Archive for the ‘Featured Books’ Category
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR *THURSDAY* 7/8/10
X-MEN DAY LAUNCH PARTY THIS THURSDAY 7/8/10 TO CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF THE BRAND NEW X-MEN #1 *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS* THIRD EYE MUST BUY ONGOING SERIES! GREAT JUMPING ON POINT FOR NEW X-MEN READERS!![]() ![]() This Thursday marks the release of something we haven’t seen in nearly two decades, a brand new top tier ongoing X-MEN series. And, folks, judging from how well Marvel has the X-Men back on point with X-MEN SECOND COMING, this could not have come at a better time. It’s pretty awesome to see Marvel’s merry mutants back in the spotlight after a long absence, and this new ongoing X-MEN series provides the perfect jumping on point for those of you who’ve been getting curious about the X-MEN with all the buzz of SECOND COMING and all that. A brand new story begins here, and it delivers for new and old fans alike. So, in conjunction with MARVEL, we’re going to be hosting the official X-MEN DAY Launch Party for the brand new series this Thursday. We’ll be delivering all the killer stuff mentioned on the flyer above, but in addition, we’re going to have some other stuff going on as well, here’s the rundown: THIRD EYE X-MEN DAY PARTYGet a FREE limited edition print by series artist, PACO MEDINA, when you purchase X-MEN #1 (available while supplies last!)
Get the exclusive X-MEN DAY PARTY variant cover to X-MEN #1 (supplies limited, get here early!)
ALL X-MEN and X-Related Graphic Novels 25% OFF – INCLUDING ANY TPBs/HCs featuring X-MEN characters, like WOLVERINE solo stuff (can we say OLD MAN LOGAN? :) ), HOUSE OF M, and more!
Trish’s homebaked X-MEN Cupcakes… worth the trip alone! :)
NOW LETS TALK ABOUT X-MEN #1, WHAT IT’S ABOUT, AND WHY YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!
Okay, so for the last year or so, Marvel has really been building their line of X-Titles back up, and it’s all kind of come to a head with the INCREDIBLE epic crossover, SECOND COMING. Now, with SECOND COMING nearing it’s conclusion, the X-MEN books have been pretty much primed for a fresh start, and a new direction to welcome many of you back to the fold, since it’s no secret that a lot of people fell off of X-MEN over the last ten years due to inconsistent storylines, and a lack of cohesiveness to that end of the Marvel Universe. Good news though: the X-Men books are better than they’ve been right now than in almost a decade. The only stuff that comes close to what’s been going on in the X-Books this summer was Whedon’s incredible run on ASTONISHING, and Morrison’s reinvention of the characters in NEW X-MEN. Otherwise, this is probably some of the best damn X-MEN stuff we’ve seen in a very long time. And, this week, X-MEN #1 is the book that’s set to welcome a lot of lapsed X-Fans back into the ranks. It’s a fresh start, and serves as a perfect jumping on point to the new direction of the X-Books, as well as a nice new chapter to follow up on the conclusion of SECOND COMING. But, most important: it’s really freakin’ good. Marvel was kind enough to send us an advance copy of this, and I sat down with it late Saturday night, zoned out to some Guided by Voices, and devoured this book. That’s how much I enjoyed it. Why? ‘Cause it’s everything about the X-Men that you love and remember, much like SECOND COMING delivers that bigger-than-life epic sense of life or death that X-MEN books were known for at their height, this new X-MEN series provides the same kind of excitement, and tightly focused characterization that we loved about the X-Books when we were younger. Taking it’s cue from SECOND COMING, this one seems to be focusing heavily on the characters that we CARE about. In other words, it’s the big guns, and the fan-favorites. Wolverine, Jubilee, Cyclops, fan-favorite Pixie, Colossus, and more. And, this, is where I really think the secret recipe of a good X-Men book lies: the team roster. I mean, lets face it, how often do we see an X-Men line-up get watered down with has-beens, and never-weres.. characters that we could care less about, but for some reason, we’ve gotta deal with. And, ever since SECOND COMING began, Marvel has gotten away from that, and instead focused on giving everyone what they want: the iconic X-Men lineups. Overall, the book is a fantastic read, and writer Victor Gischler (mostly known for his work on crime novels) and artist Paco Medina (the rising star that kicked off the ongoing Deadpool series) deliver big-time. Now, lets get onto talking about the plot. What is the first story arc of this new X-MEN series about? Well, many of you know from last week when picking up the DEATH OF DRACULA one-shot, that the Marvel Universe is about to start dealing with a full-scale Vampire infestation. And, again, after reading both DEATH OF DRACULA and X-MEN SECOND COMING, we gotta say… the Marvel Vampires are pretty damn cool now. I’ve always had a soft spot for the old Gene Colan Tomb of Dracula stuff, but, I’ve never been a major fan of Marvel’s more supernatural lot… but, that’s all changed with the way that Marvel has re-invented this corner of their Marvel Universe. The Marvel vampires are BAD-ASS. Anyways, so we have a legion of undead, and their first target? The X-Men, and mutantkind. Why? Well, their motives are still mysterious, but we feel that part of it might be the extremely small numbers of the mutants, however, without giving any spoilers many of the vampires motivations are hinted at and somewhat revealed in last week’s DEATH OF DRACULA one-shot (still in stock here at Third Eye!) Now, I don’t want to ruin how the book starts, ’cause it’s a GREAT beginning to the storyline, so I won’t get into specifics. But, I will say this: if you thought SECOND COMING was going to bring major changes to characters, then wait’ll you see CURSE OF THE MUTANTS. Mutants being infected with the vampire disease? It makes for a very dangerous combo. Final Verdict: This one is a definite THIRD EYE MUST BUY, folks, so c’mon in on Thursday, and pick it up at the X-MEN DAY Party! Plus, you’ll get to have cupcakes with us. :) Click here for a preview of X-MEN #1 *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS PT 1*Click here for the official THIRD EYE X-MEN: CURSE OF THE MUTANTS ChecklistClick here for the THIRD EYE X-MEN SECOND COMING CHECKLIST, we currently have all of the chapters in stock, so you can still jump on board of one of this summer’s hottest storylines!
This week the next installment in Morrison’s epic BATMAN AND ROBIN series kicks off, running parallel to the events occurring in RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE. After the huge reveal of the Gravedigger’s identity as the Joker was shown in BATMAN AND ROBIN #12, we’re being thrown headfirst into the story of Thomas Wayne and his connection to our currently lost-in-time Caped Crusader. From what we’ve read, it looks like Bruce Wayne’s father, Thomas Wayne, the catalyst for the entire identity of Batman, has returned after having been thought to be dead for over 20 years, and he’s got one hell of a tale to tell.. oh, and he’s claiming the entire Wayne family fortune too, how about that? And, then there’s also the hint that this issue heralds the return of the ultimate Batman villain, which combined with the cover to issue #13, the ending of issue #12, and the whole “ultimate Batman villain” tagline.. we can only assume the Joker is back in full force. And, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen the Joker done as well as Grant Morrison’s been doing him in his recent works. Are you not reading BATMAN AND ROBIN? Folks, I know I’ve been over this before, but if you’re not yet reading BATMAN AND ROBIN, you have got to get on board with this one. It’s probably the most exciting, and innovative take on the Caped Crusader that we’ve seen in nearly twenty years. What’s the scoop? Well, in the aftermath of BATMAN: RIP, Bruce Wayne is missing in action, and someone has to make sure the presence of Batman remains… and that someone is Dick Grayson, who, along with Batman’s recently discovered son, Damian, are the Batman and Robin the title of the series refers to. Morrison has managed to breathe fresh new life into Gotham City, introducing twisted, new homicidal villains that could be Rogues Gallery favorites for years to come, as well as bringing a whole new dynamic to the Batman and Robin concept. The Dick Grayson Batman brings his own attitude, which is admittedly a bit lighter than Bruce’s, but also carrying his own burden dealing with the loss of his own father figure, Bruce Wayne. And, Damian, who we hated at first, has grown into one of the most interesting Robins yet, as we see him adopting Grayson as an almost surrogate father figure since he never really knew his real father, Bruce Wayne, to begin with. Top notch art, top notch story, this one has remained a consistent top of the stack favorite since it’s launch with issue #1, and we could not recommend it enough. If you’re interested in jumping in, issue #1 is a completely fresh start, and a great jumping on point, and we currently have ALL the back issues in stock (issues #1-#12) to get you caught up. Or ,if you’d prefer, you can pick up the killer deluxe hardcover collection of BATMAN AND ROBIN 1-6, which we also keep in stock as well. For those of you already on board, we know you’ll be pumped to snag BATMAN AND ROBIN #13 this week. Click here to read more about BATMAN AND ROBIN #13 *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE TIE-IN* THE MARVEL SLEEPER