THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 12/29/10

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1 - DAVID FINCH'S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ONGOING SERIES FEATURING BRUCE WAYNE DEBUTS THIS WEDNESDAY! This book is the modern day successor to Jim Lee's "HUSH". Here it is, folks. The big one. The one that we've all been waiting for since the whole new family of Bat-titles was announced. Don't get me wrong now, BATMAN INC is major, top-tier awesomeness, and DETECTIVE COMICS and BATWOMAN are delivering the goods in a big way. But, it's DARK KNIGHT, that we feel will truly be the super-star stand-out of the Batman family titles. In other words, if you're reading ANY Batman books, then this ONE has to be one of them. BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT is the traditional, straight-forward, grim take on the Caped Crusader we all know and love but with the modern twist that Morrison has applied to the character to keep things fresh, and interesting. Of course, the real stand-out here is the fact that David Finch is handling the art chores on this one, and if you read BATMAN: THE RETURN one-shot, then you know just how damn good Finch is. And, you also probably know what a big deal it is that this superstar is committing to a monthly series. From what I've seen so far, this book looks to be the modern day successor to Jim Lee's incredible HUSH storyline. In other words, this is a top tier, all-out-action Batman story set in the current continuity of BATMAN INCORPORATED, where we're going to see one of the industry's most talented artists bring some of Batman's deadliest Rogues to life on the page. Finch describes the feel of the new ongoing series as a very dark, very noir-driven book with lots of gothic, supernatural settings. The first story kicks off with a recently returned Bruce Wayne, who in between globe-trotting Batman Incorporated recruitment missions, has taken a second look at his own city, and found that an old childhood friend of his has been tragically murdered. From the way Finch describes it, it sounds very street-level, and takes Batman into a very dark direction, which is very reminiscent of some of the classic O'Neil and Adams arcs. A mix of street-level crime noir and the dark arts and demonology that will put the Dark Knight into a very interesting place. Most importantly, we feel that THE DARK KNIGHT serves as the perfect companion book to BATMAN INCORPORATED as the two flag-ship titles of the Batman family right now. The book looks great, reads great, and does not disappoint on any level. Also, the first issue of this series is a great spot to jump in fresh. The only thing we'd recommend reading prior to this if you wanted some back story would be Finch's BATMAN: THE RETURN one-shot which is still in stock here at Third Eye. Click here to read the full scoop on what's going on with Batman now that Bruce Wayne is back, what to read to catch up, and which of the new series are looking the best. MARK MILLAR (Writer of KICK-ASS, SUPERIOR, OLD MAN LOGAN) & STEVE MCNIVEN'S (artist of CIVIL WAR, OLD MAN LOGAN) NEMESIS CONCLUDES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH NEMESIS #4 - THE SAGA OF MILLAR'S "ANTI-BATMAN" COMES TO A HORRIFYING FINISH! Mark Millar brings his blood-drenched, stomach-turning Anti-Batman saga to a close this Wednesday with NEMESIS #4. And, after the horrifying events and cliffhanger of issue #3, we gotta admit: we're on the edge of our seats waiting to see how this one concludes. All we can say to those of you who haven't been reading the series is: booby-trapped womb. So, you're probably wondering just what the heck this whole NEMESIS thing is all about? Well, the writer of hit series like KICK-ASS, OLD MAN LOGAN, SUPERIOR, and WANTED, you know, that Scottish guy by the name of Mark Millar? Well, he's brought some of his twisted magic to the whole Batman arch-type with Nemesis. See, Nemesis is the world's first and only super-criminal. He is a pure and utter bastard who has only one motivation and desire and that's to cause as much pain, mayhem and suffering as he can. And much like The Dark Knight, Nemesis is an expert athlete, trained in several martial arts, is insanely wealthy, has access to all sorts of wild gadgets and high-tech gear, and is, in his own respect, a serious genius. Of course, he's also demented, twisted, and completely depraved, so there's that whole flipside as well. We learn very early on in the series that Nemesis's driving motivation is revenge on the world of law and order, specifically a Washington, D.C Chief of Police by the name of Blake Morrow. And, why is he doing that? 'Cause that's the officer who busted his corrupt and wealthy parents and caused their untimely demise (one a suicide, one a death penalty). See, the whole anti-Batman comparison? Anyways, after three issues of ultra-violence, revenge schemes, and us getting to learn just what a hard-ass Chief of Police Blake really is, and how he might be the one guy who can take Nemesis down... we're going to see how this all ends out this week in the pages of NEMESIS #4. If you want to get caught up on the series, we've got issues #1, #2 and #3 in stock to get you caught up to this week's #4. Highly recommended, don't sleep on this one, folks! AVENGERS #8 - The Illuminati Returns! The Infinity Gauntlet is Back! And, what the heck does any of this have to do with Red Hulk? The flagship Marvel U. title continues to rage on this Wednesday! Bendis and Romita continue to serve up some serious Marvel magic with their run on THE AVENGERS. Folks, eight issues in, and this book just continues to get better. Not only does it serve as the flagship "where the big stuff goes down" book of the Marvel Universe, it also delivers some of the best, straight-forward superhero storytelling going on in comics right now. You want all of those kick-ass Marvel heroes and villains you've grown up knowing and loving? This is the book to read. You want non-stop, smashmouth brawl after brawl? This is the book to read. You want fantastic storytelling, sharp dialogue, and some of the best high-energy artwork in comics right now? Avengers has got it all, folks. The current arc, which began in last month's issue #7, is focusing on a mysterious stranger who's somehow come into possession of one of the Infinity Gems, and is now using it to piece together the freakin' Infinity Gauntlet. Yes. The same Infinity Gauntlet that Thanos wore. THAT Infinity Gauntlet. And, the classic braintrust of big-time Marvel movers and shakers, the Illuminati, is re-assembling to determine who it is, and if the problem can be solved. And, as we saw last month, the Red Hulk is now involved in this whole situation. Romita does some of his best work when he does big, and you can bet when you've got the Red Hulk, the Illuminati, and the Infinity Gauntlet... you're gonna get BIG. We're stoked for this one, and cannot wait to read it this Wednesday. Not reading AVENGERS? We've got issues #1-7 in stock to get you caught up to this week's #8. If you want a solid, flagship Marvel title to follow that delivers one of the best Avengers line-ups and tones of a series, then this is most definitely the book to be reading. Click here for a preview of AVENGERS #8 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* DETECTIVE COMICS #872 *BLACK MIRRORS PART 2* - "AMERICAN VAMPIRE" writer SCOTT SNYDER & "THE LOSERS" artist JOCK continue to kick-ass on their run of DETECTIVE COMIS! READ THIS BOOK! Folks, I gotta tell you, if you're sleeping on Snyder and Jock's DETECTIVE COMICS, you are missing out. This is one of the best new Batman-family books out, and starting with issue #871, this book became a major must-read. We haven't enjoyed DETECTIVE COMICS this much since Ruck and JH Williams were featuring Batwoman in the book. Simply put, folks, if you're a Batman fan at all, and you're sleeping on DETECTIVE right now, you are missing out on just plain good comics. The title, starting with #871, is now focused on Dick Grayson, and his quest to fill the role of Bruce in Gotham City, not so much as solely a crime-fighter, but also as a crime-solver. A real detective. And, this is totally appropriate, considering the name of the title. There's a strong emphasis on the dynamic between Grayson and Gordon, who is obviously clued in to the fact that Gotham's Batman is not the same Batman he's worked with for years. Snyder brings a dark, moody, and atmospheric crime noir approach to