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So, just what the hell are the Secret Avengers? As part of the new direction Marvel is taking with it’s “Heroic Age” banner, the Secret Avengers is a new ongoing series that replaces the hole left with the ending of Dark Avengers, and it follows a team of eclectic Marvel Universe characters that have all been hand-picked by Steve Rogers (you know, Captain America.. :) ) due to the special skills each holds, and the special niches they can fill. In other words, it’s Captain America leading a shadow-ops Avengers team that handles a lot of shady things that the big, bright, and bold Avengers cannot deal with.

And, judging from the first issue, Ed Brubaker has really captured lightning in a bottle here. You know Ed Brubaker, right? He’s the guy who has us ridiculously hooked on his fantastic creator-owned crime noir books like CRIMINAL and INCOGNITO, not to mention his ultra-cool pulp serial gone 21st century takes on Captain America in the current ongoing Cap book. Brubaker is totally in his element with this new series, and you can totally detect hints of the storytelling styles he used in his dark and dirty superhero espionage sagas like SLEEPER and INCOGNITO. Now, alongside Mike Deodato, who you already know from kicking out some really killer artwork on DARK AVENGERS, Brubaker is building a new kind of Marvel team book. It really feels unique, compared to almost everything else out there right now. In fact, I haven’t seen as unique an approach to superhero team dynamics like this since Ellis’s original Authority run.

See, the way that SECRET AVENGERS operates is it relies heavily on characters who NEED something. Characters that require validation, or redemption, or just plain a second chance. And, with Steve Rogers as the team leader, it’s kind of cool, because not only are you seeing how his military tactical genius works (alongside Sharon Carter, the former SHIELD spy), and being reminded that hey, Captain America DID run special ops missions like a mofo during WW2, but you also see that eternal optimism that Captain America as a character is supposed to bring to the Marvel Universe. He’s surrounding himself with many Marvel characters who honestly are flawed individuals, and while each one serves their purpose, when reading Secret Avengers, you can’t help but sense this underlying desire of Rogers to give these people their shot at being an Avenger.

Okay, I’m rambling. I know. I tend to do that when I really like a book. Anyways, the first issue of SECRET AVENGERS sets things up really nice with a high-action operation that also serves to introduce the different team-members, and of course, there’s a few surprises in here that I can’t talk about, but they’re pretty good reveals. The entire issue has this great, dark, and gritty ’70s war movie exploitation feel to it. You know, kind of like an Inglorious Bastards vibe going on, but a little more low-key. There’s also some really cool nods to past Marvel storylines, especially some very classic Avengers tales a lot of you might remember from the ’80s and even early ’90s. Of course, these are done in a very cool, and very accessible way, where even someone who’s never read an Avengers book isn’t put off by them.

All in all, it was a damn good first issue, and I recommend it, but first..

Can I jump on fresh with this without having read any of the recent Avengers stuff? Yes, you totally can. The story starts fast and furious, and it’s not bogged down with any backstory, or anything of that sort. The origin of the team, and the reason for it’s line-up is all explained within the first couple pages of the issue.

And, who’s on the team? The line-up of Secret Avengers, I think, adds to it’s appeal in a big way. It’s a very diverse mix of Avengers classics (like the Beast), and newcomers (Nova). The line-up as of issue #1 is:

Steve Rogers (Captain America)
Sharon Carter
Moon Knight
The Beast
Nova
War Machine
The Irredeemable Ant-Man (you know, the jerky one.)
Valkryie
Black Widow

The Final Verdict? A must-read, folks. If you’re a Marvel fan, or just a fan of well-written, well put together comics, then you need to scope out Secret Avengers. It delivers a really unique read that manages to balance out the gritty tone of books like INCOGNITO with the big, over-the-top Marvel madness of the Avengers. Jump on fresh with SECRET AVENGERS #1 this Wednesday!

Click here for a preview of SECRET AVENGERS #1 *HEROIC AGE*

BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #2 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY, AND CONTINUES THE BIGGEST BATMAN STORY IN DECADES! PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR BATMAN, THE WITCHHUNTER!

Are you reading BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE? If you’re not, then you’re missing out on one of the biggest stories of the Summer. Morrison has brought us to this exciting high point in the saga of his Batman run, and is channeling all sorts of killer over-the-top Silver Age energy into a modern day package with The Return of Bruce Wayne. First off, I gotta say, the first issue of Return of Bruce Wayne surpassed the extremely high expectations I had for it. I was surprised by quite a few things in it, including the very early arrival of DC heavyweights on the hunt for Batman as he’s lost in the time-stream.

What is BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE? As the title hints, this limited series is the highly anticipated Return of Bruce Wayne. See, when Bruce Wayne went missing at the end of Final Crisis and Batman: RIP, we were given hints that he would be back. In fact, we were shown a pretty obvious hint of him in a cave, scrawling a Bat on a wall. Now, after a solid year of stories building Dick Grayson up as Batman, developing a very unique dynamic between him and Damian as the new Batman and Robin, Morrison has begun the Return of Bruce Wayne. In the Return of Bruce Wayne, we witness Bruce Wayne moving through different periods of time, and we get to see different incarnations of Batman, Gotham City, and other DC characters that fit into those eras with each issue (i.e the first issue showed a VERY Joker-esque Caveman, Vandal Savage, ect).

See, Wayne is lost in the time-stream. In the recent issues of BATMAN AND ROBIN, we’ve seen clues appearing in the present that’ve tipped the current Dynamic Duo off to Wayne’s fate. We’ve also seen some HUGE reveals, like the return of the Joker at the end of BATMAN AND ROBIN #12. And, just like a good Batman story should, we’ve been sucked into the mystery right along-side the characters who’re exploring this weird, and unusual situation for the World’s Greatest Detective.

After reading RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1, it looks like that as a result of being zapped back in time, Wayne has mild amnesia. The first issue opened in a big way with the time-travelling space-ship from Final Crisis. It starts things in the prehistoric age, and even includes two characters some of you may be familiar with: Anthro and Vandal Savage. There’s a lot of easter eggs in the first issue of Return of Bruce Wayne, some references back to the beginning of Final Crisis, and more, but what makes the book so great is that this is a self-contained story, and you can dive in without having to know any of the previous back-story. It’s just a bonus for some to see references to the first issue of Final Crisis, and things like that. Anyways, back to the point..

What we’ve learned is that Bruce Wayne is traveling forward in time, and with the arrival of Superman, Green Lantern, and others, his very existence is endangering the universe itself. If he returns to the present, bad mojo is going to go down.

This week, the second issue of RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE hurtles the Dark Knight into the era of pilgrims, inquisitions, and witchcraft. We can only imagine what Grant Morrison is going to show us next, as that killer cover featuring a Solomon Kane-esque Batman indicates some big things. And, hey, speaking of side-notes, is it just me, or does each cover of this series have an incarnation of the Joker in the background? If you look closely at #1, you can see one of the cavemen has bleached skin and green hair, and then with this week’s issue #2 there’s a very Joker-esque Witch cackling away. Hmmmm..

Man, I can’t wait to read this one this week. I have a feeling this series is going to end up becoming one of my favorites of the Summer.

Anyhow, if you haven’t yet jumped aboard the RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, we still have plenty of issue #1 in stock. You’re probably wondering though, “Do I Need To Read A Ton of Back-story To Get Into This?” No. I mean, don’t get me wrong, going back and reading Morrison’s run is recommended because the entire run has been so good, but RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE stands on it’s own. The only thing I’d recommend is the three issue prologue that took place in BATMAN AND ROBIN (issues #10, #11, and #12) which we have currently in stock to get you caught up. Otherwise though, jump onto this great book, and find out what all the fuss is about. I mean, who doesn’t love a kick-ass Batman story?

Click here to read more about BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #2

BRIGHTEST DAY BRINGS A DOUBLE WHAMMY OF BIG THINGS THIS WEDNESDAY IN GREEN LANTERN #54*THIRD EYE MUST BUY*& GREEN LANTERN CORPS #48 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*

Man, after last month’s Green Lantern #53, I have been on the edge of my seat waiting to see where this whole thing is going to go next. I had faith that in the aftermath of BLACKEST NIGHT, Geoff Johns would keep making Green Lantern a must-read, and judging from the first two BRIGHTEST DAY banner-carrying GL books (GL Corps #47 and GL #53), it looks like my faith was well put, ’cause both GL and GL Corps are still kicking ass.

For those of you who read Green Lantern #53 last month, then you know exactly what I mean when I say cliffhanger ending. The conspiracy forming between Guy Gardner, Atrocitus, and Ganthet is intriguing as hell, and I’m really eager to find out where they take things this Wednesday in the new GREEN LANTERN #54. If by some chance you jumped off GL with the end of BLACKEST NIGHT, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of GREEN LANTERN #53 along with GREEN LANTERN #54 this week, ’cause you’re missing out on pretty much the entire continuation of the whole New Guardians saga which is following the post-Blackest Night development of Sinestro, Star Sapphire, Atrocitus, Larfleeze, and the rest of the gang as the New Guardians. Plus, there’s some pretty interesting tidbits following up on the “deputy Lanterns” from Blackest Night, like Lex Luthor and the Orange Lantern stuff. But, most importantly, Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke are keeping the quality level SUPER high on this, and each issue continues to keep that epic, sprawling feel that GL and Blackest Night have had for the last couple of years.

Click here to read more about GREEN LANTERN #54 *BRIGHTEST DAY*

Meanwhile in Green Lantern Corps #48, show us that the Green Lantern Honor Guard has expanded to include Ganthet, and John Stewart, and the two of them are going to be helping Kyle Rayner find out just what the deadly enemy is that is inside the ranks of the Green Lantern Corps. Following up on last month’s GREEN LANTERN CORPS #47, I’m also pretty excited about this one as well. Last month, we saw the Laws of Oa being questioned, and put into doubt by certain Lantern Corps members. It was an excellent post-Blackest Night issue, and really set up the Corps as a compelling, and interesting part of what is going on on in regards to Brightest Day.

Click here to read more about GREEN LANTERN CORPS #48 *BRIGHTEST DAY*

IT’S “INGLORIOUS BASTERDS” MEETS “INCOGNITO” THIS WEDNESDAY IN THE NEW BOOM! (publishers of IRREDEEMABLE) SERIES, “7 PSYCHOPATHS!” *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL*, FROM “CRIMINAL” and “INCOGNITO” CO-CREATOR SEAN PHILLIPS! A TRUE GRINDHOUSE WARTIME THRILLRIDE!

Here’s one that I saw the Previews for a couple months ago, and thought was just too cool. BOOM! Studios have really been impressing me in the last year with lots of fresh, and exciting new series, like THE ANCHOR, IRREDEEMABLE, INCORRUPTIBLE, and the superb handling of their licensed books like 28 DAYS LATER. They’ve really been doing what a good growing publisher in today’s comic market should be: putting out quality, innovative stories with top notch writing, artwork, and production values. In other words, they’ve been bringing their A-Game.

And, this Wednesday, it looks like they’ve got another hit on their hands with this exciting new limited series that’s being billed as the comic book equivalent of “Inglorious Basterds”, 7 PSYCHOPATHS. It’s the thick of World War II, and there’s only one way to bring the war to a quick end: kill Hitler. But, for such a mission, special talents are required. That’s where Joshua Goldschmidt comes in, with his 7 Psychopaths. A gathering of madmen and women that possess the skills, the courage, and the sheer fearlessness to take out one of the most evil men on the planet. This one’s going to be dripping in blood, folks, and we couldn’t be more stoked about it.

Now, ontop of the killer concept of the story, it’s also got the artwork of one of our big Third Eye favorites, CRIMINAL and INCOGNITO artist and co-creator, SEAN PHILLIPS. And, folks, his art has never looked better. The stylized, dark, and noir feel of Phillips art never fails to pull us into a story, and with 7 Psychopaths, he captures the pure, unadulterated grindhouse madness of this story perfectly.

Check it out this Wednesday at Third Eye!

And, in the meantime, click here for a preview of 7 PSYCHOPATHS #1

KEVIN SMITH’S GREEN HORNET #4 FOLLOWS UP LAST MONTH’S FANATASTIC ISSUE #3 THIS WEDNESDAY! FIND OUT WHY THIS SERIES HAS QUICKLY REACHED MUST-READ STATUS! ISSUES #1-3 STILL IN STOCK, GET CAUGHT UP ON ONE OF THIS YEAR’S COOLEST NEW SERIES!

I gotta admit, I was not completely blown away by the first couple issues of KEVIN SMITH’S GREEN HORNET. However, I did have some faith that things would get interesting, and damn, issue #3 was the make or break point, and it totally got me hooked. The first two issues of the series spend a lot of time setting up the character, and his world. Getting everything in place for us as readers, as well as introducing the vast world of the Green Hornet to new readers, so that the events of #3 had more of an impact, and after reading issue #3, I can definitely appreciate the set-up of #1 and #2.

So, you’re probably wondering what it was that really got me hooked? It wasn’t the death of the original Green Hornet that hooked me, but the whole bar scene with the original Kato. In that whole part of the book, Smith manages to capture a real sense of magic as you watch the relationship between Britt Reid Jr, and the elder Kato, begin. I’m a sucker for kung fu movies, and the whole reluctant student and wise-ass mentor dynamic always gets me. But, anyhow, all I can say is now I’m hooked.

And, this Wednesday, things kick into full gear with the latest installment of Kevin Smith’s GREEN HORNET. It looks like we’ll be seeing Britt Reid Jr taking on the mantle of the Green Hornet, and the development of the new Kato.

I love the universe that Dynamite is building with their Green Hornet revival, and as someone who has never been super familiar with the Green Hornet, but has always appreciated the character, it’s pretty accessible and easy to get into. Plus, Jonathan Lau’s artwork is fantastic, and Smith’s plotting and dialogue is dead on point. Like I said, issue #3 is the point where I really went from being on the fence about the book to being totally into it, and I’m really digging the series now.

If you haven’t checked out the Green Hornet stuff yet, we currently have all three issues in stock, and can get you caught up pretty easily, so check it out this week at the shop!

Click here for a preview of KEVIN SMITH’S GREEN HORNET #4

BRIGHTEST DAY: JUSTICE LEAGUE GENERATION LOST #2 CONTINUES AFTER A FREAKIN’ AWESOME DEBUT ISSUE! MAXWELL LORD, YOU RASCAL, YOU!

The first issue of the new JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST series blew me away. Seriously, I was expecting something good, but I was really impressed with this one. First off, the big news… as part of the BRIGHTEST DAY resurrection festival, Maxwell Lord is back. You know, the guy who put a bullet in Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), and got his neck snapped by Wonder Woman after nearly destroying the world. And, with Lord’s return, so is the fan-favorite team of goofs, The Justice League International. And, with the JLI, we’re also seeing the return of the man who gave them their magic, Keith Giffen. And, Giffen’s still got it folks. He’s able to balance out humor with some pretty serious stuff perfectly, and it makes for a fantastic read.

The first issue sets the stage, as we see how the A-List Justice Leaguers have been tasked with locating and neutralizing the returned Maxwell Lord, who’s up to no good, as usual. Of course, this leaves the B-Listers delegated to doing menial tasks. Growing tired of his role, and feeling a heavy responsibility of finding Lord himself after the murder of Blue Beetle, Booster Gold rounds up his team-mates from JLI, and decides to go find Lord himself. Giffen does a fantastic job of making this ragtag group of B-Lists the last hope for things while the heavy-hitters are otherwise out of commission.

And, dude, do they make Maxwell Lord despicable in this, or what? His nastiness as a villain just continues to rise. All in all, the first issue of JL: Generation Lost was one of the better new Brightest Day books I’ve read, and even though I’m an old fan of the Giffen/Maguire Justice League days, I think this one does a great job of making itself accessible and entertaining to people who aren’t as familiar with those characters.

