Posts Tagged ‘alan moore’
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 7/21/10
July 19th, 2010 | 
Author: THIRD EYE MUST BUY: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #638 *ONE MOMENT IN TIME CHAPTER ONE* – Marvel Editor-In-Chief JOE QUESADA Brings Us THE SPIDER-MAN STORYLINE WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR: THE SECRETS OF ONE MORE DAY AND MEPHISTO ARE REVEALED! THINGS BEGIN TO BE FIXED, AND IS THIS THE LONG-AWAITED REUNION OF PETER PARKER AND MARY JANE OR THE FINAL NAIL IN THEIR MARRIAGE’S COFFIN? Folks, this is it. The one Spider-man storyline that we’ve been waiting for since 2007 when ONE MORE DAY concluded and BRAND NEW DAY paved the road for the last few years of Spidey stories. It’s been quite a ride, and we’ve seen a lot of Spidey stories since then. Some good, and some bad, and one or two that were just plain awesome, as well as a fair share of ones that we can barely remember. Honestly, I was one of many that didn’t really dig the new direction that ONE MORE DAY brought one. And, while I really did enjoy ONE MORE DAY, Brand New Day just didn’t do it for me. Now, that’s changed for me over the course of the last year, or so. While there’d been some brief moments of awesomeness like the NEW WAYS TO DIE, and AMERICAN SON, it wasn’t really until we got to the GAUNTLET that I got interested in Spider-man again. And, even then, the Gauntlet was kind of up and down until we got to GRIM HUNT. Grim Hunt kicked my ass, the storyline that ended just this past week, with AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #637, I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it. GRIM HUNT, still in stock here at Third Eye, ran through Amazing Spider-man #634-#637, and was basically the saga of KRAVEN THE HUNTER’S return, as his family systematically kills off any and all Spider-related characters to use their blood to resurrect the classic Spidey Rogue. You can read more about GRIM HUNT by clickinghere. Now, kicking off this week, comes the Spider-man storyline that myself, and many, many others have been waiting for: One Moment in Time. This is the direct sequel to ONE MORE DAY, and is basically the end point to what ONE MORE DAY started. In other words, Quesada and Marvel are making right some of the mistakes they made with ONE MORE DAY. After a strong start with the events of the GAUNTLET, and GRIM HUNT, ONE MOMENT IN TIME serves as the ground zero re-focusing of the Spider-man title, and basically the perfect spot for many of you who haven’t read the book in a while to jump back on. What is O.M.I.T? One Moment in Time is a four part storyline being written by Marvel EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joe Quesada which is supposed to answer many of the questions that ONE MORE DAY left readers scratching their heads over. It’s also supposed to be a re-focusing of the book, and be the start of a fully revitalized AMAZING SPIDER-MAN title. And, after the kick-ass GRIM HUNT storyline, I really think they’re on the right track. But, before we can really talk about what OMIT is, we should get into WHAT happened in ONE MORE DAY, and why it’s being followed up with this huge storyline. One More Day was a story-arc that took place shortly after CIVIL WAR, where Spider-man’s identity had become public knowledge, and the Kingpin, deciding to strike at one of his two biggest enemies: Daredevil and Spider-man, chooses Spider-man, and has a sniper shoot Aunt May. Parker loses it, and finds himself drawn into an agonizing downward spiral, until he’s met by Mephisto, and literally makes a deal with the Devil to save AUNT MAY’s life. The deal was to sacrifice what Mephisto considered one of the world’s most purest loves: the love between Peter Parker and Mary Jane, and by doing so, reality shifted, so that Mary Jane and Peter Parker never wed, and by that same token, the world forgot their marriage, and everything that was part of it (including Parker’s unmasking alongside Iron Man during CIVIL WAR) was forgotten. Now, as you could probably guess: a lot of fans, including myself, hated the outcome of this. However, the storyline WAS good, it’s just the end result is a bitter pill to swallow. I’m not even a hardcore continuity guy, but, I digress. Anyways, after three years of storylines that have existed in this changed history, we are seeing the “secret history” revealed in ONE MOMENT IN TIME. Basically, this one is going to take us back in the past, and show us what happened that caused Spider-man and MJ not to get married, as they had originally did in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #21. And, from what we’ve heard, this is only 25% of the storyline.. there is supposed to be A LOT more happening to this one than Marvel lets on. Marvel is being tight-lipped on this one, and did not send out advance preview copies like they normally do for us to read before the book comes out. That only means one thing: expect something big to come of this issue. Now personally, I feel that ONE MOMENT IN TIME is going to deal with the secrets behind why PETER PARKER and MJ didn’t get married, but it’s also going to deal with the whole ONE MORE DAY saga in general, and may even be the storyline that comes full circle with Peter Parker going back on his deal with Mephisto to alter the course of things again. Click here to read a preview of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #638 *ONE MOMENT IN TIME CHAPTER ONE* THIRD EYE MUST BUY WALKING DEAD VOLUME 12 LIFE AMONG THEM TRADE PAPERBACK ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY TO GIVE YOU YOUR NEXT FIX OF WALKING DEAD AWESOMENESS! After many months of waiting, you guys can get your next delicious fix of what is one of THE best comic book series on the market. And, by far, one of, if not the best tales of survival horror you’ll ever read. We’ll have plenty of copies in stock, but this one always surprises us with how quickly it goes, so if you need a copy of WALKING DEAD VOL. 12 held for you this week, please e-mail me, and let me know so we can make sure you’ve got one set aside for you. This one collects issues #67-72, and picks up where Vol. 11 left, with Rick and the Crew heading to Washington, D.C. For those of you who’ve been waiting for a great opportunity to jump onto the singles, if you snag up WALKING DEAD VOL. 12 this Wednesday, you can get caught up with issues #73, #74, and the newest one, #75, as we’re well-stocked on each. Not reading WALKING DEAD? Folks, you gotta try it. This has remained one of our TOP 5 favorite comics here for nearly 5 years. It’s that good. And, it’s showing no signs of slowing down either. What’s it about? Well, simply put: it’s a survival horror story. What happens when the zombie movie ends, and the world is a wasteland. But, what makes the series so great is how the writer, ROBERT KIRKMAN, develops his characters strongly, and builds up the story and plot to the point that when a character dies, it punches you in the gut. We cannot recommend WALKING DEAD enough, folks. Trust us on this one. If you do buy it, and don’t like it… we’ll give you your money back, that’s how much we believe EVERYONE should be reading WALKING DEAD. THIRD EYE MUST BUY: TRUE BLOOD #1 – TRUE BLOOD GETS IT’S OWN ONGOING COMIC BOOK SERIES WRITTEN BY HBO SERIES CREATOR, ALAN BALL! ALL NEW STORIES SET IN THE WORLD OF TRUE BLOOD!  