the book, that gels perfectly with the AMAZING artwork of LOSERS artist JOCK. These two work so damn well together, and folks, I'm telling you, I know there's a lot of damn good Batman books out there, but, DETECTIVE is gonna be the sleeper that you're gonna kick yourself if you miss. This book is pure comic magic. And, I haven't even touched on the kick-ass back-up feature by Snyder and rising star artist Francesco Francavilla (who did some terrific work on BLACK PANTHER MAN WITHOUT FEAR #513) that focuses solely on Jim Gordon. What's the current arc about? The story has strong roots in the Batman mythology, and we see classic villains like Killer Croc, Mad Hatter, and Poison Ivy referenced or evoked in some manner. There's even Gotham Central stand-bys like Jim Corrigan. Grayson is investigating murders related to a drug that seems to be derived from Killer Croc's DNA. Of course, there's much more going on here than that, and that's what really makes Black Mirrors pop. This one reminds you a lot of those dark, gothic masterpiece Batman stories of yesteryear that writers like Alan Grant would tell in SHADOWS OF THE BAT. Good, good stuff. Missed issue #871? We've got copies in stock to get you caught up to this week's #872. Click here to read our Guide to BATMAN INC and It's TIE-INs. HELLBOY: THE SLEEPING AND THE DEAD #1- HELLBOY. THE VAMPIRE APOCALYPSE. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE AWESOME? It's no secret that we love ourselves some Hellboy here at Third Eye. And, when you tell us that Scott Hampton, the legendary VERTIGO COMICS artist who worked on books like BOOKS OF MAGIC, is going to be pairing up with Mike Mignola to tell a two-part story about Hellboy chasing giant bats, and then stumbling upon knowledge that there's a freakin' Vampire Apocalypse on the way. It's Hellboy meets pure classic Vampire horror in this new two-parter, and it's gonna kick some mega-ass. Click here for a preview of HELLBOY: THE SLEEPING & THE DEAD #1 CARNAGE #2 - CLAYTON CRAIN DELIVER MORE INSANE AND JAW-DROPPING ARTWORK ON THE DEADLIEST INCARNATION OF THE CARNAGE SYMBIOTE YET! Some things are worth waiting for, and Clayton Crain's incredible artwork is one of those things. And, that's why we're totally OK with a bi-monthly schedule on this new CARNAGE limited series, 'cause folks: the art in this book is some of the best looking comic art on the stands right now. And, the world of CARNAGE is the perfect corner of the Marvel Universe for Crain to tackle. His art on X-FORCE a couple years ago wowed us, and we thought that was great, but, lets face it: he draws a mean looking creepy crawlie symbiote thing. The first issue of this one brought back Carnage, but in a new, and different way that really made things fresh. We also saw a brief cameo by that old Spider-man doppleganger thing, which you know, I got a kick out of. But now, the Carnage symbiote has been separated from it's former host, Cletus Kasady, so he shouldn't be as dangerous, right? It looks like they were wrong on that one. Bloody, violent, and a total nostalgia-trip for any of you who, like myself, grew up loving Maximum Carnage and what not, this new CARNAGE limited series is kick-ass. Missed out on issue #1? We've got copies in stock, and snag a copy and get caught up to this week's #2. Click here for a preview of CARNAGE #2, and find out why we're so jazzed about Crain's art on this one. GEOFF JOHNS DELIVERS "REVERSE FLASH REBIRTH" IN FLASH #8 THIS WEDNESDAY AS THE OFFICIAL PRELUDE TO 2011'S DCU EVENT, FLASHPOINT, BEGINS! We've been loving Geoff Johns's run on THE FLASH since he kicked off the new ongoing series featuring Barry, and ever since the end of FLASH REBIRTH and the beginning of the new ongoing, we've seen the tips of the hat to one of the next big DCU events that Johns had in store for us: FLASHPOINT. We're very excited about this, because there's really nobody quite like Geoff Johns in comics that does big events justice. Blackest Night, and it's follow-up BRIGHTEST DAY, have been extremely enjoyable, and we're really pumped to see Johns using the rich tapestry of Flash stories to set up his next big epic. It's almost kind of funny, because Johns is working the same kind of magic with The Flash that he did with Green Lantern back a few years ago. First, he re-introduced the character with the REBIRTH limited series, and then he brought out a solid, well-done ongoing series that laid the groundworks for bigger things to come... and, while we don't think Flashpoint will be anywhere near the level of BLACKEST NIGHT, we do feel that it will be comparable in scale to something like SINESTRO CORPS WARS. And, hey, we're fine with that cause SINESTRO CORPS WARS freakin' ruled! Anyways, after the killer stand-alone issue of #7 last month, where we got some very cool insight into WHO CAPTAIN BOOMERANG is and what his motivations are, now, we're getting the story of Professor Zoom, his origins, and where his future lies, as the prelude to Flashpoint rages forward. Click here for a preview of FLASH #8 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* Missed 1-7? We've got copies in stock to get you caught up, so snag 'em this week! ECHOES #1 - What happens when you learn your dying father was a serial killer? Meet Brian Cohn. He's a diagnosed schizophrenic leading a simple, uncomplicated life in Monroeville, PA. He's expecting his first child with his wife, and well, life couldn't be better for ol' Brian. And, then, when he goes to visit his estranged Alzheimer's afflicted father on his deathbed, the dying old man confesses to being a serial killer. Now Brian's faced with discovering a horrifying new side to his father and left wondering if the family legacy will continue in him. This one looks to be a kick-ass new mystery/suspense story that invokes tones similar to stuff like SE7EN, and judging from the preview pages we have seen, it looks like it's gonna deliver. Give it a look this Wednesday! JONATHAN HICKMAN'S S.H.I.E.L.D #5ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY, CONTINUES THE UNRAVELING OF THE SECRET SOCIETY WHERE DAVINCI, GALILEO, IMHOTEP, AND OTHER HISTORICAL GREATS WERE FOUNDERS OF SHIELD I have to tell you, guys, five issues in, and I'm just as hooked on SHIELD as I was with the very first issue. Hickman is turning into one of my biggest favorites right now as far as comic writers go, and it's freakin' great that he's putting out a few different solid books to choose from. SHIELD just happens to be my favorite of the bunch. The story of SHIELD centers around the idea that the SHIELD organization we all know from the Marvel U actually originated many, many years ago, as some sort of secret society of the world's greatest thinkers, inventors, and innovators as an effort to battle the timeless cosmic threats of entities like GALACTUS, The Celestials, and more. Hickman does an incredible job of weaving in real historical figures, such as DaVinci and Galileo, and using characters like Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards to ground them into the Marvel Universe. Dustin Weaver's art looks terrific. And, dammit, this book is just too freakin' rad. You wanna see bigger-than-life, near-cosmic level craziness featuring some of the world's greatest minds? You need to be reading SHIELD. Click here for a preview of #5, and see for yourself. We've got SHIELD issues #1-4 in stock now to get you caught up to this week's #5. GREEN LANTERN #61 *BRIGHTEST DAY TIE-IN* - The Spectre vs. The Butcher, the Rage entity?! You know this one's gonna kick ass. Geoff Johns continues his kick-ass run on GL this week with GREEN LANTERN #61, and the intriguing mystery of who's been collecting the various spectrum entities is finally revealed. Meanwhile, the Spectre gets thrown into the mix, as he comes face to face with the Butcher, the personification of rage. Johns has been doing a kick-ass job with his run on GL so far, and if you're not reading yet, and looking for a solid place to jump on, start with issue #53, as that is the first issue post-Blackest Night, and carrying the Brightest Day tag. It's a great, new reader friendly spot to hop onto what has been one of the best monthly DC Comics for the last four or five years. And, don't worry, if you need to hop on, we've got all of those issues in stock to get you caught up. As for this week's issue, what more need be said than Spectre vs. the Rage entity? This is gonna rock! CAPTAIN AMERICA: HAIL HYDRA #1 BEGINS A NEW LIMITED SERIES BY "MARVEL UNIVERSE