This Wednesday, the second issue arrives and we can only imagine where things are going to go as Fire, Ice, Captain Atom, Booster Gold, and the rest of the crew run the risk of being eliminated by the sadistic Maxwell Lord.

Miss #1? Catch up with #1 this week, as we’ve still got plenty in stock!

Click here to read more about JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #2

INVINCIBLE v.12 STILL STANDING TRADE PAPERBACK *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* HITS THIS WEDNESDAY! ARE YOU READING ROBERT KIRKMAN’S (WALKING DEAD) INCREDIBLE SPIN ON THE SUPERHERO GENRE? YOU NEED TO!

Annnnd it’s finally here, another slab of INVINCIBLE awesomeness with the 12th trade paperback of Robert Kirkman’s killer take on the superhero genre, INVINCIBLE. Invincible is another one of those series that we find a lot of people tend to follow in trade, so we know that when a new volume hits, you guys are pumped to hear about it. And, you should be, ’cause INVINCIBLE is one of the best damn series on the shelves these days.

I mean, INVINCIBLE and WALKING DEAD have been Robert Kirkman’s big two books for the better part of a decade now, and they just continue to get better. Imagine the gutpunches, cliffhangers, and just crazy twists you see in WALKING DEAD, and then apply them to the world of superheroes, and that brings you INVINCIBLE.

Seriously though, the real hook of INVINCIBLE is that it’s probably the most realistic superhero book I’ve ever read. Now, when I say realistic, I don’t mean realistic in the sense of the grim, and the gritty. I love that kinda stuff too, and while INVINCIBLE can be pretty grim, it’s not fueled by that. No, I mean, it really reads and plays out like what would happen if Superman had a son who’s powers manifested around the age of 17, and then from there, it follows the character as he ages with the series. In other words, Invincible goes to college, has relationships, deals with the ups and downs of his personal life, and balances with his own superhero life. This is truly the 21st Century Spider-man story, folks. And, the way things are handled is so perfect. Even the dynamic between Invincible and villains of his is handled realistically, and sometimes built up over the course of many issues.

And, if you’re hooked on the twists and turns of WALKING DEAD, then INVINCIBLE delivers those as well. Imagine a character being built up over the course of 50 or 60 issues, and then in three panels, they’re torn to pieces. It’s vicious, lemme tell you. On top of all that, and going back to the whole realism thing, the series has this wildly vivid and realistic portrayal of violence, but on that superhero scale. In other words, when superpowered people are slugging it out, buildings get broken, costumes get torn, and bones can sometimes be literally torn in two. The blood, and the guts in INVINCIBLE is often surprising, and it’s the stark contrast between Ottley’s colorful artwork with the sometimes gory demise of certain characters that just adds to Invincible’s appeal.

But, enough of my ramblings, if you’re not reading INVINCIBLE, check out volume 1 this week at Third Eye. If you are already on board, then we know we’ll see you this week for INVINCIBLE v.12! And trust us, the stuff that goes down on in this volume is over-the-top huge.

ROB ZOMBIE’S WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK? DELIVERS “DR. PHIBES” HORROR MEETS MODERN DAY CELEBRITY MADNESS!

Rob Zombie brings his multimedia horror circus to the world of comics this Wednesday with the new WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK? mini-series from IMAGE COMICS. It’s no secret that just like with horror flicks, Rob Zombie’s a big fan of comic books, and it should be interesting to see him bring his pen to the panel and page.

The story behind Baron Von Shock is about Leon Stokes, and follows a man who played Baron Von Shock. Of course, he ends up screwing it all up, and is a bit of a loser without the Von Shock identity. This story is his last attempt to regain the life he feels he should have. This one is a little more grounded in reality than what you may expect from Rob Zombie, as it’s a drama following a washed up TV star trying to regain control of his life. The book though is full of those psychotronic B-movie kind of characters that Rob Zombie has a knack for writing. It takes the world of horror and mixes it with the true life horror of celebrity decadence, and VH1 Where Are They Now specials.

THANOS HAS RETURNED! THE THANOS IMPERATIVE BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY INTHANOS IMPERATIVE IGNITION #1 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*

The cosmic corner of the Marvel Universe has slowly grown over the last decade into one of the freshest, and most interesting places for Marvel stories to be told. Almost entirely under the talented pens of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Marvel revived their once forgotten cosmic characters, and revamped them for the 21st century. It all began with the ANNIHILATION series a few years back, and ever since then, we’ve seen a lot of amazing stuff surface, including the cult favorite GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY series. Abnett and Lanning have managed to take an underused area of the Marvel Universe, and infuse it with the kind of epic, sci-fi storytelling you’d see in something like Battlestar Galactica or Star Wars, and then cram it full of all sorts of crazy, over-the-top sci-fi ideas, ranging from the influence of post-apocalyptic space battle awesomeness like in Warhammer 40k to the downright surreal and creepy Cthulhu gone Space Age madnesss we saw in Realm of Kings.

Now, they’re getting ready to tell their biggest cosmic odyssey yet, with the return of everyone’s favorite Mad Titan, THANOS. This Wednesday, the THANOS IMPERATIVE begins in the THANOS IMPERATIVE: IGNITION one-shot, and we couldn’t be more stoked. Ever since Thanos was taken down by Drax the Destroyer in ANNIHILATION, we knew that one day the death-obsessed space Titan would return. And, now, he’s back. On one side, you’ve got the Marvel Universe’s #1 threat, thanos, and on the other, a dark new force determined to obliterate the entire galaxy. In the middle of all of this, the outnumbered and battle-hardened heroes ranging from Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy are all that stand between us and complete decimation. The biggest cosmic war yet has erupted which will gather the galaxy’s greatest warriors with a collection of forgotten greats, and unlikely candidates that you’d never see coming. And, of course, we know that Abnett and Lanning will deliver the goods, BIG TIME, ’cause lets face it, they haven’t let us down yet.

We were lucky enough to read an advance of this one, and folks, it delivers big-time. From the opening pages to the cliffhanger end, this one is full of surprises. It also serves as the perfect entry point for those of you who have been meaning to jump into some of the cosmic storylines Marvel has been perfecting for the last few years. Find out why this stuff is one of the best kept secrets in comics with the THANOS IMPERATIVE. Big, crazy, and fantastically well-written and illustrated, THANOS IMPERATIVE is gonna kick ass this summer. There’s even a nice recap at the very beginning explaining just what the hell Thanos has been up to, and why he has returned at the beginning.

Click here for a preview of THE THANOS IMPERATIVE: IGNITION #1

WARREN ELLIS’S WOLFSKIN: HUNDREDTH DREAM #2 CONTINUES ELLIS’S GORY, VISCERAL BARBARIAN SAGA! PLENTY OF ISSUE #1 IN STOCK TO GET YOU CAUGHT UP!

Warren Ellis is probably one of the most prolific writers working in comics today. He really conjures up the spirit of the old-time pulp writers who cranked out insanely awesome idea after insanely awesome idea. The man is always working on new projects, and he never disappoints us.

With the new WOLFSKIN saga, HUNDREDTH DREAM, Ellis is giving us a heavy dose of Robert E. Howard and throwing it in a blender with some of his trademark ultra-violence. The storytelling and artwork go pretty well-together, and I was pretty impressed with the first issue, but it’s the second one where things REALLY kick up a few notches.

In the first issue, the story opened with some back-story filling us in on the Dark Ages of earth, a time period where technology has been slowly pushing out magic and mysticism from the world. We quickly find out that Wolfskin is going to be leading a raiding party from what is now Britain to Scandinavia, and the set-up plays out like a super-rad, ultra-violent dream team of D&D characters. The priest, the archer, the fireball wielding magician, the engineer, and then of course, Wolfskin, the Barbarian. The reason for their quest? Not treasures, or glory, but to be free from a world of technology, and just for the plain ol’ adventure of it all.

And of course, there’s a monster… there’s always a monster in stories like these. And, it’s freakin’ horrifying!

All in all, the set-up for this was great, and seeing Ellis doing a badass sword-and-sorcery kind of book that does justice to all those old school D&D-style arch-types is pretty rad.

If you missed issue #1, pick it up this Wednesday and hop on the series, and find out why we’re digging it so much!

THUNDERBOLTS #144 *HEROIC AGE* KICKS OFF A KILLER NEW DIRECTION WITH A NEW TEAM CONSISTING OF JUGGERNAUT, CROSSBONES, GHOST, MOONSTONE, LUKE CAGE… AND THE MAN-THING? THE MOST KICK-ASS INCARNATION OF THUNDERBOLTS YET BEGINS HERE! A NEW DIRECTION, A NEW TEAM, A PERFECT JUMPING ON POINT!

Man, I have to admit, this is one of my favorites so far amongst all the new HEROIC AGE relaunches happening this month. The first issue of this new direction, new jumping on point for Thunderbolts was a fantastic read. The artwork is seriously on point, and the writing is sharp as hell. The real appeal for me though was the excitement I used to get when I was younger, and you’d see a team of just plain cool characters being put together, and the first issue of this new Thunderbolts definitely captures that feeling. The whole hook behind Thunderbolts has always been bad guys posing as good guys. Way back when, it started with Baron Zemo tricking the world, and passing off lame-os like The Beetle, and the Fixer as good guys. And, then Warren Ellis re-invented the book once again with Mike Deodato, and pretty much laid the groundworks for the Dark Avengers, as he put Osborn in charge of the team, and used it as a team of bad guys hunting heroes but looking like heroes to the public eye.

And, now, with the new direction, it looks like the book is once again getting reinvented as something pretty freakin’ cool. Basically, Steve Rogers does not want to see the Thunderbolts used like they were under Osborn’s reign. In other words, the book is almost doing a 180 as it’s taking a team of vile supervillains and honestly, legitimately, trying to use them as a strike force for good. Under the leadership of Luke Cage, the motley crew of Juggernaut, Crossbones, Ghost, Moonstone, and Man-Thing are meant to serve as the Marvel equivalent to the Suicide Squad. The team of bad guys who take on the missions no one else will, and are being forced to ultimately serve the greater good, against their evil nature.

The book reads VERY well, and the artwork captures the grittiness of it perfectly. I’m already intrigued by the line-up, and the dynamic of seeing these characters who’re given the option of either rotting in prison forever, or handling these impossible missions, and how they stick to walking the straight and narrow. And, I have to admit, the line-up is pretty intense:

Luke Cage as the team-leader.
Juggernaut
Crossbones
Ghost
Moonstone
Man-Thing

It’s a weird mix, but somehow it works perfectly, and having Luke Cage as kind of the reader’s perspective on things, watching as how he reacts to dealing with this unlikely grouping, is very interesting.

All in all, the first issue of this was a fantastic read, and left me wanting more. If you’re looking for another good Heroic Age title to try, give THUNDERBOLTS #144 a shot this Wednesday, as it’s a fresh jumping on point, and you require no real prior knowledge of the Thunderbolts books to hop aboard.

Click here for a preview of THUNDERBOLTS #144 *HEROIC AGE*

CHOKER #3 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL* – PURE HORRIFIC CYBERPUNK MADNESS FROM FELL & 30 DAYS OF NIGHT CO-CREATOR, BEN TEMPLESMITH! IMAGINE “BLADE RUNNER” MEETS “FROM DUSK TIL DAWN”, AND YOU’RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK!
CATCH UP WITH ISSUES #1 AND #2 STILL IN STOCK!

Ben Templesmith’s six-issue limited series CHOKER has quickly become a favorite here at Third Eye. It’s the perfect blend of hardcore splatterpunk horror, dystopian Blade Runner / William Gibson-esque sci-fi, and straight to the jugular crime noir, and we love it. We can’t get enough. And, it doesn’t hurt that Templesmith’s artwork on this one is some of his best looking stuff to date.

What is CHOKER? Choker takes place in Shotgun City, an ugly, scary, and ungodly future landscape where the cops are genetically enhanced and the criminals differentiate themselves from the normal citizens only by being crazier and more grotesque. The artwork of Templesmith manages to capture all the hideous glory of Shotgun City, and make it believable and unbelievable at the same time. It’s like if 30 DAYS OF NIGHT and Ed Brubaker’s CRIMINAL had babies. The story follows a down on his luck private detective who’s given one more chance to get it right, and reclaim his job at the police department… and maybe even rid himself of the disease that’s turning his hand into a living, alien entity. But, anyways, he’s on the case of a drug that’s turning people into shark-teethed predator things, which resemble vampires, but goes beyond that.

The joy of CHOKER is completely nihilistic, and awesome. You’re being taken deeper and deeper down a spiral into a future gone completely wrong. Only a few steps removed from our own, this is where we could be in about 50 years if things like corpse vacuums and alien hand disease became the norm.

The third issue hits this Wednesday, and I can’t wait. If you missed the first two, we’ve got plenty of issue #1 and issue #2 to catch you up. Find out why we’re digging this series so much, and hop on this Wednesday. One thing I will say is the first issue is total set-up, and it’s on the second issue where the book really gathers momentum, so if you haven’t given the second issue a shot, do so this week.

THOR #610 *SIEGE EPILOGUE* HITS THIS WEDNESDAY! THOR VS. RAGNAROK, AND ONLY ONE WILL BE LEFT STANDING!

It’s no secret that Thor has been continuing to grow as one of Marvel’s best monthly series. Following along the same path that books like INVINCIBLE IRON MAN and CAPTAIN AMERICA have, Thor went from the killer creative team of Straczynski and Coipel to the comparably killer creative team of Gillen and Tan, and soon, it’ll be moving into the more than capable hands of Matt Fraction.

Anyways, long story short: Thor has been a kick-ass book for quite a while now, and it just gets better and better. This Wednesday, we see the culmination of much of what’s been going on in Gillen’s run with THOR during SIEGE. This one is listed as SIEGE epilogue, and promises to deliver the fight we’ve all been waiting for: Thor vs. the crazed clone introduced during CIVIL WAR, Ragnarok. Ragnarok, the insane clone of Thor that wreaked havoc all throughout Civil War has come to Asgard with one mission: to kill Thor, and as many other Asgardians as he can. And, with Asgard decimated by the aftermath of SIEGE, we can only wonder just how they’ll fare against a fresh and ready clone of the Thunder God!

Click here for a preview of THOR #610 *SIEGE EPILOGUE*

STEVE NILES and NORTH 40 ARTIST FIONA STAPLES KICK OFF “THE MYSTERY SOCIETY” THIS WEDNESDAY WITH MYSTERY SOCIETY #1

Here’s one that looks pretty freakin’ cool, and with a creative team like Niles and Staples heading it up, it better be! Steve Niles is pretty much a modern day master of horror comics storytelling. He’s the guy who created the uber-successful 30 DAYS OF NIGHT line of comics. He’s the guy who brought back Bernie Wrightson to do awesome stuff on THE GHOUL, and DEAD SHE SAID. He’s the guy who has knocked us off our feet with more horror comics than we can think, and it’s pretty awesome to see him coming out swinging with a brand new series featuring the art of the incredibly talented Fiona Staples.

So, what is The Mystery Society? Mysteries and conspiracy theories, whether grounded in fact or composed purely of fantasy, have long fascinated us. In the Mystery Society, a pair of esoteric adventurers look to shed light on government cover-ups and occult conspiracies. Mystery Society is less of a gorefest splatterbook, and more of an action-adventure fueled conspiracy book that eplores everything from the theft of Edgar Allen Poe’s skull to Area 51. Imagine X-FILES meets the Addams Family, and that seems to be a pretty good way of putting it. Each issue focuses on a different mystery, but there’s a bigger wide-ranging storyarc that runs through the series.