You know, 5 years ago, I would’ve told you that licensed properties don’t normally work as comics. Of course, that was 5 years ago, and since then we’ve seen a TON of great comics come out that are not just good extensions of the licensed property they’re tied into, but plain good comics. Of course, the big one that sticks out is BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 8, SERENITY, and the DARK TOWER series, but, there’s been scores of others, like FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH, and 28 DAYS LATER. Now, HBO is finally getting in on the act, as the world of their hit TV show, TRUE BLOOD, is being brought to the world of comics. And, how do we know this is gonna rule? Well, the fact that the actual series writer, ALAN BALL, is helming this one gives us a WHOLE LOTTA faith in it. Anyways, this new ongoing series is set to explore the world of TRUE BLOOD, and is set in the actual continuity of the TV show. This means that these are actual expanded univeres-style stories that weave in and out of the events of the TV show. This is not just an adaptation of the show. It’s new stories, and it’s gonna be awesome. Click here for a preview of TRUE BLOOD #1 THIRD EYE MUST BUY: AVENGERS #3 – APOCALYPSE HAS RETURNED FROM THE FUTURE, AND WITH HIM, HIS FOUR HORSEMEN: WOLVERINE as DEATH, HULK as WAR, SPIDER-MAN as PESTILENCE, and SCARLET WITCH as FAMINE! If you’re not reading Brian Michael Bendis and John Romita JR’s AVENGERS, you’re missing out! Snag issues #1 and #2 this week and hop aboard! So, you’ve already heard me raving about this one for two issues, so I won’t bore you with my gushing about how much I love the book. No, in fact, I’ll get straight to the point and tell you why you need to be reading this one. - The possible return of MAESTRO HULK? Yes, the Hulk from FUTURE IMPERFECT (the storyline where the Hulk goes crazy and kills the Marvel superheroes, wearing their weapons and armor like a serial killer wearing people’s faces) shows up at the end of the first issue, and leaves us hanging on what his place is. - Every single alternate Marvel future is crushing down on the present, and we’re seeing glimpses as well as the possibilities of characters from fan-favorite storylines like AGE OF APOCALYPSE, DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, and AVENGERS FOREVER, amongst others, showing up in the current Marvel U. -Issue #2 ends with a killer surprise: Apocalypse, from the future, arrives with his 4 Horsemen… Wolverine as Death, Hulk as War, Spider-man as Pestilence, and Scarlet Witch as Famine. How can you not love that? -It’s the big guns of the Marvel Universe. You want to see Thor shooting lightning from his hammer, and beating the hell out of bad guys with it? This is the book. Wanna see IRON MAN dishing out some Marvel vs. Capcom-esque repulsor ray beatdowns? This is the book. Wolverine slicing and dicing his way through a future version of himself? This is the book. -And, above all else, it’s just a damn good read, with fantastic artwork. See, AVENGERS serves as kind of the flagship MARVEL UNIVERSE book. Basically, anything important that happens in the Marvel Universe, is going to be spinning out of events in this book, or due to events in this book. It’s taken the concept of distilling the AVENGERS team down to it’s heaviest hitters, and giving us as readers bigger-than-life smashmouth storytelling like we haven’t seen in quite some time. If you want a tight, superhero team book with a very epic feel and sense to it, then AVENGERS is where it’s at. So, what’s the current storyline running through AVENGERS, and how did this book come about? Okay, so after the conclusion of the SIEGE story arc (available now at Third Eye in hardcover), all of the currently running Avengers books were ended. As part of the new HEROIC AGE direction of the Marvel Universe, a few new AVENGERS titles were launched, with THE AVENGERS being the flagship of the bunch. It’s a much more swashbuckling, heroes fighting villains approach, and so far we’re loving it. The current story arc is the fresh, jumping on point for new readers, and is basically focused on setting up the team, the tone of the book, and also, telling a story of how the timestream has been corrupted, and all the alternate Marvel histories we’ve come to know and love, are at risk for bleeding into the current time period. So, basically, DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, OLD MAN LOGAN, any alternate future, could possibly find it’s way into the current timestream. And, this is a bad, bad thing for the heroes of the Marvel Universe. The series is currently two issues in, so it’s still fresh enough where you can get caught up. We’ve also got limited quantities of both issues #1 and issue #2 in stock here at Third Eye to get you caught up. Click here to read a preview of THE AVENGERS #3 *HEROIC AGE* THIRD EYE MUST BUY: BRIGHTEST DAY #6 – WHAT PRICE MUST THE CHOSEN RESURRECTED PAY FOR THEIR SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE? GEOFF JOHNS’S MUST-READ DC COMIC OF THE SUMMER CONTINUES!  Man, BRIGHTEST DAY has been keeping me on the hook. The series definitely has a rhythm to it, and issue #5 was a WHOPPER of an awesome read. BRIGHTEST DAY, if you’re not yet familiar with it, is basically the sequel to BLACKEST NIGHT. It’s following in the wake of GEOFF JOHNS’S epic DC event of last year, and it’s been delivering BIG-TIME. The fact that GEOFF JOHNS is helming this one definitely has a lot to do with that, and then, the fact that they’ve managed to keep a nice team of artists to keep the book looking good, also helps. The series is essentially DC UNIVERSE REBIRTH, and is the perfect ground zero spot for those of you who’ve been wanting to get into the DCU to jump on, while at the same time it provides a very satisfying follow-up to the BLACKEST NIGHT storyline. In the previous issue, we finally got to see things really kick into high gear for AQUAMAN, as the issue centered on the King of Atlantis, and his return. The real show-stealer though was the bombshell that dropped regarding Mera’s origins. She really became a cool character during BLACKEST NIGHT, and this one delivered some very cool insight into what her deal is. And, now, going into issue #6, it looks like we’re going to continue to learn what the price is that these chosen resurrected few must pay for their second lease on life. If you’re not reading BRIGHTEST DAY, man, you gotta check this out. We’ve got limited quantities of all the issues so far in stock, so come by, and give it a shot. You’ll love the series. Click here to check out our brand new BRIGHTEST DAY CHECKLIST PT 2 Click here to check out the first BRIGHTEST DAY CHECKLIST Click here to read more about BRIGHTEST DAY #7 THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: CBGB #1 – STORIES INSPIRED BY THE LEGENDARY PUNK CLUB! THIS ONE SOUNDS TOO RAD. HOW MANY OF OUR FAVORITE BANDS ARE GONNA MAKE IT INTO THIS ONE? A BUNCH, WE’RE THINKING. :) Featuring talented comic all-stars like KIERON GILLEN (PHONOGRAM), Rob G (TEENAGERS FROM MARS, THE COURIERS) and OTHER UPLIFTING GORMANDIZERS.  