Posts Tagged ‘robert kirkman’

BATMAN AND ROBIN #8 *IN BLACKEST KNIGHT PT 2* – THE LEAD UP TO BRUCE WAYNE’S RETURN CONTINUES, AND THE MYSTERIES BEHIND BLACK HAND’S CONNECTION TO BATMAN CONTINUE!

A couple of weeks ago, the biggest Batman story arc in Grant Morrison’s critically acclaimed BATMAN AND ROBIN series began. A story arc that not only intends to answer some very crucial questions about Bruce Wayne, and his relation to BLACKEST NIGHT, but also, serves as a lead-in to this spring’s highly anticipated BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE. And, it began with a bang!

Since the beginning of Blackest Night, we’ve all been wondering what the deal was with Black Hand, and the supposed skull of Bruce Wayne. In Blackest Night 5, we were completely mind-boggled by what appeared to be the resurrection of Batman as a Black Lantern. Of course, there were some little clues and hints that it may not be the real thing. In other words, there’s some very well done collaboration going on between Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, and DC’s editorial department in making sure that everything links up how it should.

And, this leads us to Grant Morrison’s BLACKEST KNIGHT storyline which began in BATMAN AND ROBIN #7, and will be running through BATMAN AND ROBIN 8 and 9. We started out in BATMAN AND ROBIN #7, with the reintroduction of two of my personal favorite characters: Knight and Squire. Essentially, England’s answer to Batman and Robin. They’re assisting Dick Grayson in locating one of the last remaining Lazarus Pits. We get a very cool, and interesting trip into the underworld of England, and even a neat look at the Rogues Gallery of Knight and Squire. It’s kind of cool to see the paralells that run between here and Gotham City. Of course, we know why they’re looking for the Lazarus Pits, but you and I both know things aren’t going to work out quite how they should. The end of BATMAN AND ROBIN #7 showed us something very cool, involving the gloved hand of a certain Dark Knight. But we’re thinking that all is not as it seems.

This week, the storyline continues in BATMAN AND ROBIN #8 *IN BLACKEST KNIGHT PT 2*, as we see Dick Grayson, Knight, Squire, and Batwoman explore the mysteries of the Lazarus Pit,  and the terror they may have unleashed on the world. The ties between Bruce Wayne and Blackest Night baddie, Black Hand may be revealed a little more. Meanhwhile, back in Gotham City, Alfred and Damian (Robin), who’s recuperating, are at the mercy of some serious bad mojo.

Folks, I can’t stress enough how great of a book BATMAN AND ROBIN has been, and it just gets better. If you’re not reading Batman and Robin, and you’re a Batman fan at all, then you are missing out on what is possibly the best Batman monthly series in many years. Morrison has demonstrated his passion for the characters by not paying homage to great stories of the past, but also, adding a fresh, new dynamic to the characters, and their world. I mean, in just 8 issues, Morrison’s introduced several villains and supporting characters that’re already much more interesting than some characters that get full 6 issue arcs fleshing out their back stories. And that’s after just a few panels of appearances!

If you’re looking to hop onboard with the current arc, BLACKEST KNIGHT, you can do so by grabbing BATMAN AND ROBIN #7 *IN BLACKEST KNIGHT PT 1*, this serves as a fantastic jumping on point, and is a great area for new readers to come aboard. If you’re really intrigued by the series, and want to get the entire run so far, we currently have issues 1-7 all well-stocked here at Third Eye.

Either way, be sure to check out BATMAN AND ROBIN #8 *IN BLACKEST KNIGHT PT 2*

Click here to read an interview with Grant Morrison about BATMAN AND ROBIN: IN BLACKEST KNIGHT

HAUNT #5 – THE FIRST STORY ARC IN THE HIT ONGOING SERIES FROM ROBERT KIRKMAN (WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE) AND TODD MCFARLANE CONCLUDES THIS WEDNESDAY!

