Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova.  What's the scoop on the story of War of Kings? Well, as we know, Vulcan, the third Summers brother has been expanding the Shi'ar Empire rapidly across the galaxy, and now he's coming head to head with Black Bolt as he's rebuilding his own kingdom. In the middle of all this is every cosmic character you could think of from the Silver Surfer to Blastarr, King of the Negative Zone.  All in all, War of Kings looks to be a stand-out event this spring, and we highly advise you do not miss out on this one. Trust us, the cosmic books have been some of the most consistently good books coming out month-to-month! Click here to look at some preview pages of WAR OF KINGS #1! ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK #3 ARRIVES AFTER A TWO YEAR WAIT! GET IT THIS WEEK! Okay, okay, we know, we know, you've all been waiting for this one almost three years now. It's been a long time coming, but Lost co-creator Damon Lindeloff finally delivers his third issue of Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk this Wednesday.  Have you been reading Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk? If you haven't, then what the heck is wrong with you? This is one of the most badass comics to come down the pipe in quite a while, and we're loving it here at Third Eye! Secret Invasion artist Lenil Francis Yu, and LOST co-creator Damon Lindeloff are delivering the goods big-time with this story of Wolverine being hired on by Nick Fury to assassinate the Hulk. And just where is the Hulk? He's holed up in the Tibetan mountainside, with a harem of women! Craziness, I know!  And, for those of you who read the first two issues of this a couple years back... well, you're in store for a treat, because the eagerly anticipated third issue follow-up hits the racks this week! Click here to read a preview of ULTIMATE WOLVERINE vs. HULK #3! DAREDEVIL #116: THE KINGPIN IS BACK! RETURN OF THE KING BEGINS THIS WEEK WITH CHAPTER 1 FROM INCOGNITO WRITER ED BRUBAKER & IRON FIST ARTIST SENSATION DAVID AJA!!! PERFECT JUMPING ON POINT! Sooooo stoked! Lady Bullseye was just a warm-up, Brubaker is delivering the goods big time with this awesome new Daredevil story arc. After almost four years of absence, the Kingpin is returning. This new arc guarantees to be the biggest Daredevil story you'll want to read in a very long-time, and has built off of the events of  Lady Bullseye. However, it's an outstanding jumping on point for those of you new to the Daredevil books.  And best of all, it re-teams the original Immortal Iron Fist creative team of Ed Brubaker and David Aja on this story arc. Now, you've all read Incognito, and you know how darn good Brubaker is at writing a gritty crime noir.. so just imagine what he's going to do with this one, folks! Click here to read more about DAREDEVIL #116 RETURN OF THE KING PART 1! BATMAN CACOPHONY #3 CONCLUDES DIRECTOR KEVIN SMITH'S FRESH, FUNNY AND BONE-CRUNCHINGLY AWESOME BATMAN MINISERIES! From the director of Mallrats, Clerks, and all those other great flicks that made the '90s such a good time for comic-fiends like us, we bring you Batman: Cacophony. This is a great three issue mini-series that captures everything we love about a good Batman comic. Batman's a dark, brooding badass, the Joker's a funny yet sadistic psychopath, and we even see the return of the severely underused Green Arrow villain Onomatopoeia. And guess what? He finished it.. on schedule! We kid, we kid.. but seriously, we told you that this one wouldn't be another Daredevil: Target or Spider-man/Black Cat.  As for how the series has been? It's been a great little read. We might not be extremely wild about the art, but it does grow on you a little more with every issue. However, the story and the dialouge more than makes up for it. Click here to read more about BATMAN: CACOPHONY #3! DARK REIGN FORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF 3/4/09! DEADPOOL #8 KICKS OFF EPIC CROSSOVER WITH THUNDERBOLTS IN "MAGNUM OPUS" CHAPTER1! Okay, Deadpool is definitely a big favorite here at Third Eye, and we can see why. You take the insanely popular cult favorite Merc with A Mouth, put him in a brand new ongoing series with excellent writing and some fantastic artwork, and POW, you got yourself a winner. And this week, you've got just one more reason to pick up on Deadpool. Magnum Opus kicks off the big 4 part DEADPOOL vs. THUNDERBOLTS story arc.  