Posts Tagged ‘kieron gillen’
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 3/24/10
March 23rd, 2010 | 
Author:
CIVIL WAR? Just the beginning
KICK-ASS? A Warm-Up
NEMESIS IS HERE!
Here it is, folks, the book I am most excited about this Spring. Bar none, I’m looking forward to this more than just about anything else. And, I know what a lot of you guys are saying: of course, you are, Steve, you love all the @$%!ed up violent books. But, hey, that’s not true… I love all the @$!%ed up violent books that are well-written! :)
Seriously though, this one’s a big deal. First off, it’s the creative team of MARK MILLAR and STEVE MCNIVEN. This is the writer/artist combo that brought you CIVIL WAR, and OLD MAN LOGAN. And, for those of you who may not know, OLD MAN LOGAN was the Third Eye Must Buy of 2009, folks. Probably the best Wolverine series in two decades, showing us a Logan who has sheathed his claws permanently, and started a family amidst a post-apocalyptic wasteland of dead Marvel heroes, and supervillains that run the country. But, hey, hold up, that’s not all….. Mr. Millar also gave us the INCREDIBLE KICK-ASS, which is on it’s way to movie theaters this April. And, with KICK-ASS and OLD MAN LOGAN, he showed us how he was capable of taking the superhero genre and completely spinning it on it’s head.
So, WHAT IS NEMESIS? Nemesis is comic book love, my friends. Mark Millar is doing what he does best all over again, and getting ready to put us all through the ringer. Nemesis, in a nutshell, is What if Batman WAS the Joker? In other words, if you had the world’s smartest, wealthiest man, and instead of him being dedicated to protecting the innocent, he had committed his existence to terrorizing the innocent. In fact, what he does is he targets a police chief, moves into his jurisdiction, recruits a team from the local hoods, and then goes on a crusade against the entire city. And, it’s all executed with the kind of strategy, and bravado that you would expect from an adventure of the Dark Knight.
Now, I’ve only read the first issue, as an advance copy, but, from what I have read… this book is going to blow you away. It looks like the actual motivations, and origins of Nemesis will be explored further in the series, but that first issue… it’s a non-stop bloodbath from beginning to finish. And, it’s all done in McNiven’s gorgeous, incredible art-style, with of course, the fantastic pacing and storytelling of Mark Millar.
But, back to NEMESIS! So, the first issue starts with NEMESIS, doing some horrible things in another part of the world, before he decides to set his sights on a police chief in Washington, D.C. And, while I’m trying to not give away too much in the way of spoilers, it looks like we’re going to see the series being summed up as NEMESIS targeting this ordinary man, and this ordinary man fighting back as best he can. And, see, that’s where it looks like the appeal of the series is really going to shine. In the world of NEMESIS, there are no superheroes, no superpowers, there’s only one person who qualifies as a superhuman, and that’s NEMESIS. And, he’s superhuman in the way that Batman is Superhuman, extraordinary athletic abilities, genius IQ, lots of cool gadgets. Now, what do you do to fight back against the supervillain equivalent of Batman, who carries the philosophy of THE JOKER?
That’s where things are going to be interesting. The struggle between average man, and the unstoppable force of NEMESIS.
I’m really trying hard to not spoil anything from the first issue, but holy crap, if you guys thought KICK-ASS and OLD MAN LOGAN had some jawdropping events, wait til you read this. Heck, even the level of blood, and guts, illustrated by the very talented Steve McNiven, is at an all-time high.
So, if you’re looking for one of the biggest books to hit this year, then look no further, NEMESIS is going to be a mega-hit. And, I can tell this from reading just the first issue, ’cause folks, IT’S ONE HELL OF A GOOD READ!
Click here to read an unlettered preview of NEMESIS #1
BLACKEST NIGHT NEARS IT’S END AS GREEN LANTERN #52 DELIVERS SEVERAL REVELATIONS THAT PAVE THE WAY TO THE FINAL ISSUE, BLACKEST NIGHT #8! YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS ISSUE OF GREEN LANTERN, TRUST US!
Since that last page of BLACKEST NIGHT #7, we’ve all been eagerly awaiting to see the next step for Sinestro now that he’s wielding the White Ring. And, this week in GREEN LANTERN #52, many of our questions are going to be answered. While DC has been cagey on the details surrounding this issue of GREEN LANTERN, we do know that this is the penultimate chapter of BLACKEST NIGHT, with only one more issue (BLACKEST NIGHT #8) left after this. We also know that their solicits have stressed that we do not want to miss this issue, no matter what. And, I have to admit, so far, DC has delivered on their promises with BLACKEST NIGHT. Every issue that’s been stressed as being an important, or pivotal part, has been exactly that. This was proven big time to me last week in the pages of GREEN LANTERN CORPS #46, which delivered huge. The issue was promoted as an all-out battle royale, and it sure as hell was. PLUS, BLACK LANTERN ANTI-MONITOR=TOO COOL.
Anyways, back to GREEN LANTERN #52, with only one issue of BLACKEST NIGHT left after this, we’re expecting some huge payoffs in this issue, since we know they cannot wrap EVERYTHING up in just one final issue of BLACKEST NIGHT. Plus, the fact that Geoff Johns has been writing the GREEN LANTERN books themselves, and has made each issue of the series fit very nicely in-between issues of BLACKEST NIGHT (going so far as to dub the GL tie-ins as Blackest Night 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, ect,ect), we’re sure this one’s going to be one hell of a read.
So, folks, gear up, and get ready as we march closer towards the BRIGHTEST DAY, and near the conclusion of BLACKEST NIGHT this Wednesday with GREEN LANTERN #52.
Click here to read more about GREEN LANTERN #52 *BLACKEST NIGHT*
Want to catch up on BLACKEST NIGHT? Click here for the official THIRD EYE Blackest Night checklist.
SIEGE DOMINATES THIRD EYE THIS WEDNESDAY! A BIG HEAPING DOSE OF SIEGE AWESOMENESS ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY WITH AVENGERS INITIATIVE #34, MIGHTY AVENGERS #35, NEW AVENGERS #63, THOR #608, and THUNDERBOLTS #142!
Siege makes a huge splash this Wednesday with a full assortment of killer SIEGE tie-ins. Now, I have to say that I’ve been super impressed so far with the quality and relevance of most of the SIEGE tie-ins. Marvel has done a great job of making each one of the tie-in books feel crucial, and integral to the storyline as a whole, and has done a great job of avoiding the trap of falling into filler with them.
After last week’s epic happenings in SIEGE #3, we couldn’t be more stoked to see what’s coming next this Wednesday with the plethora of killer tie-in issues from Marvel. So, lets go through, and give you the rundown on what to expect…
THOR #608 – THOR vs. THOR CLONE (remember him from CIVIL WAR) in this huge tie-in issue that takes place after the destruction of Asgard!
Those last two pages of THOR #607 were stunning, to say the least. The THOR Siege tie-in, along with the DARK AVENGERS ones, probably have been my favorite tie-ins to the event so far. The writing on both have been top notch, and you know it doesn’t hurt that THOR has been just getting better, and better with every issue. Kieron Gillen is definitely an up-and-coming writer to watch, for sure, and he has been really showing how good he can be with his current run on THOR. Not to mention Billy Tan has been delivering some of the best work of his career so far, in our opinion.