This is one that I’ve been excited about ever since I first read about it a few months ago. The publishers of critically-acclaimed series like IRREDEEMABLE and INCORRUPTIBLE are going to be touching the nostalgia buttons for a lot of us, and delivering a killer new series featuring stories set in CBGBs at different periods of the club’s life. CBGB’s, for those of you who may not be familiar with it, is simply put, one of the most important venues for music in American history. This is the place that really gave birth to countless genres of music that’re still being played today, and it served as one of the first places to take the band down from the arena and barricades, and put them right there in the face of the crowds. Something that has become common now, which is still great. CBGB’s cultural importance is huge, and I think for anyone who grew up loving underground music, be it hardcore, punk, hip hop, metal, indie rock, or whatever, can appreciate CBGB’s place in history. I was lucky enough to get road trip up to CBs when I was a teenager, and see some of my favorite bands play that sweaty, stinky club. Anyways, now you know why I’m excited. This one will be featuring all-star creators like JAIME HERNANDEZ (LOVE AND ROCKETS), KIERON GILLEN (PHONOGRAM) and many other uplifting gormandizers. We can’t wait to see the stories that weave in and out of the club, and what bands will be showing up amongst these stories. THIRD EYE MUST BUY: ALAN MOORE DOES CTHULHU! ALAN MOORE’S NEONOMICON #1 ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY, BEGINNING THE NEW SERIES WITH CROSSED ARTIST JACEN BURROWS, FROM AVATAR PRESS, PUBLISHERS OF CROSSED! IN OTHER WORDS: THIS ONE’S GONNA BE SICK!  We know you guys are just as excited about this one as we are! I mean, it’s ALAN MOORE, the freakin’ comics legend, the man behind everything from WATCHMEN and THE KILLING JOKE to LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN and V FOR VENDETTA. That’s a big enough deal on it’s own. But, he’s paired up with the incredible JACEN BURROWS, who we all have come to known from books like CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD and of course, CROSSED. And, then add to all of this that it’s being published by AVATAR PRESS, who have proven that they have no problem crossing the line with horrific books, throw in the fact that it’s featuring HP LOVECRAFT’s CTHULHU mythos and well, there you go, a recipe for an awesome comic. We first got a taste of this one last year with a quick preview book, but now, the first issue is finally here, and we cannot wait to read it. The story begins many years after the events of the graphic novella, THE COURTYARD (available now at THIRD EYE), in a world where two young and cocky FBI agents are investigating strange — and familiar murders. See, they think they’ve seen the worst monsters in America, busting serial killers and the like for years. But, when they get to the maximum security asylum where one Aldo Sax speaks in strange tongues, Agents Brears and Lamper may be beginning to suspect that they’re about to see something so much worse than what they’ve seen before. But, they cannot even begin to imagine the creeping insanity that has already begun to pull them under. Yes, folks, it’s ALAN MOORE doing HP LOVECRAFT’s CTHULHU MYTHOS… and we cannot wait. This is most definitely a THIRD EYE MUST BUY. THIRD EYE MUST BUY: NEW AVENGERS #2 – THE SLEEPER HIT OF THE NEW HEROIC AGE LINE-UP, BENDIS’S CHARACTER-DRIVEN AVENGERS BOOK TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF OUR FAVORITES! But, man, was I proven wrong. Bendis’s NEW AVENGERS definitely fits it’s own niche perfectly, and shows that there’s plenty of room for a third must-read AVENGERS title. The first issue of this series kicked off a perfect jumping on point, as it continued to carry on the spirit and feel of the original NEW AVENGERS title. It picks up on some plot points that were raised in AVENGERS #1, but still stands alone as a solid read. The thing that really makes this one stand up as a good read is that it’s the book with all of Bendis’s favorite characters, and because of that, the character interaction, and development is so strong, I swear, you’d feel like you knew these people in person. You can definitely tell that this one is going to be the book with the character-driven angle, and the sharp, entertaining dialogue that Bendis is known for. The first story arc is centering around Daimon Hellstorm, and the recently depowered Dr. Strange becoming possessed by a demonic entity. But, it’s the character development, and the way the characters play off of each other that has really got us hooked. Plus, Immonen and Bendis work perfect together, and Immonen’s art is looking the best we’ve seen on this new incarnation of the NEW AVENGERS. If you’re following the other two AVENGERS books, and liking what you’re reading, but haven’t yet tried NEW AVENGERS, we highly recommend giving this one a shot. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how awesome this one is. We do still have limited quantities of issue #1 in stock to get you caught up to this week’s issue #2. Click here for a preview of NEW AVENGERS #2 *HEROIC AGE* THIRD EYE MUST BUY: BATMAN BEYOND #2 – THE RETURN OF BATMAN BEYOND IS A SMASH HIT, AND THE END OF ISSUE #1 LEFT US ON A HUGE CLIFFHANGER! Killer artwork, killer story, they hooked us good with a plot where an infamous and very classic Batman villain was revealed as the man behind some seriously bad mojo. See, many of Batman’s old, classic Rogues are being killed off one by one by this mystery man, and well, when you find out who it is, you’ll have the same reaction we did! The first issue of this captured EVERYTHING that we loved about the killer TV show. The way that it is able to blend old school and new school, past and future, is awesome, and getting to see the future fates of characters like Mad Hatter, or to find out that Two-Face could still be out on the prowl, made the book even radder. But, we also get to see some of Terry McGinnis’s own, already established Rogues Gallery, when characters like Spellbinder show up. All in all, if you’re a BATMAN BEYOND fan, you need to be reading this book. It just plain kicks ass. We still have very limited quantities of the first printing of issue #1 in stock, and there’ll be second prints arriving soon as well. Snag a copy of issue #1 this week, and get caught up to this week’s issue #2 GI JOE REAL AMERICAN HERO #156 – IDW and LARRY HAMA pick up where the classic Marvel GI JOE series left off with this week’s GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #156!  Anyone who grew up in the ’80s, or is even remotely a GI JOE fan has gotta be pumped to check this one out this week. IDW is bringing back the classic ’80s Marvel GI JOE comic, with all-new stories, set years after the GI JOE organization has disbanded. The series is picking up with the original numbering of the old series, which in our opinion, is pretty freakin’ rad. Add to this that LARRY HAMA, the man responsible not only for penning the classic Marvel GI JOE comic, but also for all those nifty little bio-cards on the back of your Joe figures packages, is going to be writing this one. The story centers around COBRA, who’ve now made a legitimate name for themselves in the vein of privatized militia groups like BLACKWATER, winning the bid to provide internal security for a terrorist-beleaguered USA. First order of business for COBRA? Put out a secret assassination order on the disbanded military strike force, GI JOE. But, it looks like Snake-Eyes may try to get the band back together before he goes quietly into the night. Just for the sheer nostalgia, this one looks awesome. But, with Larry Hama writing, and the concept already sounding cool, I’m thinking this one’s gonna turn out to be a good read. LADY DEADPOOL #1 ONE-SHOT GIVES LADY DEADPOOL THE SPOTLIGHT!  