The new Thunderbolts run has been red hot, and everyone has been snatching it up right and left, and for good reason, it's a GREAT READ! Now, Wade Wilson comes head to head with Norman Osborn, and who else does he dispatch to deal with him other than the new Thunderbolts? Yup, that's right, ol' Pool is unleashing a full on assault on Osborn, and we can't wait to see the sparks fly between him and the Thunderbolts in this week's newest installment of Deadpool! Do yourselves a favor, and make sure you pick up on Deadpool #8, because this story arc promises to be a great read. Here's a quick look at the checklist for MAGNUM OPUS: Part 1 - Deadpool #8 Part 2 - Thunderbolts #130 Part 3 - Deadpool #9 Part 4 - Thunderbolts #131 Click here to check out a preview of Deadpool #8! SECRET WARRIORS #2CONTINUES RISING STAR WRITER JONATHAN HICKMAN AND BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS'S HOT NEW SERIES! A MUST READ! One of the most pleasant surprises of 2009 has been the new Secret Warriors series from Brian Michael Bendis and rising star Jonathan Hickman (do yourselves a favor and pick up Transhuman, or Nightly News, both are fantastic, this guy's on the same road that Fraction, and Brubaker took to the top). This is a definite must-read for those of you following the Dark Reign series. It explores the whole mysterious going-ons of Nick Fury, and his group of operatives that just happen to be the off-spring of major and minor Marvel characters, villain and hero alike.  We can't put our fingers on what it is we enjoy about the book so much, whether it's the well-written crafting of espionage, or the great characterization, but all we know is we're loving the hell out of Secret Warriors.  And, don't worry if you missed issue #1, we've still got plenty left in stock here at Third Eye.  Do yourselves a favor this week, and make sure to grab Secret Warriors #2, you won't be disappointed. We're excited to see just who the real enemies of the Secret Warriors are and where they've been hiding. Clickhere to read a preview of SECRET WARRIORS #2! NEW AVENGERS REUNION #1FEATURING HAWK-EYE IS A MUST FOR NEW AVENGERS FANS! Third Eye loves Hawkeye. Let it be known, that we are number one Hawkeye fans here at Third Eye. He's the Avenger of choice for Third Eye, and we are completely stoked on this new miniseries featuring the Mr. and Mrs. Smith of the Marvel Universe, Hawkeye and Mockingbird. Two bad to the bone weapon-wielding soldiers who just happen to be Avengers, and have come to embody the spirit of the team in more ways than one.  This new miniseries is a must for all of you who follow the New Avengers series, and we can promise, from the looks of it, we're going to get a breakneck action mini-series that fleshes out the corners of the New Avengers title that have been left untouched. Exploring the mystery behind Mockingbirds imprisonment at the hands of the Skrulls, and her adjustment back to life on Earth, we learn she's come back with a very deadly secret.  Don't miss this one, folks, not only is it bound to be a great addition to the solid line-up of good Dark Reign reads, but it's a must for any self-respecting New Avengers fan. Click here to read a preview of NEW AVENGERS: THE RE-UNION #1.  DARK REIGN: FANTASTIC FOUR #1 BY SECRET WARRIORS WRITER JONATHAN HICKMAN DEBUTS THIS WEDNESDAY! Okay, we admit it. Jonathan Hickman's turning into a store favorite here at Third Eye. His unique style of storytelling is one of the freshest approaches to comic book storytelling in a while. We kind of get the same feeling we got back when Brian Michael Bendis was making the shift from doing Torso, and Jinx to doing Ultimate Spider-man. A bright new talent with lots of promise getting his big break to show what he can deliver on Marvel's stuff.  