EVENT OF THE SUMMER KICKS OFF THIS THURSDAY IN SHADOWLAND #1 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*… DO NOT MISS THIS ONE, READ THE ADVANCE, AND TRUST US, FOLKS: DAREDEVIL, SPIDER-MAN, IRON FIST, LUKE CAGE, AND THE REST OF NYC’S MARVEL CHARACTERS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME! Now, lets talk about WHAT Shadowland is: Shadowland is a five issue limited series which centers around Daredevil, and many other street-level Marvel characters like Moon Knight, Spider-man, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, the Punisher, and more. The story is spinning out of recent events in the Daredevil title where Matt Murdock has taken on a leadership role with THE HAND. Many of the Marvel characters that operate out of NYC are beginning to question Murdock’s role as leader of the Hand, and the direction he’s been heading since basically taking over the criminal organization in an attempt to control it and keep it from consuming Hell’s Kitchen. A big focus of the story is Shadowland, a prison/temple constructed on the ruins of a Hell’s Kitchen building destroyed (along with numerous lives) by Bullseye during Dark Reign (in the DARK REIGN DAREDEVIL THE LIST one-shot, now available in trade paperback THE LIST in stock at Third Eye). Now that the construction of this giant prison has been built, it’s caused quite a bit of alarm for many Marvel heroes. The area of it has become a protectorate of the Hand as Murdock is trying to mold this international organization of assassins and criminals into a force for justice. And so far, he’s been doing a good job; the streets of Hell’s Kitchen have never been safer, and crime has all but disappeared. Now, at first, DD’s allies, like Spidey, Iron Fist ,Wolverine, Luke Cage, Elektra, and Cap, as well as the more eccentric ones like Punisher and Moon Knight, are totally okay with this. They trust his decisions at first, and want to see this work. I mean, after everything Daredevil has been through, all the loved ones he’s lost, the trial about his identity, if anyone has the intestinal fortitude to bend a criminal organization into something respectable, it’s him. But, then Daredevil returns from Japan, and things have changed. The trip he’s taken has shown him some truths about enemies that are in his midst, and now he’s ready to cross the lines and boundaries that many of his allies feared he would. And, what springs from this, envelops the consciousness of the super hero community of New York City in short order, and the Man Without Fear will find himself with some unexpected enemies and allies, many of whom may switch sides before the event concludes with a climax that promises to change how the Marvel Universes, and Daredevil himself, for a very long time. My thoughts? I read the advance of issue #1, and I thought it was fantastic. This event has not received a lot of hype, and I think once issue #1 drops, it’s going to roar up out of nowhere, and take us all by storm, because of some of what goes down in the first issue. I mean, I got the same feeling reading the first issue of SHADOWLAND that I got from reading the first issue of CIVIL WAR. And, it almost feels like this is a grittier, darker twist on the CIVIL WAR concept but set against the backdrop of NEW YORK CITY. I really can’t talk too much about what happens in the first issue, because the surprises are great, what I can say is that it’s very well-written, and Billy Tan’s artwork has never looked better. And… someone bites the dust. That’s all I’ll say. Click here for a preview of SHADOWLAND #1 Click here for the official THIRD EYE SHADOWLAND Checklist BLACKEST NIGHT HARDCOVER ARRIVES THIS THURSDAY! RESERVE A COPY NOW TO PICK UP THIS WEEK, AND RECEIVE A FULL SET OF LANTERN RINGS (while supplies last!) ALSO ARRIVING THIS WEEK: BLACKEST NIGHT GREEN LANTERN HARDCOVER & BLACKEST NIGHT GREEN LANTERN CORP HARDCOVER! We’ve got some specials we’ll be running to celebrate the release of these this week, so check it out: RESERVE A COPY OF BLACKEST NIGHT HARDCOVER FOR PICK-UP THIS WEEK and GET A FULL SET OF LANTERN RINGS – Shoot us an e-mail, give us a call, or just pop in the shop, and put your name on the list for us to reserve you a copy of the BLACKEST NIGHT hardcover, and you’ll receive a full set of Lantern rings (all 9 colors!), while supplies last, so get your reserves in asap! BLACKEST NIGHT HC PACKAGE DEAL – PURCHASE ALL THREE HARDCOVERS (GL, GL CORPS and BLACKEST NIGHT), AND RECEIVE 15% OFF EACH HARDCOVER! - We know that a lot of you are going to want to go ahead and just snag all three of these bad boys, considering they’re the BIG trinity of the whole BLACKEST NIGHT event, and for this week only, when you purchase BLACKEST NIGHT: GREEN LANTERN, BLACKEST NIGHT GREEN LANTERN CORPS, and BLACKEST NIGHT all at once, you’ll receive 15% off each hardcover. Now, you’ve heard us ranting, and raving about the BLACKEST NIGHT for over a year, so we won’t go into our fanboy ravings, instead I’ll give you those of you who haven’t read BLACKEST NIGHT a quick rundown on what the event was about. What is BLACKEST NIGHT? Blackest Night is the culmination of the Lantern Corps that’ve been splitting off into their own color/emotional spectrum Corps. Yellow Lanterns were the first, followed by the Red, and the Orange, and so forth, and so forth. The storyline was first referenced at the end of the SINESTRO CORPS WAR (available in trade paperback here at Third Eye). The story focuses on Nekron, as the leader of the Black Lantern Corps, and Black Rings unleashing on the galaxy, resurrecting every dead DCU character you can think of. Essentially, you see everybody from Aquaman and the Anti-Monitor to Dick Grayson’s parents, the Flying Graysons, resurrected as vengeful zombied out Lanterns who feed off of emotion, and rip the hearts out of their prey. The story has some extremely cool moments, including the debut of the “Deputy Lanterns”, where DC characters are given rings, like Scarecrow receiving a Yellow ring, Luthor an Orange ring, Wonder Woman a Star Sapphire ring, and so on. This event basically set the stage for everything that’s going on now in the DCU, and if you’re looking for the one graphic novel you must read this summer… folks, BLACKEST NIGHT is it! These babies are going to go fast, so get your reserves in! THIRD EYE MUST BUY: SCARLET #1 – HARDCORE CRIME NOIR AWESOMENESS FROM BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS & ALEX MALEEV (creative team on SPIDER-WOMAN, and the now-classic DAREDEVIL run) – THIS ONE’S A MUST READ! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FANS OF INCOGNITO, CRIMINAL, SPIDER-WOMAN, ALIAS, and JINX Now, Bendis and Maleev are launching their first creator-owned series together under the ICON imprint, and man, I’m pumped. This is the series these two guys were born to make, and just by the subject matter and creators attached, I can already tell this one is going to kick ass. SCARLET is a new ongoing creator-owned series on the Marvel ICON imprint (Responsible for books like NEMESIS, KICK-ASS, ect). The book is a complete change of pace from most of what Bendis has been doing for the last few years, and honestly, while I love me some Marvel Madness Bendis, his best stuff has always been the crime-noir and grittier stuff. The book is a real world crime fiction story that’s very much in line with something like CRIMINAL, INCOGNITO, 100 BULLETS, JINX, or SIN CITY. The story focuses on the lead character, a woman named Scarlet, who finds herself forced into a situation where she has to take it upon herself to fight against what she believes is a broken world that has ruined her. And that sparks a modern day American revolution. While the book is not a political book, it does mess around with the concepts of how every day normal citizens do things that are considered radical, and how those things are usually swept under the rug by the media. The sense I get from how the books been described is it sounds like a very cool cross between Brian Wood’s fantastic DMZ series, Ed Brubaker’s CRIMINAL, and Bendis’s own ALIAS, JINX, and GOLDFISH books. A really hardboiled crime-action series that has a little bit of a political edge to it. I’ve seen some advance pages of the book, and I can say that it’s VIOLENT, CLEVER, and pretty damn awesome. I’d highly recommend checking it out, especially if you’re into stuff that’s a little bit off the beaten path. Just judging from the track record that Bendis and Maleev have with this kind of genre, you know it’s going to be fantastic. Click here to read an interview with BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS about SCARLET Kicking off this Thursday, BATMAN ODYSSEY is a 6 issue limited series that basically serves as Neal Adams’s 21st Century Batman story. Set outside of normal continuity (from what we can gather), this one focuses on The Dark Knight as he faces a series of seemingly unrelated challenges as villains and allies old and new push him to his limits like never before. After Batman discovers a dark and mysterious matrix being superimposed over his life, what sort of life-changing voyage must he embark on to escape from this powerful and insidious force? Considering Adams is the guy who redefined the Caped Crusader once before, created characters like Ras Ah Ghul, and more, and is just plain awesome, you know this one is going to be as epic as can be. Plus, Neal Adams art has just grown and grown, and he remains as one of the best artists working in the medium.. I mean, this is the guy who influenced Jim Lee. So, you know it’s going to look just as good as it reads.