One of the best books to come out of 2009 was the new Image ongoing series HAUNT. Written by one of our favorite writers here, Robert Kirkman (the man behind WALKING DEAD and INVINCIBLE), and illustrated by comics legend TODD MCFARLANE, and rising star INVINCIBLE artist RYAN OTTLEY, HAUNT is a true all-star title. Each issue is better than the last, in our opinion, and we feel that Kirkman is really hitting his stride now with issue #5 due out this week. The beauty of HAUNT is it celebrates the fun you can have with comics. It brings you back to when you were 13, and you found yourself saying “THAT’S SICK!!”, but at the same time, it’s got a very well-written story that keeps you interested, and doesn’t come off as one-dimensional. It’s this combination of a visceral fun read, with a well-paced, and well-crafted storyline that makes HAUNT so damn good. Oh, and the art is crucial. :)

What’s Haunt all about? HAUNT is the story of two brothers. Kurt and Daniel Kilgore. Daniel, a catholic priest, is estranged from his brother Kurt, a government agent. When Kurt gets murdered, due to his mission, and his refusal to follow the agenda of it completely, soemthing goes wrong. He’s still on this plane, as a ghost, and as his brother Daniel, is about to be murdered in connection to Kurt, Kurt posesses him, and the two bond.. forming HAUNT. The two begin a bloody path to find out the mysteries behind Kurt’s murder, and also how to protect themselves and any of their loved ones from being hurt in the crossfire. And, this is just the first story arc.

Why we love it? On the surface, the plot sounds like it could be a little one dimensional, but that’s the beauty of HAUNT. Kirkman takes an ages old concept (two brothers who hate each other, one dies, the other takes vengeance), and adds depth, and a compelling storyline to it, which makes everything seem fresh. The art and story mesh together perfectly, and each issue is a literal breakneck joyride from cover to cover. The book is violent as hell, which adds to the hyper-kinetic visceral appeal the series has. And, the plot, and characterization are just plain great. The story behind Kurt and Daniel continues to flesh out with each issue, making for a more compelling relationship between the two brothers. The supporting cast, as well as the “bad guys” of the series also gain more depth as things go on. Another reason why we love it? Every issue is packed with those moments that evoke that teenage excitement of a stack of comics, and Slayer albums, where you just go “dude.. that’s awesome.” The way that Kirkman is exploring the character’s powers is pretty damn cool, and there’s many moments when it comes down to that.

Want to Catch Up? We currently have HAUNT issues #1-4 all well-stocked here at Third Eye, so if you’re interested in hopping on, we got you covered.

ADVENTURE COMICS #7 *WHAT WOULD BLACK LANTERN SUPERBOY DO?* FEATURING BLACK LANTERN SUPERBOY - A VERY SPECIAL BLACKEST NIGHT ISSUE EXPLORES BLACKEST NIGHT’S EFFECTS ON CONNOR KENT!

Blackest Night continues to deliver some of the best stuff on the stands. The conclusion to last week’s BLACKEST NIGHT WONDER WOMAN was awesome, and that QUESTION one-shot rocked pretty hard too. And, now this week, we get to see a very cool one-shot issue of ADVENTURE COMICS featuring Connor Kent, Black Lantern. You might remember at the end of BLACKEST NIGHT 5, and then throughout BLACKEST NIGHT 6, many of the DCU’s characters who had previously returned from the grave (like Green Arrow, Superman, Wonder Woman, and yes, Superboy) were reclaimed by Nekron, and converted into BLACK LANTERNS.

Picking up on that plot thread, this week, in ADVENTURE COMICS #7, we get to see the very dark side of Superboy, as all the nasty stuff hiding beneath his subconcious comes to surface. And, according to the DCU Source blog, we learn a pretty nasty secret about Connor Kent that’s going to blow a lot of fans away. In addition, something big that’s supposed to significantly impact the character and his place in the DCU is supposed to happen in this issue as well.

All we know is that Adventure Comics has been one of our favorite new DCU titles since issue #1. Geoff Johns launched this series perfectly, and it’s continued to carry steam all the way through. We did think it may have jumped the shark a little with Superboy Prime, but now that they’ve gotten back to focusing on Connor Kent, it’s picking back up a lot of steam. PLUS, it’s Blackest Night this week, and it’s one of the coolest Blackest Night angles we’ve seen: what does the corrupting influence of Nekron do when it taints heroes who already escaped death once?

Click here to read more about ADVENTURE COMICS #7 FEATURING BLACK LANTERN SUPERBOY

SECRET SIX #18 *BLACKEST NIGHT*CONCLUDES THE SECRET SIX / SUICIDE SQUAD BLACKEST NIGHT SAGA! FIND OUT WHY SECRET SIX IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE DC BOOKS!