This week in THOR #608, we get to see something that everybody has been waiting for… the showdown between THOR and the THOR clone from CIVIL WAR. Ever since the reveal of it’s existence, we’ve been waiting to see how this would play out, and now with the Thor clone (aka Ragnarok) showing up in the thick of SIEGE, it looks like we’re going to find out this Wednesday. Not to mention, this issue takes plcae directly after the events of SIEGE #3, and without giving away too much in the way of spoilers… you can be sure there’s a huge mess in Asgard that Thor and his Asgardian kin are going to have to take care of!
Click here for a preview of THOR #608 *SIEGE*
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #34 – CAPTAIN AMERICA vs. THE TASKMASTER! THE SURPRISE HIT OF OF SIEGE TIE-INS CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY!
One of the biggest surprise breakout hits of SIEGE as far as tie-ins go has been AVENGERS: INITIATIVE. This was a book that really had kinda hit a downward spiral after the start of Dark Reign. It just kind of was there, and didn’t really bring anything to the table that made it a must-read. However, when they did that first SIEGE tie-in with AVENGERS INITIATIVE #31, the art and writing on the book really stood out and made us take notice. Basically, we’ve seen Taskmaster take center-stage, as kind of the voice for your average run-of-the-mill super-villains. The characterization of Taskmaster, Constrictor, and others has really made this an interesting read as we’ve watched Taskmaster go from a low-level C-list character off on the sidelines, to being the same character but thrown directly into the middle of a War with the Gods. In this issue, we see that Taskmaster may finally realize how far in over his head he really is as it comes down to him and Captain America going head to head.
Click here for a preview of AVENGERS INITIATIVE #34 *SIEGE*
MIGHTY AVENGERS #35 – ULTRON HAS RETURNED…
ULTRON. One of the most classic Avengers villains of all-time, and still, to this day, one of the most terrifying. And, as the MIGHTY AVENGERS are thrown into the mix of SIEGE madness, so is one of their greatest foes, ULTRON. The Mighty Avengers are left without a leader, as Hank Pym is trapped in Pym-Space, with his robotic “son”, ULTRON. And apparently, there’s supposed to be one of the largest Avengers surprises to be seen in quite a while.
Click here for a preview of MIGHTY AVENGERS #35 *SIEGE*
NEW AVENGERS #63 – IN THE MIDST OF THE DESTRUCTION OF ASGARD, THE NEW AVENGERS ARE PUT INTO A DEADLY POSITION! IS THIS A SNEAK PEEK AT THE NEW AVENGERS LINE-UP?
Another top notch series of tie-ins for SIEGE has been the NEW AVENGERS books, which began with NEW AVENGERS #61. With all the talk of new teams being formed, and new directions for the books, it’s been very interesting to watch the NEW AVENGERS and their place in regards to SIEGE. You can almost feel the walls crumbling around them, and even, their more worldly foes, like the Hood. This issue, taking place during the events of SIEGE #3, shows us how the NEW AVENGERS are dealing with being thrown into the middle of Asgard’s destruction, and it shows all the moments of that massive battle that were only touched upon in SIEGE #3.
Click here for a preview of NEW AVENGERS #63
THUNDERBOLTS #142 - THE THUNDERBOLTS HEAD TO HEAD WITH THE MIGHTY AVENGERS AS ASGARD FALLS FROM THE SKY!
Another solid SIEGE tie-in was what happened in the pages of THUNDERBOLTS #141, as we saw Ghost invading the walls of Asgard, under orders by Norman Osborn. With the THUNDERBOLTS acting as Marvel’s very own suicide squad of supervillains and shady characters that handle the missions almost guaranteed to fail, how will they fare in a battlefield filled with Asgardians, and Avengers alike? And, what will we learn of their motivations?
Click here for a preview of THUNDERBOLTS #142 *SIEGE*
HAUNT volume 1 trade paperback arrives this Wednesday right alongside HAUNT #6. ARE YOU READING HAUNT? Find out why ROBERT KIRKMAN’S (INVINCIBLE, WALKING DEAD) and TODD MCFARLANE’S (legednary Spawn creator) new IMAGE series has become one of our favorite monthly reads! GET THE FIRST TRADE FOR ONLY $9.99, and HOP ON WITH THIS WEEK’S ISSUE #6 TO ENJOY THE MONTHLY SERIES!
One of the best damn series to start in 2009 has been HAUNT, from the extremely talented writer ROBERT KIRKMAN (the man behind WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, and much more) and TODD MCFARLANE, the legendary comic creator behind SPAWN, and an original IMAGE co-founder. The secret ingredient in HAUNT’S recipe for awesomeness is the mixing of Kirkman’s skillful writing and storytelling with McFarlane’s visceral sense of BIG. In other words, this book has everything that made you love comics when you were a teenager, combined with the sharp writing and dialogue that makes you love comics today. Plus, it’s got that nice little dose of ultraviolence that doesn’t hurt to make a book a fun read. :)
This Wednesday, it’s a HAUNT double dose, with the first trade paperback collecting HAUNT 1-5, and it’s only $9.99. Alongside the first trade comes the sixth issue of HAUNT, which gives you the perfect opportunity to jump onto this great series if you haven’t already. For those of you who have been digging the killer range of IMAGE titles like CHEW, INVINCIBLE, and WALKING DEAD, this one’s a must-read.
What’s the scoop on HAUNT? HAUNT follows Catholic priest Daniel Kilgore, and the ghost of his brother who’ve bonded together to form the superhero HAUNT. The twist is these two brothers do not get a long with one another at all, with Daniel being a priest who’s faith is lacking, and his chain-smoking, hooker picking up lifestyle not being the most chaste path. Kurt, a black ops commando, ends up getting killed on a mission, and something going awry with his death. His ghost comes back just in time to possess his brother, and protect him from being killed, and then from there the book kicks off into a high-energy, non-stop thrillride of espionage, conspiracies, and some very brutal killings. The combination of Kirkman’s writing, which keeps things fresh, and interesting with the artwork of McFarlane and Ryan Ottley (INVINCIBLE) fleshing out the story nicely.
A truly visceral, entertaining comic experience, we cannot recommend HAUNT enough if you’re looking to get into a gritty, dirty, yet violently fun new series. Ontop of all that, there’s those moments where you just stop and go “Wow, THAT’S cool”, like when HAUNT uses their ectoplasm-based powers to do neat things (whether it’s chopping guys heads off, or shooting out like webbing to slow the descent of a car that’s been driven off the side of a building).
What’s coming up in HAUNT #6? Well, the first story arc of HAUNT is a nice set-up, but we all know that Kirkman’s strength is what comes after he’s laid his groundworks. That’s when you start seeing the real surprise twists, as he’s had time to develop his characters some more. In issues #4, and #5, you learn there’s a lot more going on between Kurt and Daniel Kilgore than you realize, and that adds to the intrigue of the series. Issue #6 focuses on Kurt’s former lover, and fellow spy, Mirage, where we see more of her origins revealed, and her perspective on the events of HAUNT thus far.
