I mean, honestly, I can’t remember the last time I’d been this excited about Batman books, at least up until Morrison’s run started. And, while as much as I dug it, I was still a little lost during RIP, it was something fresh, and felt like it was really building towards something cool. And, RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE seems to be that. But, the thing that’s got me really excited is the direction we’re going to see things going when Bruce Wayne does eventually return. I mean, there’s been a little bit of news dropped about it at San Diego, but all I can do is guess based upon the things Morrison has said in interviews… and from what I can gather, it’s gonna be great.

Anyways, RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #4 continues the uber-rad retro sci fi time-travel awesomeness that’s been keeping us hooked month after month. The end of issue #3 showed a very promising hint for this one, with Jonah Hex taking up a bounty on the Caped Crusader. And, now, I can’t wait to see what goes down as we get to see The Dark Knight riding through the Old West era of the DCU.

For those of you who’re not already reading RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, this series is a perfect spot to come into the world of Batman in the DCU right now. The plot? Basically, for a few years, Grant Morrison has been pretty much re-building the world of Batman and his mythos as we know it. Much like Neal Adams and Dennis O’Neal took the Caped Crusader from the campy Adam West stories into a much darker direction, Morrison has injected a fresh, mystery and weird science feel into the world of Batman, playing up how the Dark Knight IS  the World’s Greatest Detective. The penultimate moment of Morrison’s reinvention of the Batman mythos is RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE.

See, during the events of BATMAN RIP, and FINAL CRISIS, something happened that gave EVERYBODY, including most of the DCU, the impression that Bruce Wayne was toast. Gone. Ka-put. But, as Morrison has told the tale so well in his incredible BATMAN AND ROBIN series, hints and clues have led us AND the characters closest to Wayne to believe that he’s not dead, but is in fact, missing in time. And, that leads us to the RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, where each issue of this 6-issue limited series is dropping the Dark Knight into a different period of time, giving us a Bat-Pirate, a Bat-Cowboy, and more. And, then there’s this little subplot of how if Wayne does manage to return, well, some bad mojo is gonna go down.

Sound awesome? It totally is. Now, a lot of you are probably already hooked on the series, like us, and want to go back further to get some more meat on Morrion’s run. And, while Morrison technically began his run with the Resurrection of Ra’s Al Ghul, here’s the rundown of trade paperbacks we recommend checking out to follow the last couple years of Batman stories:

Start with: BATMAN AND SON TPB – The first official arc in Morrison’s run, this is where the character of Damian is first introduced, as well as many storyline concepts that’re still being explored in Morrison’s run.

BATMAN: THE BLACK GLOVE TPB - The second part of the “Batman Gets Killed” trilogy, BLACK GLOVE, of course, delves deep into the mysterious BLACK GLOVE, who has proven to be much more of a major player in things than we had originally guessed. It also gives us a very interesting glimpse at a future where Damian has taken on his father’s role as Batman.

BATMAN: RIP TPB – This is it. The complete physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological deconstruction of The Dark Knight. Mysterious new foes, and familiar classics alike return to strip Wayne of everything that makes him who he is. This one finishes out Morrison’s “Batman Gets Killed” trilogy, and leads pretty flawlessly into where things are now.

Additionally, you might want to check out:

BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL HC - This collects the mini-series that follows immediately after RIP, and shows us how Dick Grayson (Nightwing) ends up taking on the mantle of the Bat.

BATMAN AND ROBIN HC – AWESOME series. Probably the best Batman book I’ve read in a long time (not counting RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE). This collects the first six issues of Grant Morrisson’s BATMAN AND ROBIN, where Grayson and Damian are.. well, Batman and Robin. And, it’s the perfect build-up to all the cool stuff going on now in the series. We also have this entire run in the single issues (1-13), if you’d prefer to grab the singles.