All in all, this one looks like it’s going to be a kick-ass little limited series, and we can’t wait to read it this Wednesday.

“WORLD WAR Z” WRITER MAX BROOKS DOES GI JOE THIS WEDNESDAY WITH GI JOE: HEARTS AND MINDS #1

Here’s another cool one that crept up out of nowhere from one of our favorite authors, Max Brooks. Yes, the guy behind WORLD WAR Z is kicking off a five issue limited series that takes the world of GI JOE into a dark and gritty new direction. Essentially, each issue spotlights one Joe, and one Cobra, and serves as vignettes that act as glimpses into their lives on and off the battlefield. Sort of like graphic representations of the action-figure filecards you used to clip out of the back of GI JOE figures packaging. The first issue looks at Major Bludd, and the three generations of life on the homefront, and also spotlights Spirit, who we see has sensory overload that can be both a positive and a negative.

Personally, I’m pretty excited about this. I’ve loved the stuff that Brooks has done with World War Z, and to see him branching out into new territory is very cool. Plus, the way that he’s describing how he’s adding more life and depth to these characters that many of us have grown up with, is pretty damn cool.

Click here to read an article USA TODAY ran on GI JOE HEARTS AND MINDS

X-MEN SECOND COMING CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY IN X-FORCE #27 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 9* WITH IT’S 9TH CHAPTER! AS WELL AS THE X-MEN SECOND COMING REVELATIONS: BLIND SCIENCE ONE-SHOT!

I swear to God, SECOND COMING just gets better, and better every week. I never thought I’d be this wrapped up in the X-Books again, but Marvel has got me big-time. Last week’s X-MEN LEGACY served as a nice mid-way point for the series, as we’ve gone from the great chase to the base under siege approach.

This week, X-MEN SECOND COMING continues with it’s 9th chapter in X-FORCE #27, and it looks like the real horror of what the X-Men face is going to be fully revealed here, and the reality of every mutant on the planet dying nears… this is it, as the X-Men go on the offensive.

For those of you who haven’t yet started reading SECOND COMING yet, you really should check it out. We’ve currently got all the chapters in stock, and folks, it’s fantastic. One of the best X-MEN storylines we’ve seen in YEARS. The artwork, the storytelling, everything is so urgent, and so big, it’s fantastic.

Click here for a preview of X-FORCE #27 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 9*

Click here for our X-MEN SECOND COMING CHECKLIST

RADICAL PUBLISHING RE-IMAGINES WYATT EARP WITH THE NEW EARP: SAINTS FOR SINNERS SERIES! TRY THE #0 ISSUE FOR ONLY $1.00 THIS WEDNESDAY!

RADICAL Publishing has really made a name for itself with innovative new series, high production values, and just plain cool comics. This Wednesday, they’re unleashing the $1.00 #0 of their latest and greatest, EARP: SAINTS FOR SINNERS. This one looks to be reimagining the story of Wyatt Earp as the only honest man in Las Vegas. It details the life of a futuristic family of Lawmen as they struggle to maintain control in a United States increasingly spiraling towards complete chaos. Kind of a real dystopian look at the classic tale of Wyatt Earp. People getting gunned down in the street over groceries instead of Rolexes. And, in one desperate hope to control random acts of violence, dueling to protect yourself and property, as well as settling petty differences, becomes perfectly legal, and America has social conditions very similar to the Old West. People are armed all the time, and are quick to draw their weapons to protect their property.

As people become more deprived, criminals who stick it to the authority figures, by robbing banks and doing what they feel needs to be done to live become nationwide celebrities, and you’ve got wanted felons and murderers sharing the spotlight on TMZ with movie stars and musicians. And, that’s where the Lawmen come in, like Wyatt and his brothers.

It looks pretty damn cool, and whether it’s set in 2020, or the Old West, I’m a sucker for a good and gritty western.

STAFF PICKS

Steve -  AVENGERS #1 = This one really got me. It’s bigger than life, and filled to the brims with raw smashmouth superhero energy. It kind of channels old school ’80s Marvel, BUT, also manages to tell a fresh, and modern story that’s as cutting edge as anything Bendis has ever done. The ending is the big hook though, and I cannot wait to find out more about that! Highly recommended.

Trish – WALKING DEAD #72=Every issue of WALKING DEAD is a good read, but you know how some issues are just OMGHOLYCRAP? This was one of those.

Torma – BRIGHTEST DAY #2 = Every issue of this book has left me on a cliffhanger, and the surprise reveal in this one was the biggest yet. Brightest Day is keeping me almost more hooked than Blackest Night did!

Matt – AMERICAN VAMPIRE #3 = What started as a book that grabbed me simply based on Stephen King’s name alone has become one of the most addictive new Vertigo series I’ve read. The Walking Dead of VAMPIRES.

]]> http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/2010/05/25/this-weeks-highlights-third-eye-for-wednesday-52610/feed/ 0 http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/2010/05/10/this-weeks-highlights-third-eye-for-wednesday-51210/ http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/2010/05/10/this-weeks-highlights-third-eye-for-wednesday-51210/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 00:40:07 +0000 thirdeye http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/?p=401 THE BIGGEST BATMAN STORY IN DECADES BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY IN GRANT MORRISON’S BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1
THIRD EYE MUST-BUY!

IT’S HERE! This is quite possibly the most anticipated Batman storyline we’ve seen in a looooooong time, folks. I mean, the sense of electricity and buzz around this one is incredible, and I think that the excitement and wonder surrounding RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE will have this one standing comfortably next to modern Batman classics like DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, LONG HALLOWEEN, KILLING JOKE, and HUSH. This is the storyline that Grant Morrison has been building towards for the last few years. This is the 21st Century Batman tale, and we cannot wait to read this one.

Okay, now I’m realllly excited about this storyline, and I’m on the verge of gushing on and on about how much I’ve enjoyed what Morrison has done with the Batman-universe since Bruce Wayne’s disappearing act. But, I also realize that you guys want to hear just what the heck this whole RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE shebang is all about. Now, a lot of you are already in the know, and have been following BATMAN AND ROBIN, so you’ve got a bit of an idea, but for those of you who may be jumping on fresh with the launch of RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, here’s the rundown!

Batman is lost in time. See, we all thought Bruce Wayne was dead… okay.. well, the characters of the DCU though that. As readers, we saw the wink and the nudge of Bruce Wayne in a cave scrawling a Bat at the end of FINAL CRISIS. From that moment forward, we knew it was coming. The eventual return of Bruce Wayne. And, then, the images began to show up late last year of a Pirate Batman, a Caveman Batman, a Western Batman, ect.. and that was it, we knew it was coming… the Return of Bruce Wayne. See, the Batman character is going to be fighting his way through the time-stream to return to the present, but it’s the actions of what happens along the way that really opens things up to some fascinating possibilities.

What’s interesting is that each time period is still set in the locale that Batman is known for. In other words, you’ll see Gotham in the Old West, you’ll see what eventually will become Gotham in the Stone Age. Hell, we even get a Prohibition-era Noir Batman. And, one of the biggest things we’re curious about is just what will Bruce Wayne do when confronted with the fact that he could possibly prevent his parents murder? The very thing that MADE him Batman….

And, what is the deal with the giant Bat-Skin he’s wearing? According to Morrison, it’s a major plot point.. hmmm..

Meanwhile, as seen in the 3-issue Prologue to Return of Bruce Wayne story arc in BATMAN AND ROBIN 10-12, we know that Dick Grayson and Alfred are onto the fact that Wayne is Lost in Time. We know that they’re noticing changes in the Wayne family portraits, and could those things possibly be clues as Bruce alters the timeline? And, then finally, the biggest reveal….

SPOILER WARNING….

We know this guy is involved somehow:

So, not only do we have Bruce Wayne slugging his way through the past as he hurtles towards the present. We’ve also got Dick Grayson and co. in the present dealing with the recently revealed Clown Prince of Crime.

Why This is All So Cool: It’s Batman duking it out in various historical periods! I mean, just the sight of a Pirate Batman is pretty damn cool, but when you think about all the possibilities of storytelling about the history of Gotham, the Wayne family, and even many of the inhabitants of Gotham…. it’s mindblowing. Morrison has already gone on record as saying that Jonah Hex will be showing up in the Western-era story. And, who knows what else we’re going to see… I mean, I’m not sure what proximity to the Gotham locale Vandal Savage was, but, heck, we might even see him popping up too. Most importantly though… it’s going to deliver us one of the most fresh, and exciting Batman stories we’re ever going to see.

The master detective trying to solve the ultimate question: time.

Will I Be Lost Jumping Into This? NO. While this storyline does take a lot of cues from previous story beats in Morrison’s run, RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1 is a perfectly fresh and accessible spot to jump in at. If we’d recommend anything to get caught up, it’d be maybe picking up the 3-issue BATMAN AND ROBIN *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE PROLOGUE* story arc that went through BATMAN AND ROBIN #10, #11 and #12. Other than that though, you can jump on, and just enjoy the ride.

And If I Want To Go Back And Experience The Awesomeness of Morrison’s Run From The Start? We’d recommend beginning with BATMAN AND SON trade paperback, then going onto BATMAN: THE BLACK GLOVE trade paperback, then BATMAN: RIP hardcover, and then BATMAN AND ROBIN (available both in hardcover and in the individual single issues). The whole run has been incredible, and if you’re really looking to go back to the beginning, that’s the perfect path to do. Battle for the Cowl is a nice in between spot for RIP and BATMAN AND ROBIN, but not necessarily a major piece. However, if you just want to start with RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, you can jump on with ISSUE #1 with no problem.

Okay, Time For The Morrison Batman Love-Fest: I mentioned above, I had to break this one down into a couple of separate parts, so I didn’t get ahead of myself. Now that we’re done talking about WHAT Return of Bruce Wayne is, and WHY we’re so excited, now it’s time to talk about how we went from the hyper-realistic, dark and brooding Batman of the late ’90s to the surreal, and cutting edge Batman stories of now.

A lot of us as readers were a bit disappointed when we got to the end of BATMAN: RIP. I was at first. But, after reading BATMAN AND ROBIN, I see exactly what Morrison intended to do, and how genius it’s all been. Let me start off by saying that I have not enjoyed Batman comics this much in ten years. Everything is fresh, everything is new, but somehow, it all works, and fits the world of Batman perfectly. What Morrison did with RIP was not necessarily killing Batman as a character, but killing the rut that Batman storylines had fallen into. In other words, we’d taken the character and idea of Batman about as far as it could go into the ’90s and early ’00s, and things were beginning to get kinda silly. So, Morrison did the trilogy of BATMAN AND SON, BLACK GLOVE, and RIP. And, the common theme throughout was taking the 50 some odd years of Bat-history, condensing it down, and making sense of it all. In other words, the zaniness of the ’60s was there, the darkness of the ’70s, ect… but it was all done in such a way that it worked perfectly. The end result, so it appeared, was BATMAN AND ROBIN. A true gem of 21st Century comics storytelling. Incredible artwork, fresh and quirky storytelling, and a colorful, slightly science fiction-influenced slant that hadn’t been seen in the Batman comics for years. And, it’s all worked out perfectly. It’s why BATMAN AND ROBIN has become one of my favorite books. And, now, the ultimate send-up in all of this, is the RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE storyline. I mean, lets be honest… ten years ago, if you said “Okay, so we’re going to shoot him back in time, and then bring him back, as a Pirate and a Cowboy and blah blah”… everyone would’ve been like “You’re on crack.” But, since we’ve seen how well Morrison has been able to make this kind of storytelling work in BATMAN AND ROBIN… this storyline sounds like the most awesome thing in the world.

And, beyond all of this… it’s the Return of Bruce freakin’ Wayne, folks. The original DARK KNIGHT. The Caped Crusader. And, while we love Dick as Batman, and are curious to see where his position will be in the end of all this… it’s just plain cool to see Wayne returning.

So, folks, make sure you pick up a copy of BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1 this week. It’s Third Eye Guaranteed Good. The story. The art. I mean, heck, we didn’t even talk about the art… Chris Sprouse, most famous for his work on TOM STRONG with ALAN MOORE, is looking AWESOME on this book. But, okay, I’m rambling again.

Click here for a preview of BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1

THE LONG-AWAITED SIEGE #4 WRAPS UP THE BIGGEST MARVEL STORYLINE SINCE CIVIL WAR THIS WEDNESDAY! AND, FOLKS, THIS ONE IS EPPPIIIIIC!

It’s finally here! Okay, so, the wait for SIEGE #4 isn’t as long as it’s felt. It’s only been about a month and a half or so, which in comparison to other titles running late, isn’t so bad. But, the reason it feels like an eternity is because the cliffhanger ending of issue #3 left us on the edges of our seats.. BIG TIME! Norman Osborn screaming like a maniac in green face paint, Tony Stark rocking the briefcase armor, the crumbling of Asgard, and then that one fateful panel of The Sentry’s true nature revealed once and for all. And, now, all of our questions will be answered this Wednesday in the pages of SIEGE #4. The biggest ones I have? WTF is up with the Sentry, and of course, what will be the final thing that brings the much-anticipated Heroic Age into full swing?

For those of you not reading SIEGE, or just coming back into the comic-lovin’ fold, here’s a brief rundown on what this whole SIEGE thing is about and why we’re so excited to see the conclusion. Six or seven years ago, Marvel pretty much defined the 2000s with CIVIL WAR. See, comics in the late ’90s were an interesting beast. A lot of the mainstream, broad and big Superhero books… they sucked. And, meanwhile, you had innovative little titles popping out of the cracks like Brian Michael Bendis’s POWERS, and Warren Ellis’s THE AUTHORITY. In the early 2000s, Marvel launched their Ultimate line, and I think that really gave them the recharge they needed to revamp their mainline continuity. And, so you saw the books begin to take on a more cutting edge, bolder tone, and then… CIVIL WAR. Heroes fighting heroes. Characters dying. Insanity. And, Civil War began a cycle of storytelling that really made Marvel what it is during this past decade. The Avengers became cool again. The classic Marvel heroes once again were interesting. And, compelling character-driven storytelling once again reminded us why we loved the Marvel Universe. Now, as the decade winded down, it was obvious that it was time for a new direction, and a new change. In the aftermath of SECRET INVASION, and during DARK REIGN, I think a lot of us were pretty happy to hear about SIEGE.

See, SIEGE is the end to what Marvel originally began with CIVIL WAR. And, just like we were ushered into a brand new age of storytelling, and a shift in tone back in 2000, we’re going to be seeing that again with the HEROIC AGE. Siege is not just about the downfall of Norman Osborn, but it’s about the reuniting of the classic Marvel heroes, after years of turmoil and strife.

So, in a nutshell… this is what you need to know before reading SIEGE: CIVIL WAR=Heroes fight each other, Norman Osborn comes into a position of government power, and gets his own superteam of morally questionable (but obedient) footsoldiers. SECRET INVASION=Suspicions, paranoia, and Norman Osborn makes the killshot that gives him control over the security of the U.S. DARK REIGN=Norman Osborn, now the head of SHIELD (now called HAMMER), puts supervillains into superhero positions, and begins his plans of control and revenge.

SIEGE=Norman Osborn, obviously losing his grip on sanity, is persuaded by Loki into invading Asgard, and taking it over. And of course, everything goes horribly wrong, which brings the combined forces of the Marvel Universes back together in one hell of an epic storyline.

If you haven’t started with SIEGE yet, we’ve currently got plenty of issue #1,#2, and #3 in stock to get you caught up, so give it a shot. We highly recommend the series, and we think anybody, whether you’re brand new to comics, or an old fan, will enjoy this. The writing, and the artwork have been fantastic, and it really is a great entry-point into the Marvel Universe as things get ready to relaunch at ground zero with the HEROIC AGE.