Secret Six has really turned into one of my favorite DC titles over the last year and a half. Gail Simone proves that she’s one of the best “team book” writers in the biz, and especially excels at working with characters that have been out of the spotlight for a bit. Her characterization of the members of Secret Six is dead on, and has fleshed out this team as a very cool, very solid line-up. The concept of taking a line-up of assorted DC supervillains, and neutral characters, and using them as a last resort kind of team.

The current story arc that’s been going down is a crossover with the predecessors of Secret Six, the Suicide Squad. Gail Simone has teamed up with the original Suicide Squad writer, John Ostrander, to tell this tale, and set against the backdrop of BLACKEST NIGHT, it’s been great.

Suicide Squad #67 is where it begins with the original Suicide Squad, featuring characters like Bronze Tiger, Amanda Waller, and more, going head to head with the Secret Six… and the common theme? Deadshot. A prominent member of both teams, and both teams want him. Of course, there needs to be a reason for why this book carries the Blackest Night banner, and it’s in the shape of old school DC villain, The Fiddler. Yes. The Fiddler. Seriously. But, it works, we swear!

The story continues in SECRET SIX #17, and admittedly, feels much smoother than the rocky start of SUICIDE SQUAD #67. Gail Simone’s quirky characterization of the Secret Six really shines here, against the backdrop of the Black Lantern invasion. The brutality of the Black Lanterns is really taken up quite a few notches in both this and Suicide Squad 67, showing us some of the creepiest, most intense actions by the Black Lanterns yet. They’re savage as hell, and haven’t shown vicious streaks like this since Blackest Night #1. Caliafore’s art really brings the Lanterns to life.

This week, the storyline concludes in the pages of SECRET SIX #18 *BLACKEST NIGHT*, and all that needs to be said is Amanda Waller is unleashing a Manhunter on the Black Lanterns.

If you missed Suicide Squad 67, or Secret Six 17, don’t worry, we still have plenty of both in stock.

MESMO DELIVERY GRAPHIC NOVEL ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY, AND DELIVERS ONE OF THE BEST LOOKING NEW STORIES I’VE SEEN! EX-BOXERS, ELVIS IMPERSONATORS,  AND SOME INCREDIBLE ART!

One thing that I take pride in here at Third Eye is we have a pretty good eye for new talent, and finding those real gems that could be often overlooked amongst the sensory overload of the monthly PREVIEWS catalog. The most recent of these killer finds, is the graphic novel MESMO DELIVERY by Rafael Grampa. This is something that I’ve been excited about since I first heard about it last year. The artwork is INCREDIBLE looking, and reminds me of a cross between Geoff Darrow and Paul Pope. And, the story concept sounds AWESOME.

What’s MESMO DELIVERY about? Mesmo Delivery is about a don’t ask, don’t tell delivery service that employs Sangrecco, an aging Elvis impersonator, and a retired boxer named Russo. From there, we follow the pair as they descend into a gritty, grungy hell of shady deals, and shadier characters. There’s some very cool storyline twists, and turns, so we’re trying not to say too much about the plot, because it’s one of those stories that pulls you in, and takes you to some very unexpected places. It’s a very cool action/horror kind of vibe that the book carries.  It almost reminds you of something like Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction, with the level of violence and consequences that apply to it.

Why we love it? Well, first off.. the artwork is INCREDIBLE. I mean, I think most of you guys can tell that I tend to pay more attention to writers than artists, but I do appreciate good art, and dude, Rafael Grampa has got it. The characters in the book are ugly, but in that noble way, where you can almost hear the sounds of Johnny Cash playing in the background as they crash through their twisted world. The characters are over-the-top, but the dialogue helps keep them grounded in believability. From the story, to the art, to the whole aesthetic of the book in general.. we can’t talk enough good about MESMO.

MESMO DELIVERY kind of feels like a weird cross between SCALPED and THE GOON. Gritty as hell, hardcore to the max, but, also, very much over-the-top. We can’t recommend this one enough folks, check it out this week!

