SECRET AVENGERS #2 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* – THE SECOND ISSUE OF THE KILLER NEW SHADOW-OPS AVENGERS BOOK HITS THIS WEEK! MISSED #1? NO SWEAT, WE’VE STILL GOT LIMITED QUANTITIES IN STOCK TO CATCH YOU UP!

THE SECRET AVENGERS… GO TO MARS!?
Well, this week, after the cliffhanger ending of issue #1, we get to see just what the hell Nick Fury is up to, and if he really has indeed flipped his lid and completely gone rogue, as that’s how it really looked at the very end of SECRET AVENGERS #1. On top of all that, there is one simple cool factor about this week’s issue of SECRET AVENGERS: they’re on freakin’ Mars! It looks like the insidious Roxxon corporation has set up shop on Mars, and Rogers and his strike force are set to find out just what the link is between Roxxon’s digs on mars and the mysterious shadow group they’ve encountered on Earth.

But, it’s MARS! And, that means that we’re probably going to see some true blue over-the-top Marvel madness taking place, as Brubaker manages to blend genres effortlessly, fusing pulpy sci-fi awesomeness with Marvel super-hero action.

WHAT IS SECRET AVENGERS? Secret Avengers is one of the four new ongoing AVENGERS books that are carrying the Heroic Age banner. The team is a group of unlikely candidates brought together by Steve Rogers to be his shadow ops roster that handles the kind of missions that the regular AVENGERS team cannot get their hands dirty with. One of the big intents of the team is to covertly clean up many of the messes left behind by the Osborn administration. The unique roster of the team has been chosen so that Rogers can carry out surgical strikes in any given circumstance.

The book itself is surrounded in espionage plots, and carries a heavy Steranko influence, and all the crazy Kirby-esque technology of yesteryear brought into the modern day.

After reading the first issue, the book has a fresh and unique feel that makes it stand out amongst many other superhero team books on the stands these days.

The SECRET AVENGERS line-up is:
BEAST
WAR MACHINE
VALKYRIE
MOON KNIGHT
STEVE ROGERS
NOVA
BLACK WIDOW
SHARON CARTER
IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN

If you missed issue #1 of SECRET AVENGERS, we’ve still got limited quantities of the 1st prints in stock, so snag a copy this week and grab issue #2 to get you caught up. This book comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and we think that if you’re a Marvel fan, or an Avengers fan, you won’t be disappointed.

Click here for a preview of SECRET AVENGERS #2

BATMAN BEYOND #1*THIRD EYE MUST BUY* – TERRY MCGINNIS RETURNS IN THIS NEW 6 ISSUE LIMITED SERIES ON WEDNESDAY!

Who doesn’t LOVE the Batman Beyond series? This short-lived animated series did some of the best Elseworlds-style storytelling we’d ever seen, and when DC first brought back the character in BATMAN #700 and SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #4, we were pretty stoked to see his return. But, now, this Wednesday, we’re going to get the real deal, with an official BATMAN BEYOND mini-series kicking off this Wednesday!

This series, being written by Adam Beechen, who you might recognize as the writer of the always fun and awesome BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD cartoons, is taking things into a much darker direction for McGinnis and the world of BATMAN BEYOND. Terry McGinnis, the Batman of the future, and an elderly Bruce Wayne are the sworn protectors of Neo-Gotham. Now, someone is targeting the Dark Knight’s old foes, and the new Batman has to take on a case that’s digging deep into the roots of Bruce Wayne’s past, and puts McGinnis in grave danger.

This one is a perfect fresh start, and the official return for the Batman Beyond franchise, and from what DC says, if it does well enough, we might even see a Batman Beyond ongoing series… how freakin’ cool is that?

Not familiar with BATMAN BEYOND? You can click here to read the official Wikipedia entry on the series, and get the full rundown on it!

Click here to read more about BATMAN BEYOND #1

DEATH OF DRACULA #1 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* ONE-SHOT KICKS OFF EVENTS THAT WILL BE AFFECTING THE MARVEL UNIVERSE IN BIG WAYS FOR 2010! DO NOT MISS THIS ONE, NOT ONLY DOES IT LOOK GREAT, BUT IT WILL BE A KEY POINT FOR UPCOMING MARVEL STORYLINES!

When Marvel first announced plans to center their next big storylines around the “Marvel Vampires”, I was a little reluctant about how it was going to be. But, the more that I’ve read, and the more that I saw, I found myself becoming more and more enamored with the idea of a big badass storyline that kind of brings a cohesive element to the scattered vampire mythos that run through the Marvel Universe.

And, then.. I read the preview Marvel released for the one-shot that kicks off everything, DEATH OF DRACULA #1, and I was sold. The artwork is freakin’ sublime, and the story reads well, but at it’s core: it simply looks cool. That’s all there is to it.

In addition, I’ve always been a sucker for the Marvel Dracula stories that’ve drifted in and out of comics, ranging from the old school Gene Colan TOMB OF DRACULA awesomeness to his more recent appearances in other books. I just thought the idea of this immense, mythical character having a role and place in the Marvel Universe was pretty rad.

But, at it’s core, it all comes back to one thing: this is going to be cool. And, with the DEATH OF DRACULA one-shot, you’re getting a chance to not only jump in with a very killer read, but also you’re getting what is going to be a KEY point for Marvel Universe events coming down the line in 2010. We already can see what’s going to be happening with the upcoming X-MEN: CURSE OF THE MUTANTS storyline (which looks SICK!), and there was a brief mention of the DEATH OF DRACULA in AVENGERS #2… but this one is where you can get in at the ground zero of some really cool storylines kicking off.

So, what’s the concept of this whole Marvel Universe vs. the Vampires storyline? Well, first, before we go on, put your hate of TWILIGHT aside, because these are NOT those kinds of vampires. In fact, one of the most interesting things about this upcoming storyline is how the Marvel Universe has so many different KINDS of vampires. Marvel has been going on record since the buzz on this one began talking about how this is a book you should NOT miss when it hits. And, folks, I agree with them, after reading the book, it does a fantastic job of setting up for what’s to come. There’s also the fact that this one is probably going to go out of print very fast, so you’re gonna want to get a copy before they sell out. And, while you know we always do a great job of keeping what you need in stock here at Third Eye, sometimes a book really hits like lightning in a bottle.

Anyways, the Death of Dracula, according to Victor Gischler (writer) and Axel Alonso (editor), is not the end, but the beginning. This one-shot explains and organizes the immense scattering of vampires throughout the Marvel universe for use in upcoming storylines. I mean, there’s Atlantean vampires, there’s traditional supernatural vampires, there’s the science-based vampires like Morbius.. where do they all fit? Well, that’s what this one-shot does. Basically, it begins with Dracula’s son, Xarsus, brutally killing his father, and going through a bloody, ultra-violent storyline of deception, and a whole lotta dead vampires, to become Lord of the Vampires and unify the entire Marvel Vampire-verse. And of course, this leads into things like the vampires mobilizing and going after characters like the X-Men, or other corners of the Marvel Universe.

Story and art-wise, the book is top notch, with IGNITION CITY artist Giuseppe Cammuncoli giving Dracula a new look, and really playing up the Vlad the Impaler-esque appearance. There’s a real sense of hierarchy given to the world of the vampires here, and between the Atlantis vampires, the Nosferatu, ect… they’ve really done a great job of making everything a lot more cohesive, modern, and hip.