The beauty of SIEGE is it thrives on the things that we all love about comics, and the Marvel Universe specifically. It’s bigger than life, it’s action-packed, and it turns the pulp insanity level of superpowered beings duking it out up to levels we rarely see. It’s bold, and swashbuckling, and it’s an indicator of the exciting things to come with the HEROIC AGE. If you’re NOT reading SIEGE, you really need to give this one a shot, as it’s probably one of the best Marvel events we’ve seen since CIVIL WAR.

Now, for those of you already reading SIEGE… you already know that this is the big one, folks, and are just as pumped as we are to see what comes of it this Wednesday. So, the less I say, the better… lets be surprised. :)

Click here for a preview of SIEGE #4
Click here for the official THIRD EYE SIEGE CHECKLIST

THE MYSTERIOUS SIEGE: FALLEN #1 ONE-SHOT SERVES AS THE OFFICIAL EPILOGUE TO SIEGE!

Okay, it’s often rare that we’re completely in the dark about a book. Even when they’re kept under lock and key, we’re still in the know enough to get an official handle on just what the heck it’s all about. However, with SIEGE: FALLEN, we know very little… and here’s what we do know:

The SIEGE: FALLEN one-shot is being described as Marvel as being a nice wrap-up issue to SIEGE, you know, an epilogue of sorts. Of course, we’re expecting some major ramifications at the end of SIEGE, and it seems like this one-shot is what deals with not just the major events that occur within SIEGE #4, but also the landscape of the Marvel Universe as a whole.

The second thing we know is that Tom Raney is handling the art chores, while the writer is classified… which means that whoever is writing this one-shot probably has a good deal invested in the character that’s being held on the cover there. Now, while we won’t speculate on who it is that bites it, we do know that this issue is supposed to deal with the whats, the whys, and the hows of the character’s death, as well as the world-shattering aftermath of SIEGE. In other words, if you’re following SIEGE, you should probably give this one as read, as it looks like it’ll pertain to the story in a big way.

Either way, we’re pumped to see what the hush-hush surprises that await in SIEGE: FALLEN are, and why Marvel is being so tightlipped about them!

FLASH #2 *BRIGHTEST DAY* FOLLOWS UP THE FIRST KILLER ISSUE OF GEOFF JOHNS’S NEW ONGOING FLASH SERIES THIS WEDNESDAY!
THIRD EYE MUST BUY

Man, the first issue of Geoff Johns’s new FLASH ongoing series really blew me away. I mean, I was expecting it to be good, because lets face it: Geoff Johns has an incredible track record, but damn… it exceeded my expectations in a hundred different ways. The artwork, the writing, everything just clicked so perfectly, and for someone like me who grew up with Wally West, and isn’t as familiar with Barry Allen, it was accessible as hell. I mean, one of the things that I felt was so cool about the new FLASH series was how it just hit the ground running.. no pun intended. Whether you’re brand new to the world of THE FLASH, or an old-time fan, it served as a great point to jump onboard, and I was really impressed with how Johns pulled that off.

On top of everything mentioned above, it was just a plain good story. The big ending with the Rogues from the future acting as a form of police… brilliant. And, now, this week, the follow up issue comes with FLASH #2, and we could not be more pumped here at Third Eye to read it.

In the first issue, Johns introduces us to the world of the Flash and Barry Allen effortlessly while still managing to tell an exciting, and killer story. The artwork by Francis Manapul is probably some of the best stuff going in superhero comics right now, and it really captures the fluidity and movement of THE FLASH perfectly. There’s this great sense of speed that comes through in the storytelling and artwork, where you as the reader get the feeling that things never stop moving. This is the perfect compliment to a character like THE FLASH, and it really helps draw us into his world. Plus, the way that Johns is taking classic Flash elements but mixing them with his own new-school approach, is incredible. He really delivers some good comics storytelling here, and in just one issue, the new ongoing Flash series is at the top of my stack as one of my favorite new series.

What’s the hook on the new FLASH ongoing? In a nutshell, it’s got this great “Superhero CSI” kind of feel to it. See, Barry Allen is a police forensic scientist, and as the Flash, the fastest man alive, he’s also one of the DCU’s most classic superheroes. Johns plays up the detective element of Barry, and shows us in the first issue, that while this isn’t a traditional noir, gritty detective story, there is this very cool tech-savvy forensic science feel to how Barry solves the crimes that are put before him. Of course, we also get to see the Flash side of Barry A LOT, and it’s cool to see how Johns is showing us all the different and exciting ways Barry can and will use his powers as the Flash.

Perfect Blend of Character-Driven Storytelling and High Action: The other thing that really stands out about the new Flash series is how Johns adds so much life and multiple layers to not just the Flash and his enemies, but also his supporting cast. It really feels like you’re walking into a fully realized world, and he manages to balance out the character-driven storytelling with a quick, rapid-fire non-stop action approach to the superheroics of the book.

All in all, the new Flash series is one of DC’s most promising new series this summer, and we highly recommend checking it out. We’ve still got plenty of FLASH #1 in stock, and hey, FLASH #1 even comes with a FLASH ring! :)

If you want to go back a little deeper, and get the full scoop on Barry Allen and his return, we recommend snagging FLASH REBIRTH 1-6 (available both in the back issues here at Third Eye or the recently released hardcover), and the FLASH: SECRET FILES one-shot. These serve as an excellent primer to give you more backstory on the FLASH. For those of you who’d rather just jump in, then all you need is the new FLASH #1, and you’re good to go.

Click here to read more about FLASH #2 *BRIGHTEST DAY*

SWEET TOOTH VOLUME 1 OUT OF THE WOODS TRADE PAPERBACK ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! FIND OUT WHY THIS HAS QUICKLY BECOME ONE OF OUR TOP FAVORITE BOOKS ON THE STANDS! VERTIGO DOES IT AGAIN! AND, THIS FIRST VOLUME IS ONLY $9.99!
“GUMMO” meets “THE WALKING DEAD”

Man, it’s funny how some of the ones that turn into your favorite books are the ones that sneak up on you, and don’t snag you right off the bat. Sweet Tooth has been like that for me. I read the first issue that Vertigo put out (for only a buck! And, heck, if you’d rather do this series in singles, we do have all the previous issues in stock to check out too), and I enjoyed it.. but, I wasn’t sold. You know, I thought it was good, but it was just a set-up, and there was nothing that really snapped me into it. So, I forgot about Sweet Tooth for a little bit. I breezed through the next couple issues, but it wasn’t until a few months back I sat down with all five issues at one time, and read through them, that I was hooked. I had found a brand new favorite book. See, Jeff Lemire is doing INCREDIBLE stuff with this series, and he manages to do it without you realizing until you’re fiending for the next issue. The fact that he both writes and illustrates the series just enhances the surreal, dream-like feel that the series has.

What’s SWEET TOOTH all about? Sweet Tooth is the story of Gus, one of a rare new breed of human/animal hybrids who was raised in isolation by his father following a pandemic that struck ten years previous. When Gus’s father dies, Gus does the one thing his father had always begged him not to… leave the woods. He quickly runs into hunters, who kill hybrid children and sell their parts off for various things (food, experiments to cure the disease, ect… oh, did we mention that this new human/animal hybrid is immune to the disease that killed off half the world?). Gus runs into a massive drifter named Jepperd (who reminds you of the Punisher circa Garth Ennis’s PUNISHER: THE END), and promises to help get Gus to a safe haven for all human/animal hybrids, a place known only as the Preserve.

Sweet Tooth reads like a real twisted road trip story, but there’s also a very surreal, dream-like quality to the art and storytelling that contrasts really nicely with the dark, gritty post-apocalyptic world it’s set in. See, the quirkiness is almost only superficial, as the real charm of Sweet Tooth isn’t the kids with antlers and the strange alternative future it’s set in, but in the way that it explores Gus’s brittle humanity, and Jepperd’s crude humanity.

Lemire’s unique art style really gives the book a unique look and feel, and there’s some really eerie close-ups on the eyes of characters, that are often used as a beat in the pacing of a character and their thoughts.

All in all, Sweet Tooth comes HIGHLY recommended, and this Wednesday, you can snag the first five issues in trade paperback format for only $9.99!

Click here to read more about SWEET TOOTH v.1 OUT OF THE WOODS

BRIGHTEST DAY: THE BIRDS OF PREY RETURN THIS WEDNESDAY COURTESY OF THEIR FAN-FAVORITE CREATIVE TEAM GAIL SIMONE (SECRET SIX) & ED BENES (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA) IN BIRDS OF PREY #1 *BRIGHTEST DAY*

The Brightest Day is shining it’s light in a few different directions this Wednesday, and one of the big ones we’re excited to see is the relaunched BIRDS OF PREY series. Now, I know, it’s odd, considering that towards the end of it’s run, BIRDS OF PREY was not a book that would be getting top billing from Third Eye here. Why? Well, it kinda sucked towards the end there, and wasn’t really doing much of anything.

But, then amidst the announcements of new series for the summer, DC made a big one… the original fan-favorite creative team of GAIL SIMONE and ED BENES who made BRIGHTEST DAY what it was way back in the day are returning to once again knock it out of the park, and folks, we’re pumped.

I feel like before I go on, i should explain why we’re stoked, and just a bit about what BIRDS OF PREY is. Wayyyy back in the late ’90s, I remember BIRDS OF PREY kicked off courtesy of CHUCK DIXON and GREG LAND, and I think I picked it up because I heard it had Blue Beetle, and I’ve always liked Blue Beetle. But, anyways, there was something about the series that really made it stand out back then. There was a real cool fusion of high-action, and a down-to-earth sense of humor about it. It was really good stuff. And, then, time passed by, and a new writer came onboard, Gail Simone. This is before she’d really made a big reputation for herself, so she was new to the series, and alongside her, a new artist by the name of Ed Benes. And, together, they took the Birds of Prey idea to a new level of awesomeness. It was a big cult favorite of mine, and delivered a really clever team book that didn’t read like any other kind of team book on the market. See, Birds of Prey played up a cool mix of clever humor, gritty espionage and covert ops, and familiar characters that we all knew and love (Oracle, the Huntress, Black Canary, ect). The writing in it was razor sharp, and was some of the most realistic portrayals of women superheroes in comics that we’ve seen, but still, at the same time maintained a real fun, and action-packed feel.

Now, WHAT are the BIRDS OF PREY? Birds of Prey are a loose-knit team of superheroines that work with Oracle. Oracle, as you know her, is the former Batgirl who’s now paralyzed from the waist down due to being shot by the Joker in THE KILLING JOKE. See, after Oracle was shot, she didn’t let that stop her, she kept fighting crime, but sharpened her prowess in technology, and computers, becoming a literal information bank for many superheroes within the DCU. The team’s greatest strength comes from Oracle’s connections to heroes across the DCU stemming from her connection to Batman, meaning that it’s no surprise to see Wonder Woman or Superman show up in BIRDS OF PREY. And, while BIRDS OF PREY is a predominantly female team, there have been male members including NIGHTWING, and WILDCAT.

The thing that is awesome about this though is the return of Gail Simone and Ed Benes. Simone is probably the best writer we’ve seen on Birds of Prey, and really gets the characters. And, if you’re not already reading her awesome work on SECRET SIX, you’re really missing out. However, we have a feeling that Birds of Prey is gonna blow that out of the water. :) Not to mention Ed Benes is handling the art, and this guy is a SUPERSTAR, folks. In the tradition of bigger-than-life artists like Jim Lee, J. Scott Campbell, and Michael Turner, Ed Benes has really carved out a major niche for himself as a fantastic superhero artist. And, folks, he is the perfect fit for Birds of Prey. The fact that he’d already worked on the series previously is just a bonus in that we know the chemistry between him and Simone will really make this relaunch a killer read.

BRIGHTEST DAY! The other thing that makes this one stand out is it’s one of the books carrying the BRIGHTEST DAY banner, and tying into DC’s BRIGHTEST DAY storyline. As we’ve seen from everything that’s come out so far rocking the BRIGHTEST DAY banner, these are quality jumping on points, and if you’ve never read BIRDS OF PREY before, this is a good spot to start. How it ties into BRIGHTEST DAY? Well, the involvement of Hawk and Dove is interesting, and I feel that might play a part, but I guess we’re going to have to see. All I know is so far everything rocking the BRIGHTEST DAY banner has been a solid read, and I cannot wait to check this one out.

Click here to read more about BIRDS OF PREY #1 *BRIGHTEST DAY*

NEW AVENGERS FINALE #1 *SIEGE TIE-IN*WRAPS UP 10 YEARS OF AVENGERS STORIES, AND PAVES THE WAY PERFECTLY FOR THE RELAUNCH OF AVENGERS THIS SUMMER!

Man, I read the advance of this one last night, and folks, it’s freakin’ beautiful. This one-shot penned by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, and illustrated by the legendary BRYAN HITCH (THE ULTIMATES, CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN), is a fantastic final chapter in a decade of AVENGERS history, as well as a nice opening to what’s to come for the AVENGERS in the Marvel Universe.

This one-shot takes place after the events of SIEGE, but before the official relaunching of the AVENGERS (coming soon with the launch of the highly anticipated AVENGERS #1, as well as SECRET AVENGERS and NEW AVENGERS). The entire landscape of the Marvel Universe has changed during the craziness of SIEGE, and with the HEROIC AGE on the horizon, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are unsure of what and where their places are in the Marvel Universe. This double-sized one-shot shows us how that before the Avengers can move on, all loose ends must be tied-up, and everything that’s been left hanging in the storylines of the Avengers books for the last five years is resolved right here. And, folks, it reads fantastic. The artwork by Hitch looks great, and Bendis really delivers some SIEGE-level action in the actual story.

My favorite part though is as you near the end, you really get the sense that this is an “End of an Era” moment, and there’s some actually really cool moments that totally lay the groundwork for things to come for the Avengers, including what team-mates are going where, and the final line-ups, ect. Of course, a major focus is tying up unresolved affairs here, and folks, it’s a badass way of wrapping up many plot threads from the last few years.

I’d have to say that this, Dark Avengers #16, Siege #4, and Siege Fallen all read very nicely together, and almost feel like a set of books in that sense.

All in all, this one’s worth picking up, and is not just another one-shot, but something that really progresses the storyline of the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Click here for a preview of NEW AVENGERS FINALE #1

BRIGHTEST DAY: JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #1 – KEITH GIFFEN RETURNS TO THE JUSTICE LEAGUE HE MADE FAMOUS WITH JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL!

DC is really on point this Summer with the new series that they’re kicking out there. Another one that I’ve been excited about since it was announced is the new JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST limited series that’s going to be kicking off this Wednesday. The simple fact that Keith Giffen is returning to the Justice League characters he made famous, and forever memorable is reason enough, but the fact that it’s also going to be following up on the sudden return of MAXWELL LORD in the wake of BRIGHTEST DAY (or at least this is who we’re speculating is the mysterious villain that’s killing off former members of the now defunct JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL) just ups the ante of awesomeness for this one.

Most of you who are familiar with DC in the last few years know Maxwell Lord as one of the major players during the time of INFINITE CRISIS, and the man responsible for the OMACS, and the death of Ted Kord (Blue Beetle). Now, it looks like he’s back to his old tricks, as seen in BRIGHTEST DAY #0, and members of the JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL (a team Lord has a personal tie to) are being targeted for death.

Now, the big hook with this new series is that it’s a return to a Justice League incarnation that a lot of us love, and hold dear to our hearts in terms of character-defining JLA runs. Way back when, Keith Giffen, J.M DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire completely turned the concept of the Justice League on it’s head by putting together a team made up of B-Listers, and one or two heavy-hitters. The reason why it worked though was Giffen’s knack for adding personality, and humor to the book, and using the second stringers to really make the book entertaining. The interplay between characters like Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Guy Gardner, and Batman and Martian Manhunter was half the fun, and while the action levels were high, it was some of the incredible and humorous touches to these characters that really made the story. This was the infamous Justice League run where Batman flat out slugs Guy Gardner, and knocks him out in one punch, leaving the rest of the team to joke about “One Punch! I can’t believe it!”