Now, if you’d rather just jump straight into Morrison’s mad and amazing Batman world.. then, we recommend snagging BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #1-3, and getting caught up to this week’s issue #4. We’ve got all issues in stock at Third Eye, and folks, we really can’t recommend this one enough. It is simply kick-ass. For a quick prelude to the series, grab BATMAN AND ROBIN #10-#12, also in stock now, which serves as an official prologue to the storyline.

Click here to read more about BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE at the official Wikipedia for it.

THIRD EYE MUST BUY: SECRET AVENGERS #3 – ED BRUBAKER and MIKE DEODATO continue to deliver one of the most kick-ass, and innovative team superhero books on the stands! Espionage, weird science, visceral pulp violence and many nods to classic Marvel lore make this one a must-read! NOT READING SECRET AVENGERS? We’ve still got copies of issues 1 and 2 in stock to catch you up!

I gotta tell you guys, SECRET AVENGERS has been one of my favorite books. There’s just something that’s so fresh, and so unique about what Ed Brubaker and Mike Deodato are doing with this one that makes each and every issue one of the best things I’ve read.

As part of the launch of new AVENGERS books with Marvel’s new Heroic Age, SECRET AVENGERS serves as kind of the “down and dirty” Avengers team. The covert ops team that does all the dirty work, and cleans up the messes that the public should not know about. Brubaker brings a great sense of modern day storytelling meets Jim Steranko and Steve Ditko craziness that has been keeping us hooked hardcore.

Part of SECRET AVENGERS big appeal is the unique roster of the team. Steve Rogers is heading the team up under the guise of his new position as the director of world security, essentially, the new leader of SHIELD. He’s handpicked individuals who can have unique skillsets so that this team can tackle any job. So, that’s where Nova comes in as the space guy, Moon Knight as the hardened killer set out for redemption but willing to do what needs to be done, Black Widow as the espionage expert, Valkyrie for her magic badassery, the Beast for his science know-how, War Machine for the heavy firepower, and I’m still not quite sure where the Irredeemable Ant-Man fits, but I guess every team needs a jerk, right?

Anyways, the current storyline kicked off with a bang as we’ve already seen some major stuff go down in the first two issues. First, it looks like Nick Fury’s up to no good. Secondly, Nova’s been possessed by one of the three Serpent Crowns (a sentient, organic “crown”), and now, with the Secret Avengers, on Mars. Yes, MARS, people, how awesome is that? But, with the Avengers on Mars, they’ve discovered that Nova’s using the serpent crown to have people dig beneath Mars’s surface for … something, that we’re not quite sure of yet.

This series kicks a ton of ass, and it’s awesome that Brubaker has done something that we haven’t seen done in a long time: he’s taken the Avengers out of New York, and into the wilds of space. Plus, the mystery aspect has got us guessing, and we’re totally in love with the return of classic Marvel institutions like the Roxxon Corp.

Add all this to the fact that Mike Deodato is dishing out some really great artwork, brings a very cool, eerie sci-fi vibe that compliments Brubaker’s writing. The whole atmosphere of Mars reminds me a lot of the first ALIEN movie, a cold, dark place, where you have no clue what’s lurking in the midst.

Anyways, if you can’t already tell, I’m pumped for issue #3. It hits this Wednesday. If you haven’t yet checked out the first two issues, we’ve got limited quantities of both issues #1 and #2 in stock to get you caught up.

Click here for a preview of SECRET AVENGERS #3 *THIRD EYE MUST BUY*

THIRD EYE MUST BUY: AMERICAN VAMPIRE #5 – If you’re not reading this series, you need to pick up issue #1 and find out why we’re calling this one the “WALKING DEAD” of VAMPIRES. One of the best new books we’ve seen!

American Vampire has quickly become one of my favorite reads. I think that between this and SWEET TOOTH, we’ve got two really strong contestants for the “Next Best Vertigo Book.” You know what I’m talking about. The crown right now is worn by Jason Aaron’s incredible SCALPED, but there’s always that one series that’s going on in the background, building upon itself, and working towards being the next killer Vertigo book that everyone is hooked on. First it was Sandman, then Preacher, then Transmetropolitan, then Y The Last Man, then Fables (which is still rocking hard, make no mistake), and now SCALPED. But, as both AMERICAN VAMPIRE and SWEET TOOTH develop their stories, these two are really gonna be going neck and neck to fill that spot.