Want to get caught up on HAUNT? Pick up the first trade this Wednesday for only $9.99, or for those of you who’re into getting the single issues, we still currently have all five of the previous issues in stock to get caught up on. Either way, give the series a try, it’s FANTASTIC! And, hey, while you’re at it, you can jump aboard the ongoing and look forward to HAUNT every month with this week’s issue #6!
Click here to read an interview with ROBERT KIRKMAN on the future of HAUNT!
SUPERGOD #3 ARRIVES AFTER MUCH ANTICIPATION TO CONTINUE WARREN ELLIS’S (TRANSMETROPOLITAN, PLANETARY, CAPTAIN SWING) EPIC TAKE ON SUPERHUMANS!
It’s been a longtime coming, but finally we’re seeing the release of the third issue of SUPERGOD. Okay, so it hasn’t been THAT long, but that’s just how good this series has been, that we’re on the edge of our seat waiting for the next installment. The second issue really opened things up as we saw more depth given to the American SUPERGOD, and his place in the grand scheme of things.
Now, for those of you not yet reading SUPERGOD, here’s the scoop on the series.
What’s SUPERGOD all about? Ellis’s SUPERGOD is the third part in a themed-trilogy of stories that Ellis is doing on the idea of superhumans. Now, by no means do you HAVE to read it’s predecessors, BLACK SUMMER, and NO HERO (although they’re both damn good, and we recommend it), but it’s just an overall theme that Ellis has been exploring in these stories. SUPERGOD is all about what would REALLY happen if the militaries and governments of the world explored building superhumans. What we’re shown through the series is how each country’s “supergod” is defined by the major religious beliefs of that nation. So, when India builds their Supergod, it looks like Krishna. And, the first issue begins with Krishna arriving to save the country.. by destroying it. And, that pretty much sets the stage for SUPERGOD. There’s a lot of focus placed on Jerry Carney, a deceased U.S Air Force pilot who has been resurrected, and had his body retrofitted with artificial technology to make him into the U.S’s SUPERGOD. Upon realizing he’s dead, and should not be alive, but in heaven, the U.S puts him in a government facility that looks like Suburbia, and keeps him in this personal heaven until they need his skills.
This third issue looks to be following up on a massive battle between Jerry, and Russia’s Supergod (crammed into the body of a gigantic robot) Novaya Goraj. The collateral damage is huge, and these aren’t even the most powerful of the Supergods.
So, essentially, Supergod is what a Superhuman Arms Race would actually be. Take every superhero comic ever published, shove them into a nuclear-powered blender, soak it in bad vodka, and set the whole thing ablaze, and that’s Supergod. Pure ELLIS insanity that’ll have you on the edge of your seat all throughout.
UNCANNY X-MEN #522 - THE RETURN OF KITTY PRYDE IS HERE! ‘NUFF SAID!
One of the Marvel Universe’s most beloved characters will be returning this Wednesday in the pages of UNCANNY X-MEN #522, and we’re stoked as hell for it. Kitty Pryde, who hasn’t been seen since the conclusion of Joss Whedon’s incredible run on ASTONISHING X-MEN, looks to be alive, and (hopefully) well, as Magneto is working his mojo to bring her back to Earth. And, how could he do that? Well, last we saw, Kitty was trapped inside of a giant metal bullet that got shot into a planet. And, since a return this big deserves to be done up properly, Marvel’s knocking it out of the park this Wednesday with a special over-sized issue featuring the incredible artwork of PHIL JIMINEZ and WHILCE PORTACIO.
Now, with SECOND COMING right around the corner, we can only wonder what Kitty’s return will mean in the grand scheme of things? What is Magneto’s real motivation for bringing her back? And, how will her fellow team-mates, especially Colossus deal with her return?
X-Fans, this is one you are not gonna wanna miss!
Click here to check out a preview of UNCANNY X-MEN #522!
ATTN: WHEDON FANS, DR. HORRIBLE’S FELICIA DAY WRITES THE GUILD #1 AND IT ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! A MUST-READ FOR FANS OF MMO GAMES!
Here’s a big one for all you Whedon fans out there, especially those of you who are big fans of DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG. Felicia Day (of DR. HORRIBLE fame) has brought her killer web series to the world of comics, in this new series which fills in and explores details never before revealed on the web show.
The Guild is a series that chronicles the humorous on and offline lives of a group of internet role-playing gamers, the Knights of Good. If you’ve ever been hooked on games like World of Warcraft or Everquest, then this series is guaranteed to hit your funnybone hard. Plus, it’s being written by series creator, Felicia Day, and we hear she’s a super nice lady. :)
Click here to check out a preview of THE GUILD #1
JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE RISE OF ARSENAL #1CONTINUES THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GREEN ARROW STORYLINE THIS WEDNESDAY!
The RISE AND FALL of the Green Arrow storyline has been keeping us hooked so far, with a return to awesomeness for Oliver Queen, but now we’re stoked to see the ramifications of Cry for Justice explored in this new 4 issue limited series featuring Arsenal, aka Red Arrow. Roy Harper got it pretty bad in Cry for Justice, barely surviving the brutal dismemberment that cost him his arms at the hands of PROMETHEUS. And, now, awakened from his coma, Arsenal is finding that his journey into despair is just beginning as his old mentor, the Green Arrow, has taken a dark turn, and the Justice League is out on the hunt for him.
Click here to read more about JUSTICE LEAGUE: RISE OF ARSENAL #1
NORTHLANDERS v.3 BLOOD IN THE SNOWtrade paperback arrives this Wednesday! Another slab of Viking awesomeness from the crazy talented BRIAN WOOD (DEMO, DMZ)
One of the best damn Vertigo series hitting the stands right now is Brian Wood’s NORTHLANDERS. If you couldn’t already tell from the heaps of praise we pour onto series like DEMO, and DMZ, we’re all big Brian Wood fans here at Third Eye.
This Wednesday, the third slab of his Viking saga continues, and we couldn’t be more stoked to get our hands on another trade of Northlanders. If you haven’t read Northlanders before, allow us to give you the scoop on why this series is the bees knees.
Northlanders is a series of fictional stories set in and around the historical events of the Viking Age. The series itself is divided up into long story arcs that alternate with shorter arcs. In the first story arc, Sven the Returned, we get to watch as Sven, a self-exiled Viking warrior serving in the Varangian Guard, returns to his birth region of the Orkney Islands to reclaim his inheritance. Of course, his evil uncle stands in his ways, and what happens from there is one of the most bloody, beautiful “lone wolf” pitted against immense odds stories we’ve ever seen.
From there, we see stories that focus on everything from the sacking of the Lindisfarne monastery at the beginning of the Viking Age to an Irishman fending off occupying Viking forces in Dublin using guerrilla tactics.
The thing that makes the series great is the fusion of very talented artists and Brian Wood’s well-paced, well-crafted storytelling. Another added bonus is the dialogue, a lot of stories set in the distant past get stunted on dialogue that is difficult for us as readers to have pull us into the story. In Northlanders, the characters talk like real people, and it really helps pull you further into the story.
The third trade, due out this Wednesday, features several different stories set in the Northlanders world, including our personal favorites the Viking Art of Single Combat, and Sven the Immortal.
Click here to read more about NORTHLANDERS v.3 SNOW IN THE BLOOD
ORC STAIN #2 CONTINUES JAMES STOKOE’S SURREAL, QUIRKY, AND INCREDIBLE-LOOKING ORC WORLD MADNESS!