The fan-favorite of the DEADPOOL CORPS gets her own one-shot to have some of the spotlight this month, with this week’s LADY DEADPOOL one-shot. Agile, armed, and a howling lunatic, this reclusive contract killer is robbed of the one thing she adores: Cable TV. It’s a Deadpool book, so you know it’s gonna be ridiculous, and over-the-top, but I gotta admit, out of all the DEADPOOL stuff that’s hit in the last year or so, Lady Deadpool is probably the coolest. This one looks like it should be worth picking up, for some good laughs, and of course, a load of ultraviolence. Click here for a preview of LADY DEADPOOL #1 DC UNIVERSE LEGACIES #3 HITS THIS WEEK, AND CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE NEW SERIES! THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE DCU UNFOLDS IN THIS 10-ISSUE MAXISERIES! Why’s this series so good? Well, it’s a cool concept, first off. Basically, each two-issue mini-arc is telling a bigger story of how the DCU got to where it is today. So, the first two issues start with the mysterymen, and then evolve into the Golden Age era of super-heroes like the JUSTICE SOCIETY. And, now, we’re going into the Silver Age. Basically, it’s making sense of the last 60 some years of DCU continuity for present day DC, and I think we can all agree that this story needs to be told. Now, the fact that it’s a darn good read only helps matters. And, when you throw in artists like JG JONES, ANDY KUBERT, JOE KUBERT, and DAVE GIBBONS… I mean, that’s a recipe for some good reading. If you missed issue #1 and #2, don’t worry, we’ve still got copies in stock to get you caught up. THUNDERBOLTS #146 – ARE YOU READING THUNDERBOLTS? THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST FREAKIN’ NEW DIRECTIONS WE’VE SEEN IN THE “HEROIC AGE”! CATCH UP WITH ISSUE #144 (first chapter of the new arc) and #145, AND GRAB THIS WEEK’S #146! The first issue of the series kicks things off with an interesting premise: Luke Cage is being put in charge of making sure that the Thunderbolts program (which is to essentially rehabilitate supervillains) never goes off the rails again like it did when Osborn is in power. The team he’s given is half of what makes this book so intriguing: JUGGERNAUT, MAN-THING, MOONSTONE, CROSSBONES, GHOST, and more. The first issue ended with a huge cliffhanger as Baron Zemo returns, asking his TBolts to rejoin him, and then in #145, we saw that dealt with quickly, showing a good test for the new team’s loyalty. Now, going into issue #146, Luke Cage has to lead the Thunderbolts deep below the Earth, into some seriously creepy territory… and a cavern full of impure Terrigen crystals. The feel, and tone of this book is great, and fresh as hell. Issue #144 serves as an excellent jumping on point, and Parker not only managed to follow up his cliffhanger ending perfectly in #145, he kept the momentum going, and that’s why we’re so pumped about this week’s #146. Folks, if you’re looking for a good read in the realm of the HEROIC AGE stuff that’s a little bit below the radar when compared to the big guns like AVENGERS, and SECRET AVENGERS, we highly recommend giving THUNDERBOLTS a try. It’s got potential to develop into one of the best sleeper hits of the year. We’ve still got very limited quantities of issues #144, and #145, which are the first two issues of the new direction of the series to get you caught up. Click here for a preview of THUNDERBOLTS #146 TIME-MASTERS: VANISHING POINT #1 *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE TIE-IN* – The Search for Batman Starts Here! HAL JORDAN, SUPERMAN, BOOSTER GOLD, AND RIP HUNTER INVESTIGATE THE DARK KNIGHT’S DISAPPEARANCE!  Tying into the events of GRANT MORRISON’S RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE limited series, this limited series, TIME-MASTERS: VANISHING POINT, explores the involvement of Rip Hunter, and his high-powered band of Time Masters as they travel throughout history in search of the World’s Greatest Detective. Basically, here’s the deal, Vanishing point – where time ends – is tearing itself apart, and one of the keys to keeping reality from being torn asunder is finding exactly where Bruce Wayne is in the timestream. This is what we first saw referenced in RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1. So, Rip Hunter, Time Traveler Extraordinaire, has put together a group of Time Masters consisting of GREEN LANTERN, SUPERMAN, and BOOSTER GOLD, to help him find where BATMAN went at the end of FINAL CRISIS. This one’s a great companion piece to what’s happening in RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, and we recommend giving it a look this Wednesday here at Third Eye!
Basically, in the aftermath of SECOND COMING, the New Mutants who’re left standing are licking their wounds on a forced R&R trip. While they try and put themselves back together, there are others who’re looking to take them apart. See, that strange and secretive military group we met in NEW MUTANTS #9 has an agenda involving Illyana Rasputin, and it’s not a good one. So far, it’s looking like all the X-Books are going to be pretty sharp coming out of SECOND COMING, and NEW MUTANTS is no exception. Click here for a preview of NEW MUTANTS #15 *FALL OF THE NEW MUTANTS PT 1* DARK WOLVERINE #88 *DARK WOLVERINE/FRANKENCASTLE CROSSOVER PT 1* KICKS OFF THE REMATCH OF THE YEAR AS DAKEN GOES HEAD TO HEAD WITH FRANKENCASTLE! Now, for those of you who don’t know: about a year ago Daken, Dark Wolverine, hacked and slashed THE PUNISHER into many many pieces, leaving him lying dead in the sewers, where his body was retrieved by Morlocks, and the Marvel Monsters of yesteryear, like the Living Mummy, Morbius the Living Vampire, Werewolf By Night, and others. Now, nearly a year later, as Daken, reeling from his father’s betrayal, heads to Japan in search of Muramasa, the legendary mystic swordsmith, Frankencastle is gonna get his revenge. See, Daken comes face to face with the monstrous Franken-Castle, and it looks like things are gonna get bloody, and awesome with this one. This issue kicks off the first in a four part story arc that will be crossing back and forth between DARK WOLVERINE and FRANKENCASTLE, so DARK WOLVERINE 88 is PT 1, FRANKENCASTLE 19 is PT 2, DARK WOLVERINE 89 is PT 3 and FRANKENCASTLE 20 is PT 4. Click here for a preview of DARK WOLVERINE #88 *FRANKENCASTLE VS. DARK WOLVERINE CROSSOVER PT 1* STAFF PICKS Steve -STUFF OF LEGEND: THE JUNGLE #1- The STUFF OF LEGEND crew delivered big, and this crazy good TOY STORY meets SAVING PRIVATE RYAN yarn is keeping us totally hooked. Highly recommended. Trish – SUPERMAN #701 *GROUNDED PT 1*= I am not a Superman fan at all, but this first issue of the Straczynski run blew me away. Some really heartfelt storytelling. I think this one’s gonna be a classic. Torma -THANOS IMPERATIVE #2= A TRAIN MADE OF BONES AND DEMONS AND GALACTUS’S HEAD! How can you not love this series? Pick up issue #1 and you’ll totally see why I can’t stop raving about this one. Matt – ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN/WOLVERINE #2= The second issue of this one was even better than the first. I know Aaron’s pretty much slotted to be the go-to Wolverine guy with the new series kicking off, but they should let this guy write Spider-man too. He’s too good! |
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THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 2/24/10
| BLACKEST NIGHT #7 – THE BIGGEST EVENT OF 2009/2010 RAGES ON AS WE NEAR IT’S END!