Where is this headed? As part of the Heroic Age, we’re going to see the now unified vampire nation going to war with the Marvel Universe, and their first stop is with the X-Men, and that’s what leads into the whole Curse of the Mutants storyline that’ll be following X-MEN SECOND COMING!

Click here to read the preview of DEATH OF DRACULA #1 ONE-SHOT

TURF #2 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*, the NEXT BIG BREAKOUT HIT from IMAGE COMICS continues this WEDNESDAY! PROHIBITION-ERA GANGSTERS! VAMPIRES! SPACE ALIENS! RAYGUNS AND SHOTGUN SHELLS! WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?

IMAGE continues to impress us with their commitment to putting out high quality, creator-owned books. What started with books like INVINCIBLE and WALKING DEAD and then continued with series like CHEW and COWBOY NINJA VIKING is continuing to push ahead in series like TURF. We couldn’t be more stoked about this one, to be perfectly honest, after really digging on the first issue. While the first issue was pretty wordy, we’ve seen some advance pages of issue #2, and it’s much more getting into the action now that the initial set up of the world of TURF has been done.

What is TURF? Okay, ever wonder what New York City in 1929 would be like if you mixed prohibition-era gangsters and vampires? And, then lets just say that these two feuding gangs had a spaceship dropped into the middle of them. Taking place in the winter of 1929, UK television personality Jonathan Ross (he’s kinda like their Jon Stewart over there), delivers a well-told tale of a New York City that’s populated with a broad cast of characters; ranging from a newspaper writer looking to break out from her society column to the vampire family who have a more exotic thirst than some cheap whisky’ll satisfy. Mafia dons, speakeasies playing jazz, nasty characters on the take, and a corrupt system that preys on the weak.

Oh, and there’s a spaceship too, which makes this whole thing so crazy that it works perfectly. Ross proves himself to be a fantastic storyteller in the first issue, and the world of TURF is fully realized by Tommy Lee Edwards, dark and gritty. At first glance, it looks wordy, but it never interferes with the artwork or the flow of the story. It’s a little more labor-intensive to read, but hey, that’s a nice change of pace in the modern state of decompressed storytelling. Ross really does a fantastic job of making you hear the narrative in your head as the story develops, and the characters shape up into a very charismatic cast by the end of the first issue.

Plus… it’s vampires fighting gangsters… with alien technology thrown into the mix. How can you NOT love this? :)

Miss issue #1? Don’t worry, we’ve still got some in stock to get you caught up!

Click here for a preview of TURF #2

BRIGHTEST DAY DELIVERS BIG THIS WEEK!
GREEN LANTERN #55 *BRIGHTEST DAY* THIRD EYE MUST BUY – GEOFF JOHNS CONTINUES TO MAKE GREEN LANTERN A TOP OF THE STACK MUST-READ THIS WEEK WITH GL #55!

If you jumped off of GREEN LANTERN when BLACKEST NIGHT ended, you are seriously missing out on one of the best superhero comic books on the stands. The stories have gotten EVEN BETTER since the finale of BLACKEST NIGHT, and we’re so stoked on the directions that one of our favorite writers, GEOFF JOHNS, continues to take these characters. In addition, the fact that Johns has been on the book for 55 issues IN A ROW! is a testament in and of itself to the consistency and quality of this series.

In the aftermath of BLACKEST NIGHT, we’ve seen some very interesting happenings going on in the pages of GREEN LANTERN, with clandestine meetings between Atrocitus and Guy Gardner, as well as tensions building between the “New Guardians”, and especially between Sinestro and Hal.

In last month’s GREEN LANTERN #54, we saw the cult-favorite Red Lantern kitty, Dex-Starr get his due with Johns hitting some perfect comedic timing, and a new character designed from Doug Mahnke. Balance this out with some total badassery being performed by Atrocitus, and some more cool Larfleeze stuff, and #54 did a great job of expanding upon the exploits of the “New Guardians.”

Now, this month, it looks like the role of Atrocitus in the book continues to increase (and hopefully some more Dex-Starr too!), as it looks like Atrocitus is going to be toe-to-toe with the Main Man himself, LOBO.

And, is that Hector Hammond we see joining the new Guardians? At least that’s what DC is hinting at.

As per usual, folks, GREEN LANTERN #55 is a must-read, and comes highly recommended. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better superhero book on the stands, as this one stands head and shoulders with all the top books we’re reading right now.

Click here to read more about GREEN LANTERN #55 *BRIGHTEST DAY*

Click here for the BRIGHTEST DAY Checklist – We’ll be posting the Checklist Part 2 soon, which covers the next few months

FLASH #3 *BRIGHTEST DAY* THIRD EYE MUST BUY – GEOFF JOHNS’S NEXT BREAKOUT HIT SERIES CONTINUES AS THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE HAS NEVER BEEN COOLER THAN HE IS NOW!

Geoff Johns is the man that does not sleep, he’s been knocking it out of the park month after month with multiple great series, and one of his biggest recent hits has been the new ongoing FLASH series with the recently returned Barry Allen.

Over the course of the last two issues, Johns has effortlessly re-introduced the character of the Flash to readers without letting it slow his story down. He’s gotten a lot of us (including myself) who were bigger Wally fans than we were Barry fans into the character of Barry, and he’s done it while managing to tell a compelling, and exciting story. Half of the appeal of the new Flash book is the “quick” way it reads. Not quick in the traditional sense, like, man that was a fast read, but just in terms of how smooth, and fun it is, that you’re through an issue before you know it. And, trust me, it’s not a drawback, ’cause you know exactly what I’m talking about. When you’re REALLY enjoying a book, and in thick with it, it goes by way too quick.

Combine the excellent job Johns is doing on the writing chores of the Flash with Francis Manapul’s amazing artwork, and you get one hell of a great book. The energy in it practically crackles, and jumps off the page, and the artwork brings the world of Flash and his rogues to life.

The overall feel of the book is very SUPERHERO CSI, playing up Barry’s background as a police scientist, and mixing it with his role as the Flash, and as a whole, this makes for a very compelling read. The first story arc has centered around the Death of the Dastardly Rogues storyline, and with the first two issues, already feels like it’s going to be a very big storyline. The first story arc has the Rogues from the future, who’re.. in a strange twist, law enforcement, coming back to the past to get Barry on a murder charge that he’ll commit in the future. It’s an interesting idea, but it works surprisingly well.

All in all, the new Flash series has been a top notch read, and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down any time soon. It’s a great mix of true blue Geoff Johns DC Comics awesomeness with a cool mystery/crime-solving angle like something you might see in Detective Comics.

If you’ve missed the first two issues, don’t worry, ’cause we still have copies of issue #1 and issue #2 in stock to get you caught up!

Click here for a preview of THE FLASH #3 *BRIGHTEST DAY*

Click here for the official Third Eye BRIGHTEST DAY checklist, the Checklist Pt 2 will be coming soon!

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #46 *BRIGHTEST DAY* – THE JLA/JSA CROSSOVER BEGINS HERE!

Brightest Day has really brought new life to a lot of things, no pun intended, and one of those things has been the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. While the book began to get pretty rad when Robinson first brought in his new line-up, it’s definitely had a hard time finding it’s niche until recently. Now, with the BRIGHTEST DAY kicking things into full swing, JLA is rockin’.

Beginning this Wednesday, there’s going to be an all-new 5-part JLA/JSA crossover between the two titles. There’s a long tradition of JLA/JSA crossovers, and we can’t think of one we didn’t enjoy at least to some degree. But, this newest one looks like it could be one of the better times that the JLA and JSA have crossed paths.