And, while the only time we usually dig on Fantastic Four is the Mark Millar/Bryan Hitch, or Stan Lee and Jack Kirby stuff... we gotta admit.. we're pretty curious about this Hickman-penned Dark Reign: Fantastic Four limited series.  The forces of H.A.M.M.E.R are doing a little repo job on the Baxter building, and Reed Richards has some dirt in store for everyone that will change things in big ways... are you curious? We are. Clickhere to read a preview of DARK REIGN: FANTASTIC FOUR #1! BLACK PANTHER #2 CLAWS ONTO THE RACKS THIS WEDNESDAY! Due in stores this Wednesday, is the follow-up to the red hot first issue of the brand new BLACK PANTHER series! The first issue of Black Panther was a huge success here at Third Eye, and we're very curious to see what the second issue has in store this week.  The mystery behind the identity of the new Black Panther is further explored, and we learn just what kind of ties link Dr. Doom to her. Click herefor a preview of BLACK PANTHER #2! AGENTS OF ATLAS #2 CONTINUES THIS CULT FAVORITE NEW SERIES! Agents of Atlas was originally an often overlooked miniseries from a few years ago that debuted to critical acclaim, but not a whole lot in the way of sales. The fact was that anyone who read it, loved it. It was just that it didn't get a lot of exposure. Well, we're pretty happy to see that it's back, and yes, it's up to the same kind of high quality that the original mini-series had going on. This quirky, fun book featuring a talking Gorilla, a robot man, and more is the underdog of all the fan-favorite Dark Reign titles, but it's a definite must-read.  Espionage, the son of Mandarin, Marvel Boy, and all sorts of quirky Marvel history moments packed into one issue. Agents of Atlas is one of those great new series that if you're not already reading, then you should really pick up and give a shot. Click here to read a preview of AGENTS OF ATLAS #2! BACK TO BROOKLYN #4 FROM PREACHER AND THE BOYS WRITER GARTH ENNIS! ULTRA VIOLENT BLOODY MAFIA MADNESS CONTINUES! If you've read THE BOYS or PREACHER, then you know that GARTH ENNIS can tell a twisted tale. You know he can crank out an ultraviolent, yet well-written yarn in no time flat. And you know that he's always consistent with good pacing, great characterization, and tying up things with a nice, but not always happy ending.  Well, if you're an Ennis fan and you're not reading Back To Brooklyn, then you are missing out, folks! This series is great! The artwork has got it's own unique feel, and Ennis is giving us one of the best damn Mafia comics we've read in some time. In fact, if you've been itching for your mob fix since the Sopranos went off the air, and haven't had anything to itch the scratch since the Departed came out a couple years ago, then by all means, pick up Back to Brooklyn. We still have 1,2, and 3 all in stock here at Third Eye for you to catch up on! Click hereto read more about the Back to Brooklyn series! SOLOMON GRUNDY #1 BY ROGUES REVENGE ARTIST SCOTT KOLINS DEBUTS THIS WEEK WITH EVERYONE'S FAVORITE BEHEMOTH! Born on a Monday! Scott Kolins picks up on plot threads laid down by GREEN LANTERN writer GEOFF JOHNS in this new mini-series featuring everyone's favorite cursed monster. Kolins art is perfect for Grundy (you might remember his work on the recent FINAL CRISIS ROGUES REVENGE series), and lets just plain face it.. Solomon Grundy rules.  Click here to take a look at Solomon Grundy #1! SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #1 KICKS OFF EXCITING NEW 12-ISSUE MAXISERIES! It's pretty clear that New Krypton (due in large part to the talent of James Robinson and Geoff Johns) breathed a fresh breath of life into the Superman titles.  However, there's only so long a big crossover like that can run through the monthly titles, and with still plenty left unresolved... there needs to be some resolution.  The new SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON maxiseries is set to bring us that resolution as it explores how Superman deals with not being a Man Without A Planet anymore. Get ready for Ursa, Zod, and all that good stuff, folks! Click here to read more about SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #1!