This is it, folks. Only one more to go after this one, For those of you who may not have been keeping If you haven’t yet started What’s the scoop on Blackest Night? Basically, the Blackest Night is the return of an So, where do I start? We currently have everything you need For those of you who’re already onboard, we know BLACK LANTERN GREEN ARROW #30 – IS THIS THE LEAD-UP TO THIS YEAR’S HIGHLY
It has been quite a while since I’ve been But, for the last few years, Green And then, DC announces Either way, I’m Obviously, they’re playing in on the fact that many DC The Click here to read a preview of BLACK LANTERN GREEN ARROW #30
One of the more underrated Blackest Night Of course, their predecessors happen to be For those of you who’ve already been following BLACKEST NIGHT Click here to read more about BLACKEST NIGHT JSA #3 MARVEL’S SIEGE EVENT CONTINUES TO TAKE THE COMIC WORLD BY
Okay, folks, first off, we’re gonna start with the Aside from all that, Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan’s run So, folks, whatever you do, DON’T Click here for a preview of THOR #607 *SIEGE*
Next up on the agenda is NEW AVENGERS #62, following hot Click here for a preview of NEW AVENGERS #62 *SIEGE*
The first chapter of SIEGE that hit DARK Click here for a preview of DARK WOLVERINE #83 *SIEGE*
Another one of the tie-ins for SIEGE that So Click here for a preview of AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #33 *SIEGE*
And, the first of Thunderbolts carrying the SIEGE banner In this I liked the Click here for a preview of THUNDERBOLTS #141 *SIEGE* WARREN ELLIS (writer of SUPERGOD, IGNITION CITY,
Here’s one that I’ve been really looking forward to for Warren Ellis is known for writing some very In other words, So, when a What is CAPTAIN SWING all about? Set in the year 1830, a Generally, what it Click here to see what Blair Butler from Attack of the BATMAN AND ROBIN #9 *IN BLACKEST KNIGHT PT 3* - THE
One of the best books DC’s been putting out Of The most What is Batman and Robin: Basically, there’s a bunch of So far, we’ve seen some secrets Click here to read an article on BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE Click here to read a preview of BATMAN AND ROBIN #9 *IN BLACKEST KNIGHT PT 3* COWBOY NINJA VIKING CONCLUDES
Image One of What The comic is fresh, the storytelling is All in all, this is Click here to read an interview with the creators of FLASH REBIRTH CONCLUDES THIS WEEK IN FLASH REBIRTH #6 AND SETS THE STAGE FOR GEOFF
Okay, first It’s been a If you’re looking to Now, about those Flash rings… we brought you guys the To celebrate the In addition to the cool ring, the book is going to Click here to read about Geoff Johns’s new Flash ongoing THE CRAZIES – READ THE COMICS,
If there’s one thing that holds true for us here at Third Some of All ALAN MOORE DEBUTS HIS NEW
Anytime Alan Moore delivers ANYTHING, we’re pretty What Make sure you pick WE WILL BURY YOU #1 DELIVERS US A
Here’s Set in the 1920s, Mirah, a Aside from the fact that we’re And of course, the artwork on this one looks You come to expect something out of a guy What is CHRONICLES It’s a very good, VIKING Another big breakout hit from last year was the IMAGE The You want the ultimate blood and guts, Otherwise, I’m sure CAPCOM’S CLASSIC FIGHTING GAME DARKSTALKERS GETS THE COMIC
One of my all-time favorite fighting games Now, UDON has made a And, when it comes to comics based off the Capcom Click here to check out a preview of DARKSTALKERS: NIGHT WARRIORS #1 FANTASTIC FOUR #576 CONTINUES THE PRIME ELEMENTS
Dude, Jonathan Hickman’s run on FANTASTIC FOUR has been What is the deal with the PRIME ELEMENTS You can definitely feel the sense of Stan Lee and Jack This week, in Click here for a preview of FANTASTIC FOUR #576 *PRIME ELEMENTS PT 2* X-MEN SECOND COMING FREEBIE AVAILABLE
We want to like the X-MEN, this is a fact. It’s just Well, This spring and Anyways, this Wednesday, you can snag up a FREE Click here to check out our X-MEN: SECOND COMING Checklist! STAFF PICKS Steve – JOE THE BARBARIAN #2 = Grant Trish – PUNISHER #14 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 4* Torma – DARK Matt – INCORRUPTIBLE #3 = Mark Waid’s |
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THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE COMICS FOR WEDNESDAY 1/13/10
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #617 *THE GAUNTLET* – RHINO RETURNS CHAPTER 1! JOE KELLY RE-INVENTS THE RHINO IN A VICIOUS NEW WAY!
Ever since the debut of a deadly, re-energized Electro a couple of months back in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #612, we have been hooked month after month on the title. For a very long time, Amazing Spider-man, as a title, suffered. It didn’t have a consistent story, or creative team, and the creative teams that did rotate on and off, were so up and down in their consistency. There were glimmers of hope in storylines like NEW WAYS TO DIE, and AMERICAN SON, but the book felt directionless. And, while we feel the book really hit it’s stride and return to quality with AMAZING SPIDERMAN #612 *GAUNTLET PT 1* (still in stock here at Third Eye), it was AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #600 where it looked like things were turning in the right direction.
Now, almost 18 issues later, and we can say that Amazing Spider-man is a must-read title once again. The Gauntlet storyline has been GREAT, and the idea of having “mini-arcs” that help develop and shape some of Spidey’s most wicked rogues is great. The thing that’s cool about this whole Gauntlet deal is that it’s taking the time to build up each of the characters, and prepare them for what the Gauntlet is ultimately leading to: the Return of the Sinister Six.
What is the Gauntlet? The Gauntlet is an over-arching storyline running through Amazing Spider-man this year that began in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #512. So far, it’s been two and three issue story arcs reintroducing classic Spidey rogues, who were all members of the Sinister Six. Basically, it’s Spider-man being forced to run the Gauntlet of these villains, being worn down one by one by these guys, in preparation for when the new Sinister Six (which we’ve seen referenced a few times so far in the Gauntlet) returns. So far, it has been a great trip through one of the things that makes Spidey so great: his classic Rogues Gallery.
What’s up with this week’s Amazing Spider-man #617 “The Rhino is Coming”? The next mini-arc features the return of the classic Spidey villain, the Rhino, and with Joe Kelly (the man who defined Deadpool in the late ’90s, and has given us a few killer Spidey arcs already) heading it up, it looks to be a great new twist on the character. From the looks of it, the Rhino is being given a much more animalistic, feral approach. There’s also the fact that Marvel is making a big fuss about this story arc, a much bigger fuss than they did about the previous two arcs (Sandman, and Electro), which both rocked. This is pure speculation on my part as to where the story is going, but I think that we’re going to see the Rhino play a major role in doing some damage to the wallcrawler. Man, I am such a geek for Spidey. :) Probably one of my favorite Marvel characters, which is why I’m so stoked to see the stories getting better in the book.