So, what’s the scoop? Well, the return of one hero has caused the release of the powerful Starheart that empowers Green Lantern Alan Scott. Now, this chaotic force has been unleashed on Earth, causing magic to go wild, and bringing about all sorts of new metahumans. And, because of this, the Justice League and the Justice Society must combine efforts to battle the dark power wielded by one of their own.

Click here for a preview of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #46


WARREN ELLIS’S CAPTAIN SWING & the ELECTRIC PIRATES of CINDERY ISLAND #2 ARRIVES DELIVERING UP SOME MORE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED STEAMPUNK JACK THE RIPPER MADNESS!

AWESOME! The second issue of Ellis’s killer new AVATAR (publishers of CROSSED, IGNITION CITY, ect) series CAPTAIN SWING hits this week, and we could not be more pumped. The first issue of this series hooked us with it’s fantastica approach to the era of Jack the Ripper, and we’ve been waiting ever since for the second issue to arrive.

What is CAPTAIN SWING & the ELECTRIC PIRATES OF CINDERY ISLAND? The story starts out with two competing police forces, one that would become the police that people know in the UK, and the other, the Bow Street Runners, made up of former thief-takers and overseen by the magistrates. The former are a bit of a joke, it’s officers not given weapons, and the standards are low. The latter are armed, professional, and possibly, VERY CORRUPT! The first issue shows the conflict between these two as it all comes to center around a mysterious individual by the name of Captain Swing, who one of the Bow Street Runners has been tasked with capturing, and the other police force happen to encounter, thinking he’s Jack the Ripper.

Of course, Swing’s got some crazy electric-based weapons and a flying boat, so the police don’t really stand a chance.

The book is freakin’ awesome, and the artwork of Raulo Caceres (cover artist for DOKTOR SLEEPLESS) brings a level of detail to the world of 1830 London that helps immerse you into the story perfectly.

Of course, the star of the show here is the intense, steampunky trappings of the story, and we freakin’ can’t get enough of it. The first issue set us up, and now we’re getting the second, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

If you missed issue #1 of CAPTAIN SWING, don’t worry, we’ve got limited quantities in stock to get you caught up.

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN ANNUAL #1 - MATT FRACTION & SALVADOR LAROCCA RE-INTRODUCE THE MANDARIN BACK INTO THE IRON MAN UNIVERSE, SETTING UP FOR WHAT WILL BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST IRON MAN STORIES EVER!

So many good reads this week! I’m totally stoked about this Annual issue for INVINCIBLE IRON MAN. I mean, nevermind the fact that it’s getting me a double-dose of some of the best superhero comic goodness on the stands this month, but, it’s a killer one-shot story that ties into the current run of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, and sets up for the highly anticipated Iron Man/Mandarin showdown that we’ve all been waiting for Fraction/Larocca to deliver.

So, what’s the scoop? Well, taking place in between the last issue of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #27, and the upcoming issue #28, this one-shot story by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca is basically their re-introduction of the Mandarin to us, and in what his role is in their run on INVINCIBLE IRON MAN. In other words, this is where we first see the Fraction/Larocca twist on Mandarin appearing, and the lead-up to the big Mandarin vs. Iron Man throwdown. We’re supposed to be getting an insight into his origin, as well as the origins of the alien weapon of unimaginable power that he wears upon each finger. And, this, this is where he begins his quest to kill Tony Stark, his most hated enemy.

You guys have already heard me gushing about how great INVINCIBLE IRON MAN has been for 27 issues, but I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again..if you’re NOT reading INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, then do yourself a favor, and pick up with issue #25, still in stock here at Third Eye. This is a perfect jumping on spot, and puts you onto the current story arc without having to catch up on the past 20-some issues.

Click here to read a preview of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN ANNUAL #1

WONDER WOMAN #600 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* – J.MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI BEGINS HIS RUN ON WONDER WOMAN THIS WEDNESDAY! PLUS, GEOFF JOHNS, GAIL SIMONE, GEORGE PEREZ, JOE MADUREIRA & PHIL JIMINEZ ALL COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE IN THIS LANDMARK ISSUE!

For such a classic, and iconic character, it’s been a very long time since we’ve seen a really killer must-read WW storyline.. but, that changes now, as critically acclaimed writer, J.MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI begins his highly anticipated run on DC’s favorite Amazon.

You guys remember JMS, right? He’s the guy that totally blew us away last week with the kick-off to his new SUPERMAN run, and he’s the dude who helped practically re-invent THOR in the recent THOR run, made the Squadron Supreme relevant again in SUPREME POWER, and completely changed how we view superhero comics with RISING STARS. In other words, J.MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI is kind of a big deal.

And, just like he’s got plans to do big things with Superman, he’s got plans to do big things with Wonder Woman. Beginning this week in the landmark 600th issue of WW, J.MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI kicks off his brand new WONDER WOMAN run with the official prelude to it beginning here!

In addition to that tidbit of awesomeness, we’ve also got high profile creators like Geoff Johns, Phil Jiminez, George Perez, Gail Simone, Joe Madureira, and more coming aboard to help Straczynski get this party started right.

Highly recommended, this one is a must-buy!

Click here to read more about WONDER WOMAN #600

ATTENTION SCOTT PILGRIM FANS! BACK IN PRINT: LOST AT SEA by SCOTT PILGRIM creator BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY!

Okay, back in print, and we couldn’t be more happier, we’ve got the release of SCOTT PILGRIM creator, BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY’S incredible LOST AT SEA. This one originally came out in 2003, and many of you who’re hooked on SCOTT PILGRIM, probably have not yet read it, ’cause it’s been in and out of print like crazy over the last few years.

Anyways, the scoop on LOST AT SEA is that it focuses on the coming-of-age story of shy 18-year old Raleigh who thinks she has no soul – cause a cat stole it from her – and who is now on a road trip across the United States with some kids from her school she barely knows. And, on the road trip, we see her visting her boyfriend in California back home to Vancouver with her friends Stephanie, Dave and Ian, some kids from her high school that she hardly knows and met in Cali when she accidentally missed her train. During the trip she thinks a lot about her boyfriend Stillman, who she met on the internet, and her belief that she has no friends because she has no soul, for her mother sold it to the devil (who gave it to a cat) when she was fourteen, in the summer her parents got divorced and her best friend moved away to Ottawa.

Lost at Sea is an INCREDIBLE bittersweet comedy/romance that delivers big time, and if you’re a fan of SCOTT PILGRIM, you’ll love it. The book is honest, and real, which is a strength in O’Malley’s writing. It walks a fine line between bizarre, silly and fun and sad, touching and insightful.

The blurb on the back cover of the book sums it up best: If you’ve ever been eighteen, or confused, or both, maybe you should read this book.

That’s pretty much all I can say about Lost at Sea.

It’s good, READ IT!

ACTION COMICS #890 *BLACKEST NIGHT AFTERMATH!* - SAY HELLO TO ORANGE LANTERN LEX LUTHOR! NEW STORY ARC, NEW DIRECTION, FOCUSING SOLELY ON LEX LUTHOR and his NEWFOUND ORANGE POWER RING!

Here’s another one that I’m very stoked to get my hands on this week and read. ACTION COMICS #890, debuts a brand new direction, and a brand new story arc that focuses solely on LEX LUTHOR, and of course, the recent plot development of him being an Orange Lantern.