And, now Giffen is back, and he’s working with the characters he made famous. The surviving members of Justice League International are all here… Booster Gold, Fire and Ice, Captain Atom, and more, and while there’s a very grim shadow being cast on the team as their former team-mates are being hunted down and killed.. we are expecting Giffen to still bring that trademark wit and humor to the series just like he did back in the day.

On top of all this, this limited series carries the Brightest Day banner, and ties into the resurrection of many character. Of course, the biggest, is the returned Maxwell Lord. But, we can’t help but wonder if we’ll see Martian Manhunter involved at all, due to his previous involvement with the team.

We expect this one to be a must-read, and if you’re a DC fan, new or old, you really should give this one a look this week. And, if you’re following Justice League, then you definitely should pick this up, as it’s going to be providing some pretty big shake-ups for the premiere DC Superhero team.

But, at the end of the day.. we’re excited about this one for one big reason: It’s Giffen returning to Justice League International, and with Winick (who’s proven he’s got a nice knack for humorous tales with his excellent run on EXILES, and his Barry Ween work), it should be a fantastic read.

Click here to read more about JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #1 *BRIGHTEST DAY*

Piqued your curiosity with all this talk of how awesome JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL was? Check out these great trades collecting the Giffen/Maguire run currently in stock at Third Eye!

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 1 TRADE PAPERBACK
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 2 TRADE PAPERBACK
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 3 TRADE PAPERBACK
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 4 TRADE PAPERBACK

FRENEMY OF THE STATE #1 FROM ONI PRESS DELIVERS A QUIRKY, FUN TAKE ON THE ESPIONAGE CONTRACT KILLER DRAMA! AND IT’S CO-WRITTEN BY THAT ONE CHICK FROM THE OFFICE… YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT DIDN’T GET JIM.

I’ve gotta admit, when I first glanced over this one in the Previews catalog, I totally overlooked it. The name was kind of goofy, and I really didn’t see anything about it that reached out and grabbed me. Well, Oni was cool enough to send us some preview copies of this as well as other new ones coming out, and I read this one over the weekend, and folks, I really dug it. The writing is sharp, the artwork is fantastic, and works perfectly for the story, and the overall plot and story is playful yet engaging.

So, what’s it about? Well, you’ve got this girl who has lived a life of privilege, attended the best schools, and learned every language, but her obsession with spying on exes gets her caught up in some serious mojo with the CIA. And, in exchange for not going to prison, they recruit her to be a spy. It’s got a big humor element to it, and it definitely plays around with the modern day circus that is Hollywood, and folks who’re famous for no other reason than being famous.

I actually had no idea this was written by someone who’s on TV until after I read it, and that’s good, ’cause usually it makes me automatically going to assume the comic is going to suck if it’s written by a TV personality, but man, this one’s good. It’s fun, it’s entertaining, and it reads well. And, hey, it’s that chick from THE OFFICE too.

DARK AVENGERS #16 *SIEGE TIE-IN* – THE FINAL ISSUE OF DARK AVENGERS SENDS THE TITLE OFF WITH A BANG, AND WRAPS UP A CORNER OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE NICELY! A ROCK SOLID READ!

I just sat down and read the advance of DARK AVENGERS #!6 before writing this, and I’ve gotta say… it’s probably one of my favorite Marvel titles I’ve read today. In fact, I’ve gotta tell you, if you fell off of DARK AVENGERS during the UTOPIA storyline or the Molecule Man storyline, I’d highly recommend going back and picking up around issue #13 when the SIEGE Tie-Ins began in this book. This was probably one of the best SIEGE tie-ins of the bunch, in my opinion, and issues 13-16 really are on the caliber of the events going on in the main SIEGE book. Why? The characterization. Bendis gives the enemy side of SIEGE personality, and depth that makes them even more compelling, and through issues 13-16, he fleshes out not just Norman Osborn and his star players like Bullseye, but also turns Victoria Hand into one of the coolest new Marvel characters I’ve seen in quite a while. And, in this week’s DARK AVENGERS #16, she especially comes out of SIEGE as a very interesting character. But, that’s not all, the Dark Avengers tie-ins went a long way of explaining THE SENTRY, why he’s such an evil, bad mojo kinda dude, and what happened to send him over the edge to do the things he’s done. In fact, his official origin in DARK AVENGERS #13 is one of the coolest things I’ve read from Marvel this year.

And, now this Wednesday, in DARK AVENGERS #13, it’s the end of an era again, as the short-lived yet excellent DARK AVENGERS title goes out with a bang. I can’t say much, because I don’t want to spoiler anything, but I will say this: read this one AFTER you read SIEGE #4, as that’s where it takes place in the scheme of the storyline. This issue really wraps up the whole Dark Avengers thing nicely, and it sets the stage for the futures of many of the characters who were on the team, some of which in pretty shocking ways. However, I think my favorite part is near the end, involving Osborn… you’ll know it when you see it.

All in all, Dark Avengers #16 is definitely highly recommended this week, and like I said, if you missed DARK AVENGERS #13, #14, or #15, snatch ‘em up. We’ve still got limited quantities of each in stock here at Third Eye!

SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #2 FOLLOWS UP THE FIRST SMASH HIT ISSUE OF WAR OF THE SUPERMEN! IT’S ZOD vs. SUPERMAN IN THIS KILLER NEW LIMITED SERIES!

Dude! The first issue of WAR OF THE SUPERMEN was AWESOME. I was super-impressed, and man, this feels like it might be one of the best Superman stories done in the last few years.. and Geoff Johns isn’t even writing it! :)

Seriously though, they kicked things off with a bang in WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #1. Robinson and Gates do a fantastic job of making the first issue of this one feel HUGE, and the artwork by Igle is fantastic, and works perfectly in the scale of the storyline. This book makes all the weirdness of the last year or two of Superman stories post-New Krypton feel worth it, and we cannot wait to read the second issue this Wednesday.

What is WAR OF THE SUPERMEN all about? It’s pretty simple… there’s too many Supermen, and General Zod, being the downright dastardly fellow he is, decides he’s going straight to Earth with hundreds of Supermen following behind him.. and of course, only Superman stands in his way. It’s also looking like WAR OF THE SUPERMEN is going to be the perfect set-up for the highly anticipated arrival of J.Michael Straczynski writing Superman later this Summer.

A fantastic read, and we’re pretty pumped to see where the story goes next!

FIRST WAVE #2 FOLLOWS UP BRIAN AZZARELLO’S KILLER NEW PULP TAKE ON THE DCU! A GUN-WIELDING BATMAN, THE RETURN OF DOC SAVAGE, AND A COOL TAKE ON THE SPIRIT? IT’S ALL HERE! AND, WE’VE STILL GOT PLENTY OF #1 IF YOU MISSED IT!

The debut of Brian Azzarello and Rags Morales’s FIRST WAVE was a huge surprise hit here at Third Eye. While we thought the whole idea of an “Elseworlds-esque” storyline featuring a DC Universe set amidst the backdrop of 1940s Hollywood Babylon, and playing up a pulpy noir environment was a killer idea, we really had no clue how big of a hit it was going to turn out to be. And, it really looks like you guys were digging the first one, so I’m sure you just as excited as I am to see issue #2 hitting this Wednesday.

What is FIRST WAVE? First Wave is a 6 issue limited series that’s setting up a brand new DC Universe sandbox for creators to play in. It’s basically resurrecting classic pulp fiction characters like Doc Savage, the Shadow, and the Avenger, and giving them the same kind of high quality 21st century storytelling and artwork that’s become the standard of quality today. In other words, it’s an Elseworld, where instead of Gotham City, Batman operates in a ’40s-era Hollywood which is way too lawless, and way too decadent. There are NO superpowered beings in this world, and Doc Savage is about as high as it goes in terms of super-powered individuals. Everything is very grounded in reality. So, while you might see characters like Batman, the Blackhawks, or even Green Arrow, you’re not going to see Superman, or Wonder Woman. The series focuses heavily on Doc Savage and Batman, but manages to include the Spirit as well to nice effect.

“100 Bullets” and “JOKER” writer Brian Azzarello really delivers a world that feels fleshed out, and fully realized. It’s dripping in gritty pulp and noir trappings, and Morales’s artwork does a fantastic job of pulling you into this tense, mysterious pulp world Azzarello is crafting. The first issue did a fantastic job of setting up the world of FIRST WAVE, and now, we really cannot wait to see where things’ll be going next in the second issue this week as Doc Savage is pursuing the Blackhawks, the Blackhawks are pursuing The Spirit, and Rima the Jungle Girl, the eyes of the jungle, is the only one who knows something none of these heroes do… something dangerous, and glorious has risen, and the world at large is not ready for it.

If you haven’t yet checked out First Wave, don’t worry, we’ve still got plenty of FIRST WAVE #1 and the BATMAN / DOC SAVAGE one-shot that sets up FIRST WAVE in stock to get you caught up.

Dive in, and find out why this is one of the coolest new limited series to hit the stands.

Click here to read a preview of FIRST WAVE #2

WARREN ELLIS (IGNITION CITY, SUPERGOD, CAPTAIN SWING, PLANETARY) and KAARE ANDREWS (SPIDER-MAN: REIGN) LAUNCH A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE X-MEN INASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #1 THIS WEDNESDAY!

After reading the advance copy of this last night, I am a lot more excited for it than I was before. Not to say that I wasn’t looking forward to the book. I mean, I really enjoy what Ellis has been crafting with ASTONISHING X-MEN. But, you know, I wasn’t expecting something as fresh, and as exciting as this. Now, you’re probably wondering what the difference is between this and the current ASTONISHING X-MEN run.

This new limited series ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS, is a six-issue mini-series that falls in line with the same mentality that last week’s ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN / WOLVERINE did. In other words, it’s a kick-ass limited series featuring the characters you know, and you love, doing the things you want to see them do. And while it’s in continuity, it’s not tied in tightly, so you can pick up on issue #1 of this bad boy, and just simply enjoy it without having to worry about going back to get the back story on anything. All you need to know is who the X-Men are, and you’re good. Now, does it connect to ASTONISHING X-MEN currently running? It’s the same team, and does reference a thing or two, but it’s mostly a brand new story arc. The regular ASTONISHING X-MEN ongoing will continue, albeit on a much slower schedule than ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS due to artist delays.

Now, why did I dig ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS so much? Well, it was just plain good. I mean, it feels really fresh, and Kaare Andrews is a perfect fit art-wise for Warren Ellis’s storytelling. See, I’m a firm believer that a good writer needs a good artist, but most importantly, writers need artists that work with their style, just like artists need writers that work with their style. I really didn’t care for how Bianchi’s art meshed with Ellis on GHOST BOXES, and I felt like that affected how much I enjoyed the story. And while Jiminez is damn talented, again, it just doesn’t capture that feel of Ellis’s writing like I feel it should. Don’t get me wrong both GHOST BOXES, and the Ellis/Jiminez stuff is great, but after reading the first issue of XENOGENESIS with Ellis/Kaare… dude… it’s perfect. Kaare Andrews art is very reminiscent of Frank Quitely in some regards, and just like Quitely captures Morrison’s mad genius, Kaare does the same thing with Ellis’s mad science fiction insanity. The writing is sharp, and the characterization of the team is some of the best I’ve seen in a bit. I’ve gotta tell you, there’s some really cool moments, and Storm especially stands out as a strong lead character in this. The characterization of Emma is also pretty fun, and entertaining as well.

AND, this one is action-packed like a mofo. Ellis starts things right off with explosions, chaos, and mad science that gets you rolling on a roller-coaster ride of X-Fun. All in all, Astonishing X-Men: XENOGENESIS is a great start for the series, and I can’t stress how much I enjoyed the artwork, even the coloring on it works perfectly. It’s one of those rare occasions where you see many different factors (art, story, coloring, inking) come together to make one nice, and super enjoyable package. If you want a good self-contained X-Men story with a bit of weirdness, and that trademark Ellis mad science attached… pick up a copy of ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #1 this Wednesday.

Click here for a preview of ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #1

HEROIC AGE: BLACK WIDOW #2 FOLLOWS UP THE FIRST KILLER ISSUE OF THIS NEW “HEROIC AGE” ONGOING SERIES FEATURING EVERYONE’S FAVORITE SUPER-SPY!

I was really impressed by the first issue of the new BLACK WIDOW ongoing series. I don’t know if it’s ’cause I’m jazzed on this whole HEROIC AGE thing Marvel’s doing, or maybe it was really that good, but I really dug it. There’s a great sense of espionage-fueled storytelling going on here, and enough balance of Marvel Universe classics (Wolverine, Iron Man) to keep the book rooted in the overall Marvel U. But yeah, they did a really great job, and I’m pumped to see where the book goes with issue #2. I think a big part of why I enjoyed it so much too was Marjorie Lieu’s writing and Daniel Acuna’s artwork fit together perfectly and delivered a really solid read.

This first arc is pretty straight-forward.. someone wants Natasha dead, and they’ve come pretty damn close to getting exactly what they want. Now, she’s got to hunt down her would-be killer, and find out what her friends Daredevil, Wolverine and Iron Man are keeping from her about her killer’s identity.

This one kicked off with a great start, and kind of embodies that fun, swashbuckling feel you want out of the HEROIC AGE books. But, there’s also a very gritty, and dark espionage super-spy underworld kinda vibe to the book as well. When you put the two together, you get a pretty good read, so if you missed BLACK WIDOW #1, we’ve still got limited quantities of the first printing of #1 in stock, so check it out!

Click here for a preview of BLACK WIDOW #2 *HEROIC AGE*

EX MACHINA VOLUME 9 RING OUT THE OLD TRADE PAPERBACK HITS THIRD EYE THIS WEDNESDAY! BRIAN K. VAUGHN’S (writer of Y: THE LAST MAN) EPIC “ROCKETEER” MEETS “THE WEST WING” CONTINUES!

There are certain series that we just feel read fantastic in trade paperback format, and it’s always a cause for celebration when a new slab of goodness comes out for them. Ex Machina is one of those series. Written by BRIAN K VAUGHN (the man behind RUNAWAYS and Y THE LAST MAN), Ex Machina is a fantastic series that explores the world of Mitchell Hundred, a man given a superhuman ability to talk to machinery. And, with that ability, Mitchell becomes the world’s first real-deal SUPERHERO, the Great Machine. But, when Mitchell can only save one of the World Trade towers from falling on 9/11, he realizes that he’s doing no good as The Great Machine, goes public with his identity and runs for Mayor of New York… and wins.

From there, you get Ex Machina, a fascinating and extremely well-written series that manages to create a perfect mix of policital drama and grounded superheroics into one damn good comic. If you haven’t read it, you gotta try it, and if you have read it, then we know you’re already eagerly awaiting the next volume!

X-MEN SECOND COMING: NEW MUTANTS #13 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 7*CONTINUES THE BEST X-MEN STORYLINE IN TEN YEARS! NOT READING “SECOND COMING”? WE’VE GOT ALL THE CHAPTERS WELL-STOCKED, SO HOP ABOARD WITH THE X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER ONE AND FIND OUT WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT!