vs. the PUNISHER" writer JONATHAN MABERRY CHRONICLING THE HISTORY OF HYDRA One of our favorite sleeper hits of the summer was the killer, ultra-violent WHAT IF-style mini-series, MARVEL UNIVERSE vs. the PUNISHER. This I AM LEGEND take on the character was killer, and it really made us notice Jonathan Maberry's writing, with the clever approach he brought to the concept that made it into something much more memorable than just another Punisher mini-series. And, now, with this week's CAPTAIN AMERICA: HAIL HYDRA, we have this sneaking suspicion that Maberry might be doing the same thing all over again with Cap. There's been a handful of Cap mini-series in the last few months, some good, some OK, and some not-so-swift, but, we have a feeling that Hail Hydra is going to really be a breakout amongst the bunch. The story spans the years from 1944 up to the current day, and shows us a backstory that spans back thousands of years, showing us that HYDRA is a vastly old organization which has existed in a thousand different shapes over the centuries. Each issue is going to be showing the growth and development of HYDRA beginning in the '40s, and up to where they are now, and promises to toy around with the infamous terrorist organization that's been at odds with everyone from Wolverine to Elektra to Nick Fury. From what we've read about the series, Maberry sounds like he's bringing a techy thriller meets pulp adventure kind of tone to the story with a very dark twist. We're pretty excited about this one, and have a feeling it'll be another great sleeper hit just like the MARVEL U. vs the PUNISHER mini-series was. INCOGNITO BAD INFLUENCES #2 - BRUBAKER'S APOCALYPTIC PULP NOIR CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY! One of my personal favorites! Saying I'm a huge fan of the projects that Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips work on together is a bit of an understatement. Between what they're doing with their return to INCOGNITO, and what they've done in CRIMINAL, it goes without saying that these guys are probably my favorite creative team working in comics today. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, does crime noir comics better than Brubaker and Phillips right now. I'd stack their work on CRIMINAL and INCOGNITO against legendary crime comics fare (which I also love) SIN CITY and 100 BULLETS any day. They're THAT good. And, why're they that good? 'Cause, they've got such an amazing passion for the genre. And, this is what really makes their stuff pop. Incognito: Bad Influences is a stand-alone series that follows up the events of 2009's INCOGNITO, which introduced us to Zach Overkill, the former henchmen of a criminal mastermind by the name of The Black Death. See, Zach snitched out his old boss, got put into witness protection, and was given a new life he absolutely could not stand. And, of course, he fell, and he fell hard, and ended up going back into his old ways... of course, his old boss wasn't too happy to find out his henchmen was still out there running around, while he was locked up in maximum security. Now, in BAD INFLUENCES, we see ol' Zach Overkill returning, but this time put into a situation where he's ...SORT OF.. working on the right side of the law. The pure pulp fiction kind of world that Brubaker shapes with this series is part of the book's appeal, and the way that he's able to set the mood and tone of a scene in such reality, and then throw in something as surreal as a talking gorilla, or a death-ray wielding maiden that doesn't age. In fact, the amount of depth that Brubaker implies in INCOGNITO, that there's a whole world to be explored, beyond Overkill's story, is fascinating. But, at it's core, Incognito, and Incognito BAD INFLUENCES, are true superhero noir stories. A protagonist that's an admittedly terrible person, and a world around him that's far worse. And, there's no happy endings. If you're a fan of darker takes on superheroes, like THE BOYS, WATCHMEN, or IRREDEEMABLE, then you should really be reading INCOGNITO. Trust us. It's the best $3.50 an issue you could spend. There's no ads, and there's even a back up column in each issue where Jess Nevins (comic and pop culture historian who did some really rad books that go into huge detail about all the real inspirations and references in Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) unearths hidden pulp fiction characters and writes about what they were and what made them so awesome. But, enough of my rambling, pick up issue #1 of INCOGNITO BAD INFLUENCES this Wednesday, and snag #2 while you're at it, and find out why this is one of my favorite books, two years and running. JONATHAN HICKMAN DELIVERS ULTIMATE THOR #3 THIS WEDNESDAY. THIS IS THE BEST ULTIMATE TITLE WE'VE READ SINCE MILLAR & HITCH'S FIRST RUN ON THE ULTIMATES Again, Hickman proves why he's one of my favorite writers working right now. Ultimate Thor is probably the best ULTIMATES title I've seen since Millar and Hitch's original run on the ULTIMATES and ULTIMATES 2. The book recaptures the same kind of cutting edge punch, and sense of widescreen action that Millar and Hitch's ULTIMATES runs did, and really brings back that sense of awe that many of us got when we first came upon THE ULTIMATES nearly a decade ago (which I still hold up as one of the best Marvel comics in the last 10-15 years). This book tells the story of Thor's origin in the Ultimate universe, and it's filled with wild twists. Baron Zemo's got a surprise. Nazi frost giants get clobbered by Thor. And, Ragnarok is on the way. Missed issues 1 and 2? We've got copies of both in stock still to catch you up to this week's #3. I could go on and on about the book, but just check out the preview, and you'll see what I mean. This one is action-packed. Click here for a preview of ULTIMATE COMICS THOR #3 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: TALES COLLECTS ALL OF JOSS WHEDON'S "SLAYER" SHORT STORIES, UNCOLLECTED WORKS, AND MORE! We know all of our Whedon fans here are pretty hardcore about keeping up on any comic work he's put out there. Before he began working on BUFFY: SEASON EIGHT, Whedon brought the tales of his various Slayers from different ages to the world of comics. Now, in BUFFY: THE VAMPIRE SLAYER TALES hardcover, all of Joss's previously printed, and some previously uncollected Slayer-related stories are being put out. This includes the story of the First Slayer, drawn by SUPERIOR artist Leinil Yu, as well as a new story featuring vampires living in the public eye, killing Slayers, and each other with art by Becky Cloonan. In other words, this one's a must for all of you Buffy fans out there. :) BULLSEYE: PERFECT GAME #2 - WHERE DOES THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS ASSASSIN GO WHEN HE DISAPPEARS? The first issue of this BULLSEYE two-parter really hooked us with it's grizzled, hardboiled crime noir approach. The one-two punch combo of Huston's pitch perfect crime noir writing style and Shawn Martinbrough's completely fitting artwork really brought a new level of depth and complexity to the character of BULLSEYE. Plus, lets face it: BULLSEYE is just plain cool. He's one of the raddest Marvel villains, with one of the raddest costumes, and one of the raddest powers. Any story that's solely focused on him can't be half bad, right? Anyways, the story focuses on the one year in between the downfall of NORMAN OSBORN and his DARK AVENGERS, and the events of SHADOWLAND where Bullseye got a Sai in his gut. Basically, the world's greatest assassin vanishes without a trace after turning down high-paying job after high-paying job, until a very low-paying contract on a washed up ball player comes into view. And, that's where Bullseye finds his next great challenge... and, hiding in plain sight, Bullseye's throwing the kind of heat that'll take off a batter's head. Missed issue #1? We've got copies in stock still for you to get caught up. Click here for a preview of BULLSEYE PERFECT GAME #2 THIRD EYE STAFF PICKS Steve - STUFF OF LEGEND: THE JUNGLE #3 - Don't you love it when you think a comic can't get any better ,and then it blows you away all over again? What a great issue. Trish - Alan Moore's NEONOMICON #3 - Alan Moore, you are seriously, seriously disturbed. And i love it. TORMA - BATMAN INCORPORATED #2 - This book is like BATMAN AND ROBIN was with Morrison but a thousand times more awesome. The way that Morrison casts Bruce Wayne outside of familiar territoriy... it really amkes for a cool story.