See, during BLACKEST NIGHT, a lot of crazy, wild stuff happened, and one of those things was deputy Lanterns being sought out. And, of course, who else would the Orange Ring look to then the one, and only Lex Luthor? Now, DC is kicking off a run on ACTION COMICS that deals with the aftermath of Luthor’s dance with the Orange Power Ring, his connections to Larfleeze, and what he plans to do in the midst of all this BRIGHTEST DAY craziness. And of course, they’ve brought in the highly underrated and awesome Paul Cornell to handle the writing chores on this one, alongside the also highly underrated, yet extremely talented Pete Woods. Both of these guys have done cult favorite series for years, and we feel that this could be their big break, as they’re both VERY talented, but have not found their way onto a character this big before.

Me, personally? I’m just plain pumped because the things I’ve heard about where they’re going with this, and the fact that we get an entire comic devoted to that evil nogoodnik, Luthor, and his newfound Avarice Corps relation, is just plain awesome.

Click here to read a preview of ACTION COMICS #890 *NEW ARC, NEW JUMPING ON POINT, ORANGE LANTERN LUTHOR!!*

WORLD WAR Z writer MAX BROOKS continues to impress us this week with GI JOE: HEARTS AND MINDS #2!

I’m sure a lot of you guys are already familiar with the incredible zombie survival horror epics, WORLD WAR Z and the ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE, as we know they’ve really developed a huge fanbase over the last few years. And, if you’ve read those then you obviously already know that Max Brooks is one hell of a talented writer.

Well, Brooks totally blew us away last month with GI JOE HEARTS AND MINDS #1, his new limited series that delivers two stories per issue getting into the hearts, and character of those GI JOE characters we all remember so fondly.

In fact, the way that this one reads, it’s almost as if you took the whole old school concept of those little biography cards you’d clip out of the back of your Joes, and applied a dark, mature twist, and that’s what HEARTS AND MINDS kind of feels like.

In the first issue, he took us inside the heads of Major Bludd, showing us a man who watched as his father and his father’s father became obsolete to the world, laid off from their jobs, and living in poverty.. and vowing to never let that happen to him, which explains why he lives the mercenary life he does now. We also got inside the head of Spirit, and learned how his extra-sensory abilities do more harm in his life than good.

This week, it looks like Brooks will be exploring one of our favorite Cobra troops, FIREFLY, and the always awesome Doc from the GI Joe side of things.

Click here to read an article USA TODAY did on Brooks’s awesome trip into the world of GI JOE!

DEADPOOL WADE WILSONS WAR #2 – The Merc With A Mouth’s History Continues to Unravel in the BEST Deadpool book we’ve read in a while! Deadpool’s TRUE ORIGINS are revealed in this limited series!

There’s A LOTTA Deadpool out there these days, trust us, we know. But, guys, you gotta trust us when we tell you that Deadpool: Wade Wilson’s War is THE best Deadpool book we’ve read since the current ongoing series first started. The fact that the very talented Duane Swierczynski (Immortal Iron Fist, and a slew of killer crime novels), and the equally talented Jason Pearson are the creative team on this should speak volumes. These guys are good, simply put.

But, best of all, this is a return to focus, as this limited series is taking us deep into the roots of Deadpool’s origins, and showing us stuff we’ve never ever known about the Merc with a Mouth. Was it the clandestine military experiment that aimed to turn ordinary soldiers into super-heroes that made ‘Pool who he is? Was Wade Wilson a brave super-soldier fighting America’s secret wars, or just some pissed-off hick looking for payback?

Plus, we get to see all sorts of neat connections between Deadpool and characters like Domino, Bullseye, Silver Sable, and more.

If you missed issue #1, don’t worry, ’cause we still have limited quantities of the first issue still available to get you caught up.

Click here for a preview of DEADPOOL WADE WILSONS WAR #2

ABE SAPIEN: ABYSSAL PLAIN #1 – everyone’s favorite BPRD-sponsored FISH MAN returns this Wednesday!

It’s always a reason to celebrate when we get more Hellboy/BPRD-centric goodness from Mike Mignola and co., and this week, one of our favorites gets a return to form with the ABE SAPIEN: THE ABYSSAL PLAIN two-issue limited series.

This two-issue limited series shows us Abe on one of his first BPRD operations, leading a naval crew to recover an ancient relic from a sunken Soviet U-boat. What they uncover is a paranormal crime scene, with a tanker full of dead men and secrets that should’ve remained buried deep beneath the sea.

Click here for a preview of ABE SABIE THE ABYSSAL PLAIN #1

ROB ZOMBIE’S WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK #2 and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK #1 BACK IN STOCK THIS WEDNESDAY!

Rob Zombie’s new comic series, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK is a pretty big hit, and with the second issue arriving this Wednesday, we’ll have more of the first issue back in stock as well for those of you who may have missed it!

The scoop on WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK is this: you got this washed up, former Horror movie icon, who has fallen on hard times, and now amidst the Hollywood babylon, and is now trying to crawl his way back into some kind of realm of respectability. He goes from famed horror TV personality to a washed-up hasben, who’s vices, drugs and women, have done a serious piece of work on his life.

Of course, the comic has that trademark Rob Zombie flavor that’s predominant in his music, movies, and more, so if you’re a Zombie fan, you’ll love this one. Just remember this one is a bit more rooted in reality than some of his past work.

We’ll have plenty of issue #1 back in stock to get you caught up, so you can jump on with this week’s issue #2

STAFF PICKS

Steve -  AVENGERS #2 – Huge ending with a cliffhanger surprise on the last two pages that’s so big I still can’t drop spoilers on it. Highly recommended, one of the best Marvel books on the stands.

Trish – BEASTS OF BURDEN Hardcover= My favorite series of 2009 gets a SWEET SWEET hardcover collection!

Torma – BATMAN RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #3 = The ending to this one is almost as big as the ending to Avengers… AWESOME read all the way through, and I cannot wait for Wild West Batman next month!

Matt – AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #635 *GRIM HUNT PT 2* = Two weeks in a row and Spider-man is my pick of the week, that should tell you something! Grim Hunt OWNS seriously.

What is AVENGERS PRIME? Avengers: Prime is a 5-issue limited mini-series that takes place immediately after the events of SIEGE, but from the looks of it, before the events of AVENGERS and SECRET AVENGERS. This story looks like it’s the ultimate “Getting the Band Back Together” kind of tale, as we see the much anticipated reunion of Steve Rogers (Captain America), Iron Man, and Thor. Otherwise known as the Big 3 of the Marvel Universe, and the trio that embodies the word AVENGER.

Now, as many of you know, these three have had MAJOR differences with one another over the course of the last ten years. From the very start of CIVIL WAR, all the way up til recently, and even though they worked together in taking down Osborn during SIEGE… it doesn’t mean that everything is OK between these guys.

But, that’s where AVENGERS PRIME comes in… this mini-series shows us the Big 3 reuniting, and what’s led to the new direction of the AVENGERS in both AVENGERS and SECRET AVENGERS.

Now, besides all of that… it’s a freakin’ KICK-ASS read. Like, this one feels on the level of a big event book in how much action Bendis packed into it. And, Alan Davis, with Mark Farmer inking him, has never looked better. The story itself starts out with the three standing amidst the ruins of Asgard with Thor, asking him what they can do to assist in the rebuilding… and then, everything goes wrong. While I don’t want to drop spoilers, I will say that this one takes our Avengers Prime here into some very dangerous territory.