Dude, it’s no secret that the X-MEN: SECOND COMING storyline is one of the things we’re super jazzed about here at Third Eye. Marvel has managed to once again make the X-Men cool again, and is delivering us one of the biggest, and boldest X-Men crossovers we’ve seen in decades. I mean, THIS is how the X-Men should be. Tons of action, all the characters you enjoy, and just plain exciting through and through. And, folks, this series has been a roller-coaster. It’s been long enough now where most of you are aware of what happened in X-FORCE #26, and lets face it: if Nightcrawler (one of our own personal favorite X-Men) isn’t safe from Death’s shadow in this one, then no one is.

And, now, this week, after the tear-jerking funeral in UNCANNY X-MEN #524, things continue to heat up as Cyclops tries to keep the X-Men held together. There’s divides forming regarding Hope, and how much is worth sacrificing for her survival. And, Bastion’s spy continues to terrorize Marvel’s Merry Mutants in their own home.

If you haven’t been reading X-MEN: SECOND COMING, and want to jump on.. we’ve currently got ALL the chapters well-stocked here at Third Eye to get you caught up. Just click here for our handy OFFICIAL THIRD EYE X-MEN SECOND COMING CHECKLIST, and that’ll tell you what you need!

Click here for a preview of NEW MUTANTS #13 *X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 7*

BRIGHTEST DAY: TITANS: VILLAINS FOR HIRE SPECIAL #1 – DEATHSTROKE ASSEMBLES A TEAM OF “DARK TITANS” IN THIS SPECIAL BRIGHTEST DAY ONE-SHOT!

Man, I’m impressed, so far all of the BRIGHTEST DAY books that’re coming out or have come out have all been ones I’m excited about. There hasn’t been one where I’ve been kinda like “meh” on, and if you told me that I was going to be excited about a Titans one-shot this time last year, I would’ve said you are out of your mind. But, it’s true, I’m pretty freakin’ pumped about this one-shot setting up this corner of the DCU. Know why? Well, the obvious answer is I’m a total Deathstroke fanboy. But, there’s more to it than that.

With the TITANS: VILLAINS FOR HIRE one-shot, it looks like the Titans are going to get a little more interesting than they’ve been in recent memory. And, how’re they doing that, well in the midst of all these resurrections, and BRIGHTEST DAY craziness, Deathstroke has decided to form his own Titans team. So far, what we know is that Cheshire (the evil assassin), the Tattooed Man, and the rest are still under speculation at this time. Now, Deathstroke is one of the coolest friggin’ characters in the DCU, so seeing him get the spotlight here is a big deal. But, with this one-shot, we’re going to see Deathstroke taking on a new role as leader, and the big question I think many people have is:

Why is Deathstroke forming his own Titans team? Well, all we do know is their first mission: Assassinate the Atom!

And, that is one of the many reasons why we’re pumped to see what’s in store with this one on Wednesday.

Click here to read more about TITANS: VILLAINS FOR HIRE SPECIAL #1 *BRIGHTEST DAY*

SAM & TWITCH: WRITER #1 – A KILLER-LOOKING NEW CRIME NOIR LIMITED SERIES FROM IMAGE COMICS!

Here’s another new one that looks pretty rad. Now, ignore the fact that this one is featuring characters originally debuting in Todd McFarlane’s SPAWN universe. The Sam and Twitch duo have a long history of quality, self-contained crime noir stories that have little to nothing to do at all with SPAWN, and are much more grounded in a gritty, hyper-realistic crime noir setting. I fondly remember being really into the Sam and Twitch stories from a few years back, and I think that’s a big part of why I’m pumped for this one.. PLUS, it just sounds cool!

A hardboiled crime tale set in the boroughs of NYC, this one takes us to the dead of winter, a snowstorm looming, and a routine homicide investigation suddenly gets a literary twist. A suspected drug dealer has been found dead and naked, with what seems to be parts of a story written all over his body. And, now, the grizzled duo of Sam and Twitch are on the trail of the killer.

If you’re into the darker SE7EN-esque crime noir stuff, definitely give this one a look this Wednesday at Third Eye!

STAFF PICKS

Steve -  BATMAN AND ROBIN #12 *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE PROLOGUE PT 3* = All I can say is: WOW. The last two pages of this comic have just turned Batman and Robin from an incredible run into an unforgettable one. I cannot wait for RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE!

Trish – DEMO #4 = I love how each one of these has a different feel, and tone to it. Brian Wood owns srsly.

Torma – ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN AND WOLVERINE #1 = DEVIL DINOSAUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously though, this one is great, and reminds you of those old school team-ups from the ’80s before team-up books became cheap filler minis. Awesome art, awesome story! Must read!

Matt – BRIGHTEST DAY #1 = Holy crap. I’ve never cared about Aquaman before, but he has just went up the list of characters that I think are awesome by a few dozen notches. What a great issue!

]]> http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/2010/05/10/this-weeks-highlights-third-eye-for-wednesday-51210/feed/ 0 http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/2010/05/03/whats-new-third-eye-for-wednesday-5510/ http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/2010/05/03/whats-new-third-eye-for-wednesday-5510/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 15:13:03 +0000 thirdeye http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/?p=393 WHAT’S NEW @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 5/5/10

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!

• 28 DAYS LATER #10
• MARVEL’S GREATEST COMICS ALIAS #1 *FREE THIS WEDNESDAY AT THIRD EYE!*
• ALTER EGO #93
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #630
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #630 QUINONES VILLAIN VARIANT
• AMAZON HC
• ANGEL BARBARY COAST #2
• ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN / WOLVERINE #1 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY – JASON AARON / KUBERT AWESOMENESS!*
• ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK FOUR #4
• AUTHORITY #22
• AVENGERS I AM AN AVENGER TP
• AVENGERS ORIGIN #2
• AVENGERS ORIGIN #2 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
• AVENGERS THOR CAPTAIN AMERICA OFFICIAL INDEX #1
• BATMAN AND ROBIN #12 *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE PROLOGUE PT 3* THIRD EYE MUST BUY
• BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #44
• BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM TP
• BLACK BUTLER TP v.1
• THE BOYS #42
• BRIGHTEST DAY #1 *FREE WHITE LANTERN RING WITH PURCHASE* THIRD EYE MUST BUY
• BUCK ROGERS #11
• BUCK ROGERS HC v.1 FUTURE SHOCK
• BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #35
• CABLE TP v.3 STRANDED
• CAPTAIN AMERICA BLACK PANTHER FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS #2
• CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #49
• CODEBREAKERS #2
• COMPLETE ALICE IN WONDERLAND #4
• CONAN HC v.8 BLACK COLOSSUS
• CTRL+ALT+DEL TP v.3 MUFFINS
• D GRAY MAN GN v.17
• DARK TOWER TP GUNSLINGER BORN
• DARK X-MEN PREMIERE HC
• DARKSTALKERS NIGHT WARRIORS #2
• DEADPOOL CORPS #2
• DEADPOOL TP v.3 X MARKS THE SPOT
• DEMO v.2 #4 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL*
• DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL v.36
• DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS OMNIBUS TPB v.1
• DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 3 #3
• DONG XOAI VIETNAM 1965 HC
• DOOM PATROL #10
• ELECTRIC ANT #2
• ELEPHANTMEN TP v.3 DANGEROUS LIASIONS
• GRIMM FAIRY TALES INFERNO #1 CVR A
• GRIMM FAIRY TALES INFERNO #1 CVR B
• GRIMM FAIRY TALES INFERNO #1 INCENTIVE VARIANT
• GI JOE ORIGINS #15
• GI JOE ORIGINS #15 VARIANT
• GLAMOURPUSS #13
• GOD OF WAR #1 2ND PRINT
• GOLD DIGGER #117
• GREAT TEN #7
• HALO BLOOD LINE #5
• HELLBOY IN MEXICO DRUNKEN BLUR ONE-SHOT
• HIKARU NO GO TP v.19
• HORRORHOUND #23
• HOUSE OF MYSTERY #25
• HOWARD CHAYKIN’S BLACK KISS HC
• INCORRUPTIBLE v.1 TP *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL* THIRD EYE MUST BUY
• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN TP v.3 WORLDS MOST WANTED BOOK 2
• INVINCIBLE RETURNS #1 2ND PRINT
• IRON MAN 2 PUBLIC IDENTITY #2
• IRON MAN ARMOR WARS II TP
• IRREDEEMABLE #13
• IRREDEEMABLE #13 VARIANT
• IZOMBIE #1 *NEW VERTIGO SERIES, ONLY $1.00, AND IT’S AWESOME!* THIRD EYE MUST BUY
• IZOMBIE #1 VARIANT
• JONAH HEX #1 *FREE THIS WEDNESDAY AT THIRD EYE*
• JONAH HEX #55
• JONAH HEX WELCOME TO PARADISE TPB
• JSA ALL-STARS #6
• JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA SECOND COMING TP
• KILLER MODUS VIVENDI #1
• KING CITY #8
• KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #161
• LOONEY TUNES #186
• MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS TP v.3 ELECTRIC ALLEGORIES
• MANY LOVES OF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1
• MARVEL ZOMBIES 5 #2
• MUPPET KING ARTHUR #4
• MUPPET SHOW #5
• NEMESIS THE IMPOSTORS #3
• NOLA TP v.1
• ONE PIECE TP v.44
• ONE PIECE TP v.45
• ONE PIECE TP v.46
• ONE PIECE TP v.47
• ONE PIECE TP v.48
• ORC STAIN #3
• PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #141
• PILOT SEASON STEALTH #1
• PRIDE PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES GN
• PROJECT SUPERPOWERS MEET THE BAD GUYS TP
• REALM OF KINGS SON OF HULK #4 *REALM OF KINGS*
• RED ROBIN #12
• RED SONJA WRATH OF THE GODS #4
• SECRET SIX #21
• SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL v.37
• SHIELD #1 2ND PRINT
• SHONEN JUMP JUNE 2010
• SPARTA USA #3
• SPAWN #197
• SPECTACULAR SPIDER-GIRL #1
• SPIDER-MAN FEVER #2
• SPIKE AFTER THE FALL TP v.1
• STAR TREK CAPTAINS LOG HARRIMAN #1
• STEPHEN KING’S N #3
• SUPER F$$$$$S TP
• SUPERMAN WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #1
• SUPERMAN WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #1 VARIANT
• SWEET TOOTH #9
• TALISMAN ROAD OF TRIALS HC
• THOR AND WARRIORS FOUR #2
• TRANSFORMERS NEFARIOUS #3
• TRANSMETROPOLITAN TP v.7 SPIDER’S THRASH NEW EDITION
• ULTIMATE COMICS NEW ULTIMATES #2
• UNCANNY X-MEN #524 *X-MEN SECOND COMING PT 6*
• UNCANNY X-MEN #524 FINCH VARIANT
• UNCANNY X-MEN #524 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
• VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #8
• VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #8 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
• WALKING DEAD HC v.5
• WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #706
• WARLORD #14
• WE WILL BURY YOU #3
• WE WILL BURY YOU #3 VARIANT
• WHISPERER DOUBLE NOVEL v.3
• WIZARD MAGAZINE #225
• X-MEN HELLBOUND #1 *X-MEN SECOND COMING TIE-IN*
• X-MEN SECOND COMING #1 2ND PRINT
• ZORRO HC v.2 CLASHING BLADES
• ZORRO MATANZAS #4

The Third Eye Subscription Service!

Can’t make it to the shop every week? Lose track of the books you’re following from time to time? Join the Third Eye Army, and Sign Up For our FREE Subscription Service! Register on our website by going here. Or, if you’d prefer, you can email us directly @thirdeyecomics@gmail.com, and we can get you set up that way as well.

]]> http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/2010/04/19/this-weeks-highlights-third-eye-for-wednesday-42110/feed/ 0 http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/2010/04/12/this-weeks-highlights-third-eye-for-wednesday-41410/ http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/2010/04/12/this-weeks-highlights-third-eye-for-wednesday-41410/#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:00:13 +0000 thirdeye http://thirdeyecomics.com/main/?p=379 THE BLACKEST NIGHT HAS ENDED, AND NOW THE BRIGHTEST DAY BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY WITH BRIGHTEST DAY #0. THE MUST-READ DCU SERIES OF THE SUMMER STARTS HERE FROM BLACKEST NIGHT, AND ALL-AROUND AWESOME WRITER GUY… GEOFF JOHNS! GET A FREE GREEN RING WITH PURCHASE OF BRIGHTEST DAY #0!
Looking for a good spot to try the DCU? Start here!
THIRD EYE MUST BUY

Here it is, folks, one of the biggest series to hit this Summer begins on Wednesday: BRIGHTEST DAY. In the aftermath of the larger than life epic, BLACKEST NIGHT, Geoff Johns and DC Comics are following up with BRIGHTEST DAY. Now of course, it goes without saying, if you read BLACKEST NIGHT, then you’re already set and stoked for the BRIGHTEST DAY. That’s a given. But, even for those of you who may have not followed BLACKEST NIGHT, we still recommend jumping on with this new series, as this is going to be Ground Zero for the new direction of the DCU. And, the fact that Geoff Johns is the man who’s spear-heading this new direction has got us ten different kinds of stoked to see where things will be going. Why? ‘Cause Johns is quite possibly one of the top five comic book writers working today, and his work especially with the DCU is some of the best stuff we’ve ever seen in regards to DC Comics.

I guess before I lay anymore praise on Geoff Johns, Blackest Night, or what’s to come with BRIGHTEST DAY, I should give you guys the run-down on the series, as well as where it’s coming from.

BRIGHTEST DAY IN A NUTSHELL?Brightest Day is a limited series that follows immediately after the events of BLACKEST NIGHT. It will be a bi-weekly limited series, and the book is being written by GEOFF JOHNS (the main man behind the core BLACKEST NIGHT series, as well as GREEN LANTERN, SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN, and FLASH). The majority of the art chores on Brightest Day will be handled by BLACKEST NIGHT series artist, IVAN REIS. So, right there, we’ve got a great start: Killer writer, killer artist. Okay, next.

The actual story behind what BRIGHTEST DAY is about is pretty intense. Simply put, it’s ground zero for the DCU. New stories begin for characters, old stories are wrapped up, and a whole new landscape will unfold for the DC Universe as a whole. If you’ve been on the fence about jumping into the DCU with all the buzz surrounding BLACKEST NIGHT, then now is your chance to come aboard, because BRIGHTEST DAY serves as a great place to come on.

In addition, I don’t think this even needs to be said, but for those of you who’ve been following BLACKEST NIGHT, this series is a must-read. The epic conclusion to BLACKEST NIGHT left us all wanting more, and also left us with many questions. Brightest Day is about giving us the answers to those questions.

So, in a nutshell: BRIGHTEST DAY = The complete rebuilding of the DCU in the wake of BLACKEST NIGHT.This is DCU Rebirth.

A More In-Depth Look At Brightest Day: Blackest Night, the eight-issue maxiseries that consumed the DC Universe throughout 2009 was probably the best comics event we’ve read here at Third Eye in a very long time. Fantastic writing, a natural progression of the story, and an ending that MADE SENSE! For those of you who’re not familiar with BLACKEST NIGHT, click hereto read the Wikipedia entry on BLACKEST NIGHT. I’d love to explain it all here, but that’d be way too much to get into. All you need to know: Awesome story. Zombie Lanterns. Tons of dead DC characters. Awesome.

Anyways, Brightest Day is the next logical progression for what Geoff Johns had played out through the course of BLACKEST NIGHT. It’s basically DCU Rebirth, as DC President, Dan Didio has gone on record as saying. Brightest Day is essentially the next step in repositioning a lot of characters in the DC Universe and pushing them to the next level. A lot of the main characters in Blackest Night that we saw developed, will continue to be developed in BRIGHTEST DAY. The cast of BRIGHTEST DAY will be large, and from the sounds of it, it sounds like it’ll be similar to 52 in how it develops characters throughout. The whole concept behind Brightest Day is that it’s an extension of the end result of Blackest Night and where Blackest Night will take the DC Universe. And, in the aftermath of BLACKEST NIGHT, BRIGHTEST DAY serves as the anchor book to the whole Brightest Day storyline that will be touching the DCU. We’re going to see a lot of exciting things happening here, and it really feels like this Wednesday is a bold, new day for the DC Universe, in terms of the direction of their stories and characters. Plus, there’s so much from Blackest Night that still needs to be explored, and so many tidbits were dropped in #8…. we really cannot wait to read this one.