WHAT'S NEW @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 6/9/10

Hey gang! Here's a full listing of new releases arriving at Third Eye this Wednesday! See something you just absolutely gotta have? Shoot us an email at thirdeyecomics@gmail.com, and we'll be happy to set it aside for you!

• ACTS OF VIOLENCE ANTHOLOGY OF CRIME COMICS GN


• ASHLEY WOOD FI #1


• ASTONISHING X-MEN XENOGENESIS #2


• ATLAS TP MARVEL BOY


• AVENGERS ACADEMY #1 *HEROIC AGE*


• AVENGERS ACADEMY #1 DJURDJEVIC VARIANT


• AVENGERS IAM AN AVENGER II TPB v.2


• AVENGERS VISION & SCARLET WITCH TP A YEAR IN THE LIFE


• BATGIRL #11


• BATMAN #700 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY - RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE TIE-IN!*


• BATMAN #700 75th ANNIVERSARY SKETCH COVER


• BATMAN #700 75th ANNIVERSARY VARIANT


• BATTLE ANGEL ALITA LAST ORDER TP v.13


• BONE HANDBOOK SC


• BOOSTER GOLD #33


• BUZZARD #1 *NEW TITLE BY GOON CREATOR, ERIC POWELL!*


• CAPTAIN AMERICA #606 *HEROIC AGE!*


• CAPTAIN AMERICA #606 HEROIC AGE VARIANT


• CAPTAIN AMERICA AMERICA FIRST HC


• CAPTAIN AMERICA BUST BANK


• CARS #6


• CHEW #11


• CHEW TPB v.2 INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*


• CHRONICLES OF CONAN TP v.19 DEATHMARK


• COWBOY NINJA VIKING #6


• DAFFODIL PREMIERE HC


• DAREDEVIL #507


• DAYTRIPPER #7


• DEADPOOL CORPS #3


• DEADPOOL #1 *THIRD EYE DOLLAR MENU!*


• DEADPOOL WADE WILSON'S WAR #1 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL*


• DOC SAVAGE #3


• DOC SAVAGE #3 VARIANT


• DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL vol 37


• DOOM PATROL #11


• DOOM PATROL WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE TP


• DRACULA #1 *RE-INTRODUCING THE MARVEL UNIVERSE DRACULA INTO THE MARVEL U!*


• DREAM LOGIC #1


• EXPENDABLES #2


• FAME #1 LADY GAGA


• FAME #2 ROBERT PATTINSON


• FARSCAPE SCORPIUS #2


• FREE REALMS #10


• GEARS OF WAR TPB BOOK 01


• GEN13 #36


• GHOST RIDER DANNY KETCH CLASSIC TP v.2


• GI JOE COBRA II #5


• GI JOE COBRA II #5 VARIANT


• GOTHAM CENTRAL HC v.3 ON THE FREAK BEAT


• GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANT HC


• GRAVEL #19


• GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY BIG GAME TPB


• HACK/SLASH MY FIRST MANIAC #1 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL*


• HELLBOY TPB v.10 THE CROOKED MAN *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*


• HERALDS #2


• HEROIC AGE PRINCE OF POWER #2


• HOUSE OF MYSTERY #26


• HULK SON OF HULK TP DARK SON RISING


• HUMAN TARGET #5


• INU YASHA TP VOL 49


• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #27 *HEROIC AGE - RESILIENT PT 3* THIRD EYE MUST BUY


• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #27 IRON MAN BY DESIGN 2 VARIANT


• IRON MAN BUST BANK


• IRON MAN NOIR #3


• IRREDEEMABLE TPB v.3


• JACK OF FABLES #1 *THIRD EYE DOLLAR MENU*


• JAMES PATTERSONS MURDER OF KING TUT #1


• JESUS HATES ZOMBIES LINCOLN HATES WEREWOLVES GN v.4


• JONAH HEX #56


• JONAH HEX #56 VARIANT


• JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST #3 *BRIGHTEST DAY*


• JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST #3 VARIANT


• KEVIN SMITH'S KATO #2


• THE LIGHT #3


• LOGAN'S RUN #3


• META 4 #1


• MODERN WARFARE 2 GHOST #5


• NEIL YOUNG'S GREENDALE HC


• NEMESIS #2 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*


• NEMESIS #2 CASSADAY VARIANT


• NEW AVENGERS HC v.5


• OKIMONO KIMONO HC


• OUTSIDERS #30


• PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #142


• PANTHEON #3


• PREDATORS #1 *PRELUDE TO THE NEW FILM!*


• RAWHIDE KID #1


• RAWHIDE KID PREMIERE HC SLAP LEATHER


• RED SONJA #50


• ROBERT E HOWARD HAWKS OF OUTREMER #1


• ROBERT E HOWARD PRESENTS THULSA DOOM TPB


• RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #101


• SAM & TWITCH WRITER #3


• SECRET SIX #22


• SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL 38


• S.H.I.E.L.D #2 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY!*


• S.H.I.E.L.D #2 HISTORICAL VARIANT


• SHRAPNEL HUBRIS #1


• SOLOMON KANE DEATHS BLACK RIDERS #4


• SPAWN ORIGINS DELUXE EDITION HC v.1


• SPIDER-MAN FEVER #3


• SPIDER-MAN RETURN OF THE BLACK CAT TPB


• STAR TREK MCCOY #3


• STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION GHOSTS TP


• SUPER FRIENDS #28


• SUPER HERO SQUAD #6


• SUPER HERO SQUAD TPB SUPER STARS DIGEST


• MARVEL SUPER HEROES #3


• SUPERMAN BATMAN FINEST WORLDS TPB


• SWEET TOOTH #10


• TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE #6


• TITANS #24 *BRIGHTEST DAY*


• TOM STRONG AND THE ROBOTS OF DOOM #1 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL*


• TOYFARE #156


• TRANSFORMERS ONGOING #8


• TRANSFORMERS ONGOING VOL 1 FOR ALL MANKIND TPB


• TUMOR HC


• ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #3 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*


• ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #11


• UNCANNY X-MEN #525 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 10*


• UNCANNY X-MEN #525 FINCH VARIANT


• UNCLE SCROOGE #392


• UNWRITTEN #14


• WARLORD #15


• WIZARD MAGAZINE #227


• X-MEN FOREVER 2 #1


• X-MEN HELLBOUND #2 *X-MEN SECOND COMING*


• YOUNG ALLIES #1 *HEROIC AGE*

The Third Eye Subscription Service!