As far as how it read? It’s fantastic. I mean, if you were reading SIEGE, you should read this, as it feels like it picks up directly from where SIEGE ends. Even if you skipped SIEGE and you’re checking out all the new Heroic Age stuff, this one is worth a go. It’s just a great way to get up to speed with the three most important Marvel characters happening right now. And, we can’t help but acknowledge the perfect timing of this mini-series with the arrival of both Captain America and Thor movies in the near future to join the Armored Avenger.

So, final verdict? Action-packed, incredible artwork, and Bendis working at the top of his game to deliver a compelling read… AVENGERS PRIME #1 is most definitely a THIRD EYE MUST BUY this week!

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

BRIGHTEST DAY #3 - THE REBIRTH OF THE DC UNIVERSE CONTINUES THIS WEEK AT THIRD EYE, AND AFTER ISSUE #2… WE GOTTA SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

DC’s BRIGHTEST DAY has been one of the boldest, and most exciting new things we’ve seen in 2010, and so far, not one issue has failed to knock us off our feet. I’ll admit, we were wondering if Geoff Johns and crew could keep up the same momentum he was carrying with BLACKEST NIGHT in this bi-weekly series, but, dude, I think this one is going to turn out surpassing BLACKEST NIGHT in terms of how good it is.

BRIGHTEST DAY, otherwise known as DCU: REBIRTH, is the series focused on the events following last year’s mega-hit BLACKEST NIGHT series. Basically, it was revealed that there was a cosmic Lord of the Dead by the name of Nekron who had sparked up his own little Lantern Corps, and sent the Black Rings out into the galaxy, resurrecting nearly every dead DC Comics character you could think of. And, when they rose up, they were out with one mission: to rip out people’s hearts, and wreak havoc. And, it was awesome. Super awesome. In fact, if you haven’t read BLACKEST NIGHT yet.. you need to pop in the shop, and grab the series while we still all the issues in stock. ‘Cause it’s THAT good.

Anyways, when BLACKEST NIGHT ended, it was revealed that there, of course, was a White Lantern, and what did the White Lantern rings and power do? They brought life. And, now, a chosen few have been given second chances on Earth again, and just like in Pet Semetary, when Herman Munster uttered those creepy words… we’re learning that sometimes dead is better, and we’re loving it.

Basically, BRIGHTEST DAY is showing us that it’s not necessarily a GOOD thing that these characters have returned, and we’re seeing the impacts of it.

Now, at it’s core, BRIGHTEST DAY is also serving as the Rebirth of the DCU as a whole. In other words, you’ve been hearing about all the cool new stuff DC’s been doing, and how they’ve been stepping up their game on many of their titles, and you’ve been wondering where a good point was to jump in? Well, BRIGHTEST DAY is most definitely that. This is the complete rebuilding of the DC Universe from the ground up, and it’s a perfect place for those of you who haven’t followed the DC Universe in a while, or have been waiting for a killer storyline to kick off, to jump in with.

Anyways, the previous issue of BRIGHTEST DAY, BRIGHTEST DAY #2, was a fantastic read, and moreso than any issues in the series so far, this one really showed that BRIGHTEST DAY is worthy of it’s nickname, DCU REBIRTH. We watched as Johns and Tomasi tinker with the origins of many star players in a way that simultaneously reminds us what makes them unique, but also opens up many doors for new stories. And, then, we’re left with another killer cliffhanger ending, and you guys know about who I’m talking about… so I cannot wait to see what happens in issue #3 this week.

If you’re looking to jump onboard of BRIGHTEST DAY, we currently have plenty of issue #0, #1 and #2 in stock to get you caught up. So, feel free to check ‘em out this week at the shop! Plus, we have all the issues of all the other side-line stories that are fitting into this killer storyline stocked as well.

Click here for the official THIRD EYE BRIGHTEST DAY CHECKLIST

Click here to read more about BRIGHTEST DAY #3

SERENITY: FLOAT OUT ONE-SHOT *THIRD EYE MUST BUY* FROM JOSS WHEDON & COMEDIAN PATTON OSWALT GIVE FIREFLY FANS ANOTHER DOSE OF AWESOMENESS THIS THURSDAY @ THIRD EYE!

One of the best damn Sci-Fi universes created, Joss Whedon’s Firefly/Serenity world has had many of us enthralled for years, and while it’s few and far between that we get to re-visit it, when we do, it’s always worth the wait. And, now, we’ve got a new addition to the Serenity canon, with this week’s SERENITY: FLOAT OUT one-shot featuring tales of the Serenity universe’s past, and everyone’s favorite starship pilot, Wash.

This one’s being helmed officially by comedian Patton Oswalt (who himself is a well-known comic book head) and Joss Whedon. And, apparently, it’s got a HUGE surprise cameo that’ll send all of you long-time Serenity and Firefly fans reeling. Heck, I’m usually pretty good at guessing these things, but even I’m on the edge of my seat to find out who it is. Finally, there are supposed to be some hints about future SERENITY/FIREFLY stories being dropped within this one-shot as well… could it be, maybe, an ongoing SERENITY/FIREFLY comic series? That would rock so hard.

Anyhow, there’s really not a whole lot else to say about this one, other than it looks great, and lets face it, if you’re as much of a fan of the show as I am, you were already planning on picking this one up before you got to the write-up here.

For those of you who are already SERENITY/FIREFLY fans, but haven’t read any of the comics, we currently have both the previous series in stock in collected form:

SERENITY: BETTER DAYS Trade Paperback
SERENITY THOSE LEFT BEHIND Hardcover

Click herefor a preview ofSERENITY: FLOAT OUT one-shot

JOKER’S ASYLUM BEGINS A NEW SERIES OF ONE-SHOTS BY A-LIST TALENT FEATURING BATMAN’S DEADLIEST AND CRAZIES ROGUES!
THIS WEEK: JOKER’S ASYLUM: RIDDLER ONE-SHOT by ETHAN VAN SCIVER!

Man, I love it when they do stuff like this. Every so  often, DC will kick off a round of one-shots with some of their more high profile creators doing some very cool stand-alone, self-contained stories about the characters you’ve always wanted to know more about, and that’s exactly what they’ve got planned this month with the Joker’s Asylum.

The first one of these one-shots to debut is this week’s JOKER’S ASYLUM: THE RIDDLER one-shot, and it looks fantastic. Looking over the preview pages, I’m very impressed, they’ve really stepped up their game on these one-shots.

Each one-shot is narrated by The Joker and tells a special self-contained stand-alone story that gives us an inside look into the insanity of Batman’s rogues gallery. The first of these features the Riddler, and after a quick page or two of introducing who, why, and what he is, throws us into one of the best damn Riddler stories I’ve read in a long time. He’s such a great villain, and we just don’t see enough comics featuring him. This one really digs deep into who he is now, and how he’s been slipping further and further into his own sickness, despite his temporary dabbling on the side of the angels.

This one’s a must-read for Batman fans, and after how impressed we were with last year’s Joker’s Asylum one-shots, we recommend checking these out for some fun, self-contained stories featuring the one thing we all love about the Caped Crusader: his awesome, awesome bad guys!

Click here to read more about JOKER’S ASYLUM: THE RIDDLER one-shot

THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: IZOMBIE #2DELIVERS MORE BRAIN-MUNCHING, QUIRKY VERTIGO ZOMBIE AWESOMENESS THIS WEDNESDAY!

SWEET! We loved the first issue of last month’s IZOMBIE (still available at Third Eye, and for only a buck too, how can ya beat that?). This quirky, high-energy new little Vertigo book delivered something fresh and unique amongst all the new series coming out, and we definitely took notice of it. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Mike Allred is dishing out some of the best artwork he’s done since Madman on this book.