Want To Catch Up On The Gauntlet? Here’s a quick rundown of the books you’d need to get caught up on the Gauntlet. We currently have all of these in stock here at Third Eye, so jumping on is pretty easy.
Clickhere for a preview of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #617 *THE RHINO IS COMING PT 1*
ALAN MOORE RETURNS TO COMIC WRITING WITH NEW HORROR SERIES, NEONOMICON, THIS WEDNESDAY!
Alan Moore returns to comic storytelling with a brand new horror series pairing him up with CROSSED artist JACEN BURROWS. It’s been a while since Moore has done any comic work outside of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and even longer since he’s done straight-to-the-throat horror stuff. Neonomicon looks like we’ll be seeing Alan Moore channelling his inner HP Lovecraft, and telling some tales of madness, despair, and Elder Gods.
From what we’ve read of this, it sounds like we’ll be seeing some of the darkest, most disturbing work Moore has done in ages. And if anyone is capable of applying an interesting re-invention of the Lovecraft mythos, it’s Moore.
This Wednesday, a very special #0 issue “Hornbook” features a short prelude to Neonomicon, and other material to get us primed for Moore’s exciting new book, and hey, it’s only $1.99!
BLACKEST NIGHT: BACK FROM THE DEAD ONE-SHOTS CONTINUE THIS WEEK WITHCATWOMAN #83, AND POWER OF SHAZAM #48. PLUS, SECRET SIX #17 PICKS UP FROM LAST WEEK’S SUICIDE SQUAD #67
The idea of DC’s “Back from the Dead” one-shots is pretty damn cool. I read both the Weird Western Tales, and the Suicide Squad last week, and they were both pretty awesome. I REALLY dug the Weird Western Tales, and the Suicide Squad, of course, was cool, but then again, I’m a big Secret Six fan. In case you missed it last week, “Back from the Dead” is a line of one-shots DC is doing in January to continue the story of Blackest Night. They’ve hand-picked fan-favorite series that were killed off in their prime, and brought them back for one final issue. Each issue serves as a special one-shot which furthers the story of BLACKEST NIGHT in the DCU.
This week, the “Back from the Dead” theme continues with POWER OF SHAZAM #48, and CATWOMAN #83, as well as the continuation of the SUICIDE SQUAD #67 from last week in SECRET SIX #17. Lets take a quick look at each, as all three look pretty cool.
First off, POWER OF SHAZAM #48is sure to be cool because it’s bringing the Blackest Night spotlight onto the Black Adam family. We’ve all gotten hooked on Black Adam in the pages of stuff like 52 (ripping bad guys in half!), and the more recent Black Adam and Isis storyline in Justice Society. In this one-shot, we see Osiris re-animated as Black Lantern, and wreaking havoc on the Billy and Mary Marvel, who’re both now powerless. The Power of Shazam series was a cult favorite in the ’90s, with it’s well done retro storytelling by Jerry Ordway, so it’s cool to see it back.
Next up is theCATWOMAN #83 one-shot, where we see Selina Kyle dealing with the blackoutt in Gotham City, and, hey, the resurrection of the original Black Mask as Black Lantern. You know, the guy she killed a while ago? Black Mask has always been a cool villain, and it’s going to be pretty damn cool seeing him as a crazy heart-eating Black Lantern. We know this series had a legion of loyal die-hard fans, so I’m sure many of you are excited to see one final issue of Ms. Kyle.
Finally, the Suicide Squad #67 from last week continues into the pages of the regular Secret Six series with SECRET SIX #17. Now, if you’re remotely into DC Comics at all, you gotta be reading Secret Six. This series isn’t just good, it’s DAMN good. Gail Simone has managed to carve out her own little niche of the DCU, and tell some pretty cool stories there featuring a mixed batch of heavy-hitter supervillains, and the more obscure lightweights. The Suicide Squad’s pulled Deadshot back into the mix, and, there’s some Black Lanterns out there causing havoc.
Also, this week we will have the next batch of Blackest Night checklists available completely free!
BATMAN: WIDENING GYRE #4 CONTINUES FILM-MAKER KEVIN SMITH’S EPIC BATMAN LIMITED SERIES!
Kevin Smith’s got a pretty good track record of dishing out some great comic yarns… when they come out on time. And, I think that’s what’s kept us all hooked here on the Widening Gyre. While there was a bit of a delay between issue 3, and 4, he has managed to keep a good schedule of getting the book out on time. Which is awesome, because Widening Gyre rocks.
What is BATMAN WIDENING GYRE About? Since the series is in by four issues so far, I figured I should give you a quick rundown on just what it’s all about… It’s basically, a self-contained story where Bruce Wayne is still Batman, Dick Grayson is still Nightwing, and Robin is still Tim Drake. It features a new character, a vigilante in a goat mask, who keeps swooping in and throwing an assist to Batman. And, basically the concept is what is it like for The Dark Knight to have an actual partner, and not just a sidekick. Of course, Smith sprinkles a liberal dose of classic Batman rogues, and supporting cast to make this a fun read for any long-time Bat-fan.
The combination of Smith’s sharp storytelling, and Flanagan’s trippy artwork make for a great read, and we think that this limited series is going to stand the test of time as one of those classic Bat-stories you read and hear about all the time.
If you’re a Batman fan, we definitely recommend giving this one a shot. The first issue alone has a very cool Etrigan (the Demon) / Poison Ivy moment.
Click here to read more about BATMAN WIDENING GYRE #4
DAYTRIPPER #2 FOLLOWS UP ON THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE TRIPPY NEW VERTIGO SERIES! MISSED #1? WE’VE GOT IT IN STOCK FOR YOU TO CATCH UP WITH!
Vertigo has been knocking it out of the park lately with a lot of great new series, and the new book DAYTRIPPER from the talented duo of Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba is no exception. It’s a very dreamy, yet subtle book that appears to be carving out it’s own unique niche in the line of Vertigo books. It takes a very personal look at a human being who is trying to make his way in life as a writer that’s trying to get out of his father’s shadow. Of course, he’s become quickly disillusioned with his day job (writing obituaries), and the fact that his own life is ticking away day by day. In other words, he’s not getting any younger, and he’s yet to make a mark on the world like his father. The main character is very easy to identify with, and I think that’s part of what really helped drew us in to the first issue. The artwork is also kind of low-key like the script, and sets a very dream-like tone that lures you into a false sense of safety… which gets abruptly shattered at the ending, which I don’t want to ruin for you because it’s a good surprise that sets up the entire series.