Anyways, I’m rambling. American Vampire’s good. Like, REALLY good. Like, classic in the making good. Now, when this first started off, I think a lot of people, myself included, were intrigued primarily by the fact that this was the “first” REAL comic writing of STEPHEN KING. But, after five issues, I gotta be honest, while King’s part is fantastic, it’s Scott Snyder’s story that has me really intrigued and hooked. See, American Vampire bounces between the past, telling the story of the first vampire to exist in America, old West outlaw Skinner Sweet, and then the “present” which is the 1920s Hollywood Babylon, as we follow the story of Pearl, a young actress who’s ripped to shreds by vampires, and then brought back to her senses… and into her new life as a bloodsucker by outlaw Skinner Sweet.

The series is very cool, very good plotting, and some great character development that makes the characters practically jump off of the page. The concept itself is pretty awesome too… basically, the vampire infection affects people from different regions differently, and as we’re shown from Skinner, he and Pearl do not have the same kinds of defects that the European vampires do. In other words, they can handle the sun better, amongst other things.

All in all, I highly recommend this one, guys. There’s already been some very cool plot twists, and I REALLY don’t want to spoil anything going on in the current arc, so just trust me.. pick up issue #1, and we think you’ll be impressed. All I can say is that Skinner Sweet is becoming one of the most interesting freaking characters in comics right now.

Wanna get caught up? We’ve got issues #1-4  all in stock now, so snag ‘em this Wednesday and find out why this series is so much fun.

Click here to read more about AMERICAN VAMPIRE #5


THIRD EYE MUST BUY: GREEN LANTERN DOUBLE-DOSE: GREEN LANTERN #56 – Hector Hammond vs. Larfleeze? YES! GREEN LANTERN CORPS #50 – CYBORG-SUPERMAN RETURNS!

Dude, I gotta tell ya… Green Lantern is even better in the post-BLACKEST NIGHT DCU. Geoff Johns is telling some really cool stories that are fleshing out all the little cool tidbits he’d only hinted at before, and with the book giving us some focus on the “New Guardians”, like Atrocitus, Larfleeze, St. Walker, ect ect… it’s not just mainted it’s must-read status, but it’s even gone higher up in our stack of books we look forward to.

Anyways, in the BRIGHTEST DAY realm of GREEN LANTERN (which began with issue #53), we’ve been seeing some really rad stuff going on. It looks like issue #56 is giving some of the spotlight to one of our personal favorites: Larfleeze, the Orange Lantern, aka He Who Says MINE! See, Hector Hammond, the old school GL baddie with the giant noggin’ has become fascinated with the mystery of the White Lantern, and now he’s set his sights on one being: Larfleeze! PLUS, we get to see just what happened to the Parallax entity during BLACKEST NIGHT.

Folks, if there’s one DC book you gotta be reading, it’s Geoff Johns’s run on GL. The book is fantastic, and with Doug Mahnke still handling the art, looks sharp as hell. If you fell off after BLACKEST NIGHT, or are a new reader digging BRIGHTEST DAY and want a fresh jumping in spot, we recommend scooping up issues #53-#55 and getting caught up. This series is still one of the best books on the stands.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #50

Now, take everything I said about Green Lantern, and just repeat it for Green Lantern Corps, ’cause this book has been getting pretty freakin’ rad itself. In the aftermath of BLACKEST NIGHT, the position of the GREEN LANTERN CORPS and their purpose in the grand scheme of things has gotten VERY interesting. And, this issue especially is one I’m looking forward to, why you might ask?