Click here to read a preview of MESMO DELIVERY!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #620 *THE GAUNTLET PT 9* THE RETURN OF MYSTERIO CONCLUDES HERE!

The Gauntlet storyline that’s been running through Spider-man has been top notch all the way through. There’s just something that’s cool about getting Spidey back to his roots, and reintroducing all the classic Spider-man villains we all grew up with. From the very start with the new twist on Electro, up through the new Rhino… it’s been good reads all the way through.

What is the Gauntlet? The Gauntlet is an over-arching themed storyline that’s running through AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. It began in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #512, and has consisted of two and three issue mini-story arcs reintroducing many of Spide-man’s deadliest classic Rogues (Sandman, Electro, Rhino, ect). The whole thing is leading up to the return of the Sinister Six, and is kind of a way of wearing Spidey down one by one, for the devastation that The Sinister Six will deliver en masse.

Want to catch up on THE GAUNTLET? Click here for the Third Eye Gauntlet Checklist. All issues are currently in stock here at Third Eye!

Now, onto the current story arc.. Mysterio! The reintroduction of MYSTERIO has been pretty badass, and the character is as vicious as he’s ever been. This Wednesday, we see the third and final chapter of Mysterio’s “introduction arc.” Marcos Martin’s artwork in this arc has been incredible, and Dan Slott has been able to deliver a very fresh, fast storyline that has kept us interested. In fact, I think that’s part of what has made the GAUNTLET so good is the rotating arcs have featured different creative team, giving each classic Spidey villain their own distinct feel, and energy. In other words, what works for Sandman, may not work for Rhino, and so on. We haven’t seen much of Mysterio, other than him acting as a behind-the-scenes puppet master, but we’re expecting in this week’s issue to see what’s up with his motivations, and renewed interest in the wallcrawler.

Click here for a preview of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #620

HELLBLAZER: PANDEMONIUM GRAPHIC NOVEL ARRIVES WEDNESDAY! BRAND NEW STORY! ORIGINAL WRITER JAMIE DELANO RETURNS TO CONSTANTINE WITH LOSERS ARTIST JOCK!

As long-time Hellblazer fans, we’re very excited about the news of original series writer, Jamie Delano, returning to Constantine’s world again. And, even better, is he’s paired up with the incredibly talented Jock for the art duties on the book. And, even better than better, is that the plot behind this new original graphic novel featuring everyone’s favorite con artist sounds pretty damn cool.

First off, Delano takes Constatine to a place he’s never been: Iraq. The ultimate anti-authoritorian, Constantine, has been somehow convinced (or coerced) by government agents to be their interrogation expert on a P.O.W who’s been driving all the other interrogators mad with some form of magic.

Delano carefully crafts a tale where the politics don’t get in the way of the story, but are still made relevant in regards to Constantine and his world. The real cool aspect of Constantine’s new surroundings is all of the interesting occultism, and mysticism that hasn’t really been explored that deeply before in the pages of Hellblazer.

Jock’s artwork fits the story perfectly, making it so you can almost feel the oppressive sunlight beating down on you, and feel the sand stinging your face. His art, and Delano’s story makes a perfect match, and the end result is a damn good Hellblazer story. Probably one of the best ones we’ve seen in a few years.

Click here for a preview of HELLBLAZER PANDEMONIUM

WARREN ELLIS’S NEXTWAVE ULTIMATE AGENTS OF H.A.T.E
COLLECTION TRADE PAPERBACK OUT THIS WEEK! ONE OF ELLIS’S BEST! HILARIOUS, WHACKED OUT, OVER-THE-TOP SUPERHERO SCI-FI MARVEL MADNESS!



Back in 2006, one of the best damn Marvel comics of this past decade was released. A rare fusion of over-the-top superhero awesomeness, twisted humor, bigger than life sci-fi madness, and of course, a generous helping of the inimitable Warren Ellis, Nextwave quickly rose to the top as one of those books that many comic fans hadn’t read, but anyone who had.. LOVED IT. Not just loved it, but we were fanatical about it. Talking about it in reverant tones. And now, after a couple years of the first volume trade paperback of this series being out of print, Marvel has put the complete series (volumes 1 and 2 of the trade paperbacks) together in one giant slab of awesome. So, lets talk a little about what the heck NEXTWAVE: AGENTS OF H.A.T.E is all about.