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THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 3/24/10

WHAT IF BATMAN WAS A SADISTIC, EVIL MENACE? Mark Millar (KICK-ASS, OLD MAN LOGAN) and Steve McNiven (OLD MAN LOGAN, CIVIL WAR) unleash NEMESIS #1 this Wednesday! SIMPLY PUT.. What if Batman was the Joker?
CIVIL WAR? Just the beginning
KICK-ASS? A Warm-Up
NEMESIS IS HERE!



Here it is, folks, the book I am most excited about this Spring. Bar none, I'm looking forward to this more than just about anything else. And, I know what a lot of you guys are saying: of course, you are, Steve, you love all the @$%!ed up violent books. But, hey, that's not true... I love all the @$!%ed up violent books that are well-written! :)

Seriously though, this one's a big deal. First off, it's the creative team of MARK MILLAR and STEVE MCNIVEN. This is the writer/artist combo that brought you CIVIL WAR, and OLD MAN LOGAN. And, for those of you who may not know, OLD MAN LOGAN was the Third Eye Must Buy of 2009, folks. Probably the best Wolverine series in two decades, showing us a Logan who has sheathed his claws permanently, and started a family amidst a post-apocalyptic wasteland of dead Marvel heroes, and supervillains that run the country. But, hey, hold up, that's not all..... Mr. Millar also gave us the INCREDIBLE KICK-ASS, which is on it's way to movie theaters this April. And, with KICK-ASS and OLD MAN LOGAN, he showed us how he was capable of taking the superhero genre and completely spinning it on it's head.

So, WHAT IS NEMESIS? Nemesis is comic book love, my friends. Mark Millar is doing what he does best all over again, and getting ready to put us all through the ringer. Nemesis, in a nutshell, is What if Batman WAS the Joker? In other words, if you had the world's smartest, wealthiest man, and instead of him being dedicated to protecting the innocent, he had committed his existence to terrorizing the innocent. In fact, what he does is he targets a police chief, moves into his jurisdiction, recruits a team from the local hoods, and then goes on a crusade against the entire city. And, it's all executed with the kind of strategy, and bravado that you would expect from an adventure of the Dark Knight.

Now, I've only read the first issue, as an advance copy, but, from what I have read... this book is going to blow you away. It looks like the actual motivations, and origins of Nemesis will be explored further in the series, but that first issue... it's a non-stop bloodbath from beginning to finish. And, it's all done in McNiven's gorgeous, incredible art-style, with of course, the fantastic pacing and storytelling of Mark Millar.

But, back to NEMESIS! So, the first issue starts with NEMESIS, doing some horrible things in another part of the world, before he decides to set his sights on a police chief in Washington, D.C. And, while I'm trying to not give away too much in the way of spoilers, it looks like we're going to see the series being summed up as NEMESIS targeting this ordinary man, and this ordinary man fighting back as best he can. And, see, that's where it looks like the appeal of the series is really going to shine. In the world of NEMESIS, there are no superheroes, no superpowers, there's only one person who qualifies as a superhuman, and that's NEMESIS. And, he's superhuman in the way that Batman is Superhuman, extraordinary athletic abilities, genius IQ, lots of cool gadgets. Now, what do you do to fight back against the supervillain equivalent of Batman, who carries the philosophy of THE JOKER?

That's where things are going to be interesting. The struggle between average man, and the unstoppable force of NEMESIS.

I'm really trying hard to not spoil anything from the first issue, but holy crap, if you guys thought KICK-ASS and OLD MAN LOGAN had some jawdropping events, wait til you read this. Heck, even the level of blood, and guts, illustrated by the very talented Steve McNiven, is at an all-time high.

So, if you're looking for one of the biggest books to hit this year, then look no further, NEMESIS is going to be a mega-hit. And, I can tell this from reading just the first issue, 'cause folks, IT'S ONE HELL OF A GOOD READ!

Click here to read an unlettered preview of NEMESIS #1


BLACKEST NIGHT NEARS IT'S END AS GREEN LANTERN #52 DELIVERS SEVERAL REVELATIONS THAT PAVE THE WAY TO THE FINAL ISSUE, BLACKEST NIGHT #8! YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS ISSUE OF GREEN LANTERN, TRUST US!



Since that last page of BLACKEST NIGHT #7, we've all been eagerly awaiting to see the next step for Sinestro now that he's wielding the White Ring. And, this week in GREEN LANTERN #52, many of our questions are going to be answered. While DC has been cagey on the details surrounding this issue of GREEN LANTERN, we do know that this is the penultimate chapter of BLACKEST NIGHT, with only one more issue (BLACKEST NIGHT #8) left after this. We also know that their solicits have stressed that we do not want to miss this issue, no matter what. And, I have to admit, so far, DC has delivered on their promises with BLACKEST NIGHT. Every issue that's been stressed as being an important, or pivotal part, has been exactly that. This was proven big time to me last week in the pages of GREEN LANTERN CORPS #46, which delivered huge. The issue was promoted as an all-out battle royale, and it sure as hell was. PLUS, BLACK LANTERN ANTI-MONITOR=TOO COOL.

Anyways, back to GREEN LANTERN #52, with only one issue of BLACKEST NIGHT left after this, we're expecting some huge payoffs in this issue, since we know they cannot wrap EVERYTHING up in just one final issue of BLACKEST NIGHT. Plus, the fact that Geoff Johns has been writing the GREEN LANTERN books themselves, and has made each issue of the series fit very nicely in-between issues of BLACKEST NIGHT (going so far as to dub the GL tie-ins as Blackest Night 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, ect,ect), we're sure this one's going to be one hell of a read.

So, folks, gear up, and get ready as we march closer towards the BRIGHTEST DAY, and near the conclusion of BLACKEST NIGHT this Wednesday with GREEN LANTERN #52.

Click here to read more about GREEN LANTERN #52 *BLACKEST NIGHT*

Want to catch up on BLACKEST NIGHT? Click here for the official THIRD EYE Blackest Night checklist.

SIEGE DOMINATES THIRD EYE THIS WEDNESDAY! A BIG HEAPING DOSE OF SIEGE AWESOMENESS ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH AVENGERS INITIATIVE #34, MIGHTY AVENGERS #35, NEW AVENGERS #63, THOR #608, and THUNDERBOLTS #142!

Siege makes a huge splash this Wednesday with a full assortment of killer SIEGE tie-ins. Now, I have to say that I've been super impressed so far with the quality and relevance of most of the SIEGE tie-ins. Marvel has done a great job of making each one of the tie-in books feel crucial, and integral to the storyline as a whole, and has done a great job of avoiding the trap of falling into filler with them.

After last week's epic happenings in SIEGE #3, we couldn't be more stoked to see what's coming next this Wednesday with the plethora of killer tie-in issues from Marvel. So, lets go through, and give you the rundown on what to expect...

THOR #608 - THOR vs. THOR CLONE (remember him from CIVIL WAR) in this huge tie-in issue that takes place after the destruction of Asgard!