What is IZOMBIE? I,ZOMBIE is the story of Gwen, a gravedigger in Eugene, Oregon who lives in the graveyard, and hangs out with her ghost friend Ellie every night. Gwen’s got a little bit of an issue though, see, Gwen’s a zombie, and she has to eat a brain at least once a month, or else she ends up going Romero, and turning into a mindless, shambling “Braiiiiiins” kind of ghoul. By eating a brain once a month, she keeps her personality in tact, and keeps herself from turning into a danger to others. And, as a gravedigger, she’s able to harmlessly munch away on a fresh corpse’s brain once a month.. but therein lies the rub: Gwen absorbs the memories, and personality of whoever’s brain she devours. And, if it just so happens that person died as a result to wrong-doing, or had affairs that were left unsettled, Gwen finds herself compelled to take care of these, which adds a very cool almost detective-esque slant to the book.

But, that’s not all, one of the things I liked most about the world of I,ZOMBIE is how it’s this kind of quirky, almost retro horrorland of awesomeness. In other words, vampires, werewolves, and more all exist here, and have all found their niches. One cool example of this is how there’s different breeds of werewolves, you know, because of the canine connection, and some folks instead of turning into bloodthirsty wolves at the sight of a full moon turn into were-terriers. Were-terriers! How killer is that?

IZOMBIE is a fun, fresh new series, and we highly recommend checking it out. We’ve still got plenty of the $1.00 #1 for you to hop on with.

Click here to read more about IZOMBIE #2 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL*

HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #1 *HEROIC AGE*DEBUTS THE ALL-NEW ONGOING SERIES FEATURING THE “MR. AND MRS. SMITH” OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE!

Okay, first off: Hawkeye is Hawkeye again. This alone is worthy of celebration. Many of you know that Hawkeye is my favorite Avenger, and I can’t tell you guys how stoked I am to see him not only returning to his original duds, but getting his own ongoing series, alongside his long-time flame, Mockingbird!

Marvel dubbed this duo the “Mr. and Mrs. Smith of the Marvel Universe”, referencing that movie with Brad Pitt and I think it was Angelina Jolie or somebody, and it seems to be a pretty apt description. Granted, I only saw the trailers for said movie, but it was about a wise-cracking, quarrelsome couple that worked as like secret agents or something, right? I don’t know.. what I do know is that I thoroughly enjoyed last year’s NEW AVENGERS THE REUNION mini-series, and I’m stoked to see us getting a monthly dose of Hawkeye and Mockingbird in the wake of the Heroic Age.

The book reads very well, and provides a fun, action-packed espionage-fueled kind of read, but with a bit of levity to it. Imagine the light-hearted feel of something like Power Girl,or Secret Six applied to the Marvel Universe, and then mixed in with a crapton of guns, bombs, and craziness.

Unfamiliar with the characters? No worries, while this one is totally a big treat for long-time Hawkeye fans, it still serves as a nice jumping on point into one of the new ongoing Heroic Age Marvel books.

The characterization is sharp, the artwork fits the story perfect, and the book as a whole is a lotta fun. Plus, IT’S HAWKEYE! There’s even a cool take on a classic Marvel baddie who appears at the end… and it’s a pretty neat twist, I must say.

Click here for a preview of HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #1 *HEROIC AGE*

ZENESCOPE’S TALES FROM WONDERLAND ONE-SHOTS RETURN WITH THIS THURSDAY’S TALES FROM WONDERLAND: THE WHITE KNIGHT ONE-SHOT!

One of our favorite guilty pleasures here at Third Eye is Zenescope’s gory, and gorgeous WONDERLAND and GRIMM FAIRY TALES series. For the last few years, Zenescope has delivered us some wonderfully demented takes on the classic stories of Alice in Wonderland and her adventures through the looking glass.

And, while the Wonderland saga ended this past Spring with Escape from Wonderland, the third and final installment in Raven Gregory’s Wonderland Trilogy (with Return to Wonderland pt 1, and Beyond Wonderland pt 2 both available currently in graphic novel for those of you looking to catch up), Zenescope is back with some more of their killer Tales from Wonderland one-shots exploring the past, present and future of Wonderland.

This week, they’re starting things off right with the Tales from Wonderland White Knight one-shot which explores the back-story of the White Knight of Wonderland, a young boy born of an unholy union in ancient times who’s found himself transported to a world of madness and mayhem. Donning a suit of magical armor he finds on a desolate battle field he becomes one of the few shining lights of purity in the dark world of Wonderland, and the twisted Queen of Hearts.

For a fun, horrific, and always delivering on the artwork front spin on the classic Wonderland stories, definitely check out Tales from Wonderland White Knight this week. If you want more of the earlier stuff, we’ve got all the graphic novels collecting the Return to Wonderland, Beyond Wonderland, and Tales from Wonderland 1 and 2. The third part of the trilogy, Escape from Wonderland will be available in graphic novel soon.

CONTINUING FROM LAST WEEK’S THANOS IMPERATIVE IGNITION, THANOS IMPERATIVE #1 KICKS OFF THE MAD TITAN’S RAMPAGE!

Wow! Last week’s THANOS IMPERATIVE: IGNITION *THANOS IMPERATIVE CHAPTER ONE* one-shot blew me the hell out away. I had high expectations, but, Abnett and Lanning met them BIG-TIME. The Return of Thanos is here, and we couldn’t be more stoked. If there’s any storyline that should grab you into the killer corner of Marvel that Abnett and Lanning have been building with the cosmic characters, then this is it. A great jumping on point to experience all the great stories that’ve been going on in books like Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova.

What’s the scoop on the THANOS IMPERATIVE? Well, if you’ll remember back in Realm of Kings, there was a dark alternate universe we saw glimpses of. And, now, a dangerous mysterious fissure known as the Fault has opened, and the dark forces of this rival universe where there is no death are pouring through to claim and harvest the regular Marvel Universe. It’s up to cosmic heavy-weights like Nova, The Silver Surfer, Quasar, Gladiator, and a surprise cosmic champion you’re not gonna see coming, to stop thse folks. Of course, everyone’s favorite rag-tag crew of space freedom fighters, the Guardians, have a plan, and it’s a pretty crazy one.. what plan would that be? It’s called THANOS.

Block-buster widescreen cosmic madness that fuses the Marvel Universe with space operas like Battlestar Galactica and gritty futuristic warfare like Warhammer 40K, Abnett and Lanning deliver again big-time with the THANOS IMPERATIVE.

If you missed THANOS IMPERATIVE IGNITION last week, don’t worry, because we still have it in stock for you to hop aboard with.

Click here for a preview of THE THANOS IMPERATIVE #1

NEW IMAGE SERIES: BULLETPROOF COFFIN #1 DEBUTS THIS THURSDAY WITH SOME OF THE WEIRDEST, MOST WHACKED OUT STUFF YOU COULD IMAGINE!

Relive the Golden Age of Comics! That’s what the solicit for Image Comics’s BULLETPROOF COFFIN reads, and after reading the preview pages of this one, I’m inclined to believe… but it’s a different Golden Age. If you took an archivist dosed on LSD and sent him digging through the catacombs of history for the most obscure, and bizarre Golden Age comics you could find, then you would most definitely come back with BULLETPROOF COFFIN. A modern day ancestor to the raw energy, and complete weirdness of long-forgotten Golden Age madness.