‘Cause it’s the return of CYBORG SUPERMAN! Yes, this character was made extremely cool during the events of the SINESTRO CORPS WAR (highly recommended, available in trade paperback here at Third Eye). And, now, that he’s back, we’re extremely curious to see what has spurred his return, and what he’s after. Not to mention, we’re going to see more on Ganthet’s secret deal with Atrocitus, and why it may just spell out the end of the GREEN LANTERN CORPS.

Just like GREEN LANTERN, this one has also continued to get better, and better each and every month. Looking to jump on? We’d recommend picking up with issue #47, which is the first issue carrying the BRIGHTEST DAY banner.

THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: TIMEBOMB #1 – JONAH HEX writers JIMMY PALMIOTTI and JUSTIN GRAY (the guy who make the Hex comic so kick-ass!) deliver the latest and greatest from RADICAL PUBLISHING – WORLD WAR II SCI-FI AWESOMENESS!

Okay, I’m pumped for this one. First off, it’s the cult favorite writing team of the killer JONAH HEX ongoing series (as well as JONAH HEX NO WAY BACK graphic novel from last June), Palmiotti and Gray. And, trust me, these guys are both fantastic at writing true blue grindhouse awesomeness in comic book form. Now, pair them up with one of my long-time favorite artists, Paul Gulacy, and that’s a recipe for a killer comic. Add in Radical’s fantastic production values, and track record for good reads, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

Time Bomb begins beneath the streets of modern day Berlin, where archeologists accidentally activate the Omega Bomb, Hitler’s ultimate doomsday weapon designed to wipe out the human race. Now, equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and equipment, a group of specialists must travel one day back through time to stop the bomb from ever going off. However, these folks quickly discover that rather than going back as intended, they’ve been sent back into the heart of Germany, in the midst of World War II. Now, it’s up to them to save the human race on a ticking clock before the bomb is even set.

This one, judging from the previews I’ve seen captures that perfect blend of grindhouse violence, break-neck action, and tongue-in-cheek humor that Palmiotti and Gray are so good at pulling off. Time Bomb is a three-issue limited series, and it kicks off this Wednesday. Give it a go. We think you’ll dig it!

THIRD EYE MUST BUY: X-MEN SECOND COMING AFTERMATH: UNCANNY X-MEN #526 *THE FIVE LIGHTS CHAPTER ONE* – Picking up immediately after the conclusion of SECOND COMING… are the mutants back?

So SECOND COMING ended with a BANG, and we were completely blown away with how well that whole storyline played out. What a great job of getting us pumped about the X-MEN again, I gotta say. And now, in the aftermath of SECOND COMING, well, it looks like Hope is using the Phoenix force to reignite the spark in humanity that kicks off the birth of many mutants, as well as the manifestation of the mutant gene that may have laid latent in many characters.

Now, kicking off in UNCANNY X-MEN, we’re getting to see a very cool direction for the X-Men begin as Cyclops, Emma Frost, and, others attempt to find out just what the hell is going on with all these new mutants.

I don’t want to drop any spoilers, ’cause after reading the advance on this one, it is a pretty cool issue, and there’s some neat little twists here. All I can say is that Matt Fraction and While Portacio are on point here, and I’m excited to see where things’ll be going with UNCANNY in the wake of SECOND COMING. If you’re looking for the follow-up to SECOND COMING, then this is most definitely the book to read.

Click here for a preview of UNCANNY X-MEN #526 *FIVE LIGHTS CHAPTER ONE*

THIRD EYE MUST BUY: WONDER WOMAN #601 KICKS OFF J.MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI’S RUN ON WONDER WOMAN! EVEN IF YOU’VE NEVER BEEN A BIG WW FAN… READ THIS COMIC! IT’S GONNA KICK ASS!

Dude, I am so pumped to see Straczynski handling not just one big high-profile DC book (Superman), but TWO, with him starting his run on WONDER WOMAN this Wednesday. Now, I know it’s no secret that Wonder Woman has had a hard time of really catching a break. For a character with as much potential as her (I mean, she’s the friggin’ embodiment of Warrior Princess, here, folks), there’s been a lot of missteps with her series. And, while there’s been some real shining moments of awesomeness, they’ve been admittedly few and far between.