Those last two pages of THOR #607 were stunning, to say the least. The THOR Siege tie-in, along with the DARK AVENGERS ones, probably have been my favorite tie-ins to the event so far. The writing on both have been top notch, and you know it doesn't hurt that THOR has been just getting better, and better with every issue. Kieron Gillen is definitely an up-and-coming writer to watch, for sure, and he has been really showing how good he can be with his current run on THOR. Not to mention Billy Tan has been delivering some of the best work of his career so far, in our opinion.
This week in THOR #608, we get to see something that everybody has been waiting for... the showdown between THOR and the THOR clone from CIVIL WAR. Ever since the reveal of it's existence, we've been waiting to see how this would play out, and now with the Thor clone (aka Ragnarok) showing up in the thick of SIEGE, it looks like we're going to find out this Wednesday. Not to mention, this issue takes plcae directly after the events of SIEGE #3, and without giving away too much in the way of spoilers... you can be sure there's a huge mess in Asgard that Thor and his Asgardian kin are going to have to take care of!
Click here for a preview of THOR #608 *SIEGE*

AVENGERS INITIATIVE #34 - CAPTAIN AMERICA vs. THE TASKMASTER! THE SURPRISE HIT OF OF SIEGE TIE-INS CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY!



One of the biggest surprise breakout hits of SIEGE as far as tie-ins go has been AVENGERS: INITIATIVE. This was a book that really had kinda hit a downward spiral after the start of Dark Reign. It just kind of was there, and didn't really bring anything to the table that made it a must-read. However, when they did that first SIEGE tie-in with AVENGERS INITIATIVE #31, the art and writing on the book really stood out and made us take notice. Basically, we've seen Taskmaster take center-stage, as kind of the voice for your average run-of-the-mill super-villains. The characterization of Taskmaster, Constrictor, and others has really made this an interesting read as we've watched Taskmaster go from a low-level C-list character off on the sidelines, to being the same character but thrown directly into the middle of a War with the Gods. In this issue, we see that Taskmaster may finally realize how far in over his head he really is as it comes down to him and Captain America going head to head.
Click here for a preview of AVENGERS INITIATIVE #34 *SIEGE*

MIGHTY AVENGERS #35 - ULTRON HAS RETURNED...


ULTRON. One of the most classic Avengers villains of all-time, and still, to this day, one of the most terrifying. And, as the MIGHTY AVENGERS are thrown into the mix of SIEGE madness, so is one of their greatest foes, ULTRON. The Mighty Avengers are left without a leader, as Hank Pym is trapped in Pym-Space, with his robotic "son", ULTRON. And apparently, there's supposed to be one of the largest Avengers surprises to be seen in quite a while.
Click here for a preview of MIGHTY AVENGERS #35 *SIEGE*

NEW AVENGERS #63 - IN THE MIDST OF THE DESTRUCTION OF ASGARD, THE NEW AVENGERS ARE PUT INTO A DEADLY POSITION! IS THIS A SNEAK PEEK AT THE NEW AVENGERS LINE-UP?



Another top notch series of tie-ins for SIEGE has been the NEW AVENGERS books, which began with NEW AVENGERS #61. With all the talk of new teams being formed, and new directions for the books, it's been very interesting to watch the NEW AVENGERS and their place in regards to SIEGE. You can almost feel the walls crumbling around them, and even, their more worldly foes, like the Hood. This issue, taking place during the events of SIEGE #3, shows us how the NEW AVENGERS are dealing with being thrown into the middle of Asgard's destruction, and it shows all the moments of that massive battle that were only touched upon in SIEGE #3.
Click here for a preview of NEW AVENGERS #63

THUNDERBOLTS #142 - THE THUNDERBOLTS HEAD TO HEAD WITH THE MIGHTY AVENGERS AS ASGARD FALLS FROM THE SKY!



Another solid SIEGE tie-in was what happened in the pages of THUNDERBOLTS #141, as we saw Ghost invading the walls of Asgard, under orders by Norman Osborn. With the THUNDERBOLTS acting as Marvel's very own suicide squad of supervillains and shady characters that handle the missions almost guaranteed to fail, how will they fare in a battlefield filled with Asgardians, and Avengers alike? And, what will we learn of their motivations?
Click here for a preview of THUNDERBOLTS #142 *SIEGE*

HAUNT volume 1 trade paperback arrives this Wednesday right alongside HAUNT #6. ARE YOU READING HAUNT? Find out why ROBERT KIRKMAN'S (INVINCIBLE, WALKING DEAD) and TODD MCFARLANE'S (legednary Spawn creator) new IMAGE series has become one of our favorite monthly reads! GET THE FIRST TRADE FOR ONLY $9.99, and HOP ON WITH THIS WEEK'S ISSUE #6 TO ENJOY THE MONTHLY SERIES!




One of the best damn series to start in 2009 has been HAUNT, from the extremely talented writer ROBERT KIRKMAN (the man behind WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, and much more) and TODD MCFARLANE, the legendary comic creator behind SPAWN, and an original IMAGE co-founder. The secret ingredient in HAUNT'S recipe for awesomeness is the mixing of Kirkman's skillful writing and storytelling with McFarlane's visceral sense of BIG. In other words, this book has everything that made you love comics when you were a teenager, combined with the sharp writing and dialogue that makes you love comics today. Plus, it's got that nice little dose of ultraviolence that doesn't hurt to make a book a fun read. :)

This Wednesday, it's a HAUNT double dose, with the first trade paperback collecting HAUNT 1-5, and it's only $9.99. Alongside the first trade comes the sixth issue of HAUNT, which gives you the perfect opportunity to jump onto this great series if you haven't already. For those of you who have been digging the killer range of IMAGE titles like CHEW, INVINCIBLE, and WALKING DEAD, this one's a must-read.

What's the scoop on HAUNT? HAUNT follows Catholic priest Daniel Kilgore, and the ghost of his brother who've bonded together to form the superhero HAUNT. The twist is these two brothers do not get a long with one another at all, with Daniel being a priest who's faith is lacking, and his chain-smoking, hooker picking up lifestyle not being the most chaste path. Kurt, a black ops commando, ends up getting killed on a mission, and something going awry with his death. His ghost comes back just in time to possess his brother, and protect him from being killed, and then from there the book kicks off into a high-energy, non-stop thrillride of espionage, conspiracies, and some very brutal killings. The combination of Kirkman's writing, which keeps things fresh, and interesting with the artwork of McFarlane and Ryan Ottley (INVINCIBLE) fleshing out the story nicely.

A truly visceral, entertaining comic experience, we cannot recommend HAUNT enough if you're looking to get into a gritty, dirty, yet violently fun new series. Ontop of all that, there's those moments where you just stop and go "Wow, THAT'S cool", like when HAUNT uses their ectoplasm-based powers to do neat things (whether it's chopping guys heads off, or shooting out like webbing to slow the descent of a car that's been driven off the side of a building).

What's coming up in HAUNT #6? Well, the first story arc of HAUNT is a nice set-up, but we all know that Kirkman's strength is what comes after he's laid his groundworks. That's when you start seeing the real surprise twists, as he's had time to develop his characters some more. In issues #4, and #5, you learn there's a lot more going on between Kurt and Daniel Kilgore than you realize, and that adds to the intrigue of the series. Issue #6 focuses on Kurt's former lover, and fellow spy, Mirage, where we see more of her origins revealed, and her perspective on the events of HAUNT thus far.

Want to get caught up on HAUNT? Pick up the first trade this Wednesday for only $9.99, or for those of you who're into getting the single issues, we still currently have all five of the previous issues in stock to get caught up on. Either way, give the series a try, it's FANTASTIC! And, hey, while you're at it, you can jump aboard the ongoing and look forward to HAUNT every month with this week's issue #6!