Anyways, the second issue of DAYTRIPPER arrives this week, and we’re pretty excited about it. Great artwork, great story, in the first issue, so we’re eager to see where things go this week in #2.
Click here to see a long preview of DAYTRIPPER #1
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #22 *STARK DISASSEMBLED PT 3* CONTINUES THE BIGGEST STORY ARC YET IN MATT FRACTION’S INCREDIBLE IRON MAN RUN!
STARK DISASSEMBLED has really been turning out to be one of the best arcs yet in Matt Fraction’s incredible INVINCIBLE IRON MAN run. And, folks, I know I’ve been preaching it for a while, but, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN is one of the best monthly books Marvel has been putting out for the last couple of years. It truly is a shining example of what a strong, consistent creative team can do for a book. And, you’re talking to a guy who’s never been a diehard Iron Man fan. But, Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca manage to capture the essence of what makes Iron Man COOL. They capture that Robert Downy Jr-esque approach where you can feel the character’s smugness, an cockiness, but not to the point where it’s overbearing or arrogant. And, they also manage to capture the bigger than life wonder and awe of the technology without letting the book become bogged down and focused on JUST the technology. Not to mention it’s got classic Iron Man baddies galore, from Madame Masque to MODOK. All in all, if you’re reading Stark Disassembled, and dig it, we highly recommend going back and snagging INVINCIBLE IRON MAN v.1 THE FIVE NIGHTMARES and INVINCIBLE IRON MAN v.2 WORLDS MOST WANTED, both available in trade paperback here at Third Eye.
Now, lets not forget about what’s happening in what’s turning out to be the best story arc yet of Fraction and Larocca’s run, and that’s STARK DISASSEMBLED. The story starts with Tony Stark comatose, after having lobotomized himself to prevent Norman Osborn from getting into his head. There’s this great sequence where you see a pre-recorded holomessage from Tony explaining there is a way to “reboot” him and bring him back, but the question he asks is after everything they’ve been through… the Civil War, the Initiative, ect..ect… Do they want to bring him back? There’s a really cool part where Tony kind of sidetracks himself, and gets into how the closest thing to a higher power he’s believed in was Thor and Captain America, and how everything getting all screwed up destroyed him.
The story so far has bounced back and forth between Tony Stark, comatose, existing in a dream-like state and being taught something by the familiar names of a Howard and a Maria. In the real world, you’ve got Pepper Potts dealing with the love/hate relationship she has with her boss, and she prepares to give up her repulsortech to aid in bringing Tony back to life.
Of course, there needs to be some bloodshed, and that’s where Madame Masque, and Ghost come in, see Masque has sent Ghost to execute the comatose Stark.
All in all, the STARK DISASSEMBLED arc has been one of the best reads we’ve seen, and just proves why this book is such a strong read month in and month out. You can hop on with issue #20, which is still in stock, and we also have issue #21 in stock as well.
Click here for a preview of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #22 *STARK DISASSEMBLED PT 3*
ALIENS VS. PREDATORS: THREE WORLDS WAR #1 – THE BLOODIEST, MOST BRUTAL AVP CONFLICT YET HAS ARRIVED!
One of our big guilty pleasures here at Third Eye are the Aliens and Predator comics that Dark Horse has brought back. I think a lot of it goes back to the huge popularity of the original ALIENS comics back when I was a kid. I remember stumbling across some of the most grisly, gory comics featuring all sorts of whacked out premises in these books. This was back when there were still mom-and-pop video stores, and you’d often see spinner racks full of horror movie magazines, and comics like these. Hitting up the comic shop, and then the video store was a weekly ritual for me as a kid, and I think getting that double dose of ALIENS on the racks was what got me hooked.
Dark Horse resurrected the franchises last year in two super-fun limited series that were very true to the original spirit of the comics and films. And, now, they’re bringing back the fan-favorite idea of ALIENS VS PREDATOR. Now, don’t let the recent AVP films change your opinion on these, because the comics have always been full of blood, guts, and you know, space dust. But, seriously, we’re pumped to see the return of AVP, and you know, it might be a guilty pleasure, but we think that there’s enough of you guys out there who grew up on these books to warrant giving it a shout out in this week’s newsletter.
Click here for a preview of ALIENS VS PREDATOR: THREE WORLDS WAR #1
WARREN ELLIS’S NO HERO TRADE PAPERBACK OUT THIS WEDNESDAY.. “WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO BE SUPERHUMAN?”
It’s always a reason for rejoice when another of Ellis’s Avatar series hits trade, and this week, we’re seeing the arrival of last year’s high-octane, superpowers-as-drug-addiction epic collected into trade paperback. No Hero is an EXCELLENT read, and features the artwork of JUAN JOSE RYP, which is very Geoff Darrow-influenced, and looks fantastic. If you dug Ellis’s BLACK SUMMER, then you’ll definitely be into NO HERO.
What’s NO HERO about? No Hero is a story by the master of the widescreen comic (among other things), Warren Ellis. From his amazing take on the AUTHORITY to the Mad Science Fiction he’s known for in stories like IGNITION CITY and TRANSMETROPOLITAN. NO HERO is set in a world where superhumans have existed since the 1960s, and came about as a reaction to the violent police reactions towards the counter-culture movements of the ’60s. While the intentions of the original group, the Levellers, is noble, their mastermind and leader is a cross between Lex Luthor and Timothy Leary, and you quickly learn that the pills that give these characters their powers are his very own drug-like way of keeping them under control. You get a quick glimpse of the world of superhumans under his control through the 60s, 70s, and then in the ’80s, you start seeing former superheroes who’ve now been ravaged by the drug, and resemble far-gone drug addicts. Fast forward to the year 2011, and we see a young man who’s taken the notice of Masterson (the above mentioned Luthor/Leary hybrid), and seeks to induct him into his team after the ranks have thinned considerably. From there, we see just how the series asks “How Bad Do You Want To Be A Superhero?”
This was one of our favorite limited series of 2009, and we highly recommend giving it a look to anyone who’s into Transmetropolitan, Irredeemable, The Boys, Doktor Sleepless, or the Authority. It takes a very unique way at the world of superheroes, and from a very fresh perspective.
JASON AARON’S (writer of SCALPED)PUNISHERMAX #3 CONTINUES THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED WRITER’S UNRELENTING APPROACH TO THE WORLD OF THE PUNISHER!
Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon have done an incredible thing with their new run on PUNISHER MAX. This is the best the series has been since Garth Ennis’s character-defining run, and we’d even go as far to say it’s just as brutal as Ennis’s epic run. We know only good things will be coming from what Aaron has said will be a very long run on PUNISHER.