WHAT IS NEXTWAVE? NEXTWAVE was a series that was written in two issue story arcs.  Each issue starting with a humorous F.A.Q in which the questions are answered in enthusiastic, over-the-top, marketing language that goes into some strange and disturbing territories. This also helps introduce the characters to readers, as well as fleshing out the world for first-time readers. The actual NEXTWAVE team, AGENTS OF H.A.T.E, is composed of several minor, third-string Marvel characters, like  Monica Rambeau, the former Captain Marvel, Tabitha Smith, formerly known as Boom Boom / Meltdown from X-FORCE, Aaron Stack, the Machine Man, Elsa Bloodstone, the Monster Hunter, and a brand new character only known as The Captain (formerly known as CAPTAIN ####, but apparently the words were so horrible that, allegedly, Captain America beat the hell out of him, and left him in a dumpster with a bar of soap in his mouth). This team are known as H.A.T.E, which stands for Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort, and are tasked with fighting U.W.M.D (Unusual Weapons of Mass Destruction). Once the team finds out they’re funded by S.I.L.E.N.T, a terrorist group, they pack their bags, and hightail it in the Shockwave Rider. They fly around, getting into messes, destroying U.W.M.Ds S.I.L.E.N.T has planted all around the country as H.A.T.E commander Dirk Anger (a parody of NICK FURY) pursues them.
The U.W.M.Ds include Fin Fang Foom, Broccoli Men, Ultra-Samurai, and the Mindless Ones.

Why We Love NEXTWAVE? Warren Ellis once described his process on NEXTWAVE as being the Authtority stripped of all logic, and insanity. He said it’s an absolute distillation of the superhero genre, and said that he was going for a series that was 100%, pure, unadulterated comic book mayhem and fun. People kicking people, and exploding.  And, this, this is why we love NEXTWAVE. It’s funny as hell, violent as hell, and has an insane energy that literally leaps off of each and every page. The dialogue, of course, is on point, and sharp as hell, with Ellis putting his distinct flavor on both that and the high-action storytelling. The characterization is quirky as hell, but awesome. Machine Man as an alcohol-chugging, human-hating jaded, bitter robot, Boom Boom talking in internet speak, and memes, and more make the cast really shine. And, then there’s the flashbacks, where we see characters like Captain America, Ulysses Bloodstone, and The Celestials acting comedically out of character. NEXTWAVE feels like a weird cross between bigger than life Silver Age MARVEL COMICS, post-modern superhero storytelling like THE AUTHORITY and the ULTIMATES, an internet forum where people post pictures of cats in zany messes, and a 16-bit shoot’em up video game.

In other words, NEXTWAVE is awesome.

This Wednesday, we’ll have the complete NEXTWAVE: AGENTS OF H.A.T.E ULTIMATE COLLECTION trade paperback available here at Third Eye, and if you just flat out enjoy good comics, we recommend picking it up.

CHOKER #1 *THIRD EYE CERTIFIED COOL* – BRAND NEW HARDBOILED CRIME NOIR MINI-SERIES FROM BEN TEMPLESMITH (artist on FELL, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, ect). FANS OF FELL CHECK THIS OUT!

One of our favorite artists here at THIRD EYE is BEN TEMPLESMITH. He’s done an incredible amount of stuff, including the modern classic series FELL, the horror series that spawned a franchise 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, the DEAD SPACE comics, and much, much more. His style is unique, fresh, and very cool.. and it’s a perfect fit for crime noir series, as showcased by FELL.

This is why we’re so freakin’ stoked about his brand new series CHOKER from IMAGE COMICS. The story of CHOKER features Johnny “CHOKER” Jackson, who was once one of SHOTGUN CITY’s most promising police officers, and is now a bitter private detective. And, now he’s been offered his job back on the force, provided he can nail a twisted drug dealer that’s selling a very exclusive product. Oh, and he’s got a terrible case of something called Alien Hand Syndrome.

Judging from the preview pages we’ve seen, this one looks very promising as an exploration of a dirty, filthy city brimming with corruption and despair. The perfect setting for a good crime noir comic. And, while the premise does seem very familiar, considering we’re all very big fans of FELL, we’re sure it’s got a much different twist than Fell, not to mention the storytelling of FELL is very much dependant upon the unique format Ellis uses for it. In other words, this is a fresh new crime noir book that is going to kick seven different kinds of ass. Templesmith has proven in the past he’s got a good knack for plotting, and his artwork speaks for itself.