Click here to read an interview with ROBERT KIRKMAN on the future of HAUNT!

SUPERGOD #3 ARRIVES AFTER MUCH ANTICIPATION TO CONTINUE WARREN ELLIS'S (TRANSMETROPOLITAN, PLANETARY, CAPTAIN SWING) EPIC TAKE ON SUPERHUMANS!



It's been a longtime coming, but finally we're seeing the release of the third issue of SUPERGOD. Okay, so it hasn't been THAT long, but that's just how good this series has been, that we're on the edge of our seat waiting for the next installment. The second issue really opened things up as we saw more depth given to the American SUPERGOD, and his place in the grand scheme of things.
Now, for those of you not yet reading SUPERGOD, here's the scoop on the series.

What's SUPERGOD all about? Ellis's SUPERGOD is the third part in a themed-trilogy of stories that Ellis is doing on the idea of superhumans. Now, by no means do you HAVE to read it's predecessors, BLACK SUMMER, and NO HERO (although they're both damn good, and we recommend it), but it's just an overall theme that Ellis has been exploring in these stories. SUPERGOD is all about what would REALLY happen if the militaries and governments of the world explored building superhumans. What we're shown through the series is how each country's "supergod" is defined by the major religious beliefs of that nation. So, when India builds their Supergod, it looks like Krishna. And, the first issue begins with Krishna arriving to save the country.. by destroying it. And, that pretty much sets the stage for SUPERGOD. There's a lot of focus placed on Jerry Carney, a deceased U.S Air Force pilot who has been resurrected, and had his body retrofitted with artificial technology to make him into the U.S's SUPERGOD. Upon realizing he's dead, and should not be alive, but in heaven, the U.S puts him in a government facility that looks like Suburbia, and keeps him in this personal heaven until they need his skills.

This third issue looks to be following up on a massive battle between Jerry, and Russia's Supergod (crammed into the body of a gigantic robot) Novaya Goraj. The collateral damage is huge, and these aren't even the most powerful of the Supergods.

So, essentially, Supergod is what a Superhuman Arms Race would actually be. Take every superhero comic ever published, shove them into a nuclear-powered blender, soak it in bad vodka, and set the whole thing ablaze, and that's Supergod. Pure ELLIS insanity that'll have you on the edge of your seat all throughout.

UNCANNY X-MEN #522 - THE RETURN OF KITTY PRYDE IS HERE! 'NUFF SAID!



One of the Marvel Universe's most beloved characters will be returning this Wednesday in the pages of UNCANNY X-MEN #522, and we're stoked as hell for it. Kitty Pryde, who hasn't been seen since the conclusion of Joss Whedon's incredible run on ASTONISHING X-MEN, looks to be alive, and (hopefully) well, as Magneto is working his mojo to bring her back to Earth. And, how could he do that? Well, last we saw, Kitty was trapped inside of a giant metal bullet that got shot into a planet. And, since a return this big deserves to be done up properly, Marvel's knocking it out of the park this Wednesday with a special over-sized issue featuring the incredible artwork of PHIL JIMINEZ and WHILCE PORTACIO.

Now, with SECOND COMING right around the corner, we can only wonder what Kitty's return will mean in the grand scheme of things? What is Magneto's real motivation for bringing her back? And, how will her fellow team-mates, especially Colossus deal with her return?

X-Fans, this is one you are not gonna wanna miss!

Click here to check out a preview of UNCANNY X-MEN #522!

ATTN: WHEDON FANS, DR. HORRIBLE'S FELICIA DAY WRITES THE GUILD #1 AND IT ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! A MUST-READ FOR FANS OF MMO GAMES!



Here's a big one for all you Whedon fans out there, especially those of you who are big fans of DR. HORRIBLE'S SING-ALONG BLOG. Felicia Day (of DR. HORRIBLE fame) has brought her killer web series to the world of comics, in this new series which fills in and explores details never before revealed on the web show.

The Guild is a series that chronicles the humorous on and offline lives of a group of internet role-playing gamers, the Knights of Good. If you've ever been hooked on games like World of Warcraft or Everquest, then this series is guaranteed to hit your funnybone hard. Plus, it's being written by series creator, Felicia Day, and we hear she's a super nice lady. :)

Click here to check out a preview of THE GUILD #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE RISE OF ARSENAL #1CONTINUES THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GREEN ARROW STORYLINE THIS WEDNESDAY!



The RISE AND FALL of the Green Arrow storyline has been keeping us hooked so far, with a return to awesomeness for Oliver Queen, but now we're stoked to see the ramifications of Cry for Justice explored in this new 4 issue limited series featuring Arsenal, aka Red Arrow. Roy Harper got it pretty bad in Cry for Justice, barely surviving the brutal dismemberment that cost him his arms at the hands of PROMETHEUS. And, now, awakened from his coma, Arsenal is finding that his journey into despair is just beginning as his old mentor, the Green Arrow, has taken a dark turn, and the Justice League is out on the hunt for him.

Click here to read more about JUSTICE LEAGUE: RISE OF ARSENAL #1

NORTHLANDERS v.3 BLOOD IN THE SNOWtrade paperback arrives this Wednesday! Another slab of Viking awesomeness from the crazy talented BRIAN WOOD (DEMO, DMZ)



One of the best damn Vertigo series hitting the stands right now is Brian Wood's NORTHLANDERS. If you couldn't already tell from the heaps of praise we pour onto series like DEMO, and DMZ, we're all big Brian Wood fans here at Third Eye.

This Wednesday, the third slab of his Viking saga continues, and we couldn't be more stoked to get our hands on another trade of Northlanders. If you haven't read Northlanders before, allow us to give you the scoop on why this series is the bees knees.

Northlanders is a series of fictional stories set in and around the historical events of the Viking Age. The series itself is divided up into long story arcs that alternate with shorter arcs. In the first story arc, Sven the Returned, we get to watch as Sven, a self-exiled Viking warrior serving in the Varangian Guard, returns to his birth region of the Orkney Islands to reclaim his inheritance. Of course, his evil uncle stands in his ways, and what happens from there is one of the most bloody, beautiful "lone wolf" pitted against immense odds stories we've ever seen.

From there, we see stories that focus on everything from the sacking of the Lindisfarne monastery at the beginning of the Viking Age to an Irishman fending off occupying Viking forces in Dublin using guerrilla tactics.

The thing that makes the series great is the fusion of very talented artists and Brian Wood's well-paced, well-crafted storytelling. Another added bonus is the dialogue, a lot of stories set in the distant past get stunted on dialogue that is difficult for us as readers to have pull us into the story. In Northlanders, the characters talk like real people, and it really helps pull you further into the story.

The third trade, due out this Wednesday, features several different stories set in the Northlanders world, including our personal favorites the Viking Art of Single Combat, and Sven the Immortal.

Click here to read more about NORTHLANDERS v.3 SNOW IN THE BLOOD



ORC STAIN #2 CONTINUES JAMES STOKOE'S SURREAL, QUIRKY, AND INCREDIBLE-LOOKING ORC WORLD MADNESS!