The first story arc in the run is focusing on the introduction of the KINGPIN to the world of PUNISHER MAX. For those of you unaware of what the world of PUNISHER MAX is, it’s a self-contained story where the Punisher exists, and only fights real crime, ranging from the Mafia and Russian Slavers to corrupt military officials and ENRON-like white collar criminals. There are no superpowered characters, and everything is played very straight-forward, very brutal, and very graphic. And, in doing so, we get to see certain Marvel characters that fit into this world introduced in a whole new way. The story of Wilson Fisk is one of a Mafia enforcer who’s hatched a plot to take out the Punisher, so it seems. His boss passes it off as his own idea (just like Fisk wants him to), and basically it’s the positioning of Wilson Fisk as a mythical Boss of Bosses figure… a Godfather. This way the Punisher is gunning strictly for Fisk, and none of the other Mafia bosses, and it allows for the Mafia to weed him out and gun him down. However, Fisk has his own agenda, using this as a way to eliminate the Mafia bosses, and position himself as a true power player in the world of organized crime.
Folks, this series is a chilling read. The first two issues alone have definitely proven that Aaron is keeping things true to the dark, unrelenting spirit of Ennis’s original work. Steve Dillon’s pencils look the best they have since PREACHER, and fit very well with Aaron’s writing. You can tell that Aaron is a fan of Ennis’s work, but you can also tell he is doing his own thing with it too.
The characterization of the KINGPIN is especially brutal, and without saying too much, Aaron sets him up as an instant classic villain.
We still have the first couple issues of this series in stock, so for those of you who have yet to jump on, definitely check it out. For those of you who’ve already hopped aboard, then we know after last month’s grisly issue, you’re going to be stoked to read this one.
Click here for a preview of PUNISHERMAX #3
THE SURPRISE HIT DARK X-MEN SERIES CONTINUES THIS WEEK WITH DARK X-MEN #3
One of the big surprises for us this winter has been the DARK X-MEN limited series which picks up some of the plot points that were originally set up in the DARK X-MEN / UTOPIA saga, and carries them forward. The reason why I say it was a big surprise is because it’s turned out to be very good. In fact, this series could almost stand on it’s own without the whole Dark X-Men banner, as kind of a Marvel version of the SECRET SIX. It really is a cool, quirky read.
Why we like it so much? The story is a very fun, darkly humored look at some of the second-stringers of the X-Men world. The inclusion of characters like Nate Grey (X-Man from AGE OF APOCALYPSE), and Mystique give us some cult fan-favorites, and the team dynamic of the Dark X-Men that’s explored through characters like Dark Beast is great. The Dark X-Men consists of the mutants that Osborn rounded up that ended up sticking around. No heavyweights like Namor, or Emma Frost, in fact, the biggest character on the team is probably Mystique, who fills the reluctant leadership role very well. The story is focused on Osborn’s X-Men, and how half of them don’t even know why the hell they’re here, and how the other half is trying to figure out how to squeeze their own agendas into things.
This is a series that’s definitely much better than you would have expected it to be, and we highly recommend any X-Men fan gives the first issue a shot if you haven’t already. We think you’ll really dig it. And, don’t worry, we still have plenty of issue #1, and issue #2 for you to get caught up with.
Click herefor a preview of DARK X-MEN #3
MARVELS PROJECT #5 – THE FIRST MISSION OF CAPTAIN AMERICA REVEALED!
The sleeper favorite from Marvel this year has definitely been Ed Brubaker’s THE MARVELS PROJECT. This series which explores the official origins of superpowers in the Marvel Universe has provided some of the most well-written, well-paced, and gorgeously illustrated Marvel storytelling in a long time. Don’t be scared off by thinking this is a hokey, or dated Golden Age re-tread. This series has teeth, folks, and manages to explore what Marvel was like before the days of Spider-man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men.
The story began with Marvels Project #1, where we see a dying Kid Colt talking of futures where men shoot lasers from their eyes, and green giants roam the earth. He passes off his legendary six-guns to a young reporter named the Angel, who becomes a vigilante in his own right. The story is mostly seen through the Angel’s perspective, and in the first issue we see how the invention of superhumans is mostly due in part to an arms race between Allied Forces and Nazi Germany. One of the stand-out scenes is a Nazi boat netting Atlanteans, and then the Submariner dishing out his vengeance on them. The shot of Submariner riding the waves, and snapping the Nazi’s necks with the water is pretty intense.
In the last issue, we get a better look at the origins of Steve Rogers. We get to see what his motivation was for volunteering to test the supersoldier serum. Plus, another obscure Golden Age character is broken out of obscurity, and I gotta say, folks.. it’s pretty awesome to see Brubaker mining Marvel’s rich history and digging out these forgotten classics.
All in all, the MARVELS PROJECT is a well-paced, maturely written story on the origins of the Marvel Universe as a whole, and it manages to accomplish what it’s doing very well. In this week’s issue, it’s Steve Rogers as Captain America, assigned his first task. We’re stoked to see how it turns out.
Clickhere for a preview of MARVELS PROJECT #5
ULTIMATUM TRADE PAPERBACK AVAILABLE THIS WEDNESDAY! WANT TO KNOW HOW THINGS GOT TO WHERE THEY ARE IN ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS & ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN?
A lot of you guys, like us here at Third Eye, have been really digging the whole new approach to the ULTIMATE universe that was launched in books like ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #1, and ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #1. However, a lot of you are also wondering just how we got to this point, and why half of the friggin’ Marvel Universe is dead or missing. Well, wait no longer, because this Wednesday, the collected edition of ULTIMATUM arrives in softcover.
The best way to describe ULTIMATUM is a Marvel blockbuster story in the truest sense. It’s not really hung up on going into great detail about certain things, but instead is just page after awesome page of crazy death, and disaster. The real shining stand-out about ULTIMATUM was the artwork from David Finch, who manages to capture the scale, and make you believe that Magneto really did drown NY in tidal waves.
What’s the plot of ULTIMATUM? Well, in the wake of ULTIMATES 3, Magneto loses his cool, completely, and snags up Thor’s hammer. Using Thor’s hammer, and his own mutant powers, he decides he’s going to flood the earth in a very biblical way, and pretty much wipe out humanity.
Of course, along the way, we get to see some crazy cool moments, and while I don’t want to drop the spoilers….. LOTS of characters die in pretty intense ways. Heads being blasted off by optic blasts, people being eaten, ect ect.
So if you’re looking to get caught up on what happened prior to the new Ultimate series you’re following, Ultimatum is the perfect place to start.
Trish – Walking Dead Volume 11 – Now I can go back and re-read it again without the torture of waiting for the next issue!
Torma – SIEGE #1 - TOTAL MAYHEM! If you’ve been waiting for something to happen in the Marvel Universe, this is definitely it. The first issue just teases what looks like a huge payoff for everything that’s happened in the last two years.
Steve – SIEGE #1 – We try not to pick the same things, but I couldn’t choose SIEGE. The art by Coipel is great, Bendis’s brought his A game with the writing, and c’mon, there is nothing cooler than seeing Asgard being stormed by the combined forces of H.A.M.M.E.R and the Dark Avengers. If you haven’t tried this yet, check it out!
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