So, WHAT is BULLETPROOF COFFIN? First off, lets start off by saying that Shaky Kane is one of the most unique, and stylized comic artists working right now. He cut his teeth back in the UK on books like Deadline and 2000AD, and after looking at the simple yet ultra-detailed pages of BULLETPROOF COFFIN, I’m convinced that this guy is one of the better ones I’ve seen. His work reminds you of Moebius meets Geoff Darrow run through a blender of old Tank Girl comics.

Now, onto what BULLETPROOF COFFIN is: Bulletproof Coffin is a series of comic strips that re-tell classic golden age UK comics in a surreal, tripped out manner, as well as fictious comics created specifically by Hine and Kane. Characters like the Unforgiving Eye, The Shield of Justice, Ramona Queen of the Stone Age, and the Coffin Fly. Surreal, twisted, and gorgeously illustrated, BULLETPROOF COFFIN kicks ass. Check it out this week at Third Eye! And look at this death tank!

DMZ VOLUME 8 HEARTS AND MINDS HITS THE SHELVES THIS THURSDAY AT THIRD EYE!

It’s always a good day when you get a new DMZ trade paperback, and this Thursday is one of those days. Brian Wood’s incredible politically-charged guerilla journalism meets Escape from New York story has been keeping us compelled for nearly half a decade, and we know that there’s many of you folks who’re eagerly awaiting this next slab of collected DMZ awesomeness, like we are.

But, for those of you who have not yet tried DMZ, I feel like this is a good opportunity to hype up a book that I feel is one of the better Vertigo series on the stands.

So, what is DMZ about? A near-future America is torn by war between the Free Armies, who control New Jersey and the inland, and the United States, ensconced in New York City’s boroughs. Basically, NYC has become the stand-still DMZ in the midst of a 21st Century Civil War. In the middle of all this, Matty Roth, hired as a phototech intern to a famous battlefield journalist, is stranded when the rest of his crew is killed. Overcoming the initial panic, he decides to remain as the sole embedded journalist in the devastated, largely depopulated city. It’s a career-making assignment, if it doesn’t get him killed. Befriended by former med student Zee, who runs a clinic, Matty discovers a society struggling to survive amid skirmishes and snipers, hell, you can almost hear the Talking Heads’s LIFE DURING WARTIME playing as you read the book.

And, this week, we’ve got the 8th volume of this incredible series ready and waiting for you to scoop it up.

If you’re interested in hopping aboard DMZ, start with DMZ v.1 ON THE GROUND, which has the first 5 issues, for only $9.99!

Click here to read more about DMZ v.8 HEARTS AND MINDS Trade Paperback.

NEW IMAGE SERIES: DUST WARS #1 DEBUTS THIS WEDNESDAY BLENDING ALTERNATE WWII SCI-FI MADNESS WITH KICK-ASS FEMME FATALES AND POP CULTURE AWESOMENESS!

If there’s one thing we’re a sucker here at Third Eye, it’s alternate history stories, especially ones that’re steeped in science fiction, and feature kick-ass soldier chicks. This new series from IMAGE COMICS looks to be another surefire shot of awesomeness, and we cannot wait to get our hands on a full copy to read. The pages we have seen look fantastic, and we’re pumped to see more.

What is DUST WARS? Dust is an alternate sci-fi universe set amidst the events of WORLD WAR II, and inspired by real WWII stories blended with a splash of sci-fi, pop culture, femme fatales & kick-assery. Imagine giant robots, steam-powered death machines, and more, and you’re on the right track to what DUST WARS is all about.

The series takes place around the 1950s in a cold war that’s in some way similar to our own, but in other ways far far different. In this reality, Nazi Germany survived the second World War and in this uneasy peace both sides have developed robotic monstrosities, genetically engineered intelligent apes, and re-animated zombie soldiers, as well as other bizarre weaponry that they’re about to pit against each other in a whole new war. In this sci-fi military mash-up, the Allies and the Soviet Union are teaming up to finally put a stop to those Nazi bastards!

It all started when the Axis found a space ship full of technology and build incredible modern robot weapons to take over the world. So when D-Day happened the Axis countered the Allies offensive with the reobots, and that’s where Dust Wars is set, a 20-some year cold war between the Allies and the Axis.

The artwork in it looks fantastic, and who doesn’t love the pulpy retro-sci-fi idea of giant robots, kick-ass commando chicks, and zombie soldiers?

Check out DUST WARS #1 this Thursday at Third Eye!

RED HOOD LOST DAYS #1 – THE UNTOLD TALE OF JASON TODD’S TRANSFORMATION INTO THE MENACING RED HOOD!

Just in time for the latest DC Animated feature, BATMAN: UNDER THE HOOD, this killer mini-series from Judd Winnick, author of the original UNDER THE HOOD story arc, explores who Jason Todd is, and more importantly who the Red Hood is. Many of us simply know Jason Todd as “the Robin that got his brains bashed out by the Joker”, but, there’s a lot more to him than that. This limited series tracks the time from the Red Hood’s rebirth to his return to Gotham. In this series, we get to understand the Red Hood/Jason Todd in a new way. It explains both how he’s sympathetic, and an unrepentant monster. And, after what Grant Morrison did with this character in his 3-issue Batman and Robin arc, I’m personally very intrigued to see more of how he went from somewhat stable to completely off the deep end.

For those of you looking for a little more back-story on the Red Hood/Jason Todd scenario, we recommend checking out these two trade paperbacks, in stock now at Third Eye by Judd Winick and current GREEN LANTERN artist Doug Mahnke.

BATMAN UNDER THE HOOD Vol.1 TRADE PAPERBACK
BATMAN UNDER THE HOOD Vol.2 TRADE PAPERBACK

Click here to read more about RED HOOD: LOST DAYS #1

SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #4 INTRODUCES THE WORLD OF TERRY McGINNIS and BATMAN BEYOND INTO THE REGULAR DC CONTINUITY, AND SERVES AS A PRELUDE TO THE NEW BATMAN BEYOND SERIES RELEASING THIS SUMMER!

There’s no denying that the animated series, BATMAN BEYOND, still stands the test of time as one of the best explorations of Elseworld / What If? scenarios in regards to the DCU. And, the fact that it was an animated series that did it, with such a high level of quality, makes that fact even more impressive.

For years, the show has had a cult following, and the characters of that world have always been near and dear to many of our hearts. And, now, with the advent of a new series debuting later this Summer, DC is bringing the world of Terry McGinnis and Batman Beyond into regular DCU continuity.

So, what’s the deal? Well, this Superman/Batman annual shipping this week serves as an official Prelude to the Batman Beyond limited series due out later this summer, and answers a lot of those questions of how this fits into the continuity of the DCU. See, we learned already in Countdown to Final Crisis that the Terry McGinnis Batman was shown to be an inhabitant of Earth-12.

It looks like the introduction of McGinnis and Batman Beyond into the mix, could very well be a look at a possible future for the Batman mythos. In this annual, we get to see the fate of Superman hanging in the balance, as well as a very old and very vindictive nemesis.

Click here to read more about SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #4

MOUSEGUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD #1 DEBUTS THIS THURSDAY, ALLOWING CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED CREATORS TO EXPLORE THE WORLD OF DAVID PETERSEN’S MOUSE GUARD!

We just can’t get enough of David Petersen’s world of little meeces running around trying to kill each other with battle axes, and stuff. Seriously though, the Mouse Guard comics have really earned a fond place in our favorite reads, and whenever a new series that takes us into the surreal, and magical world of Mouse Guard begins, we like to talk it up a bit.