And, in addition to all the coolness of Brightest Day, you even get a free Green Lantern ring when you pick it up this week at Third Eye! Supplies are limited!

Click hereto read more about BRIGHTEST DAY #0

Click hereto view the official checklist for BRIGHTEST DAY.

FLASH #1 DEBUTS THIS WEDNESDAY! GET A FREE FLASH RING WHEN YOU PICK UP THE FIRST ISSUE OF GEOFF JOHNS’S NEW ONGOING FLASH SERIES!
THIRD EYE MUST BUY

Geoff Johns must not sleep, seriously. The man is delivering book after awesome book to us on a monthly basis, and it’s amazing he has ANY time to do anything but write comics. But, this, Third Eye Faithful, is a good thing. Why? ‘Cause Geoff Johns is one of the best writers working today, and he’s been making the DCU a fun, and interesting place again.

Anyways, hot off the tails of FLASH: REBIRTH, the brand new ongoing Flash series begins this Wednesday. And, folks, I have to tell you, I’m so excited to see Johns do with the Flash what he did with Green Lantern many years ago. I don’t know if some of you guys remember or not, but it was a very similar situation when Geoff Johns relaunched Green Lantern as an ongoing series. He’d just finished Rebirth which had done a solid job of “fixing” a lot of what had gone wrong with the character, but the Green Lantern was still a long way’s from being the powerhouse fan-favorite that he is today. And, then Johns launched the GL ongoing series, and it’s quick rise to prominence as a DC fan-favorite has been steadily growing ever since. We’re thinking Johns will be seeing lightning strike twice with his new run on the Flash.

Another reason why we’re so pumped for this? Johns is no stranger to writing the Flash, and while his past runs on the character were nearly five or six years ago, before he’d become the superstar talent he is today, those runs still stand tall as some of the best Flash stories I’ve ever read. Johns gets that the Flash’s Rogues and Supporting cast are just as important as the Flash character himself, and that’s what really made Johns’s Flash run stand out. The development of the Rogues especially grabbed me back then, and ever since, Captain Cold has been one of my favorite DCU villains.

This new run on the Flash is another perfect opportunity for readers new to the character to hop aboard, and find out how awesome the world of the Flash can be. It’s a fresh start after the events of FLASH: REBIRTH, where a lot of the mess that was the Flash’s continuity was resolved. And, now, from what Johns has said, he has big plans for the Flash, and intends to be on this series for a very long time. He’s going to be playing up the detective nature of the Fastest Man Alive, but at the same time keeping the breakneck frenetic feel that you’d expect from a Flash comic. Superhero CSI, seems to be a good way of putting it, ya know? Of course, what I’m most excited about is seeing the involvement of the Flash rogues, and some of the deadlier ones. There’s a killer image of Abra Kadabra in the Flash Secret Files, and I’m so stoked to see more of those characters.

Now, I know some of you may be saying “Well, this sounds awesome, but I’ve never read the Flash before… can I jump into this fresh?” YES. In the words of Geoff Johns, all you need to know when picking up Flash #1 is how to read. And you’re good. How do you like that for a fresh start? :)

Click hereto read an interview with Geoff Johns about his new Flash run!

IRON MAN LEGACY #1 KICKS OFF A NEW IRON MAN ONGOING SERIES TO RUN ALONGSIDE THE ALREADY INCREDIBLE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN!

Matt Fraction’s INVINCIBLE IRON MAN has been one of the best Marvel books I’ve been following, so when I heard the news about a second Iron Man ongoing series being introduced, I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical. I mean, how much Iron Man could I handle? But, I have to say, folks, I just got done reading the advance copy of IRON MAN LEGACY #1, and it’s really good. It feels like it’s the same caliber of quality as INVINCIBLE IRON MAN by Fraction, but, with a different style applied to it.

From the start of the book to finish, it serves as an accessible self-contained read that introduces you to the world of Iron Man, his current place in the Marvel Universe post-Stark Disassembled, and then… ends with a VERY cool surprise twist. Big, bold, superhero awesomeness through and through. While it takes a few pages for the book to get rolling, once it hits it’s stride, it’s a damn good read.

If you’ve been wanting to get into the Armored Avenger, and have been waiting for the proper jumping on point, then wait no more, ’cause IRON MAN LEGACY is the perfect place to hop aboard with IRON MAN. A good read, and a fresh start, and of course, if you’re already reading INVINCIBLE IRON MAN by Fraction, then this is a nice addition to your already awesome fix of the ol’ shellhead.

Click herefor a preview of IRON MAN LEGACY #1

SIEGE TRIPLE THREAT THIS WEDNESDAY WITH SIEGE CAPTAIN AMERICA ONE-SHOT,SIEGE LOKI ONE-SHOT, and SIEGE YOUNG AVENGERS ONE-SHOT! THREE CRUCIAL ONE-SHOTS LEADING DIRECTLY INTO SIEGE #4

Three excellent SIEGE one-shots will be hitting this Wednesday, and all three are great reads. I just finished reading through the advances Marvel sent us, and they’re looking very cool. First off, we’ve got SIEGE: LOKI, which is done by the creative team behind the sensational sleeper hit, PHONOGRAM, Gillen & McElvie, and the two of them work very well together on this one-shot. It’s a very cool look into Loki’s behind the scenes machinations, and gets to the core of the great trickster. A must-read for any Thor fan, and especially those of you following SIEGE. If you want to watch how Loki has built his armies, beyond his alliance with Osborn. It’s a good read, and there’s a surprising appearance by a BIG TIME mystical Marvel bad guy that we feel may have something to do with the Sentry. This one-shot leads directly into SIEGE #4.

Next up is SIEGE: CAPTAIN AMERICAby ABSOLUTION writer Christos Gage, and this one also delivers very nicely. It’s set immediately after the events of SIEGE #3, where Asgard crumbled to dust because of the Sentry, and it picks up very solidly from that point to tell a killer story of just how Steve Rogers Cap and Bucky Cap are handling this whole mess. This story was a really cool way of exploring the dynamic that exists between two men both operating as Captain America. It’s very cool to read one of those stories where you’re reminded why Steve Rogers embodies the character of Captain America so perfectly. I REALLY enjoyed this one. A nice solid one-shot story that gives you a good Cap story which fits nicely into the events of SIEGE.

And, then, finally, we get to see what the YOUNG AVENGERS role in all this is with SIEGE: YOUNG AVENGERS. This one also takes place immediately after the events of SIEGE #3, but before SIEGE #4, and shows a very cool look at one of our favorite Marvel teams and what’s going on with them in the wake of SIEGE. The Young Avengers are trapped in the midst of a giant tomb that once was Asgard, and that’s when the Wrecking Crew gets involved. Who doesn’t love the Wrecking Crew? A very cool dose of YOUNG AVENGERS for those of us who miss their series still!

THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #1 by WARREN ELLIS (CAPTAIN SWING, Ignition City, SUPERGOD, Planetary, Transmetropolitan, ect ect) and AVATAR PRESS DELIVERS THE MOST VIOLENT, IN-YOUR-FACE BARBARIAN COMIC BOOK YOU’LL EVER READ THIS WEDNESDAY!
BEFORE HISTORY WAS RECORDED IN INK AND STONE, SOME MEN WROTE IT IN BLOOD!

It’s pretty obvious that we can’t get enough of comics writer, WARREN ELLIS, here at Third Eye. The man delivers some of the best-written books on the stands, and never, ever fails to disappoint. So, when you take the talents of WARREN ELLIS and then mix it with a good ol fashioned hack and slash Conan-esque Barbarian tale… you know you’re in store for a real treat.

The Wolfskin story is a six-issue limited series that promises to deliver all the glorious blood, guts, and high concept ideas you’ve come to expect from Ellis, but this time, in an all-new setting for the writer: the world of barbarian fantasy. Working alongside IGNITION CITY artist Gianluca Pagliarana, Ellis brings us the tale of a man who’s wandered the earth young and terrifying. He’s wandered from the boreal climes of his former home among the Northish tribes to the bustling seaports of the southern fjords, neither escaping his past nor embracing his future. But, the nomadic berserker warrior named Wolfskin is about to learn that his past and future are going to collide. He’s slaughtered his own tribesmen in the throes of an uncontrollable bloodrage, and to redeem himself, he’s accepted a position as a guide and hired swordsman on a rescue quest to the volcanic, High Northish ice plains. A beautiful blend of brutal, bone-crunching barbarian madness and big idea sci-fi awesomeness, make sure you check out WOLFSKIN this Wednesday!

GARTH ENNIS’S (writer of PREACHER & THE BOYS) CROSSED TRADE PAPERBACK ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! THE ENTIRE SERIES COLLECTED HERE! FIND OUT WHY THIS IS THE MOST DISTURBING, SICKEST SURVIVAL HORROR STORY YOU’LL EVER READ!

This one is a big one a lot of you guys have been waiting for, and we’re happy to say it’s FINALLY here. 9 issues of the most disturbing survival horror madness you’ll read, you’ll be cringing for days to come. Seriously though, I’m pretty de-sensitized to most things, but after that ending spread on the first issue of Crossed, even I was like WOAH.

But, that’s not all there is to CROSSED, Garth Ennis, proves again why he’s such a talented writer, because he’s able to balance the bizarre gross-out moments and depravity with a very suspenseful, well-paced story that’s got a very well-developed cast of characters. And, when one of them gets it… you feel it just a little bit more, because he does such a damn good job of developing them over the course of the story.

What is CROSSED all about? CROSSED is a survival horror story in the truest sense. The plot is simple enough, basically, a disease breaks out that turns the infected into pure evil, and the Cross-shaped rash on their faces is where the term CROSSED comes from. Now, make no mistake, these are not zombies. These are living, breathing human beings who’ve had their moral compasses completely shattered, and been reduced to their most primal, and most sadistic impulses. All those things that exist in the corners of their brain have taken over their entire thought process, and as such, they just want to kill, and destroy. The disease is spread through a variety of ways. The thing that makes the CROSSED so damn dangerous, (and what makes the series so entertaining) is that they still have their human brains in tact so they can plot, plan, fly planes, drive cars, use guns, create strategies. So, imagine a swarm of zombies that figured out if they caused a fire on the house where the survivors were holed up, the survivors would come running out to their deaths. This is the CROSSED.

All in all, this was one of the best indies we saw last year, and it just proves that Avatar is becoming a major player in terms of putting out some fresh, innovative stuff. Snag a copy of the CROSSED trade paperback this Wednesday, and find out what the fuss is all about. We guarantee you’ll fall in love with it, and be disgusted by it, all at the same time.

MARVEL’S FIRST HEROIC AGE TITLE LAUNCHES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH THE BRAND NEW BLACK WIDOW ONGOING SERIES! CHECK OUT DANIEL ACUNA’S INCREDIBLE ART ON THIS ONE!

Marvel kicks off their new HEROIC AGE direction this Wednesday, and the first book of the bunch to carry the HEROIC AGE banner is the new BLACK WIDOW ongoing series. I’m personally very excited about this book for a couple of reasons. The first being that everything I’ve heard and read about Marvel’s HEROIC AGE direction sounds incredible. Basically, imagine the kind of high-action, bigger-than-life, quality storytelling you get in books like INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, THOR, SECRET WARRIORS, and most recently, the currently running SIEGE event. Now, apply that kind of formula to the rest of the Marvel Universe, giving things a very cool cohesiveness. I’m pretty stoked about it.

After reading the advance copy, I’ve gotta say, I really like it. Acuna’s art has never looked better, and really gives the espionage-heavy story a cool modern-day Steranko-esque kind of flair. Very cool stuff. Without dropping any spoilers, I’ll say that this one looks pretty promising, and there’s some pretty cool twists in the book that have got me hooked for the second issue. The book itself provides a nice fresh, jumping on point for the character. So, even if you’ve never read a Black Widow comic before i your life, you can pick up on this one and not be lost. I really like the strong spy feel to the book, and I think it’s a niche that the Marvel U could stand to be filled now that Spiderwoman has ended.

The story starts off pretty straight-forward as we’re introduced to some of Widow’s supporting cast, but then it throws us head first into the shady, spy underworld of the Marvel Universe. It’s no secret that both Wolverine and Iron Man play a role, but trust us, the characterization of the Widow in this is what really makes the book shine.

Click hereto check out a preview of BLACK WIDOW #1

AMERICAN VAMPIRE CO-WRITER SCOTT SNYDER BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO MARVEL NOIR WITH IRON MAN NOIR THIS WEDNESDAY!

This is probably the first Marvel Noir book I’ve been really excited about since the original titles launched over a year ago. The fact that newcomer Scott Snyder is writing it, and gave us a cool insight to what he plans on doing with it, is probably a big part of that. But, I think the biggest reason why I’m pumped for IRON MAN NOIR is that it’s a whole fresh new approach for the whole concept of the Marvel Noir storylines.

The Marvel Noir stuff is basically alternate timelines set in the ’30s and ’40s that take a gritty, pulpy crime-noir approach to existing Marvel characters. Some of the stories have been very good, and others have been kinda crappy, but all in all, the concept is pretty neat. Iron Man Noir looks to be a killer addition to the line, because it approaches the whole Marvel Noir concept from a brand new perspective: gritty, pulp science fiction. A dark story set against the backdrop of a society that’s dreaming of a World of Tomorrow. Giant robots, crazy machinery, evil Nazis, the whole nine yards… it’s a classic pulp hero story in the truest sense.

The story? It’s 1938, and Tony Stark, daring adventurer, is traveling the world in search of it’s mythological treasures. From the Fountain of Youth to the hanging Gardens of Babylon, Tony’s seen them all. But, it’s all a cover for him to find a cure for the disease that’s killing him… could a suit of iron and gears be his only hope?

Click herefor a preview of IRON MAN NOIR #1

THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: KILL SHAKESPEARE #1 – FABLES MEETS MURDER MYSTERY… THE CREATIONS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ARE TRYING TO KILL HIM!

Here’s one that piqued my interest while browsing the previews of new books on the horizon. This all-new IDW series kind of channels a FABLES meets Murder Mystery feel, and it reads very nicely. A 12 issue series where Shakespeare’s creations are literally coming to life, and some of his boldest heroes are going to have to go head to head with some of hist most notorious villains, this one sounds too damn cool.

The story centers around Hamlet, who out of a desire to resurrect his dead father, must go on a quest to kill a reclusive wizard named .. William Shakespeare! Much like the spirit of stories like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Fables, Kill Shakespeare puts a very cool new school, edgy feel to Shakespeare’s work.

Give this one a peek this Wednesday, I have a feeling it’s gonna be a pretty cool series. A must for fans of FABLES, UNWRITTEN, and STUFF OF LEGEND, I think this one’s going to be pretty rad. And I’m probably the most Shakespeare-illiterate person you’ll ever meet. :)

Click hereto check out the trailer for KILL SHAKESPEARE #1

X-MEN SECOND COMING CHAPTER 3: NEW MUTANTS #12 CONTINUES THE BEST DAMN X-MEN STORYLINE WE’VE SEEN IN AGES!

X-MEN SECOND COMING, two chapters in, and it’s already becoming one of my favorite X-Men storylines in a long time. In fact, this crossover is becoming one of my favorite books to look forward to every week. It’s been so long since the X-Books have been good, and this crossover has got me so hooked.