Here’s a big cult favorite here at Third Eye, and dude, we could not be more stoked to see the second issue arriving this Wednesday. This series has some of the BEST artwork going on right now, in my opinion. Hyper-detailed, freshly colored awesomeness from James Stokoe (the author of Wonton Soup) that makes us think of Geoff Darrow and Paul Pope.
The actual series itself is a fantasy book that takes place on a planet populated almost entirely by hordes of orcs. After countless generations of in-fighting, the Orc Chief is looking to unite the armies and build his long-lasting empire. But, to do this, he has to enlist an orc treasure hunter by the name of One-Eye.
And, that sums up the plot, it’s not complicated. But, it is FUN as hell. It’s like some bizarre cross between those animated Ralph Bakshi sword and sorcery flicks of the ’70s, H.R Giger’s ALIENS, and the zaniness of modern day awesomeness like Scott Pilgrim.
The real stand out though however is the artwork, which is honestly some of the best looking stuff I’ve seen. The colors, and the attention to detail in this series is gorgeous, and that alone makes the book worth the price of admission.
If you guys want something that’s pure fun, and haven’t already tried Orc Stain, snag up the first issue (still in stock here at Third Eye), and grab a copy of #2 this Wednesday here at Third Eye!
ROBERT JORDAN’S WHEEL OF TIME GETS THE COMIC TREATMENT THIS WEDNESDAY WITHWHEEL OF TIME: THE EYE OF THE WORLD #1!
Originally, the Dabel Brothers were going to release Robert Jordan’s killer Wheel of Time saga in comic book form, but unfortunately, could not get the book out on time. So, thankfully, Dynamite has acquired the rights to publish Wheel of Time, and we’ll get to see this killer look at the world of Jordan’s fantasy explored on a consistent, on time basis.
This first issue collects both issue #0, and issue #1 of the series, in one big 64 page issue (and heck, it’s only $3.99 too!), written by Robert Jordan and Chuck Dixon, with the stellar artwork of Chase Conley, this one’s a must read for all you die-hard Wheel of Time and Robert Jordan fans out there. A true fantasy epic getting the comic treatment it deserves.
Click here for a preview of ROBERT JORDAN’S WHEEL OF TIME: EYE OF THE WORLD #1
SHUDDERTOWN #1 DELIVERS DELIVERS A GRITTY CRIME NOIR HORROR STORY THAT FEELS LIKE “THE WIRE” MEETS “SE7EN”
Folks, this one looks super freakin’ cool. A brand new Image limited series that feels like a mix of THE WIRE and SE7EN, and sports some of the sweetest looking artwork we’ve seen in a while. Apparently, people who’re supposed to be dead have been committing brutal murders, and troubled homicide cop Isaac Hernandez is on a search for answers. He finds himself being drawn into the corridors of the Shuddertown housing projects, and the truth is something he may not want to face.
I’ve seen some preview pages of this one, and it looks really killer. The artwork is A+, and the story and dialogue has a nice grit to it that looks like this’ll be a fun little crime/horror story.
Great artwork, and what sounds like a very promising story, this is definitely one worth giving a look.
Click here to read an interview with Nick Spencer, series writer, about Shuddertown.
PHONOGRAM v.2 SINGLES CLUB TRADE PAPERBACK HITS THIS WEDNESDAY! STRAIGHT UP CERTIFIED COOL, 100%, IMAGINE WARREN ELLIS’S PLANETARY… BUT USING THE POP CULTURAL WORLD OF MUSIC!
One of the biggest sleeper hits I think I’ve seen was Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s killer Phonogram series. The first miniseries, Rue Britannia, explores the world of a magician who uses the medium of Britpop music to interpret his magic. The series kind of makes you think of something like PLANETARY, but instead of the worlds of serial and pulp fiction being explored, it’s the world of music. Dave Kohl, the mage in question, learns that someone is planning to resurrect Britannia, the goddess of Britpop, in zombified form. The series is a true tribute to the power of popular music, and weaves references and phrases into the story so seamlessly that you feel like you’re there. The surrealness of seeing Blur turn up, and the way that it weaves with the comic bookness of the series is incredible.
And, now, this Wednesday, the second mini-series, Singles Club, is hitting trade paperback, and we know you guys are stoked to give it a go. See, in the world of Phonogram, music is pure magic, and the practicioners of this dark yet fun art are known as Phonomancers, living amongst us, and we’d never know. While Rue Britannia focused on Dave Kohl, this new miniseries focuses on a new cast of phonomancers, who are younger, and more impressionable, and don’t quite grasp how wonderful and dangerous the urban fatnasy world is in which they dwell.
The series is weird and wonderful, and it’s some of the best written stuff we’ve seen recently. Give it a shot, and try the trades, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
YOU WANTED NIGHTCRAWLER? YOU’RE GONNA GET NIGHTCRAWLER! Everyone’s favorite X-Men finally gets a killer Origins one-shot this Wednesday in X-MEN ORIGINS: NIGHTCRAWLER!
A fan-favorite, for sure, Nightcrawler is one of those X-Men characters that’s got such a cool visual, combined with a killer backstory, and neat powers, that he’s really amassed a loyal fan-following. And, one of the questions I get asked frequently is “Steve, what’s a good Nightcrawler story?” I normally point people to stuff like God Loves, Man Kills, which is a great story, and has a nice focus on our favorite teleporting mutant, as well as strikes a chord with who and what he’s all about. But, there has never really been a good definitive one-off Nightcrawler story, until now.
Yup, this Wednesday, the elf gets his own one-shot exploring his origins, his past, and his future in the Marvel Universe. And, keeping in tune with the past X-Men Origins one-shots, the artwork in this book is freakin’ gorgeous, courtesy of Cary Nord.
Click here to check out a preview of X-MEN ORIGINS NIGHTCRAWLER #1
STAFF PICKSSteve – AMERICAN VAMPIRE #1 = A fantastic start here, the writing and artwork mesh well, and there’s really a strong sense of a compelling world for us to explore. Vampires done right.
Trish – IRREDEEMABLE #12 = Irredeemable moves it’s way to the top of my read pile every month, and this issue continued that trend. More and more questions answered, more and more questions formed. LOVING THIS SERIES!!!
Torma – SIEGE #3 = Siege is the best Marvel event I’ve read in a long long time. This issue has it all, including Iron Man coming back into action rocking his old armor. And, the ending… I NEED TO KNOW!!
Matt – AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #625 = The first Rhino story that Joe Kelly did in #617 was over-the-top awesome, but this follow-up was even better. If you’re not following THE GAUNTLET, you need to check this out. The bet Spidey has been in ages.
NEW TOYS, GAMES, AND OTHER COOL SWAG IN STOCK THIS WEEK AT THIRD EYE!
NEW GAMES, TOYS & OTHER SWAG IN STOCK THIS WEEK AT THIRD EYE!
Some cool new goodies hitting the shop this week.
MAGIC THE GATHERING PHYREXIA vs. THE COALITION DUAL DECKS
GHOSTBUSTERS LOGO BANK
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS PLAYERS HANDBOOK 3!
NEW BLACKEST NIGHT “OATH” MAGNETS!
GOBLINS CARD GAME (for fans of MUNCHKIN!)