Now, beginning this Thursday, the original creative team of YOUNG AVENGERS returns, HEINBERG and CHEUNG, and dude, judging from the preview of this one, it’s going to be just as good, if not better than the original YOUNG AVENGERS run. What’s also pretty rad about this is that it ties in with current Marvel events as well, and serves as a fresh entry point for those of you who’ve never read YOUNG AVENGERS before in your life. This series does a great job of re-introducing the characters, and kicking off the next chapter in the YOUNG AVENGERS saga. Also, it looks like this’ll be where we see the Scarlet Witch really making her return after kind of floating in and out of many series since House of M. So, what’s the plot on this one? When Wiccan’s reality-altering powers begin to rival those of the Scarlet Witch, he sets out on a quest to find her that’s going to take him across the entire Marvel Universe, and puts him head to head with both the Avengers and the Young Avengers. But, is Wiccan’s desire to solve the mystery of his parentage going to be his salvation or his undoing? That’s what we’re going to find out. To get the back story on the YOUNG AVENGERS, and who they are, click here. To check out a preview of AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #1, clickhere. “INVINCIBLE IRON MAN” writer MATT FRACTION & “DAYTRIPPER” WRITER/ARTISTS GABRIEL BA & FABIO MOON DEBUT THEIR CREATOR-OWNED SERIES, CASANOVA THIS THURSDAY! Casanova is an incredible piece of comic book goodness, delivering an intriguing, high concept kinda story that blends perfectly with some of the most surreal, and gorgeous artwork you’re gonna see. I mean, look at the names attached to this one folks.. you’ve got Matt Fraction, who pretty much has reinvented Iron Man in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, not to mention his fantastic work on books like IRON FIST and FIVE FISTS OF SCIENCE, then you’ve got Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon, the duo responsible for the hit Vertigo series DAYTRIPPER. I mean, this book can’t be anything but good with names like that attached. What is Casanova? Casanova centers upon renowned thief Casanova Quinn, who gets blackmailed into being a pawn and double agent in a global game of super-espionage. The first issue kicks off by introducing us to Casanova Quinn, Cass is a freelance thief and espionage artist who has turned his back on the rest of the Quinn family. His father, Cornelius, runs the world-spanning spy organization E.M.P.I.R.E, and his sister, Zephyr, is a top agent. Cass is the black sheep of the family. From there, I can’t say anymore, ’cause I don’t want to ruin the read. The book is fantastic, and I highly recommend giving it a go if you like trippy, high-concept sci-fi/espionage stuff. Click here for a preview of CASANOVA #1 BRIGHTEST DAY CONTINUES THIS WEEK WITH BRIGHTEST DAY #5 and BRIGHTEST DAY: THE ATOM SPECIAL! Not reading BRIGHTEST DAY? Brightest Day is a DC maxiseries that is essentially DCU Rebirth, and the follow up to last year’s mega-hit BLACKEST NIGHT event. Geoff Johns is spearheading the series, and has officially dubbed it as the Rebirth of the DCU. If it’s been a while since you’ve read any DC stuff, or if you’re a huge fan who keeps up to date on everything, then BRIGHTEST DAY is the perfect spot for both. It’s a great entry point for a new direction in the DCU. Click here for the official THIRD EYE BRIGHTEST DAY CHECKLIST (Checklist PT 2 coming soon!) BRIGHTEST DAY THE ATOM #1 one-shot by JEFF LEMIRE (creator of the killer new Vertigo series, SWEET TOOTH!) DEBUTS THIS THURSDAY! STEVE ROGERS SUPER SOLDIER #1 from ED BRUBAKER (writer of SECRET AVENGERS and CAPTAIN AMERICA) and DAVE EAGLESHAM KICKS OFF THIS KILLER MINI-SERIES EXPLORING STEVE ROGER’S ROLE IN A MARVEL UNIVERSE WHERE HE’S NO LONGER CAPTAIN AMERICA! And, now, the talented SECRET AVENGERS scribe, ED BRUBAKER, is bringing us this killer four issue mini-series which expands upon and explores Steve Rogers’s place in the Marvel Universe now that he is no longer Captain America. This one picks up right where Siege has left off, with the government telling Cap that there is a role for him in the Marvel Universe. This series follows Rogers as he investigates a mystery connected to the Super Soldier program that created his abilities. It’s probably the first time in a LONG while that we’ve actually been able to see a story that has focused solely on the character of Captain America and Steve Rogers since he was originally killed off in Captain America #25. Really, it looks like we’re going to see the definition of Steve Roger’s post-Captain America role laid out in this mini-series, and with how cool he’s been running around in books like SECRET AVENGERS and the like, we’re pretty damn pumped for it. I read an interview with Brubaker about the series, and he also compared it to kind of a James Bond take on Steve Rogers, and the movie is given a very realistic, gritty, hardcore tone. A kind of high industrial, real world espionage flavor you know. All in all, I read the advance of this one already, and it’s freakin’ cool. Highly recommend checking it out! Click here for a preview of STEVE ROGERS SUPER SOLDIER #1 *HEROIC AGE*
HELLBOY: The Storm begins this week, and explores what happens when some historically important corpses wind up missing and how it connects to an ever-growing assembly of evil that Hellboy has been encountering. It’s the kind of scenario that just adds fuel to the fire when ol’ Hellboy is trying to you know, prevent the apocalypse here. Click here for a preview of HELLBOY: THE STORM #1 HIT-MONKEY #1 – WHO DOESN’T WANT MORE HIT-MONKEY? EVERYONE’S FAVORITE BANANA-EATING ASSASSIN RETURNS IN THIS 3-ISSUE LIMITED SERIES! There’s really not much we can say other than: who doesn’t love a gun-toting monkey in a little business suit? Click here for a preview of HIT-MONKEY #1 AN UNEARTHED GEM: MARK MILLAR’S UNFUNNIES – THE SICKEST MILLAR BOOK YOU’LL EVER READ. WE GUARANTEE IT. NOW BACK IN STOCK! What’s THE UNFUNNIES about? Well, if you’ve ever seen MEET THE FEEBLES, that gives you a little bit of an idea. This one is a true blue horror/comedy that’s wrapped up in the trappings of old school cartoon talking animal comics. But don’t let the cover fool you, this one has more in common with movies like HAPPINESS and MAGNOLIA than it does Bugs Bunny. The less I say, the better, ’cause you need to read it for yourself, and enjoy the ride. It’s totally whacked out, trust me! LEGENDARY X-MEN WRITER CHRIS CLAREMONT TEAMS WITH INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR ARTIST MILO MANARA FOR X-WOMEN #1 ONE-SHOT THIS WEEK! This week’s X-WOMEN is definitely the latter. Chris Claremont, the man who pretty much MADE the X-Men throughout the late ’70s and most of the ’80s, and even ’90s, teams up with the international superstar artist Milo Manara to deliver this out-of-continuity one-shot which takes us on an adventure with the Women of the X-Men. Storm, Psylocke, Shadowcat, Marvel Girl, and Rogue. Click here for a preview of X-WOMEN #1 STAR WARS: OLD REPUBLIC #1 - A NEW ONGOING STAR WARS SERIES THAT FEATURES CRITICAL EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE BEFORE BIOWARES UPCOMING SW MMORPG! For decades, the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire have been at war. The Sith have gained control of the Outer Rim, but their efforts to penetrate the Core Worlds have so far been held off by the Republic and the Jedi Knights. Now, representatives from both sides attempt to negotiate a peace treaty, but deception by the Sith put the Jedi in an unfortunate position. The buzz on this one is pretty big, and a lot of people are saying it’s gonna be pretty kick-ass. The fact that they’ve got one of the writers from the actual Bioware MMORPG penning the story is also a plus, which means there’ll be a strong continuity between the two. Click here for a preview of STAR WARS THE OLD REPUBLIC #1 X-FORCE #28 delivers the penultimate chapter in SECOND COMING, and I’m going to keep my lips sealed on this one cause I don’t want to even come close to dropping any spoilers. All I’m gonna say is this issue is HUGE. Click here for a preview of X-FORCE #28 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 13* Click here for the official THIRD EYE X-MEN SECOND COMING CHECKLIST STAFF PICKS Steve - SECRET AVENGERS #2 – This series is so freakin’ good it’s not even funny. Brubaker is chanelling some serious Steranko/Ditko-style energy with this one, and Deodato’s art’s never looked better. Highly recommended. Trish – WONDER WOMAN #600= Finally, a kick-ass WONDER WOMAN story is starting here. The new costume is going to take some getting used to, but Straczynski writing WW is awesome! Torma – DEATH OF DRACULA #1= AWESOME. They totally made the entire Vampire corner of the Marvel Universe interesting and fun in literally one comic. This one got me really excited for the CURSE OF THE MUTANTS. Matt – TURF #2 = This series is killer. The second issue isn’t quite as dialogue-heavy as the first, and flows even better. I just love it. Aliens, gangsters, vampires. What’s not to love you know? |
THIRD EYE OFFICIAL SHADOWLAND CHECKLIST
THIRD EYE OFFICIAL SHADOWLAND CHECKLIST
JULY
- SHADOWLAND #1
- DAREDEVIL #508
AUGUST
- SHADOWLAND #2
- DAREDEVIL #509
- SHADOWLAND: BULLSEYE #1
- SHADOWLAND BLOOD ON THE STREETS #1 (of 4)
- SHADOWLAND POWER MAN #1 (of 4)
- SHADOWLAND DAUGHTERS OF THE SHADOW #1 (of 3)
- SHADOWLAND MOON KNIGHT #1 (of 3)
SEPTEMBER
- SHADOWLAND #3
- DAREDEVIL #510
- SHADOWLAND BLOOD ON THE STREETS #2 (of 4)
- SHADOWLAND POWER MAN #2 (of 4)
- SHADOWLAND DAUGHTERS OF THE SHADOW #2 (of 3)
- THUNDERBOLTS #148
- SHADOWLAND ELEKTRA #1
- SHADOWLAND GHOST RIDER #1
- SHADOWLAND MOON KNIGHT #2 (of 3)
OCTOBER
- SHADOWLAND #4 (of 5)
- DAREDEVIL #511
- SHADOWLAND BLOOD ON THE STREETS #3 (of 4)
- SHADOWLAND POWER MAN #3 (of 4)
- SHADOWLAND DAUGHTERS OF THE SHADOW #3 (of 3)
- THUNDERBOLTS #149
- SHADOWLAND SPIDER-MAN #1
- SHADOWLAND MOON KNIGHT #3 (of 3)
NOVEMBER
- SHADOWLAND #5
- DAREDEVIL #512
- SHADOWLAND BLOOD ON THE STREETS #4 (of 4)
- SHADOWLAND POWER MAN #4 (of 4)
What is Shadowland?