So You Want Moore? Our Alan Moore Top 5 Reads With Watchmen hitting the theaters this weekend, and everyone in full frenzy for anything Moore.. we decided we'd give you guys the lowdown on some classics by this master storyteller.  5. FROM HELL. This extensive, and thorough re-telling of the notorious Jack the Ripper explores every corner of the Whitechapel district in a creepy, atmospheric graphic novel that will suck you in, chew you up, and spit you out, and you'll love every second of it. It basically explores the theory that the Jack the Ripper murders were part of a conspiracy to conceal the birth of an illegitimate royal baby. The story is not just strictly focused on Jack the Ripper, but also on the murders, their effect on the people of that time, and the impact of such horrible crimes in that time frame. A great read, full of conspiracies, and murder mysteries. A must-read. 4. BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE. If you haven't already read the Killing Joke, close your browser window, drive to Third Eye, and sleep out front until we open, and GET THIS BOOK. It's a classic, and stands as one of the definitive Batman stories EVER. This is the book that actor Heath Ledger carried with him everywhere when preparing for his role as the Joker in the Dark Knight. It explores the origin of the Joker, and the method to his insanity. However, the most bone-chilling aspect of this read is the torture and abuse that The Joker puts Commissioner Gordon through to try and drive him insane. We can't recommend this one enough, and we'd rather let you read it for yourself to find out why it's such a classic. 3. V FOR VENDETTA. Another classic that's been adapted to film. We didn't completely hate the movie, but it definitely did not do the book justice. This one's a classic, and tells the story of an anarchist set out to destroy the totalitarian government while inspiring those he comes into contact with. The book is a good read, and actually is one of the quicker Moore books I've read, as once you get rolling with it, you have a hard time putting it down. It'll definitely get the blood boiling in your veins.  2. Promethea. This 32 issue series took elements of superhero comics, mixed them with metaphysical elements, threw in a little bit of magic and art influences (which Moore is all about), and gave us this psychadelic adventure series all about a metafictional character known as Promethea. The identity of Promethea is one that is obtained by the writers who flesh out her adventures, and then take on her identity. It sounds weird, but it's one hell of a good read. Deep, but enjoyable. Give it a look 1. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. This three volume series, with the newest series starting this spring is our number one pick for Alan Moore awesomeness. DO NOT LET THE AWFUL MOVIE SCARE YOU AWAY. The book and the movie are two completely different animals. The concept behind League is that it groups together famous and not so famous literary character into the world's first adventure group! This means you get an interesting mix of interplay between characters like a deviant Invisible Man, Mina Harker after her run in with Dracula, a bestial monsterous Mr. Hyde, and more. We cannot recommend this one enough, and if you're looking for something to try after having read WATCHMEN, then this is a good place to start.