This Thursday, the arrival of MOUSEGUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD #1, allows several creators that’ve been handpicked by David Petersen to play in the sandbox he’s created. A four issue anthology mini-series, we get to see various interpretations, as well as explorations of the Mouse Guard world and it’s mythos by these assorted creators.

What is Mouse Guard? Picture this: mice with capes and swords defending themselves against their predators as if they were the Knights of the Round Table. Told in Petersen’s INCREDIBLE lush and detailed art which does a fine job of mixing the realistic and the fantastic: the mice and other animals always look realistic no matter how fantastic the situations they’re in get, even when they’re facing giant snakes or crabs. Things straddle the line between cute, but not too cute, as things often take a grim turn at times.

In this world, The Mouse Guard protect its fellow creature and patrols the passageways between the villages of the Mouse Territories. In the first story, FALL 1151, members of the guard investigate the disappearance of a traveling grain merchant. During their search for truth, the three uncover a plot to attack Lockhaven, the home of the guard, fight hungry snakes, escape a fiery death, and even find a long-lost hero. And, that’s just the first book. David Petersen’s indie gem creates a fully realized, and fantastically illustrated world that will appeal to fans of series such as STUFF OF LEGEND in a big way.

Okay, where do I start? You can pick up with Mouse Guard either by sampling it in the MOUSE GUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD limited series that debuts this Thursday, or you can go further back and hop on with these collected editions:

MOUSE GUARD: FALL 1152 GRAPHIC NOVEL (available in both softcover and hardcover)
MOUSE GUARD: WINTER 1152 GRAPHIC NOVEL (available in hardcover)

DODGEM LOGIC #2 – ALAN MOORE’S CRAZY, WHACKED OUT MAGAZINE FEATURING COMICS, ART, AND MUSIC ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY!

We love ol’ Alan Moore here at Third Eye, and while we love him for his awesome comics work, we also love him for his sheer oddity appeal.

This week, the second issue of his quarterly magazine, 100% edited, and partially written by Moore, we get a whole nother 52 pages of full color content that is 100% advertisement free. And, not only do you get Moore’s writings on comics, music, art and film, but you also get a FREE CD, and an eight-page mini-comic, written and illustrated by Moore.

What more is there to say, folks? It’s Alan Moore, it’s weird as hell, and we love it!

WARREN ELLIS’S FREAKANGELS VOLUME 4 HITS THE SHELVES THIS WEDNESDAY DELIVERING ANOTHER SLAB OF STEAMPUNK POST-APOCALYPTIC AWESOME!

Now, it’s pretty obvious that we’re rabid devotees to the mad scientist of comics, Warren Ellis. This guy has been delivering some of the best damn serial fiction for nearly two decades, and he very rarely disappoints. And, I’m not just saying this because the man was kind enough to put my old band in one of his podcats way back when, although that doesn’t hurt our appreciation for his fantastic works.

One of the best things Ellis has done in recent memory is the incredible FREAKANGELS series, which focuses on twelve strange children with stranger abilities. So, for those of you who aren’t already reading FREAKANGELS, allow me to give the rundown on what we consider to be one of the finest comics on the shelves here at Third Eye!

What is Freakangels? Freakangels is the story of twelve strange children who were born in England twenty three years ago at the same exact moment. Six years later, the world ended. This is the story of what happened next. So, welcome to Whitechapel, some years from now, just barely above ground in a flooded England, where a clan of eleven strange people with purple eyes – the Freakangels – have carved out some sort of a life for themselves. A life that starts showing big cracks when a girl called Alice from Manchester turns up with a shotgun and a grievance, having met the lost, prodigal last Freakangel, who had very different ideas about what they should do with themselves and this flooded future in England. Because the Freakangels have a big secret: Something very bad is their fault.

The series pulls heavily from the influences of steampunk fiction in terms of the style of the world it exists in, the appearance of the characters, and the overall feel of things. The story kind of reminds you of a grittier, darker steampunk riff on Brian K. Vaughn’s RUNAWAYS in the way that it deals with the dynamics of the Freakangels and focuses on their relationships and characters, with their special abilities working more as background pieces. And, the artwork in this series is sooooo good.

Wanna get started with Freakangels? We’ve got volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the graphic novels already in stock, check ‘em out this week here at Third Eye!

JONAH HEX NO WAY BACK ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL HITS THIS THURSDAY! FIND OUT WHY THE JONAH HEX STUFF IS ONE OF DC’S BEST KEPT SECRETS!

All right, folks, if you’ve been sleeping on the current run of Jonah Hex stuff that’s been around for the last few years, then you are missing out… but that’s OK, ’cause DC is debuting the ultimate chance to check out some of the best, and most underrated comics magic on the shelves these days with JONAH HEX: NO WAY BACK.

For over 50 issues, Palmiotti and Justin Gray have been telling some of the most hardboiled, gritty, and ultra-violent rough and tumble western stories you could imagine featuring DC’s Man with No Name, Jonah Hex.. okay, so he has a name, but you get my point. We were lucky enough to get to read through No Way Back, and folks, it ROCKS.

JONAH HEX: NO WAY BACK is what the Jonah Hex movie SHOULD be. If they took and did a page for page adaptation of this story, it would be the best Western movie in like 30 years. Gray and Palmiotti have taken the anti-hero they’ve grown accustomed to and elaborated their usual one-shot, single issue stories into a full scale graphic novel, and it’s about as perfect as it gets when it comes to what anyone could want in a Western story.

The longer format allows Palmiotti and Gray to really elaborate on themes and scenes that they couldn’t normally expand on in the format of the regular monthly. The scope of the story is pretty epic, as it follows Hex travelling from Nevada to Arizona and finally to Heaven’s Gate, Colorado. Along the way we find out more about Hex’s origin than we’ve found out in all the series’ issues prior. While the series relies mostly on the present of the Old West, the book ahs room to go back and show us how Jona’s mother left him and how his bastard of a father treated him and blamed him for her departure. We also get to see the origins of Hex villain, El Papagayo, and why he hates Hex so much.

All in all, this is a rock solid damn good Western tale. A story of a lone man riding into town with a checkered past and bringing hell, pain, misery and gunfire with him. Dirt in the blood Western gunfights, knife fights, gangs of bandits, and so much whiskey you can almost smell it, make this book a fantastic, and vivid read.

If you want a damn good read, check this one out this week at Third Eye!

STAFF PICKS

Steve -  THUNDERBOLTS #144 = Who saw this one coming? The surprise sleeper hit of last week, the new line-up of the Thunderbolts is killer, and the new creative direction is great. Luke Cage leading a team composed of Juggernaut, Crossbones, Moonstone, and MAN-THING!?! This is awesome. The ending was a great surprise too.

Trish – GREEN LANTERN #54 *BRIGHTEST DAY* = Dex-Starr rocks! Ok so Green Lantern is good every month, but when the Red Lantern kittie is in there it makes it even better.

Torma – SECRET AVENGERS #1 = AWESOME TEAM, AWESOME BOOK. They brought back the Serpent Crown and the cliffhanger at the end was killer. Loved the kind of way Brubaker channels that Steranko/Ditko espionage feel in a new school way

Matt – BATMAN RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE 2 = Batman in the Witch-Hunting era? Too cool for words. Dug this one a lot more than issue one, probably because there was a lot less caveman talk. Can’t wait for the third one!