The storyline is based around the return of Hope and Cable to the present, for those of you who don’t know, Hope is the first and last mutant baby that’s been born since the events of House of M and M-Day. The story that unfolded in Messiah Complex brought Hope into the picture, and now, with her being seen as the messiah for the Mutant race, and half the universe out to kill her, the X-Men have to protect her. On the other side of things, all of the X-Mens old anti-mutant bad guys have formed The Human League, and their mission: Kill Hope. Bolliver Trask, Cameron Hodge, Bastion and William Stryker. All grouped together to track down and kill the mutant messiah.

Right from the first chapter in X-MEN SECOND COMING one-shot, this series kicks things into high gear. The best part of the crossover so far? The importance and identity that’s been given to each of the different X-Teams. First off, Cyclops puts together an ALPHA team composed of the likes of Nightcrawler, Colossus, Psylocke, Wolverine, X-23, Magik, and more. These are the characters we actually care about, and it’s so awesome to see them put to the foreground of the story. Secondly, in the first chapter, the motivations for the ancillary teams, like the New Mutants and X-Force is defined right off the bat. And, hell, it’s got us pumped now to see where the New Mutants stand during all of this.

Want to jump onto X-MEN SECOND COMING? We still have plenty of Chapter One and Chapter Two in stock to get you caught up.

Click herefor a preview of NEW MUTANTS #12 *X-MEN SECOND COMING PT 3*
Click herefor the official Third Eye X-MEN SECOND COMING CHECKLIST

STRAIGHT FROM THE PAGES OF FIRST WAVE, THE GREAT PULP HERO RETURNS…DOC SAVAGE #1 BEGINS NEW ONGOING DOC SAVAGE SERIES THIS WEDNESDAY!

If there’s one thing we love here at Third Eye, it’s the old pulp heroes. I’ve got a stack of classic paperback pulp novels on my bookshelves at home where the adventures of characters like Doc Savage and the Shadow practically reached out and grabbed you from those dusty old pages. And, with the DC Pulp Revival going on, big thanks in part to Brian Azzarello’s FIRST WAVE, it looks like the classic Man of Bronze is getting his own ongoing series.

Yup, this Wednesday, Doc Savage returns, and the series kicks off with the Man of Bronze being the target of a brazen attack on New York City. And, hold up, more pulp awesomeness comes in these pages as well, as you get as pecial back-up story featuring JUSTICE, INC… Richard Benson, the Avenger!

With Crime Novelist Jason Starr (most recently known for his Vertigo Crime graphic novel THE CHILL) handling the writing chores on this one, it looks like it’ll be a gritty, pulpy and awesome revival of one of the most classic pulp heroes of our time.

Click hereto read more about DOC SAVAGE #1

THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: AVATAR PRESS (publishers of CROSSED, IGNITION CITY, CAPTAIN SWING, SUPERGOD, ect) PRESENT GEORGE R.R. MARTIN’S FEVRE DREAM!

The fine folks at Avatar Press have delivered killer series after killer series for the last few years, and it looks like they’re really outdoing themselves this time, as they bring in New York Times best-selling author, GEORGE R.R MARTIN (writer of the A Song of Fire and Ice novels). This one looks to be a blood-drenched, sinister tale of vampire clans, death and debauchery, legendary bloodmasters, and even a handful of epic steamboat races on the muddy Mississippi.

In FEVRE DREAM, Martin takes us into a story of power, loss, and the fever of bloodlust. It’s 1857, and Abner Marsh is a remarkably ugly man, but the best steamboat man on the river. When the sickly Joshua approaches him with a business deal that could provide enough money to build the boat of his dreams, it seems to be too good to be true. But there’s something mysterious about Joshua, and well, I think you guys know where this one is heading.

A true, gruesome modern American gothic vampire tale from the same publisher that brought us the twisted tales of CROSSED, and SUPERGOD, as well as the high-concept fantasy of IGNITION CITY.

IRREDEEMABLE SPECIAL #1 ONE-SHOT DELIVERS AN ALL-NEW STAND-ALONE ISSUE THAT TIES UP MAJOR PLOT POINTS, AND DROPS ALL NEW CLUES AS TO THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF MARK WAID’S INCREDIBLE “SUPERMAN GONE EVIL” EPIC!

If you’re not reading Irredeemable yet, then you need to have your head examined, ’cause this book is one of the best, most compelling looks at superheroes on the stands today. Between the events of IRREDEEMABLE and INCORRUPTIBLE, Mark Waid has been doing a fantastic job of developing a fully-realized, compelling superhero universe.

The story behind IRREDEEMABLE? In a nutshell, it’s Superman gone Evil. What happens when the world’s most powerful hero gets fed up with the world itself, and decides to destroy every inch of it. But, it’s the fact that Waid himself is such a huge Superman fan, that makes the book so good. He knows the things that make the character tick, and applies those to Plutonian (his Superman stand-in) with IRREDEEMABLE.

This Wednesday, the first year of IRREDEEMABLE wraps up with this very cool stand-alone one-shot where we see a never-before-seen glimpse at the Plutonian’s heroic beginnings, as well as insights into his former team-mates, like Paradigm. Many secrets will be revealed here, many clues as to the future of IRREDEEMABLE will be given, and this thing is gonna be awesome from start to finish.

Got your curiosity piqued? Pick up the first IRREDEEMABLE trade paperback here at Third Eye for only $9.99, and find out WHY we love this series so damn much.

Click herefor a preview of IRREDEEMABLE SPECIAL #1


GREEN ARROW #32 - THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GREEN ARROW CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY!

The revival of GREEN ARROW as a major part of the DC Universe has been one of the best things we’ve seen happening this Spring, and with a new Green Arrow series launching later this summer during BRIGHTEST DAY, we are really digging where this story is going. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Ollie back up in the spotlight where he belongs, and the RISE AND FALL storyline has definitely taken the Emerald Archer back to his gritty roots.

This Wednesday, the RISE AND FALL OF GREEN ARROW continues as the ramifications of CRY FOR JUSTICE’S conclusion continue to be explored. In GREEN ARROW #32 this week, it looks like we’re going to see how the Justice League deals with the nature of the Green Arrow’s handling of Prometheus.

Want to get caught up on RISE AND FALL? We’ve got all the previous chapters of the series in stock now.

Click herefor the official GREEN ARROW: RISE AND FALL Checklist

DARK HORSE COMICS DEBUTS A BIG, AND BOLD TALE OF BATTLE-MECHS, FUTURE POLICE, AND MORE THIS WEDNESDAY IN HELLCYON #1

We know that there’s a lot of you out there who’re suckers for a good mech-story, and this week, Dark Horse is kicking off a new limited series that’s filled with giant battle-mechs, high-tech motorcycle races, and all the crazy Mech-Warrior/WH40K-style awesomeness you know and love.

To be honest, we’re not too familiar with the creative team on this one, but still, GIANT ROBOTS fighting GIANT ROBOTS is total win in our book.

“HATE” CREATOR PETER BAGGE’S OTHER LIVESVERTIGO – AN AWESOME SLICE OF LIFE CRIME NOIR FEATURING THE LIVES OF WORLD OF WARCRAFT & SECOND LIFE PLAYERS!

Last week, I talked to you guys about how one of my all-time favorite comics was the ’90s indie hit, HATE. And, now, this Wednesday, comes a new Vertigo Original Graphic Novel, from the artist and writer of HATE, PETER BAGGE. I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this a few months ago, and I was hooked. It kept me up until 1AM, reading from start to finish. Bagge’s command of characters, emotions, and just his overall skill of storytelling is fantastic.

The story, OTHER LIVES, is a dark comedy / crime noir that centers around the way people reinvent their identities, with and without the help of virtual reality and the Internet. So, basically, you see the way one of the characters re-invents himself and distances himself from his low self-esteem teenage years, the way two of the other characters escape their own mundane lives with things like SECOND LIFE, and then the giant mess that evolves from all of this as they all betray each other, and go behind each other’s backs. And of course, there’s a very cool subplot about illegal activities, hence the crime noir angle.

I read this one over the winter, and it really is a good story. It’s one of those ones that just creeps up on you, and pulls you in by how well the characters are written. The way they interact with each other, and the dialogue, in true Bagge fashion, just sucks you in, and then when you’re deep into just the simple conversations of these characters, he throws a plot twist that turns you on your head.

All in all, this is a big must-read, and I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys a humorous, well-told and well put together storyline. Plus, it’s PETER BAGGE, and anytime he cranks out something new, it’s a cause for celebration.

Click here to read more about PETER BAGGE’S OTHER LIVES.

WANT A GOOD COMIC FOR YOUR KIDS? CHECK OUT THE NEW MARVEL SUPER HEROES THIS WEEK WITH SUPER HEROES #1

One of the questions I get asked a lot is “Steve, what’s a good comic for my kid to read? You know, something that’s not too over-the-top crazy, or wrapped up in current events, but is also cool.” Well, folks, I’ve been waiting for this one to come out, because it’s the perfect book to get your kids get into comics. Marvel has relaunched their Marvel Adventures line, restarting them at #1, and giving them a new direction and new approach. This line is the perfect way for you to introduce your son or daughter, little brother or sister, nephew or niece to the Marvel Universe. It’s self-contained, totally all ages content, and has action-packed stories featuring the Marvel characters kids want to see.

Click hereto check out a preview of MARVEL SUPER HEROES #1

SAMUEL L. JACKSON WRITES COMICS!? CHECK OUT COLDSPACE #1, WRITTEN BY SAMUEL L. JACKSON, IN BIGGER THAN LIFE BOUNTY-HUNTING HARDBOILED SCI-FI NOIR!

It’s no secret that Samuel L. Jackson is a huge comic book fan. In fact, he’s a devoted follower to the Church of Wednesday, and grabs his comics every Wednesday at his local shop, from what we’ve heard. And, normally, when a celebrity decides he’s going to take a crack at writing comics, we’re a little skeptical, because to be honest… nine times out of ten, they just attach their names to the book, and throw it out there. However, with the new BOOM! (publishers of IRREDEEMABLE) series COLDSPACE, it looks like that’s not the case. Sam Jackson and Eric Calderon (the writer/producer on Afro Samurai) will be handling the writing chores on COLDSPACE.

COLDSPACE is a very cool, hardboiled crime noir story set in the far reaches of deep space. A real sci-fi crime noir that features an on-the-run outlaw who crash-lands on a hostile planet that’s about to burst into civil war. He finds himself in the crossfire between two warring factions, but in the chaos, he sees the opportunity to make money off of the war.

From the previews we’ve seen, this one looks to be a pretty killer Sci-Fi tale, and we can’t wait to give it a read this week. It doesn’t hurt that we’re all big Samuel L. Jackson fans here at Third Eye, and with BOOM!’s track record for innovative, fresh new series, this one looks like it could be a great read.

Click herefor a preview of COLDSPACE #1

GREEN HORNET YEAR ONE #2 CONTINUES MATT WAGNER’S PULPY FLASHBACK COMPANION SERIES TO KEVIN SMITH’S GREEN HORNET RELAUNCH!

The Dynamite relaunch of GREEN HORNET has been really delivering big-time. In fact, we’re actually surprised how good both of the books launched from it have been so far. The one that really took us by surprise though was Matt Wagner (Grendel, Mage, ect) and Aaron Campbell’s GREEN HORNET: YEAR ONE series. Wagner definitely GETS the character of GREEN HORNET, and in the first issue, he provides a very cool pulpy tale that has a modern day edge to it.

The first issue of the series was a great read, and definitely channels the style of storytelling he dished out in books like SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATER. In the YEAR ONE series, Matt Wagner takes the reins of the first Green Hornet, Britt Reid, and sets the story during the 1930s, when the Green Hornet radio program first aired. The first issue had a fantastic old pulpy style to it, and the pacing was on point. It seems like this first story arc seems to be a straight-forward Origin of the Green Hornet, but the artwork on it really gives it an edge. I know the first issue was so good that I’m pumped to read this second issue quick on Wednesday.

This week, in GREEN HORNET YEAR ONE #2, Wagner continues to explore the earliest adventures of the Green Hornet and Kato.

If you’re looking to hop aboard, we still have plenty of GREEN HORNET YEAR ONE #1 to get you caught up.

THE LIGHT #1 FROM IMAGE COMICS DELIVERS A CREEPY, NEW SURVIVAL HORROR STORY!

Here’s another new one that looked pretty cool from the solicits. A brand new survival horror story from the folks at Image Comics, from the writer of OLYMPUS and the artist on Surrogates, comes this crepy sounding new 5-issue limited series.

The story behind THE LIGHT is basically about a mysterious virus that infects anyone who looks into an electric light. The few survivors who’re on the run include a father escaping town with his blindfolded daughter as the infected burn alive from the inside out. It’s a vicious looking tale of survival that’s in the vein of 28 DAYS LATER meets 30 DAYS OF NIGHT. Focusing on a terror that we can all relate to, and the broken protagonists doing their best to overcome the absolute despair of the situation, this one sounds like the perfect match for the survival horror genre.

PUNISHERMAX #6 BEGINS A NEW STORY ARC IN SCALPED WRITER JASON AARON’S KILLER PUNISHER MAX RUN… ENTER: MAX BULLSEYE! A GREAT JUMPING ON POINT!

PunisherMAX has been fantastic since Jason Aaron relaunched it. It’s probably the best the series has been since Garth Ennis’s incredible epic run. This Wednesday a brand new story arc begins, introducing the MAX equivalent of Bullseye, and it looks like it should be killer. If you’ve been on the fence about trying this one, then this week’s issue #6 is a great opportunity to hop aboard.

Aaron’s PUNISHER run has been just as brutal, and unrelenting as Ennis’s run. His take on the Kingpin in the confines of the MAX world was disturbing as hell, and definitely gave us a whole new perspective on the classic oversized bad guy. We cannot wait to see what he does with Bullseye.

If you were a fan of Ennis’s PUNISHERMAX, or enjoy stuff like THE BOYS, then you should really be reading the current run of PUNISHERMAX.

Click hereto check out a preview of PUNISHERMAX #6

SAVAGE AXE OF ARES ONE-SHOT HARKENS BACK TO THE OLD DAYS OF THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN BLACK AND WHITE MAGAZINE-SIZE COMICS!

In the spirit of the pulpy, black and white Savage Sword of Conan magazine-size comics of yesteryear, Marvel is doing a pretty killer looking one-shot this Wednesday spotlighting Ares.

In this special anthology one-shot, we see Ares, the greatest warrior the world’s ever known, who’s lived for thousands of years, wandering the earth and waging war on his enemies. And, this one shows just how brutal the God of War has been throughout his days and time. It looks like each of the different stories spotlight the God of War and his role in different time-periods, and it looks pretty damn killer.

Click hereto check out a preview of SAVAGE AXE OF ARES #1

STAFF PICKS

Steve -  BATMAN AND ROBIN #11 *RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE PROLOGUE PT 2* = Batman and Robin continues to be one of the best comics coming out, and this issue was my favorite so far. The whole element of seediness that’s applied to parts of the Wayne family tree make this very compelling, and all the clues and development that’s going to be so crucial once RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE starts, has been great.

Trish – THE BOYS #41 = The Boys kind of reminds me of WALKING DEAD, where there’ll be slow parts, and then all of the sudden the series becomes my favorite thing to read again every month

Torma – UNCANNY X-MEN #523 *X-MEN SECOND COMING PT 2* = BEST. X-MEN. STORY. EVER.. or at least in the last few years!

Matt – INVINCIBLE RETURNS 1= Invincibles like my favorite book, and it’s awesome to see a nice spot for people to jump onboard. Definitely cannot wait for the Viltrumite War.