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE COMICS!

AWESOME WEEK FOR COMICS! KICK ASS 5, OLD MAN LOGAN PT 5, INCOGNITO 1, RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS pt.2, AND SO MUCH MORE, READ ON + WE ARE OPEN NORMAL HOURS FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE AND NEW YEAR'S DAY!!

Hey everybody, first off, let me say happy holidays and may all of you have a safe and happy New Year's. We will be holding normal hours for this entire week, so you don't have to worry about any holiday scheduling. We will be open New Year's Eve 11AM to 9PM, just like normal, and New Year's Day 11AM to 9PM, just like normal!

We've got one heck of an awesome week for you guys with new books. It's like EVERYTHING that's super good is coming out this week, and we're so stoked on all the exciting series debuts, and next installments in current red hot runs, that we're about to explode. So, do yourselves a favor, and read on, because you are in for a treat this week, Third Eye faithful!

WOLVERINE 70 - OLD MAN LOGAN PT 5 Slices and Dices It's Way Into Third Eye This Week!

The big hit for this week is definitely going to be Wolverine 70, or as we all know it: Old Man Logan Chapter 5. What has clearly been the biggest storyline from this past Summer begins to count down towards tons of big reveals, and epic happenings. It's been long enough since 69 came out to where we can talk spoilers here a little.. and at the end of 69, you know when ol' Logan sat down to begin telling the story of just how the heroes were all wiped out and what changed this world.. well, you know this is the one to read. Yup, folks, all the stuff with 1985, all the stuff with FF, and all the stuff with Old Man Logan, Millar has hinted that we're going to just learn what the heck is going on in this next installment of Wolverine. And, maybe you're late to the party, and haven't heard about Old Man Logan yet.. so let me give you a quick crash course on why this is one of the biggest books of 2008 (and hell, now 2009!)

Picture this, Wolverine is no more, there's only Logan. It's set 50 years in the future, and he hasn't popped his claws in many, many years. America's a wasteland divided into territories, Dr. Doom controls most of it, Hawkeye is 80 years old and blind, the Spider-Buggy is the vehicle of choice (it even climbs up walls!), the Hulk and She-Hulk popped out many a inbred child (and now grandchildren), look.. it's craziness, it's madness, almost all the Marvel superheroes are dead... and you know you want to read this comic. So, next time you're in, just ask Trish or I.. "okay, so where's the first part of Old Man Logan?" and we'll get you hooked up.

And as for everyone else.. IT'S FINALLY OUT. Now, you can all click here for a look at Wolverine 70 OLD MAN LOGAN Chapter 5.

KICK ASS 5 available this Friday @ Third Eye Comics!!

And holy crap, it's another huge book that everyone has been eagerly awaiting! The story of Kick-Ass has hooked everyone, new and veteran readers alike, because it's just so damn.. kick-ass! But seriously, this series by Old Man Logan writer Mark Millar, and master artist John Romita Jr has been the most fun we've had reading comics in 2008. Picture this, you got this 16 year old kid, really into comics, decides to be a superhero... gets his ass kicked so bad he's hospitalized for six months.. he gets out of the hospital, ends up going through it all again, but actually gets in some lucky hits... crowd of on-lookers video tape it on their cell phones, upload it to YouTube, and wham bam, internet celebrity, viral sensation, Kick-Ass, is born... but he's still horrible at what he does. That's where Hit-Girl and Big Daddy come into play... a 10 year old girl and her dad, wielding a katana sword and eviscerating all sorts of people.

Now, does that sound awesome, or what? And if you're already hooked on Kick-Ass, then you're foaming at the mouth for this next issue, and trust me, we feel your pain, folks! But it's here, finally, the next installment of Kick-Ass which shows us the debut of...Kick-Ass's ARCH-NEMESIS! A.K.A the rich kid son of a big time mafia boss... oh, just read it, you know it's gonna be made of win. Click here to read a preview of Kick-Ass 5!

INCOGNITO 1 - BRAND NEW SERIES FROM CRIMINAL CREATIVE TEAM ED BRUBAKER (writer of Captain America, DD: Lady Bullseye, and more) AND SEAN PHILLIPS - THIS IS THE SICKEST SUPER-VILLAIN COMIC YOU WILL READ ALL YEAR!

Incognito is a book that I feel you guys need to be aware of. It's going to be awesome. I've read the first 8 pages, and I absolutely positively think that this is some lightning in a bottle magic. Brubaker, the writer of such landmark stuff as the Death of Captain America, Gotham Central, Daredevil: Lady Bullseye, and Uncanny X-Men: Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire, is penning it, and his partner Sean Phillips, the man behind Marvel Zombies and Criminal, will be doing the artwork. This is dark, bleak stuff, folks. Brubaker's calling it Super-Noir, since it's basically a modern day noir-influenced tale all about superheroes.