But, that’s all the past now, ’cause after reading Wonder Woman #600, and Straczynski’s prologue to his highly anticipated run on Wonder Woman, I’m convinced.. this book is gonna rock HARD.

This new Wonder Woman arc is a perfect jumping on point if you’ve never read Wonder Woman, or if it’s been a long time since then. The storyline that’ll be dominant in Straczynski’s run shows us a young Diana Prince in a new, unfamiliar (yet with touches of familiarity) costume, seeking an oracle and referencing a dead mother recently brought back. So far, we’ve been given a lot of mystery, but here’s what we do know from reading the interviews with JMS about his upcoming run. This is a “new” version of WONDER WOMAN, who’s come to be as a result of someone screwing with the timeline, who’s out to figure out what is going on with things, and investigate the ruins of a recently destroyed Paradise Island.

Admittedly, DC has played their cards close to the vest on this one, not giving us a lot of info on what the overall arc is going to be about, other than re-inventing WONDER WOMAN for the 21st century, but we’re eager to read this one and find out.

And, whether you love or hate the new costume, you gotta admit: it definitely makes sense in terms of something that’s combat ready.

THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL: PILOT SEASON STELLAR – ROBERT KIRKMAN (WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, HAUNT) BRINGS US ANOTHER KILLER PILOT SEASON ONE-SHOT!

Robert Kirkman’s PILOT SEASON one-shots have been really freakin’ good this year. Not familiar with the PILOT SEASON concept? Basically, Kirkman drops a killer one-shot story introducing a new character. And, then once all of the PILOT SEASON one-shots have been released, we’ll be able to vote as fans to see which one we want to see stick around.

ANYWAYS, if you missed the one before this, STEALTH, we recommend snagging a copy. A really kick-ass one-shot about a guy who finds out his dad (who’s been developing Alzheimer’s) is a superhero.. and has to prevent him from going out, and flying into oncoming traffic.

The story of Stellar is that she’s one of five genetically-enhanced super-humans created by the government. For Stellar, the process used on her has made her toxic to other humans driving four volunteers insane. Banished from Earth, Stellar roams the cosmos trying to use her powers for good, haunted by the fact that she can never return home — and all too aware that her fellow super-humans are out there, eager to strike at any moment. As with most of Kirkman’s stuff, we know that he’s going to apply a kick-ass twist on this concept, and of course, deliver big-time on the characterization and storyline, like he does with pretty much everything. Definitely recommend checking this one out this Wednesday.

THE RISING #0 – RADICAL COMICS DELIVERS A FUTURE CYBERPUNK SPARTACUS TALE FOR JUST $1.00!
WRITTEN BY THE CREATOR OF HBO’S BAND OF BROTHERS SERIES and PIXAR ILLUSTRATOR J.P TARGETE
ESCAPE FROM NY meets SPARTACUS

Radical puts out some seriously kick-ass comics, and one of the things that ALWAYS stands out to me with their books is the incredible artwork. And, this time, they’ve REALLY delivered, bringing aboard one of the guys from PIXAR… that’s a pretty big deal. Add in the fact that this new series is gonna be penned by the creator of HBO’S BAND OF BROTHERS series, and it looks like we’re in store for some good reading.

THE RISING is described as a futuristic cyberpunk kinda Spartacus tale. Here’s the skinny on this one: It’s not resistance, it’s a revolution. After years of war, economic chaos, and mankind, itself, teetering on the verge of thermonuclear extinction, an alien force decides we’re ripe for an invasion. When a deadly virus is released, this militaristic empire massacres the world’s defense forces and most of the human population. The survivors are forced into slavery, and are helpless as they watch this new enemy plunder the remaining natural resources of Earth. But, then Jarret Jakes, chosen to fight and die as a gladiator, escapes from New York City to lead a ragged band of guerrilla warriors in hopes of inspiring our now downtrodden world to rise up against their alien oppressors.