DUNGEON LORDS BOARD GAME (for fans of SMALL WORLD)
PELOPONNESS BOARD GAME (for fans of SETTLERS OF CATAN)
KIDROBOT SIMPSONS, FUTURAMA BACK IN STOCK!
MORE KIDROBOT AWESOMENESS, INCLUDING THE BRAND NEW KARNIES SET & MORE!
Posted in Featured Books, New Releases | 
Tags: annapolis comic book shop, annapolis comic book store, annapolis comic shop, annapolis comic store, annapolis comics, avengers initiative 34, blackest night, carnies, dungeon lords, felicia day, felicia day the guild, futurama, green lantern 52, haunt, haunt 6, haunt trade paperback, justice league rise of arsenal, kidrobot, kieron gillen, mark millar, mark millars nemesis, maryland comic book shop, maryland comic book store, maryland comic shop, maryland comic store, md comic book shop, md comic book store, md comic shop, md comics, mighty avengers 35, nemesis, nemesis 1, new avengers 63, northlanders blood in the snow, orc stain, phonogram, phonogram singles club, phyrexia vs coalition dual decks, return of kitty pryde, shuddertown, siege, simpsons, steve mcniven, supergod 3, the guild 1, third eye comics, third eye comics annapolis, third eye comics maryland, thor 608, uncanny x-men 522 | 
No Comments »
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS @ THIRD EYE FOR WEDNESDAY 2/24/10
| BLACKEST NIGHT #7 – THE BIGGEST EVENT OF 2009/2010 RAGES ON AS WE NEAR IT’S END!
This is it, folks. Only one more to go after this one, For those of you who may not have been keeping If you haven’t yet started What’s the scoop on Blackest Night? Basically, the Blackest Night is the return of an So, where do I start? We currently have everything you need For those of you who’re already onboard, we know BLACK LANTERN GREEN ARROW #30 – IS THIS THE LEAD-UP TO THIS YEAR’S HIGHLY
It has been quite a while since I’ve been But, for the last few years, Green And then, DC announces Either way, I’m Obviously, they’re playing in on the fact that many DC The Click here to read a preview of BLACK LANTERN GREEN ARROW #30
One of the more underrated Blackest Night Of course, their predecessors happen to be For those of you who’ve already been following BLACKEST NIGHT Click here to read more about BLACKEST NIGHT JSA #3 MARVEL’S SIEGE EVENT CONTINUES TO TAKE THE COMIC WORLD BY
Okay, folks, first off, we’re gonna start with the Aside from all that, Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan’s run So, folks, whatever you do, DON’T Click here for a preview of THOR #607 *SIEGE*
Next up on the agenda is NEW AVENGERS #62, following hot Click here for a preview of NEW AVENGERS #62 *SIEGE*
The first chapter of SIEGE that hit DARK Click here for a preview of DARK WOLVERINE #83 *SIEGE*
Another one of the tie-ins for SIEGE that So Click here for a preview of AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #33 *SIEGE*
And, the first of Thunderbolts carrying the SIEGE banner In this I liked the Click here for a preview of THUNDERBOLTS #141 *SIEGE* WARREN ELLIS (writer of SUPERGOD, IGNITION CITY,
Here’s one that I’ve been really looking forward to for Warren Ellis is known for writing some very In other words, So, when a What is CAPTAIN SWING all about? Set in the year 1830, a Generally, what it Click here to see what Blair Butler from Attack of the BATMAN AND ROBIN #9 *IN BLACKEST KNIGHT PT 3* - THE
One of the best books DC’s been putting out Of The most What is Batman and Robin: Basically, there’s a bunch of So far, we’ve seen some secrets Click here to read an article on BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE Click here to read a preview of BATMAN AND ROBIN #9 *IN BLACKEST KNIGHT PT 3* COWBOY NINJA VIKING CONCLUDES
Image One of What The comic is fresh, the storytelling is All in all, this is Click here to read an interview with the creators of FLASH REBIRTH CONCLUDES THIS WEEK IN FLASH REBIRTH #6 AND SETS THE STAGE FOR GEOFF
Okay, first It’s been a If you’re looking to Now, about those Flash rings… we brought you guys the To celebrate the In addition to the cool ring, the book is going to Click here to read about Geoff Johns’s new Flash ongoing THE CRAZIES – READ THE COMICS,
If there’s one thing that holds true for us here at Third Some of All ALAN MOORE DEBUTS HIS NEW
Anytime Alan Moore delivers ANYTHING, we’re pretty What Make sure you pick WE WILL BURY YOU #1 DELIVERS US A
Here’s Set in the 1920s, Mirah, a Aside from the fact that we’re And of course, the artwork on this one looks You come to expect something out of a guy What is CHRONICLES It’s a very good, VIKING Another big breakout hit from last year was the IMAGE The You want the ultimate blood and guts, Otherwise, I’m sure CAPCOM’S CLASSIC FIGHTING GAME DARKSTALKERS GETS THE COMIC
One of my all-time favorite fighting games Now, UDON has made a And, when it comes to comics based off the Capcom Click here to check out a preview of DARKSTALKERS: NIGHT WARRIORS #1 FANTASTIC FOUR #576 CONTINUES THE PRIME ELEMENTS
Dude, Jonathan Hickman’s run on FANTASTIC FOUR has been What is the deal with the PRIME ELEMENTS You can definitely feel the sense of Stan Lee and Jack This week, in Click here for a preview of FANTASTIC FOUR #576 *PRIME ELEMENTS PT 2* X-MEN SECOND COMING FREEBIE AVAILABLE
We want to like the X-MEN, this is a fact. It’s just Well, This spring and Anyways, this Wednesday, you can snag up a FREE Click here to check out our X-MEN: SECOND COMING Checklist! STAFF PICKS Steve – JOE THE BARBARIAN #2 = Grant Trish – PUNISHER #14 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 4* Torma – DARK Matt – INCORRUPTIBLE #3 = Mark Waid’s |
Posted in Featured Books, New Releases |
Tags: alan moore, annapolis comic book shop, annapolis comic book store, annapolis comic shop, annapolis comic store, annapolis third eye comics, anne arundel county comic store, avengers initiative, black lantern green arrow, blackest night, blackest night 7, captain swing 1, captain swing and the electrical pirates, chronicles of wormwood, chronicles of wormwood last battle, comics annapolis, cowboy ninja viking, cowboy ninja viking 4, darkstalkers, darkstalkers night warriors, deadpool, dodgem logic, dodgem logic 1, green arrow, kieron gillen, maryland comic book shop, maryland comic book store, maryland comic shop, maryland comic store, md comic book shop, md comic book store, md comic shop, md comic store, new avengers, siege, third eye comics, third eye comics annapolis, thor, thor 607, thunderbolts, udon, we will bury you, we will bury you 1 |
No Comments »
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHT @ THIRD EYE COMICS FOR THURSDAY 12/3/09
NEW COMICS ARRIVE ON THURSDAY THIS WEEK DUE TO LAST WEEK’S THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Secondly, we’ve got two new exciting events we’d like to tell you guys about that we’re going to be throwing in December:
Comics 80s Night @ Third Eye!