Now, lets talk about WHAT Shadowland is: Shadowland is a five issue limited series which centers around Daredevil, and many other street-level Marvel characters like Moon Knight, Spider-man, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, the Punisher, and more. The story is spinning out of recent events in the Daredevil title where Matt Murdock has taken on a leadership role with THE HAND. Many of the Marvel characters that operate out of NYC are beginning to question Murdock’s role as leader of the Hand, and the direction he’s been heading since basically taking over the criminal organization in an attempt to control it and keep it from consuming Hell’s Kitchen. A big focus of the story is Shadowland, a prison/temple constructed on the ruins of a Hell’s Kitchen building destroyed (along with numerous lives) by Bullseye during Dark Reign (in the DARK REIGN DAREDEVIL THE LIST one-shot, now available in trade paperback THE LIST in stock at Third Eye). Now that the construction of this giant prison has been built, it’s caused quite a bit of alarm for many Marvel heroes. The area of it has become a protectorate of the Hand as Murdock is trying to mold this international organization of assassins and criminals into a force for justice. And so far, he’s been doing a good job; the streets of Hell’s Kitchen have never been safer, and crime has all but disappeared.
Now, at first, DD’s allies, like Spidey, Iron Fist ,Wolverine, Luke Cage, Elektra, and Cap, as well as the more eccentric ones like Punisher and Moon Knight, are totally okay with this. They trust his decisions at first, and want to see this work. I mean, after everything Daredevil has been through, all the loved ones he’s lost, the trial about his identity, if anyone has the intestinal fortitude to bend a criminal organization into something respectable, it’s him.
But, then Daredevil returns from Japan, and things have changed. The trip he’s taken has shown him some truths about enemies that are in his midst, and now he’s ready to cross the lines and boundaries that many of his allies feared he would. And, what springs from this, envelops the consciousness of the super hero community of New York City in short order, and the Man Without Fear will find himself with some unexpected enemies and allies, many of whom may switch sides before the event concludes with a climax that promises to change how the Marvel Universes, and Daredevil himself, for a very long time.
My thoughts? I read the advance of issue #1, and I thought it was fantastic. This event has not received a lot of hype, and I think once issue #1 drops, it’s going to roar up out of nowhere, and take us all by storm, because of some of what goes down in the first issue. I mean, I got the same feeling reading the first issue of SHADOWLAND that I got from reading the first issue of CIVIL WAR. And, it almost feels like this is a grittier, darker twist on the CIVIL WAR concept but set against the backdrop of NEW YORK CITY. I really can’t talk too much about what happens in the first issue, because the surprises are great, what I can say is that it’s very well-written, and Billy Tan’s artwork has never looked better. And… someone bites the dust. That’s all I’ll say.
Click here for a preview of SHADOWLAND #1
THIRD EYE OFFICIAL X-MEN CURSE OF THE MUTANTS CHECKLIST
THIRD EYE OFFICIAL X-MEN CURSE OF THE MUTANTS CHECKLIST
JULY
DEATH OF DRACULA #1 ONE-SHOT *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS PROLOGUE*
X-MEN #1 *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS CHAPTER 1*
AUGUST
X-MEN #2 *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS CHAPTER 2*
NAMOR #1 *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS TIE-IN*
X-MEN CURSE OF THE MUTANTS BLADE #1 ONE-SHOT*CURSE OF THE MUTANTS TIE-IN*
X-MEN CURSE OF THE MUTANTS STORM & GAMBIT #1 ONE-SHOT *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS TIE-IN*
SEPTEMBER
X-MEN #3 *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS PT 3*
X-MEN CURSE OF THE MUTANTS – X-MEN VS. VAMPIRES #1 (of 3) *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS TIE-IN*
X-MEN CURSE OF THE MUTANTS SMOKE AND BLOOD #1 ONE-SHOT *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS TIE-IN*
NAMOR THE FIRST MUTANT #2 *CURSE OF THE MUTANTS TIE-IN*
What is CURSE OF THE MUTANTS?
Okay, so for the last year or so, Marvel has really been building their line of X-Titles back up, and it’s all kind of come to a head with the INCREDIBLE epic crossover, SECOND COMING. Now, with SECOND COMING nearing it’s conclusion, the X-MEN books have been pretty much primed for a fresh start, and a new direction to welcome many of you back to the fold, since it’s no secret that a lot of people fell off of X-MEN over the last ten years due to inconsistent storylines, and a lack of cohesiveness to that end of the Marvel Universe.
Good news though: the X-Men books are better than they’ve been right now than in almost a decade. The only stuff that comes close to what’s been going on in the X-Books this summer was Whedon’s incredible run on ASTONISHING, and Morrison’s reinvention of the characters in NEW X-MEN. Otherwise, this is probably some of the best damn X-MEN stuff we’ve seen in a very long time.
And, this week, X-MEN #1 is the book that’s set to welcome a lot of lapsed X-Fans back into the ranks. It’s a fresh start, and serves as a perfect jumping on point to the new direction of the X-Books, as well as a nice new chapter to follow up on the conclusion of SECOND COMING. But, most important: it’s really freakin’ good. Marvel was kind enough to send us an advance copy of this, and I sat down with it late Saturday night, zoned out to some Guided by Voices, and devoured this book. That’s how much I enjoyed it. Why? ‘Cause it’s everything about the X-Men that you love and remember, much like SECOND COMING delivers that bigger-than-life epic sense of life or death that X-MEN books were known for at their height, this new X-MEN series provides the same kind of excitement, and tightly focused characterization that we loved about the X-Books when we were younger.
Taking it’s cue from SECOND COMING, this one seems to be focusing heavily on the characters that we CARE about. In other words, it’s the big guns, and the fan-favorites. Wolverine, Jubilee, Cyclops, fan-favorite Pixie, Colossus, and more. And, this, is where I really think the secret recipe of a good X-Men book lies: the team roster. I mean, lets face it, how often do we see an X-Men line-up get watered down with has-beens, and never-weres.. characters that we could care less about, but for some reason, we’ve gotta deal with. And, ever since SECOND COMING began, Marvel has gotten away from that, and instead focused on giving everyone what they want: the iconic X-Men lineups.
Overall, the book is a fantastic read, and writer Victor Gischler (mostly known for his work on crime novels) and artist Paco Medina (the rising star that kicked off the ongoing Deadpool series) deliver big-time. Now, lets get onto talking about the plot.