So, lots of violence, crazy aliens, and awesome artwork.

What’s not to love? AND, it’s only $1 for this first issue!

GREEN ARROW #2 *BRIGHTEST DAY* – FOLLOWING UP ON THE SMASH HIT FIRST ISSUE, THE GREEN ARROW IS OFFICIALLY AWESOME AGAIN! READ THIS BOOK!
Miss issue #1? We still have copies of #1 in stock to get you caught up!

The new GREEN ARROW series is KICK ASS. They have seriously brought the Emerald Archer back to his former glory, and this is probably the best I’ve seen GREEN ARROW since KEVIN SMITH’S run began with QUIVER, and of course, my favorite GA story: LONGBOW HUNTERS.

DC has taken Ollie back to his grittier, no-nonsense roots, and pushed him further than he’s ever been pushed before. I mean, c’mon, he put a friggin’ arrow smack dab in the middle of Prometheus’s skull? How awesome is that? And now, he’s living in a massive forest that’s been given life in Star City as a result of the White Rings.

Green Arrow’s taken up residence, and he’s determined to end the rampant corruption surrounding the forest. But first, he’s gotta clean up his own backyard, and deal with the forces running his former company, Queen Industries, into the ground.

And, in this issue, Hal Jordan makes a special guest-appearance, and if you know the history of GA and GL, then these two are one hell of a team.

The new Green Arrow book rocks, and we highly recommend giving it a look if you’re a DC fan.

We’ve still got limited quantities of the first prints of issue #1 in stock, with second prints on the way this Wednesday, so catch up with issue #1 and hop onto issue #2. You’ll really dig it, we guarantee!

WARREN ELLIS’S HOTWIRE RETURNS IN HOTWIRE: DEEP CUT #1 – THIS FUTURE SCI-FI NOIR MEETS GHOSTBUSTERS is KILLER!
Miss the first series? Check out the trade paperback now back in stock this week at Third Eye!

Everyone’s favorite Detective Exorcist, Alice Hotwire, is back this Wednesday in a new limited series from RADICAL, HOTWIRE: DEEP CUT. Warren Ellis really made this one a must-read last year, and coupled with Steve Pugh’s incredible artwork, we can definitely say that HOTWIRE was a sequel-worthy series.

This new series, kicking off after the events of HOTWIRE: REQUIEM FOR THE DEAD (available this week at Third Eye in trade paperback), we see that the city’s only supernatural investigator is taking some much needed R&R. But, when a BLUE LIGHT from her colored past appears in front of her door, it kicks off a series of events that lead Hotwire across the city attempting to stop the results of a secret government project from turning the city into another living nightmare.

If you’re unfamiliar with the HOTWIRE series, it’s basically the tales of a sci-fi future, with a heavy cyberpunky feel, where ghosts and hauntings and all that jazz have been accepted as scientific fact. And, Detective Alice Hotwire, is the only one who can save the world from “ectoplasmic catastrophe” that’s caused by a security failure at a Maximum Security Necropolis. Basically, all the harmless blue light ghosts become evil, and Alice, who’s not appreciated by her fellow officers at all, must handle this one all by herself.

The series is really good stuff, kind of a cyberpunky Ghostbusters, and if you missed it the first time around, we recommend grabbing the HOTWIRE: REQUIEM FOR THE DEAD trade paperback and getting caught up for this new series.

THIRD EYE MUST BUY: GEOFF JOHNS’S FLASH #4 CONTINUES ONE OF THE BEST NEW DCU BOOKS WE’RE READING!
Superhero CSI Awesomeness!

Dude, if you’re a DC fan, and not reading GEOFF JOHNS’S new ongoing FLASH series, you seriously need to remedy that. It’s one of the best DC books coming out, heck, it’s one of the best SUPERHERO books coming out. This series is just plain awesome. The artwork, the writing, everything about it screams must-read.