The first of which is our first official Comics ’80s Night. Who doesn’t love the ’80s? Come by, grab a free ’80s comic, score some good deals on trade paperbacks collecting stories from the ’80s, and hang out, talk comics, and listen to the sweet ’80s playlists that we’re going to put together for the shop. Clickhereto view the flyer.
Origins of Siege One-Shot – A FREE prologue one-shot to Marvel’s big Siege event! All new story from series writer Brian Michael Bendis - FREE
Marvel 2010 Calendar – Need a calendar to start the new year? We’re going to be hooking you up with this very nice Marvel 2010 calendar. And trust us, this isn’t just some throwaway cheapie, it’s a legit, real deal quality calendar! -FREE
Exclusive Avengers ID Card – The coolest of all the items being offered, we’re going to have a slew of these Avengers ID cards to find themselves proudly in your wallets. - FREE
These items are exclusive from Marvel, so make sure to come to the Siege the New Year party to grab them!
OTHER SIEGE THE NEW YEAR PLANS
Special sales on select items
The Release of Blackest Night #6!
Free Third Eye New Year Cake! :)
All right, if you came and saw us last Wednesday, you should have gotten a raffle ticket. Now, as a Thank You to you guys, we’re going to be picking the winning ticket tonight, and the winning ticket receives a $50 Gift Card to Third Eye. If your ticket is the winner, then you need to e-mail or call us, and let us know you have the winning ticket. All that’s left after that is to bring it in on your next trip to redeem your $50 gift card.
First off, before you read on, we’re going to be doing a special promotion this week. When you purchase SIEGE: THE CABAL this week here at Third Eye, you’ll be entered into a prize drawing for the 1 in 75 David Finch sketch cover of SIEGE THE CABAL!
The Marvel Event to End All Events Begins NOW! For the last seven years, Marvel has been building one amazing universe. It all began in AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED, and then culminated in the events of CIVIL WAR which led us directly into the DARK REIGN. Now, after seven years, Marvel is beginning the end of an era with SIEGE. Siege is the Marvel event to end all Marvel events. Basically, everything that’s come to be over the last several years, from the events of CIVIL WAR and HOUSE OF M to the recent machinations of Norman Osborn in DARK REIGN, are all coming to a head. The real high point of all this is that Marvel will be closing out the first decade of the 21st century with SIEGE, which will in turn usher in a whole new era for the Marvel Universe.
The most obvious change that we’ve been told to expect from Siege is the reuniting of Thor, Captain America and Iron Man. The holy trinity of the Marvel U. The big 3 of the Avengers. After over a decade of not having an Avengers team that carried those three at the same time, it looks like we’ll be seeing a triumphant return to that.
But, before we get there, it needs to be said that things are going to be pretty horrific for our heroes. We’re going to see characters die, we’re going to see characters change, and we’re going to see big changes sweep the entire Marvel Universe.
Now, lets talk about why we’re stoked about this here at Third Eye, and more specifically, what the scoop is on the official beginning of SIEGE in the SIEGE CABAL one-shot is all about.
The Creative Team – Marvel maestro, Brian Michael Bendis, has proven his track record many times before, and having him penning SIEGE means that all the plotlines and stories he’s laid out over the last few years will be coming together big time. The addition of Oliver Coipel, who most recently delivered the incredible artwork seen on the JMS run of THOR, as the series artist looks to be the perfect match to an event of this level. And, the fact that the moody, dark art styles of Michael Lark will be kicking off things with Bendis in the SIEGE CABAL one-shot means we’re in store for a very grim beginning for SIEGE.
The Characters – This is a book that’s going to touch nearly every corner of the Marvel Universe, but the focus being placed on Marvel icons like Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America, as well as heavyweight villains like Dr. Doom, and Loki, mean that we’re set for a very all-star cast of characters.
What It Means – Siege is going to be an incredible story, there’s no doubt about that. But, it’s the gravity of what it’s about that has us hooked. This is the official end of an era for Marvel, and the beginning of a new era. Whether you’ve been following the events of the Marvel Universe hardcore for the last few years, or if you’re a brand new reader, looking for a good entry point into modern day Marvel, Siege provides a great read for both.
Accessibile Storytelling and Blockbuster Changes – The other thing that I’m pretty excited about with SIEGE is the fact that it’s going to provide an accessible launching point for the Marvel Universe to many. Basically, this is going to be a tight, solid event that we haven’t seen the caliber of since CIVIL WAR. Things like Secret Invasion and World War Hulk are more of in-between pieces in the grand scheme of things, whereasa SIEGE carries a level of importance in the 616 Marvel Universe that we haven’t seen since CIVIL WAR.
Surprises – Marvel has been pretty tight-lipped on some of the big twists and turns to be expected, but we’ve been told that there’s going to be some very central characters dying, as well as some important characters returning. We’re going to see things like the 50 State Initiative finally fall to pieces, and a return to solid stories being told in each character’s individual books.
Norman Osborn Finally Gets What He Deserves – C’mon, you can’t tell me you’re not sick of this guy either? It’s going to be pretty satisfying to see him go down big-time.
What is SIEGE: THE CABAL – SIEGE: THE CABAL is the one-shot that officially kicks everything off for SIEGE. This is the starting point. Ground Zero. And, this is the book you want to read as sort of the official prologue to Siege. Basically, we’re going to see the dismantling of Osborn and his Cabal of villains that have been not-so-quietly running the Marvel Universe. Apparently, a big part of this unravelling, is due to Osborn and his desire to expand his dominion over the kingdom of Asgard. And, then there’s the fact that Loki’s been in Norman’s ear since this whole thing began a while ago. We’ll also see two new members who’re replacing Namor, and Emma Frost, after their departure from the group.
But, here’s the big draw… the first shots fired that are going to really lead us into SIEGE is the highly anticipated falling out, and throwdown between Osborn and Dr. Doom. And, we haven’t even begun to talk about all the other tidbits dropped about where this one-shot is going to touch on other characters in the Marvel Universe.
Win a 1 in 75 SIEGE: THE CABAL David Finch Sketch Cover – To celebrate the launching of this monumental Marvel event, we’re going to be running a special promotion this week. Beginning on Thursday with the release of SIEGE: THE CABAL, and ending Monday 12/7, everyone who purchases a copy of the regular SIEGE: THE CABAL book will be entered into a special drawing to win the rare 1 in 75 SKETCH cover by David Finch. This is a book that’s already fetching $70 in pre-orders. You can win it totally free this week just by picking up SIEGE: THE CABAL!
To read a preview ofSIEGE: THE CABAL, clickhere
BLACKEST NIGHT DELIVERS TWO BIG NEW LIMITED SERIES THIS WEEK WITH BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #1 and BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN #1
Holy cow, is that cover awesome or what?? Okay, this week from the fine minds of the Blackest Night thinktank, we’re getting two new three issue limited series tie-ins to flesh out some corners of the DCU that Blackest Night is now hitting. Both of these bad boys look incredible, but first, we’re going to talk about BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #1.
Why we’re stoked? First, the creative team. Geoff Johns, one of the best writers working in comics today, and the man responsible for the entire Blackest Night saga, as well as the writer of the core BLACKEST NIGHT mini-series and Scott Kolins, the artist of many classic Geoff Johns Flash tales, as well as the more recent FINAL CRISIS: ROGUES REVENGE, are the perfect freaking team for Flash. These guys wrote what is in my opinion one of the best Flash runs to hit comics with stories like ROGUES, IGNITION, and more. And, to see them delivering the Blackest Night twist on the Flash, is perfect.