What is the first story arc of this new X-MEN series about? Well, many of you know from last week when picking up the DEATH OF DRACULA one-shot, that the Marvel Universe is about to start dealing with a full-scale Vampire infestation. And, again, after reading both DEATH OF DRACULA and X-MEN SECOND COMING, we gotta say… the Marvel Vampires are pretty damn cool now. I’ve always had a soft spot for the old Gene Colan Tomb of Dracula stuff, but, I’ve never been a major fan of Marvel’s more supernatural lot… but, that’s all changed with the way that Marvel has re-invented this corner of their Marvel Universe. The Marvel vampires are BAD-ASS.
Anyways, so we have a legion of undead, and their first target? The X-Men, and mutantkind. Why? Well, their motives are still mysterious, but we feel that part of it might be the extremely small numbers of the mutants, however, without giving any spoilers many of the vampires motivations are hinted at and somewhat revealed in last week’s DEATH OF DRACULA one-shot (still in stock here at Third Eye!)
Now, I don’t want to ruin how the book starts, ’cause it’s a GREAT beginning to the storyline, so I won’t get into specifics. But, I will say this: if you thought SECOND COMING was going to bring major changes to characters, then wait’ll you see CURSE OF THE MUTANTS. Mutants being infected with the vampire disease? It makes for a very dangerous combo.
WHAT’S NEW @ THIRD EYE FOR *THURSDAY* 7/8/10
WHAT’S NEW @ THIRD EYE FOR THURSDAY 7/8/10
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 atthirdeyecomics@gmail.com, and we’ll be happy to set it aside for you!
- ABSOLUTE PLANETARY HC BOOK 01 NEW PRINTING
- ABSOLUTION TP *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL*
- AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #636 *GRIM HUNT CHAPTER 3*
- ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #210
- AUTHORITY #24
- AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #1 *THE ORIGINAL CREATIVE TEAM OF YOUNG AVENGERS RETURN, WITH A KICK-ASS NEW YOUNG AVENGERS MAXISERIES!* THIRD EYE MUST BUY
- AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #1 SKETCH VARIANT
- AVENGERS THE ORIGIN #4
- AVENGERS THOR CAPTAIN AMERICA INDEX TO THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #3
- BATMAN AND ROBIN #13 *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE TIE-IN* THIRD EYE MUST BUY
- BATMAN AND ROBIN #13 VARIANT
- BATMAN CONFIDENTIL #46
- BATMAN ODYSSEY #1 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY – BRAND NEW BATMAN STORY FROM THE LEGENDARY NEAL ADAMS!*
- BATMAN ODYSSEY #1 VARIANT
- BLACKEST NIGHT GREEN LANTERN HC
- BLACKEST NIGHT GREEN LANTERN CORPS HC
- BLACKEST NIGHT HC *THIRD EYE MUST BUY – RESERVE YOUR COPY, AND GET A FULL SET OF 9 LANTERN POWER RINGS, SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED!*
- THE BOYS #44
- BPRD TP v.13 1947
- BRIGADE #1
- BRIGHTEST DAY #5 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*
- BRIGHTEST DAY #5 VARIANT
- BRIGHTEST DAY THE ATOM #1 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL, FEATURING “SWEET TOOTH” CREATOR JEFF LEMIRE!”
- CASANOVA #1 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL – INVINCIBLE IRON MAN WRITER MATT FRACTION’S CREATOR OWNED SERIES DEBUTS AT MARVEL’S ICON IMPRINT!*
- COLD SPACE #3
- DARKNESS #85
- DARKSTAR AND WINTER GUARD #2
- DEADPOOL TEAM-UP HC v.1 GOOD BUDDIES
- DEMO #6
- DISNEYS HERO SQUAD SC v.2 RACE OF THE ULTRAPODS
- DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 3 #5
- DOOM PATROL #12
- DRACULA #3
- DUST WARS #2
- ELECTRIC ANT #4
- ESSENTIAL CLASSIC X-MEN TP v.1 NEW PRINTING
- FALL OUT TOY WORKS #5
- FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #32 *WITH ART BY BRYAN HITCH!*
- FEVRE DREAM #3
- GHOSTOPOLIS SC
- GI JOE #20
- GI JOE #20 VARIANT
- GREAT TEN #9
- GREEK STREET #13
- HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #2 *HEROIC AGE*
- HEATHENTOWN GN
- HELLBOY THE STORM #1
- HERCULES TWILIGHT OF A GOD #2
- HIT-MONKEY #1 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL*
- HORRORHOUND #24
- HOUSE OF MYSTERY #27
- HOUSE OF MYSTERY TP v.4 THE BEAUTY OF DECAY
- IRON MAN LEGACY #4
- IRREDEEMABLE #15
- IRREDEEMABLE #15 VARIANT
- IZOMBIE #3
- JIM BUTCHERS DRESDEN FILES STORM FRONT VOL 2 #2
- JONAH HEX #57
- JSA ALL-STARS #8
- KILL SHAKESPEARE #3
- KING CITY #10
- KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #164
- LOONEY TUNES #188
- MARK MILLAR’S THE UNFUNNIES *THE MOST DISTURBING MARK MILLAR COMIC YOU’LL EVER READ!*
- MARVEL PSYLOCKE BISHOUJO STATUE
- MARVELMAN FAMILYS FINEST #1
- MARVELMAN FAMILYS FINEST #1 VARIANT
- MICKEY MOUSE S WORLD TO COME TP
- ONE PIECE TP v.54
- ORSON SCOTT CARDS ENDER IN EXILE #2
- OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB TP v.14
- PHANTOM GENERATIONS #13
- PLAYWRIGHT HC
- POKEMON DIAMOND & PEARL ADVENTURE GN v.7
- RAWHIDE KID #2
- RED HOOD LOST DAYS #2
- RED ROBIN #14
- RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE #102
- SCALPED #39
- SCARLET #1 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*
- SCARLET #1 DEODATO VARIANT
- SCARLET #1 LAFUENTE VARIANT
- SECRET SIX #23
- SHADOWLAND #1 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY!*
- SHADOWLAND #1 BILLY TAN WRAP VARIANT
- SHIELD KICKING DOWN THE DOOR TP
- SHONEN JUMP AUGUST 2010
- SMURFS #1 SMURFNAPPER
- SOULFIRE HC v.1 PART 2
- SPARTA USA #5
- SPIDER-MAN FANTASTIC FOUR #1
- STAND HARDCASES #2
- STAND SOUL SURVIVORS PREMIERE HC
- STAR WARS OLD REPUBLIC #1
- STARSTRUCK #11
- STEVE ROGERS SUPER SOLDIER #1 *HEROIC AGE, THIRD EYE MUST BUY*
- STEVE ROGERS SUPER SOLDIER #1 FINCH VARIANT
- SWEET TOOTH #11
- TAILS OF PET AVENGERS DOGS OF SUMMER
- THANOS SOURCEBOOK
- THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY TP v.1
- THOR AND THE WARRIORS FOUR #4
- THOR MIGHTY AVENGER #1
- TICK EDLUND EPIC #2
- TINTIN IN THE CONGO HC NEW PRINTING
- TOM STRONG AND THE ROBOTS OF DOOM #2
- TRANSFORMERS BUMBLEBEE TP
- TRANSFORMERS IRON HIDE #3
- ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN TP v.1 WORLD ACCORDING TO PETER PARKER
- VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #10 *HEROIC AGE*
- VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT TP SHOCK AND AWE
- WALKING DEAD #74
- WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #708
- WASTELAND #29
- WIRE HANGERS #3
- WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #3
- WOLVERINE WEAPON X TP v.2 INSANE IN BRAIN
- X-FORCE #28 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 13*
- X-FORCE #28 FINCH VARIANT
- X-MEN #1 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* – BRAND NEW ONGOING SERIES, KICKING OFF A BRAND NEW ERA, AND FRESH DIRECTION FOR THE X-MEN! CURSE OF THE MUTANTS BEGINS HERE!
- X-MEN #1 BLANK COVER
- X-MEN #1 COIPEL VARIANT
- X-MEN #1 DJURDJEVIC VARIANT
- X-MEN #1 JOHN ROMITA JR VARIANT
- X-MEN #1 MEDINA LIMITED EDITION PRINT *X-MEN DAY EXCLUSIVE, LIMIT 1 PER PERSON*
- X-MEN #1 MEDINA VARIANT
- X-WOMEN #1
- YOUNG ALLIES #2
The Third Eye Subscription Service!