Here's a big cult favorite here at Third Eye, and dude, we could not be more stoked to see the second issue arriving this Wednesday. This series has some of the BEST artwork going on right now, in my opinion. Hyper-detailed, freshly colored awesomeness from James Stokoe (the author of Wonton Soup) that makes us think of Geoff Darrow and Paul Pope.

The actual series itself is a fantasy book that takes place on a planet populated almost entirely by hordes of orcs. After countless generations of in-fighting, the Orc Chief is looking to unite the armies and build his long-lasting empire. But, to do this, he has to enlist an orc treasure hunter by the name of One-Eye.

And, that sums up the plot, it's not complicated. But, it is FUN as hell. It's like some bizarre cross between those animated Ralph Bakshi sword and sorcery flicks of the '70s, H.R Giger's ALIENS, and the zaniness of modern day awesomeness like Scott Pilgrim.

The real stand out though however is the artwork, which is honestly some of the best looking stuff I've seen. The colors, and the attention to detail in this series is gorgeous, and that alone makes the book worth the price of admission.

If you guys want something that's pure fun, and haven't already tried Orc Stain, snag up the first issue (still in stock here at Third Eye), and grab a copy of #2 this Wednesday here at Third Eye!


ROBERT JORDAN'S WHEEL OF TIME GETS THE COMIC TREATMENT THIS WEDNESDAY WITHWHEEL OF TIME: THE EYE OF THE WORLD #1!



Originally, the Dabel Brothers were going to release Robert Jordan's killer Wheel of Time saga in comic book form, but unfortunately, could not get the book out on time. So, thankfully, Dynamite has acquired the rights to publish Wheel of Time, and we'll get to see this killer look at the world of Jordan's fantasy explored on a consistent, on time basis.

This first issue collects both issue #0, and issue #1 of the series, in one big 64 page issue (and heck, it's only $3.99 too!), written by Robert Jordan and Chuck Dixon, with the stellar artwork of Chase Conley, this one's a must read for all you die-hard Wheel of Time and Robert Jordan fans out there. A true fantasy epic getting the comic treatment it deserves.

Click here for a preview of ROBERT JORDAN'S WHEEL OF TIME: EYE OF THE WORLD #1

SHUDDERTOWN #1 DELIVERS DELIVERS A GRITTY CRIME NOIR HORROR STORY THAT FEELS LIKE "THE WIRE" MEETS "SE7EN"



Folks, this one looks super freakin' cool. A brand new Image limited series that feels like a mix of THE WIRE and SE7EN, and sports some of the sweetest looking artwork we've seen in a while. Apparently, people who're supposed to be dead have been committing brutal murders, and troubled homicide cop Isaac Hernandez is on a search for answers. He finds himself being drawn into the corridors of the Shuddertown housing projects, and the truth is something he may not want to face.

I've seen some preview pages of this one, and it looks really killer. The artwork is A+, and the story and dialogue has a nice grit to it that looks like this'll be a fun little crime/horror story.

Great artwork, and what sounds like a very promising story, this is definitely one worth giving a look.

Click here to read an interview with Nick Spencer, series writer, about Shuddertown.

PHONOGRAM v.2 SINGLES CLUB TRADE PAPERBACK HITS THIS WEDNESDAY! STRAIGHT UP CERTIFIED COOL, 100%, IMAGINE WARREN ELLIS'S PLANETARY... BUT USING THE POP CULTURAL WORLD OF MUSIC!



One of the biggest sleeper hits I think I've seen was Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie's killer Phonogram series. The first miniseries, Rue Britannia, explores the world of a magician who uses the medium of Britpop music to interpret his magic. The series kind of makes you think of something like PLANETARY, but instead of the worlds of serial and pulp fiction being explored, it's the world of music. Dave Kohl, the mage in question, learns that someone is planning to resurrect Britannia, the goddess of Britpop, in zombified form. The series is a true tribute to the power of popular music, and weaves references and phrases into the story so seamlessly that you feel like you're there. The surrealness of seeing Blur turn up, and the way that it weaves with the comic bookness of the series is incredible.

And, now, this Wednesday, the second mini-series, Singles Club, is hitting trade paperback, and we know you guys are stoked to give it a go. See, in the world of Phonogram, music is pure magic, and the practicioners of this dark yet fun art are known as Phonomancers, living amongst us, and we'd never know. While Rue Britannia focused on Dave Kohl, this new miniseries focuses on a new cast of phonomancers, who are younger, and more impressionable, and don't quite grasp how wonderful and dangerous the urban fatnasy world is in which they dwell.

The series is weird and wonderful, and it's some of the best written stuff we've seen recently. Give it a shot, and try the trades, we guarantee you won't be disappointed!


YOU WANTED NIGHTCRAWLER? YOU'RE GONNA GET NIGHTCRAWLER! Everyone's favorite X-Men finally gets a killer Origins one-shot this Wednesday in X-MEN ORIGINS: NIGHTCRAWLER!



A fan-favorite, for sure, Nightcrawler is one of those X-Men characters that's got such a cool visual, combined with a killer backstory, and neat powers, that he's really amassed a loyal fan-following. And, one of the questions I get asked frequently is "Steve, what's a good Nightcrawler story?" I normally point people to stuff like God Loves, Man Kills, which is a great story, and has a nice focus on our favorite teleporting mutant, as well as strikes a chord with who and what he's all about. But, there has never really been a good definitive one-off Nightcrawler story, until now.

Yup, this Wednesday, the elf gets his own one-shot exploring his origins, his past, and his future in the Marvel Universe. And, keeping in tune with the past X-Men Origins one-shots, the artwork in this book is freakin' gorgeous, courtesy of Cary Nord.

Click here to check out a preview of X-MEN ORIGINS NIGHTCRAWLER #1



STAFF PICKS

Steve - AMERICAN VAMPIRE #1 = A fantastic start here, the writing and artwork mesh well, and there's really a strong sense of a compelling world for us to explore. Vampires done right.

Trish - IRREDEEMABLE #12 = Irredeemable moves it's way to the top of my read pile every month, and this issue continued that trend. More and more questions answered, more and more questions formed. LOVING THIS SERIES!!!

Torma - SIEGE #3 = Siege is the best Marvel event I've read in a long long time. This issue has it all, including Iron Man coming back into action rocking his old armor. And, the ending... I NEED TO KNOW!!

Matt - AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #625 = The first Rhino story that Joe Kelly did in #617 was over-the-top awesome, but this follow-up was even better. If you're not following THE GAUNTLET, you need to check this out. The bet Spidey has been in ages.

NEW TOYS, GAMES, AND OTHER COOL SWAG IN STOCK THIS WEEK AT THIRD EYE!

NEW GAMES, TOYS & OTHER SWAG IN STOCK THIS WEEK AT THIRD EYE!
Some cool new goodies hitting the shop this week.

MAGIC THE GATHERING PHYREXIA vs. THE COALITION DUAL DECKS




GHOSTBUSTERS LOGO BANK




DUNGEONS & DRAGONS PLAYERS HANDBOOK 3!




NEW BLACKEST NIGHT "OATH" MAGNETS!




GOBLINS CARD GAME (for fans of MUNCHKIN!)




DUNGEON LORDS BOARD GAME (for fans of SMALL WORLD)




PELOPONNESS BOARD GAME (for fans of SETTLERS OF CATAN)



KIDROBOT SIMPSONS, FUTURAMA BACK IN STOCK!





MORE KIDROBOT AWESOMENESS, INCLUDING THE BRAND NEW KARNIES SET & MORE!