And, just what the heck is Incognito all about? It's the story of a super-villain who's forced into a life of being a normal, honest human being. A super-villain who's in the Witness Protection program, and spends every day of his office job wanting to melt the skin from his co-worker's bones. Just watch as the cracks begin to show, and wait as we watch for him to slowly self-destruct, and you know it'll happen. The book looks awesome, and will be released under the same Marvel ICON imprint as KICK ASS. Its something a little different, and it doesn't have the huge hype machine behind it that a lot of the bigger heavyweights do, but I have a lot of faith in this, and I really hope you guys give it a shot. I like to see good comics do well.

And hey, ontop of all that, in the tradition of their series Criminal, you get more bang for your buck than any comic out there... $3.50, NO ADS, and extra content in the back.. how can you go wrong? Click here to read a preview of Incognito 1!

DARK REIGN FORECAST FOR THIS WEEK! WAR MACHINE 1 , & AVENGERS INITIATIVE 20

Here's your Dark Reign forecast for the week of 1/2/09, and we got a couple of whoppers for you. The first of which is the highly anticipated War Machine ongoing series that begins this week. Lets face it, War Machine is one of the coolest friggin' Marvel characters to come out of the 80s and 90s. He's got rocket launchers on his shoulders! And we mean that in a good way (not in the early '90s Image comics kind of way)! Definitely one of the most interesting characters to come to the forefront of things with Dark Reign, and the fact that Tony Stark's now a wanted fugitive, Jim Rhodes has everyone itchin to see where his new War Machine series is going to go. Written by the master storyteller behind PLANET HULK, Greg Pak, and pencilled by the amazing Leonard Manco (it's been a while since we've seen him do some work, but the pages I've seen from War Machine look outrageous), War Machine 1 definitely looks to be a hot pick for the new crop of Dark Reign stuff!

And hot on the heels of War Machine, we get Avengers the Initiative 2 0, which promises to reveal what will happen to the Initiative (considering it was so integral in the Skrull's plans), and watch as four key Initiative members move onto four major Marvel ongoing series.

GREEN LANTERN 36: RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS PT. 2 A MUST READ!

Following the well-received Final Crisis: RAGE OF THE RED LANTERNS one-shot (which was part one of the Red Lanterns saga), is the next installment in the Rage of the Red Lanterns story.. and it's finally here! We know it took a little longer for Green Lantern 36 to come out, but now all of you who were itching for more Red Lantern action, and are curious about just where things are building to with Blackest Night... well you don't have to wait anymore, cause it's here! Green Lantern 36 gives us the first official chapter of the Rage of the Red Lanterns in the regular GL series, or if you want, the second chapter in the Rage of the Red Lanterns (if you count the one-shot). And hey, if you missed out on the one-shot, don't worry, we gots plenty of 'em here at Third Eye.

Just what is Rage of the Red Lanterns about? The Red Lanterns, fueled by well.. RAGE... want only one thing: to brutally kill Sinestro, and of course, anyone who stands in their way. So Hal and the gang have to go head to head with Atrocitus and all his fellow Red Lanterns in this issue, and what's this... now the Orange Lanterns begin to surface? Click here to read more about Green Lantern 36!

BACK TO BROOKLYN 3 brings us the next issue in Garth Ennis's (Writer of the Boys) ultraviolent Mafia saga!

If there's one thing we know here at Third Eye... it's that Garth Ennis can write a fine comic! Everyone is loving the man's run on the Boys, you've dug his excellent take on the Punisher, and Preacher is a modern classic, for sure... not to mention all the great current stuff like Crossed that he puts out... lets face it, we're all about Ennis the Menace here at Third Eye. And this week, we get the third installment of his ultra-violent, kick in the teeth mafia comic Back To Brooklyn. When you're a wiseguy, and a huge mob war is about to break out between the different gangs in your hood, what'd you do to get your family safe? You go to the cops, right? Well, what if all the cops end up getting waxed, and that doesn't do it? You convince the cops to let you go in yourself, and that's exactly what happens. Now, EVERYONE wants to kill you, and you're just trying to get your wife and kids back... add in lots of blood, some trademark Ennis screwed-upness, and of course, all the well-paced storytelling and snappy dialogue that mister Ennis is known for, and you got yourself one heck of a good read. For those of you who haven't read it, here's a preview of issue 1!