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THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE COMICS FOR WEDNESDAY 6/30/10
SECRET AVENGERS #2 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* – THE SECOND ISSUE OF THE KILLER NEW SHADOW-OPS AVENGERS BOOK HITS THIS WEEK! MISSED #1? NO SWEAT, WE’VE STILL GOT LIMITED QUANTITIES IN STOCK TO CATCH YOU UP!![]() We’ve got a big one hitting this week folks with the second issue of SECRET AVENGERS. This was the one out of the new AVENGERS line-up of titles that really took the store by storm, due to it’s unique and unconventional line-up (Steve Rogers, Moon Knight, War Machine, Valkyrie, The Beast, Nova), the incredible artwork of Mike Deodato, and then the very talented writing chops of Ed Brubaker. And ever since the week after issue #1 shipped, we’ve been getting asked “When’s #2?” And you know what that means? It means the book is freakin’ awesome! THE SECRET AVENGERS… GO TO MARS!? But, it’s MARS! And, that means that we’re probably going to see some true blue over-the-top Marvel madness taking place, as Brubaker manages to blend genres effortlessly, fusing pulpy sci-fi awesomeness with Marvel super-hero action. WHAT IS SECRET AVENGERS? Secret Avengers is one of the four new ongoing AVENGERS books that are carrying the Heroic Age banner. The team is a group of unlikely candidates brought together by Steve Rogers to be his shadow ops roster that handles the kind of missions that the regular AVENGERS team cannot get their hands dirty with. One of the big intents of the team is to covertly clean up many of the messes left behind by the Osborn administration. The unique roster of the team has been chosen so that Rogers can carry out surgical strikes in any given circumstance. The book itself is surrounded in espionage plots, and carries a heavy Steranko influence, and all the crazy Kirby-esque technology of yesteryear brought into the modern day. After reading the first issue, the book has a fresh and unique feel that makes it stand out amongst many other superhero team books on the stands these days. The SECRET AVENGERS line-up is: If you missed issue #1 of SECRET AVENGERS, we’ve still got limited quantities of the 1st prints in stock, so snag a copy this week and grab issue #2 to get you caught up. This book comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and we think that if you’re a Marvel fan, or an Avengers fan, you won’t be disappointed. Click here for a preview of SECRET AVENGERS #2 BATMAN BEYOND #1*THIRD EYE MUST BUY* – TERRY MCGINNIS RETURNS IN THIS NEW 6 ISSUE LIMITED SERIES ON WEDNESDAY! This series, being written by Adam Beechen, who you might recognize as the writer of the always fun and awesome BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD cartoons, is taking things into a much darker direction for McGinnis and the world of BATMAN BEYOND. Terry McGinnis, the Batman of the future, and an elderly Bruce Wayne are the sworn protectors of Neo-Gotham. Now, someone is targeting the Dark Knight’s old foes, and the new Batman has to take on a case that’s digging deep into the roots of Bruce Wayne’s past, and puts McGinnis in grave danger. This one is a perfect fresh start, and the official return for the Batman Beyond franchise, and from what DC says, if it does well enough, we might even see a Batman Beyond ongoing series… how freakin’ cool is that? Not familiar with BATMAN BEYOND? You can click here to read the official Wikipedia entry on the series, and get the full rundown on it! Click here to read more about BATMAN BEYOND #1 DEATH OF DRACULA #1 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* ONE-SHOT KICKS OFF EVENTS THAT WILL BE AFFECTING THE MARVEL UNIVERSE IN BIG WAYS FOR 2010! DO NOT MISS THIS ONE, NOT ONLY DOES IT LOOK GREAT, BUT IT WILL BE A KEY POINT FOR UPCOMING MARVEL STORYLINES! ![]() When Marvel first announced plans to center their next big storylines around the “Marvel Vampires”, I was a little reluctant about how it was going to be. But, the more that I’ve read, and the more that I saw, I found myself becoming more and more enamored with the idea of a big badass storyline that kind of brings a cohesive element to the scattered vampire mythos that run through the Marvel Universe. And, then.. I read the preview Marvel released for the one-shot that kicks off everything, DEATH OF DRACULA #1, and I was sold. The artwork is freakin’ sublime, and the story reads well, but at it’s core: it simply looks cool. That’s all there is to it. In addition, I’ve always been a sucker for the Marvel Dracula stories that’ve drifted in and out of comics, ranging from the old school Gene Colan TOMB OF DRACULA awesomeness to his more recent appearances in other books. I just thought the idea of this immense, mythical character having a role and place in the Marvel Universe was pretty rad. But, at it’s core, it all comes back to one thing: this is going to be cool. And, with the DEATH OF DRACULA one-shot, you’re getting a chance to not only jump in with a very killer read, but also you’re getting what is going to be a KEY point for Marvel Universe events coming down the line in 2010. We already can see what’s going to be happening with the upcoming X-MEN: CURSE OF THE MUTANTS storyline (which looks SICK!), and there was a brief mention of the DEATH OF DRACULA in AVENGERS #2… but this one is where you can get in at the ground zero of some really cool storylines kicking off. So, what’s the concept of this whole Marvel Universe vs. the Vampires storyline? Well, first, before we go on, put your hate of TWILIGHT aside, because these are NOT those kinds of vampires. In fact, one of the most interesting things about this upcoming storyline is how the Marvel Universe has so many different KINDS of vampires. Marvel has been going on record since the buzz on this one began talking about how this is a book you should NOT miss when it hits. And, folks, I agree with them, after reading the book, it does a fantastic job of setting up for what’s to come. There’s also the fact that this one is probably going to go out of print very fast, so you’re gonna want to get a copy before they sell out. And, while you know we always do a great job of keeping what you need in stock here at Third Eye, sometimes a book really hits like lightning in a bottle. Anyways, the Death of Dracula, according to Victor Gischler (writer) and Axel Alonso (editor), is not the end, but the beginning. This one-shot explains and organizes the immense scattering of vampires throughout the Marvel universe for use in upcoming storylines. I mean, there’s Atlantean vampires, there’s traditional supernatural vampires, there’s the science-based vampires like Morbius.. where do they all fit? Well, that’s what this one-shot does. Basically, it begins with Dracula’s son, Xarsus, brutally killing his father, and going through a bloody, ultra-violent storyline of deception, and a whole lotta dead vampires, to become Lord of the Vampires and unify the entire Marvel Vampire-verse. And of course, this leads into things like the vampires mobilizing and going after characters like the X-Men, or other corners of the Marvel Universe. Story and art-wise, the book is top notch, with IGNITION CITY artist Giuseppe Cammuncoli giving Dracula a new look, and really playing up the Vlad the Impaler-esque appearance. There’s a real sense of hierarchy given to the world of the vampires here, and between the Atlantis vampires, the Nosferatu, ect… they’ve really done a great job of making everything a lot more cohesive, modern, and hip. Where is this headed? As part of the Heroic Age, we’re going to see the now unified vampire nation going to war with the Marvel Universe, and their first stop is with the X-Men, and that’s what leads into the whole Curse of the Mutants storyline that’ll be following X-MEN SECOND COMING! Click here to read the preview of DEATH OF DRACULA #1 ONE-SHOT TURF #2 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*, the NEXT BIG BREAKOUT HIT from IMAGE COMICS continues this WEDNESDAY! PROHIBITION-ERA GANGSTERS! VAMPIRES! SPACE ALIENS! RAYGUNS AND SHOTGUN SHELLS! WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE? What is TURF? Okay, ever wonder what New York City in 1929 would be like if you mixed prohibition-era gangsters and vampires? And, then lets just say that these two feuding gangs had a spaceship dropped into the middle of them. Taking place in the winter of 1929, UK television personality Jonathan Ross (he’s kinda like their Jon Stewart over there), delivers a well-told tale of a New York City that’s populated with a broad cast of characters; ranging from a newspaper writer looking to break out from her society column to the vampire family who have a more exotic thirst than some cheap whisky’ll satisfy. Mafia dons, speakeasies playing jazz, nasty characters on the take, and a corrupt system that preys on the weak. Oh, and there’s a spaceship too, which makes this whole thing so crazy that it works perfectly. Ross proves himself to be a fantastic storyteller in the first issue, and the world of TURF is fully realized by Tommy Lee Edwards, dark and gritty. At first glance, it looks wordy, but it never interferes with the artwork or the flow of the story. It’s a little more labor-intensive to read, but hey, that’s a nice change of pace in the modern state of decompressed storytelling. Ross really does a fantastic job of making you hear the narrative in your head as the story develops, and the characters shape up into a very charismatic cast by the end of the first issue. Plus… it’s vampires fighting gangsters… with alien technology thrown into the mix. How can you NOT love this? :) Miss issue #1? Don’t worry, we’ve still got some in stock to get you caught up! BRIGHTEST DAY DELIVERS BIG THIS WEEK!GREEN LANTERN #55 *BRIGHTEST DAY* THIRD EYE MUST BUY – GEOFF JOHNS CONTINUES TO MAKE GREEN LANTERN A TOP OF THE STACK MUST-READ THIS WEEK WITH GL #55! ![]() If you jumped off of GREEN LANTERN when BLACKEST NIGHT ended, you are seriously missing out on one of the best superhero comic books on the stands. The stories have gotten EVEN BETTER since the finale of BLACKEST NIGHT, and we’re so stoked on the directions that one of our favorite writers, GEOFF JOHNS, continues to take these characters. In addition, the fact that Johns has been on the book for 55 issues IN A ROW! is a testament in and of itself to the consistency and quality of this series. In the aftermath of BLACKEST NIGHT, we’ve seen some very interesting happenings going on in the pages of GREEN LANTERN, with clandestine meetings between Atrocitus and Guy Gardner, as well as tensions building between the “New Guardians”, and especially between Sinestro and Hal. In last month’s GREEN LANTERN #54, we saw the cult-favorite Red Lantern kitty, Dex-Starr get his due with Johns hitting some perfect comedic timing, and a new character designed from Doug Mahnke. Balance this out with some total badassery being performed by Atrocitus, and some more cool Larfleeze stuff, and #54 did a great job of expanding upon the exploits of the “New Guardians.” Now, this month, it looks like the role of Atrocitus in the book continues to increase (and hopefully some more Dex-Starr too!), as it looks like Atrocitus is going to be toe-to-toe with the Main Man himself, LOBO. And, is that Hector Hammond we see joining the new Guardians? At least that’s what DC is hinting at. As per usual, folks, GREEN LANTERN #55 is a must-read, and comes highly recommended. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better superhero book on the stands, as this one stands head and shoulders with all the top books we’re reading right now. Click here to read more about GREEN LANTERN #55 *BRIGHTEST DAY* Click here for the BRIGHTEST DAY Checklist – We’ll be posting the Checklist Part 2 soon, which covers the next few months FLASH #3 *BRIGHTEST DAY* THIRD EYE MUST BUY – GEOFF JOHNS’S NEXT BREAKOUT HIT SERIES CONTINUES AS THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE HAS NEVER BEEN COOLER THAN HE IS NOW! Over the course of the last two issues, Johns has effortlessly re-introduced the character of the Flash to readers without letting it slow his story down. He’s gotten a lot of us (including myself) who were bigger Wally fans than we were Barry fans into the character of Barry, and he’s done it while managing to tell a compelling, and exciting story. Half of the appeal of the new Flash book is the “quick” way it reads. Not quick in the traditional sense, like, man that was a fast read, but just in terms of how smooth, and fun it is, that you’re through an issue before you know it. And, trust me, it’s not a drawback, ’cause you know exactly what I’m talking about. When you’re REALLY enjoying a book, and in thick with it, it goes by way too quick. Combine the excellent job Johns is doing on the writing chores of the Flash with Francis Manapul’s amazing artwork, and you get one hell of a great book. The energy in it practically crackles, and jumps off the page, and the artwork brings the world of Flash and his rogues to life. The overall feel of the book is very SUPERHERO CSI, playing up Barry’s background as a police scientist, and mixing it with his role as the Flash, and as a whole, this makes for a very compelling read. The first story arc has centered around the Death of the Dastardly Rogues storyline, and with the first two issues, already feels like it’s going to be a very big storyline. The first story arc has the Rogues from the future, who’re.. in a strange twist, law enforcement, coming back to the past to get Barry on a murder charge that he’ll commit in the future. It’s an interesting idea, but it works surprisingly well. All in all, the new Flash series has been a top notch read, and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down any time soon. It’s a great mix of true blue Geoff Johns DC Comics awesomeness with a cool mystery/crime-solving angle like something you might see in Detective Comics. If you’ve missed the first two issues, don’t worry, ’cause we still have copies of issue #1 and issue #2 in stock to get you caught up! Click here for a preview of THE FLASH #3 *BRIGHTEST DAY* Click here for the official Third Eye BRIGHTEST DAY checklist, the Checklist Pt 2 will be coming soon! ![]() Brightest Day has really brought new life to a lot of things, no pun intended, and one of those things has been the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. While the book began to get pretty rad when Robinson first brought in his new line-up, it’s definitely had a hard time finding it’s niche until recently. Now, with the BRIGHTEST DAY kicking things into full swing, JLA is rockin’. Beginning this Wednesday, there’s going to be an all-new 5-part JLA/JSA crossover between the two titles. There’s a long tradition of JLA/JSA crossovers, and we can’t think of one we didn’t enjoy at least to some degree. But, this newest one looks like it could be one of the better times that the JLA and JSA have crossed paths. So, what’s the scoop? Well, the return of one hero has caused the release of the powerful Starheart that empowers Green Lantern Alan Scott. Now, this chaotic force has been unleashed on Earth, causing magic to go wild, and bringing about all sorts of new metahumans. And, because of this, the Justice League and the Justice Society must combine efforts to battle the dark power wielded by one of their own. Click here for a preview of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #46 WARREN ELLIS’S CAPTAIN SWING & the ELECTRIC PIRATES of CINDERY ISLAND #2 ARRIVES DELIVERING UP SOME MORE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED STEAMPUNK JACK THE RIPPER MADNESS! ![]() AWESOME! The second issue of Ellis’s killer new AVATAR (publishers of CROSSED, IGNITION CITY, ect) series CAPTAIN SWING hits this week, and we could not be more pumped. The first issue of this series hooked us with it’s fantastica approach to the era of Jack the Ripper, and we’ve been waiting ever since for the second issue to arrive. What is CAPTAIN SWING & the ELECTRIC PIRATES OF CINDERY ISLAND? The story starts out with two competing police forces, one that would become the police that people know in the UK, and the other, the Bow Street Runners, made up of former thief-takers and overseen by the magistrates. The former are a bit of a joke, it’s officers not given weapons, and the standards are low. The latter are armed, professional, and possibly, VERY CORRUPT! The first issue shows the conflict between these two as it all comes to center around a mysterious individual by the name of Captain Swing, who one of the Bow Street Runners has been tasked with capturing, and the other police force happen to encounter, thinking he’s Jack the Ripper. Of course, Swing’s got some crazy electric-based weapons and a flying boat, so the police don’t really stand a chance. The book is freakin’ awesome, and the artwork of Raulo Caceres (cover artist for DOKTOR SLEEPLESS) brings a level of detail to the world of 1830 London that helps immerse you into the story perfectly. Of course, the star of the show here is the intense, steampunky trappings of the story, and we freakin’ can’t get enough of it. The first issue set us up, and now we’re getting the second, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. If you missed issue #1 of CAPTAIN SWING, don’t worry, we’ve got limited quantities in stock to get you caught up. INVINCIBLE IRON MAN ANNUAL #1 - MATT FRACTION & SALVADOR LAROCCA RE-INTRODUCE THE MANDARIN BACK INTO THE IRON MAN UNIVERSE, SETTING UP FOR WHAT WILL BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST IRON MAN STORIES EVER!![]() So many good reads this week! I’m totally stoked about this Annual issue for INVINCIBLE IRON MAN. I mean, nevermind the fact that it’s getting me a double-dose of some of the best superhero comic goodness on the stands this month, but, it’s a killer one-shot story that ties into the current run of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, and sets up for the highly anticipated Iron Man/Mandarin showdown that we’ve all been waiting for Fraction/Larocca to deliver. So, what’s the scoop? Well, taking place in between the last issue of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #27, and the upcoming issue #28, this one-shot story by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca is basically their re-introduction of the Mandarin to us, and in what his role is in their run on INVINCIBLE IRON MAN. In other words, this is where we first see the Fraction/Larocca twist on Mandarin appearing, and the lead-up to the big Mandarin vs. Iron Man throwdown. We’re supposed to be getting an insight into his origin, as well as the origins of the alien weapon of unimaginable power that he wears upon each finger. And, this, this is where he begins his quest to kill Tony Stark, his most hated enemy. You guys have already heard me gushing about how great INVINCIBLE IRON MAN has been for 27 issues, but I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again..if you’re NOT reading INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, then do yourself a favor, and pick up with issue #25, still in stock here at Third Eye. This is a perfect jumping on spot, and puts you onto the current story arc without having to catch up on the past 20-some issues. Click here to read a preview of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN ANNUAL #1 WONDER WOMAN #600 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* – J.MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI BEGINS HIS RUN ON WONDER WOMAN THIS WEDNESDAY! PLUS, GEOFF JOHNS, GAIL SIMONE, GEORGE PEREZ, JOE MADUREIRA & PHIL JIMINEZ ALL COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE IN THIS LANDMARK ISSUE! ![]() For such a classic, and iconic character, it’s been a very long time since we’ve seen a really killer must-read WW storyline.. but, that changes now, as critically acclaimed writer, J.MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI begins his highly