Johns manages to tell one hell of a good story with this new FLASH series, and issue #1 is the perfect jumping on point for anyone who’s new to comics, new to the Flash, or heck, is just plain looking to hop onto a new book without a lot of baggage. I mean, he’s able to effortlessly introduce the Barry Allen Flash to readers who are not familiar with him in a few pages, while at the same time setting up a kick-ass story.

And, now, the current arc continues as the original Captain Boomerang, one of the many resurrected in the aftermath of BLACKEST NIGHT, returns. And, he returns to…. save Barry Allen’s life? Well, see, Barry Allen’s being hunted down by the Renegades, a group of 25th century Flash Rogues (think future versions of Heatwave, Captain Cold, Mirror Master, ect)… but they’re the law, and they’re out to bring Barry in for a murder he did not commit.

Folks, this book is too good to be missing out on. If you’re not reading the new FLASH series, snag up issues 1-3 this Wednesday, and give it a go. It’s a quick (but in a good way), fun read, that delivers one of the best superhero books on the stands.

THIRD EYE MUST BUY: WALKING DEAD writer ROBERT KIRKMAN and COMICS LEGEND TODD MCFARLANE CONTINUE TO DELIVER THE GOODS WITH HAUNT #8 THIS WEEK!

8 issues in, and HAUNT is still getting me excited. Robert Kirkman, the incredible talent behind series like THE WALKING DEAD & INVINCIBLE, is doing a fantastic freaking job of building a brand new series.. and guess who he’s doing it with? Todd McFarlane. The legendary creator of SPAWN. Kirkman’s killer writing balanced out with McFarlane’s artwork, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a book.

What is HAUNT? Haunt is the story of Daniel Kilgore, a Catholic priest, who is haunted by the ghost of his estranged brother Kurt, a murdered secret agent. Basically, Daniel’s a bastard, and Kurt’s not so bad of a guy. Kurt gets killed overseas refusing to do some dirty work, and comes back just in time to “haunt” his brother’s body, possessing him and turning him into the entity known as HAUNT, before he gets wiped out for being a loose end. From there, we get thrown into great storyline that’s still getting more and more compelling where we see conspiracies forming at every corner, and where the two brothers learn more about their situation.

Haunt is a violent book. No doubt about that, it’s bloody as hell, and that’s part of the fun. It kind of strikes that chord with you. You know, the inner 13-year old that goes WICKED when you see someone gettin’ their head cut off. But, Robert Kirkman, who’s known for his writing chops, is the guy writing this one, so it’s also got a damn good storyline that keeps you coming back, along with the solid character development and pacing of the storyline.

One of the best things about HAUNT, for me, is the “cool” factor of a new vigilante/superhero character. Like, usually when people do a new superhero-type character.. it sucks. It’s true. You know, normally, it just doesn’t stick, but with HAUNT, which obviously does borrow heavily from McFarlane’s stuff with Venom in Spider-man and with Spawn, Kirkman does a damn good job of making this character interesting and compelling. Just little things, like how Haunt uses his powers (they’re ectoplasm based) is interesting.

The dynamic of having two guys in one body also makes for an interesting read, and helps add some moments of humor to the book at times.

If you’re not reading HAUNT, we definitely recommend it. The first trade paperback collecting issues #1-5 is only $9.99, and we’ve got issues #6, and 7 in stock to get you caught up to where the series is now.

And, then this week, with issue #8, it looks like the events of the series thus far have taken a greater toll on him than even Daniel himself realizes.

Cannot wait to read this one this week, folks!

STAFF PICKS

Steve -AVENGERS #3- Killer read. John Romita JR draws the best fight scenes around.

Trish – WALKING DEAD #75 = Are you surprised? This issue especially BLEW MY MIND!!!

Torma -NEW AVENGERS #2 = Really good read, and loving all the killer Doctor Voodoo stuff!

Matt – ALAN MOORE’S NEONOMICON #1= Pure Alan Moore awesome. Moore+Cthulhu? Total win.

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.