KEVIN SMITH'S BATMAN CACOPHONY 2 hits the shelves this week!

OMG WTF! A Kevin Smith book that's on time?? See, we told you guys! We know his track record has burned a few of you before (spidermanblackcatcoughcoughdaredeviltargetcoughcough), but, lets face it, we love Kevin Smith. We love his flicks, and we love his comics. The man is a true fan, and you can definitely see it in project he does. And after having read Cacophony 1, we're hooked. His humorous take on characters like Deadshot and the Joker, along with the return of his fan-favorite Green Arrow villain Onmonopea (or however you spell it!), makes this three issue mini-series a must-read. And by god, he's getting it out on time! I'm impressed. I'll admit I was a little skeptical at first too, but hey.. I like to be proven wrong, especially when it means I can get a good comic quicker! Click here to read more about Batman: Cacophony 2!

FINAL CRISIS: SECRET FILES REVEALS THE GRIM SECRETS OF DARKSEID, AND THE INNER WORKINGS OF GRANT MORRISON'S INTRICATE STORYLINE!

Why are we making a big deal out of what's basically a handbook? Because if there's ANY series that needs a friggin' handbook, it's Final Crisis. I mean, don't get me wrong, we're loving it! Grant Morrison's arcane storytelling, and the sense of mystery and excitement he's built into this book have made us huge fans, and after issue 5, we're so damn hooked it's not even funny. But, lets be real, folks... THERE'S A LOT GOING ON HERE! And this Final Crisis: Secret Files one-shot is here to help make sense of some of the going ons of this amazing event book.

So, if there's certain aspects or characters you wanna learn more about, then this one-shot is the perfect resource to go to. I know I'm gonna be reading this thing from cover to cover! Click here to read more about Final Crisis Secret Files!

SUPERMAN 683: NEW KRYPTON CHAPTER 9 SOARS INTO THIRD EYE!

We're all digging the heck out of this New Krypton stuff, and this week's latest installment (Chapter 9) will be taking place in the pages of Superman 683. This is the big one, folks, thousands of enraged

Kryptonians lashing out against humanity, and only one Superman to stop them!

ULTIMATE HULK ANNUAL featuring Ed McGuiness Art Out This Week!

I'm personally a story kind of guy. I follow writers, I can appreciate good art, and I have some favorites, but it's a super well-written story that gets me hooked... and that being the case, it's rare that I'll read a book strictly based on an artist's name alone. There are some artists out there who just pull me in though, and Ed McGuiness is one of those. I will read ANYTHING this guy does because it is ALWAYS so full of awesomeness it's not even funny. And what does McGuiness do best? BIG. And who's bigger than the Hulk? Especially the people-eating, beer-swilling, hippie-bashing Ultimate Hulk. This Ultimatum Tie-In gives us Ultimate Hulk being his usual bad-ass self, Zarda (remember her from the Squadron Supreme world?) being her usual death goddess self.. and hey, Ultimate Captain America too! All we know is that the one-two punch of two awesome artists like Ed McGuiness and Marko Djurdevic make this one something we have got to check out this week. Click here to read more about Ultimate Hulk Annual 1!

FANTASTIC FOUR 562 : is this the threat from 1985?

Ultimates creative team Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch have made Fantastic Four a big time must read, and their last story arc, the Death of the Invisible Woman has set up a lot of interesting things. Basically, Fantastic Four ,1985 (which if you haven't read yet, PICK IT UP!), and Old Man Logan are all tied together according to Millar..and in this issue, we get to see the funeral for the Invisible Woman from... the future of Old Man Logan. And, Marvel even rumored maybe a threat from the world of 1985!? We'll see this week, I guess! Click here to read more about Fantastic Four 562!