Second, the story itself. It’s Barry Allen and Wally West going head to head with all the dead Flash Rogues you know and love, who are now, of course, heart-eating Black Lanterns. Johns and Kolins have a track record of doing amazing stories with the Flash rogues, in fact, what they did by re-inventing the Rogues in their previous runs is incredible comics storytelling. And, to see them bringing their Flash magic to the world of Blackest Night is just too much. We are officially stoked. This one’s gonna be incredible.
Third, it’s Blackest Night! And, we’ve yet to see a bad Blackest Night book.
Blackest Night Wonder Woman is the other Blackest Night book hitting this week, and it looks just as promising as the Flash. Greg Rucka (writer of the current DETECTIVE COMICS/BATWOMAN, as well as the classic GOTHAM CENTRAL series) and Secret Six artist Nicola Scott (who is just plain AWESOME) will be delivering this three issue limited series that is supposed to be dishing out some HUGE changes to Wonder Woman as a character. And, you know what, we’re pumped for this because she needs a new approach!
Why we’re stoked? First, Wonder Woman needs a fresh start. Well, lets face it, it’s been a while since Wonder Woman has been a central part of the DCU like she deserves to be. Ever since she snapped Maxwell Lord’s neck, she’s kind of existed in her own corner of the DCU. And, because of this, we really have kind of lost interest in the character. And, see, that’s no good, because she IS a great character. There have been some mega-epic WW story arcs, from the Hiketia graphic novel to Jiminez’s killer run to the classic Perez stuff. And, this Blackest Night limited series is supposed to deliver BIG-TIME changes and crisises to the character. The fact that it’s happening under the Blackest Night banner (and it’s no B.S when I say that I’ve enjoyed every single one of these tie-ins, except for maybe that Solomon Grundy final chapter) makes it even better.
It’s Black Lantern Maxwell Lord! In the aftermath of Identity Crisis, and right before Infinite Crisis, Maxwell Lord revealed that he was one manipulative, power-hungry jerkface, and shot the Blue Beetle in the back of the head. And, Maxwell Lord got his just deserts when Wonder Woman, in a true case of Amazon justice, snapped his neck. The fact that Lord is now returned as a Black Lantern with a bone to pick with Wonder Woman is awesome.
Is Wonder Woman going to be the next to die? If SPOILER Kyle RaynerSPOILER could die, then we know that nobody is safe in the Blackest Night. There’s also been some speculation about Wonder Woman dying and returning as a Black Lantern because of the hidden shot of her action figure in the upcoming Blackest Night waves. And, of course, the cover to issue #3 is classified… soooo…. we don’t know.
Either way, both of these Blackest Night tie-ins look to continue the high quality level of storytelling that we’ve come to expect out of the Blackest Night event. And, we can’t wait to see how they read this week!
HAUNT #3 – THE DREAM TEAM HIT OF THE YEAR CONTINUES AS ROBERT KIRKMAN (WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE) & TODD MCFARLANE (LEGENDARY CREATOR OF SPAWN) KICK THINGS UP A NOTCH!
One of the big breakout hits this year has been the new IMAGE series HAUNT by a literal comics dream-team led by Robert Kirkman (the writer of WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, and many other killer reads) & comics legend, Todd McFarlane (the creator of SPAWN). The book evokes that kind of visceral excitement, and just plain “woah.. awesome” that you got when you were a teenager reading comics. The violence is over-the-top, and the book doesn’t shy away from gore, but there’s a tightly written story underneath the breakneck action sequences that keeps the book interesting. The first issue was a set-up issue, no doubt, and while it was good, we still weren’t totally sold. But, when the second issue arrived, and we tore through it, we knew we were hooked. You want a violent, fast-paced, fresh and exciting book? This is it right here. And, you know Kirkman, you know how he sets things up, gets you into a groove, and then completely turns everything upside down on you. Well, we can feel this coming in HAUNT. Damn, I’m loving this book.
For those of you who aren’t up to speed on the story behind HAUNT, let me give you a quick recap… HAUNT is the story of catholic priest Daniel Kilgore and his brother Kurt Kilgore. Kurt was a black ops merc who gets killed after refusing to do the dirty work of the organization he was working for. Kurt returns as a ghost (due in part to the strange experiments that you see early in the book), and warns his brother of oncoming danger. Bad guys show up, try to kill him, and HAUNT is born… Basically, Kurt, has posessed the body of his brother, and dishing out cold hard revenge on all the bad guys. Ripping off dude’s heads, fileting their brains, you know, usual vigilante-style stuff. And, of course, his brother, the priest, is not cool with this. This is the dynamic of Haunt. This is what makes it interesting. And of course, the over-the-top violence and breakneck action don’t hurt.
Want to get caught up on HAUNT? We’ve still got issues #1 & #2 in stock, so you can hop on without having too much to catch up on. Trust us, from the outstanding artwork to the top notch storytelling, HAUNT is comic goodness at it’s finest.
Click here for a preview of HAUNT #3
FALL OF THE HULKS BEGINS THIS WEDNESDAY IN FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA ONE-SHOT!
Spinning out of HULK and INCREDIBLE HULK, the gamma-irradiated throwdown of the century begins here this week in FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA. We love a big smash in the face brawl here at Third Eye, and the larger than life fistacuffs happening in the Hulk world have been among some of our favorite guilty pleasures.
This week the storyline that begins to wrap up all the loose ends from stories like RED HULK and WORLD WAR HULK begins. The story gives us a thinktank composed of M.O.D.O.K (everyone loves MODOK!), The Leader, The Mad Thinker, Egghead, Red Ghost and the Super Apes, and Dr. Doom. This is a group who’s analyzed every battle, every defeat, and every angle concerning the Hulk to come up with the perfect battle plan to rid the Marvel Universe of every Hulk you can think of. Whether it’s the classic Bruce Banner Hulk, the Red Hulk, Skaar, She-Hulk, or A-Bomb, they’ve figured out how to get rid of them all.
This is going to be the biggest Hulk storyline since World War Hulk, and serves as a great jumping on point for a lot of you who haven’t been following the Hulk lately.
Why we’re stoked? Sometimes you just want your comics to be larger than life, and a little bit ridiculous. Sometimes you just want a fun, old school-style storyline full of killer art, crazy villains, and some of the most brutal superhero fights you can think of. And, with Fall of the Hulks, we know we’re going to get all that and more. Say what you will about Jeph Loeb’s Red Hulk, but the book is fun, and we still read it every month. And, if you’ve been sleeping on Greg Pak’s Incredible Hulk run, you’re missing out. The whole concept of Bruce Banner teaching his son, Skaar, how to actually BE a Hulk is pretty damn entertaining.
DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 – A MUST-READ DARK AVENGERS ONE-SHOT FROM SERIES WRITER BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
One of the consistently best Marvel books of 2009 has been Dark Avengers. This flagship title continues to be a top-of-the-stack read that we can’t get enough of here at Third Eye. If you’re not reading the current story arc that’s going on in Dark Avengers right now with Molecule Man, you are seriously missing out. The book is the best it’s been since the first three issues, and we really can’t recommend it enough.