anticipated run on DC’s favorite Amazon. You guys remember JMS, right? He’s the guy that totally blew us away last week with the kick-off to his new SUPERMAN run, and he’s the dude who helped practically re-invent THOR in the recent THOR run, made the Squadron Supreme relevant again in SUPREME POWER, and completely changed how we view superhero comics with RISING STARS. In other words, J.MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI is kind of a big deal. And, just like he’s got plans to do big things with Superman, he’s got plans to do big things with Wonder Woman. Beginning this week in the landmark 600th issue of WW, J.MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI kicks off his brand new WONDER WOMAN run with the official prelude to it beginning here! In addition to that tidbit of awesomeness, we’ve also got high profile creators like Geoff Johns, Phil Jiminez, George Perez, Gail Simone, Joe Madureira, and more coming aboard to help Straczynski get this party started right. Highly recommended, this one is a must-buy! Click here to read more about WONDER WOMAN #600 ATTENTION SCOTT PILGRIM FANS! BACK IN PRINT: LOST AT SEA by SCOTT PILGRIM creator BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY! ![]() Okay, back in print, and we couldn’t be more happier, we’ve got the release of SCOTT PILGRIM creator, BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY’S incredible LOST AT SEA. This one originally came out in 2003, and many of you who’re hooked on SCOTT PILGRIM, probably have not yet read it, ’cause it’s been in and out of print like crazy over the last few years. Anyways, the scoop on LOST AT SEA is that it focuses on the coming-of-age story of shy 18-year old Raleigh who thinks she has no soul – cause a cat stole it from her – and who is now on a road trip across the United States with some kids from her school she barely knows. And, on the road trip, we see her visting her boyfriend in California back home to Vancouver with her friends Stephanie, Dave and Ian, some kids from her high school that she hardly knows and met in Cali when she accidentally missed her train. During the trip she thinks a lot about her boyfriend Stillman, who she met on the internet, and her belief that she has no friends because she has no soul, for her mother sold it to the devil (who gave it to a cat) when she was fourteen, in the summer her parents got divorced and her best friend moved away to Ottawa. Lost at Sea is an INCREDIBLE bittersweet comedy/romance that delivers big time, and if you’re a fan of SCOTT PILGRIM, you’ll love it. The book is honest, and real, which is a strength in O’Malley’s writing. It walks a fine line between bizarre, silly and fun and sad, touching and insightful. The blurb on the back cover of the book sums it up best: If you’ve ever been eighteen, or confused, or both, maybe you should read this book. That’s pretty much all I can say about Lost at Sea. It’s good, READ IT! ACTION COMICS #890 *BLACKEST NIGHT AFTERMATH!* - SAY HELLO TO ORANGE LANTERN LEX LUTHOR! NEW STORY ARC, NEW DIRECTION, FOCUSING SOLELY ON LEX LUTHOR and his NEWFOUND ORANGE POWER RING! See, during BLACKEST NIGHT, a lot of crazy, wild stuff happened, and one of those things was deputy Lanterns being sought out. And, of course, who else would the Orange Ring look to then the one, and only Lex Luthor? Now, DC is kicking off a run on ACTION COMICS that deals with the aftermath of Luthor’s dance with the Orange Power Ring, his connections to Larfleeze, and what he plans to do in the midst of all this BRIGHTEST DAY craziness. And of course, they’ve brought in the highly underrated and awesome Paul Cornell to handle the writing chores on this one, alongside the also highly underrated, yet extremely talented Pete Woods. Both of these guys have done cult favorite series for years, and we feel that this could be their big break, as they’re both VERY talented, but have not found their way onto a character this big before. Me, personally? I’m just plain pumped because the things I’ve heard about where they’re going with this, and the fact that we get an entire comic devoted to that evil nogoodnik, Luthor, and his newfound Avarice Corps relation, is just plain awesome. Click here to read a preview of ACTION COMICS #890 *NEW ARC, NEW JUMPING ON POINT, ORANGE LANTERN LUTHOR!!* WORLD WAR Z writer MAX BROOKS continues to impress us this week with GI JOE: HEARTS AND MINDS #2! ![]() I’m sure a lot of you guys are already familiar with the incredible zombie survival horror epics, WORLD WAR Z and the ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE, as we know they’ve really developed a huge fanbase over the last few years. And, if you’ve read those then you obviously already know that Max Brooks is one hell of a talented writer. Well, Brooks totally blew us away last month with GI JOE HEARTS AND MINDS #1, his new limited series that delivers two stories per issue getting into the hearts, and character of those GI JOE characters we all remember so fondly. In fact, the way that this one reads, it’s almost as if you took the whole old school concept of those little biography cards you’d clip out of the back of your Joes, and applied a dark, mature twist, and that’s what HEARTS AND MINDS kind of feels like. In the first issue, he took us inside the heads of Major Bludd, showing us a man who watched as his father and his father’s father became obsolete to the world, laid off from their jobs, and living in poverty.. and vowing to never let that happen to him, which explains why he lives the mercenary life he does now. We also got inside the head of Spirit, and learned how his extra-sensory abilities do more harm in his life than good. This week, it looks like Brooks will be exploring one of our favorite Cobra troops, FIREFLY, and the always awesome Doc from the GI Joe side of things. Click here to read an article USA TODAY did on Brooks’s awesome trip into the world of GI JOE! DEADPOOL WADE WILSONS WAR #2 – The Merc With A Mouth’s History Continues to Unravel in the BEST Deadpool book we’ve read in a while! Deadpool’s TRUE ORIGINS are revealed in this limited series!![]() There’s A LOTTA Deadpool out there these days, trust us, we know. But, guys, you gotta trust us when we tell you that Deadpool: Wade Wilson’s War is THE best Deadpool book we’ve read since the current ongoing series first started. The fact that the very talented Duane Swierczynski (Immortal Iron Fist, and a slew of killer crime novels), and the equally talented Jason Pearson are the creative team on this should speak volumes. These guys are good, simply put. But, best of all, this is a return to focus, as this limited series is taking us deep into the roots of Deadpool’s origins, and showing us stuff we’ve never ever known about the Merc with a Mouth. Was it the clandestine military experiment that aimed to turn ordinary soldiers into super-heroes that made ‘Pool who he is? Was Wade Wilson a brave super-soldier fighting America’s secret wars, or just some pissed-off hick looking for payback? Plus, we get to see all sorts of neat connections between Deadpool and characters like Domino, Bullseye, Silver Sable, and more. If you missed issue #1, don’t worry, ’cause we still have limited quantities of the first issue still available to get you caught up. Click here for a preview of DEADPOOL WADE WILSONS WAR #2 ABE SAPIEN: ABYSSAL PLAIN #1 – everyone’s favorite BPRD-sponsored FISH MAN returns this Wednesday! ![]() It’s always a reason to celebrate when we get more Hellboy/BPRD-centric goodness from Mike Mignola and co., and this week, one of our favorites gets a return to form with the ABE SAPIEN: THE ABYSSAL PLAIN two-issue limited series. This two-issue limited series shows us Abe on one of his first BPRD operations, leading a naval crew to recover an ancient relic from a sunken Soviet U-boat. What they uncover is a paranormal crime scene, with a tanker full of dead men and secrets that should’ve remained buried deep beneath the sea. Click here for a preview of ABE SABIE THE ABYSSAL PLAIN #1 ROB ZOMBIE’S WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK #2 and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK #1 BACK IN STOCK THIS WEDNESDAY! ![]() Rob Zombie’s new comic series, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK is a pretty big hit, and with the second issue arriving this Wednesday, we’ll have more of the first issue back in stock as well for those of you who may have missed it! The scoop on WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK is this: you got this washed up, former Horror movie icon, who has fallen on hard times, and now amidst the Hollywood babylon, and is now trying to crawl his way back into some kind of realm of respectability. He goes from famed horror TV personality to a washed-up hasben, who’s vices, drugs and women, have done a serious piece of work on his life. Of course, the comic has that trademark Rob Zombie flavor that’s predominant in his music, movies, and more, so if you’re a Zombie fan, you’ll love this one. Just remember this one is a bit more rooted in reality than some of his past work. We’ll have plenty of issue #1 back in stock to get you caught up, so you can jump on with this week’s issue #2 STAFF PICKS Steve - AVENGERS #2 – Huge ending with a cliffhanger surprise on the last two pages that’s so big I still can’t drop spoilers on it. Highly recommended, one of the best Marvel books on the stands. Trish – BEASTS OF BURDEN Hardcover= My favorite series of 2009 gets a SWEET SWEET hardcover collection! Torma – BATMAN RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #3 = The ending to this one is almost as big as the ending to Avengers… AWESOME read all the way through, and I cannot wait for Wild West Batman next month! Matt – AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #635 *GRIM HUNT PT 2* = Two weeks in a row and Spider-man is my pick of the week, that should tell you something! Grim Hunt OWNS seriously. |



