But, enough about Dark Avengers, lets talk about this week’s DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 one-shot that fleshes out the story of one of our personal favorites, Marvel Boy.
When Marvel Boy was originally introduced by Grant Morrison back in like 2000, if I remember right, it was one of the coolest limited series I had read. The book represented so well everything that modern superhero comics were becoming, and really stuck with me. When Bendis began to use the character more with things like the Illuminati miniseries, it got me stoked. And, then when he disappeared in the pages of Dark Avengers 6.. it left me wondering.
Well, this week in the DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL, we wonder no more, because they’re exploring the ramifications of Marvel Boy and his abandoning of the Dark Avengers. It’s like the mob… you can’t leave unless you die. This issue explores just how Osborn plans to deal with Noh-Varr, and also showcases just how powerful the new Captain Marvel can be.
And, just from looking at the preview pages, this book hums with post-modern comic energy. It looks like it’ll be a good read.
Click here to read a preview of DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1
SUPERGOD #2 – The Second Issue of Warren Ellis’s International Arms Race to Build the Perfect Superman Continues!
Supergod #1 BLEW US AWAY! Many writers have done the evil Superhuman thing, and hey, they’ve done it well (we LOVE Irredeemable, The Boys, and more), but the twist that Ellis has put on the idea is incredible. Basically, the world is in a superhuman arms race to build the first Superman. The first Supergod. And, coincidentally enough, each culture’s Superman, resembles their religious figures and ideals. The first issue featured India being scorched to the Earth, Pakistan nearly beginning World War III, and ended with a glimpse of America’s SUPERGOD, who of course looks like an average run of the mill guy.
The artwork, and writing in this made it one of the best new Ellis books we’ve read, and while the pacing was slow, it was a set-up book, and we know that this issue is where things are going to really fly off the hook.
If you missed #1, don’t worry, we still have some in stock, so you can catch up this week with issue 1 and issue 2.
Click here to read a preview of SUPERGOD #2
THOR #604 - BRAND NEW STORY ARC, BRAND NEW DIRECTION! A GREAT JUMPING ON POINT TO ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS MARVEL HAS BEEN PUTTING OUT! THOR VS. DR. DOOM BEGINS HERE!
J.Michael Straczynski’s run on Thor was INCREDIBLE! The finale last week (Giant-Size Thor Finale) was one of the best issues I read last week, and even as a good stand-alone Thor story, it was a great read. And, now that everything has been tied up, and set up for the new run, we cannot wait to see where things go with this book. Marvel is starting things off right with this first issue of the new direction. It’s a great jumping on point, and even if you haven’t read Thor in years, or never read Thor, it provides a solid entry point for new readers. For those of you who like myself were a bit bummed to see JMS go, fear not, because the creative team picking up for him looks to be a good one.
Why we’re stoked? The book is being written by a rising star newcomer by the name of Kieron Gillen. Kieron Gillen has recently put out underrated cult hits like Phonogram, and on the Marvel side of things, he’s the guy who’s been making the Dark Avengers Ares limited series that’s happening so awesome. He’s definitely a name to watch, and we think Thor is going to be his breakout book. The art is being supplied by the incredibly talented Billy Tan, who delivered pencils on modern classics like the X-Men Space epic: Uncanny X-Men Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire. He also recently had a very solid stint on New Avengers.
And, then, onto the actual premise of the new story arc that begins here. Other than the fact that it serves as a new direction, and a great jumping on point, it’s also the big throwdown between Dr. Doom and Thor that’s been brewing ever since Doom and Loki’s machinations began.
So, yeah, it’s Thor vs. Dr. Doom, what more could you want out of a bigger than life over-the-top superhero tale? We feel that the new creative team is going to do very well on this book, and I guess we’ll find out on Wednesday how it is.
Click here for a preview of THOR #604
DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #898 – DEADPOOL GOES LUCHA LIBRE WITH THE ZAPATA BROTHERS!
It’s Deadpool gone Lucha Libre this month in the next issue of Deadpool Team-Up! From the creative team that brought us the killer DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS limited series last year comes this next edition of DEADPOOL TEAM-UP featuring the Zapata Brothers. I mean, what more could you want? Deadpool. Luchadore Bounty Hunters. A Drug Cartel. And a dead man with a huge price on his head?
The first issue of Deadpool Team-Up RULED, and we know we’re gonna get our quotient of Deadpool funny this week with the next issue.
Click here for a preview of DEADPOOL TEAM-UP 898
JSA ALL-STARS #1 DEBUTS BRAND NEW ONGOING JSA SERIES THIS WEEK!
The JSA has experienced a real revival in the last decade and a half. Beginning with Geoff Johns’s long run, and re-invention of the characters (available in trade paperback here at Third Eye), and then continuing with the current run of FABLES writer Bill Willingham, JSA has managed to maintain a top tier spot as one of those DC books that you just have to read.
And, now, there’s going to be a double-dose of the Justice Society every month, with the brand new JSA ALL-STARS series kicking off. A new team, a new base, and new villains. The preview pages look solid, and we’ve seen nothing but good from most JSA books so far, so we’re excited to see how this one turns out.
Click here for a preview of JSA ALL-STARS #1
365 SAMURAI & A FEW BOWLS OF RICE GRAPHIC NOVEL – BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL MEETS BONE
Certified Third Eye freshness coming to us this week in this 400-page slab of AWESOMEONESS that is being described by some as Blade of the Immortal meets Jeff Smith’s Bone. Gorgeouslly illustrated full page panels, with clean linework reminscent of Jeff Smith’s work, tell the story of an Edo-era swordsmen and his quest for survival and enlightement.
To be honest, we don’t know whole a lot about this book, but after looking at some preview pages, we thought it was worth spotlighting, and we personally can’t wait to get our hands on a copy and read it this week. This thing looks fresh as hell!
Click hereto check out the preview!
STAFF PICKS
Torma - Blackes Night #5 – The best issue yet! HUGE reveals, and some amazing twists. This issue was amazing. If you’re following Blackest Night, get your butt into Third Eye and grab it!
Steve – Superman Secret Origin #3 – It felt like I was watching the best Superman movie ever made. There’s one page, and you’ll know the one I’m talking about when you read it that just made me smile from ear to ear. AND IM NOT EVEN A BIG SUPERMAN FAN! This book is so good!
Trish - Beasts of Burden #3 – If you’re into Stuff of Legend, or stuff like Fables, then you should really check this one out. The character and life given to this book is great. This issue was a fun solo story about the little orange tabbie named Orphan. Trust me, this book rocks, don’t let the cuteness scare you!
Posted in Featured Books, New Releases |
Tags: annapolis comic shop, blackest night, blackest night flash, blackest night wonder woman, comic book shop maryland, comic book store annapolis, comic books annapolis, comic shop maryland, comic store maryland, comics annapolis, dark avengers annual, deadpool team-up, deadpool team-up 898, fall of hulks, fall of the hulks, fall of the hulks alpha, haunt, haunt 3, jsa all-stars, kieron gillen, marvel new years eve eve, marvel siege, robert kirkman, siege cabal, siege: the cabal, supergod, supergod 2, the sword 20, thor, thor 604, todd mcfarlane, warren ellis |
No Comments »