Check out a preview of CHOKER #1 by clicking here.

GRANT MORRISON’S ALL-STAR SUPERMAN VOLUME 2 TRADE PAPERBACK AVAILABLE WEDNESDAY AT THIRD EYE!

The second half of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s (the creative team that launched the current hit series, BATMAN AND ROBIN) ALL-STAR SUPERMAN arrives this Wednesday in softcover, and it’s definitely a big deal. While it’s been almost a year since the actual hardcover of ALL-STAR SUPERMAN v.2 arrived, we do know that some of you have been waiting for the second volume to hit softcover, and we’re sure you’re gonna be stoked to finish up this epic run.

Morrison’s ALL-STAR SUPERMAN is probably one of the best takes on the Man of Tomorrow we’ve ever read. This storyline came out back before Geoff Johns had shown us why Superman can be cool, and we can proudly say that this series was the first in opening the door to us really appreciating the character of SUPERMAN. From the storytelling to the artwork, it’s top notch all the way through. Not familiar with ALLSTAR SUPERMAN? Here’s the skinny..

What’s ALL-STAR SUPERMAN all about? Grant Morrison did something that, at the time, was impossible. He showed us how cool the Silver Age was, and how cool those concepts could be. In this 12 issue limited series, Morrison stripped the Man of Steel down to his timeless, iconic appeal, and showed us why he is one of the best comic book characters of all time. The story? Superman is dying of what is essentially a super-cancer, and each issue deals with him tying up his affairs and leaving the world in the best shape possible that he can.

Basically, when a team of scientists on a mission to explore the sun ends up in danger, Superman swoops in to save the day from a genetically enhanced clone of Lex Luthor. Luthor, of course, has orchestrated all of this to overwhelm Superman’s cells with a massive amount of solar radiation, giving him the power to project his bioelectric aura, but also overloading his cells.. and leaving him with one year to live. Superman hides his impending death from the public, but embarks on a 12 issue journey to wrap up his affairs. Moments ranging from his reveal of his secret identity to Lois, and the design of a “Super” suit for her to be like him for a day, to the death of Pa Kent, all make for very heart-touching moments in Superman lore. The series more or less takes the Silver Age quirkiness of the old Superman comics, and puts a modern day spin on it, making for a really cool read. You see that some of the things that make Superman great are the bigger than life scenarios he ends up finding himself in. The story is all set within it’s own continuity, allowing Morrison to do exactly what he wishes with the story, and making the story stand alone as a solid piece of storytelling.

Simply put, this is one of the best Superman stories of all time, and even if you HATE the character.. we guarantee that by the end of the first chapter of the first trade paperback, you’ll end up in love with the whole concept of Superman and the world he exists in.

ALL-STAR SUPERMAN volume 1 trade paperback is currently in stock now at Third Eye, and volume 2 will be available in softcover this Wednesday.

“WONDERLAND” PUBLISHERS ZENESCOPE UNVEIL NEW SERIES: SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY ILLUSTRATED #1 THIS WEDNESDAY!

The fine folks at Zenescope who’ve brought you twisted renditions of the Alice in Wonderland sagas, and now currently, with their dark take on the world of NEVERLAND, have brought us a brand new series in addition to their library, in the shape of SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY ILLUSTRATED. This new series takes classic Sci-Fi and Fantasy stories, and ideas, but adds a brand new twist to them, and of course, the killer cutting edge artwork of Zenescope’s impressive roster of artists.

It looks to be a throwback to the old pulp fiction tales of way back when, but with a modern twist, and judging from Zenescope’s track record on stuff like Wonderland, and Grimm Fairy Tales, this one should be a fun, tongue-in-cheek twist on some great sci-fi yarns.

PUNISHERMAX #4 CONTINUES JASON AARON’S (writer of SCALPED) BRUTAL, UNRELENTING RUN ON THE PUNISHER! THE BEST PUNISHER RUN SINCE GARTH ENNIS’S MAX RUN CONTINUES! ENTER: BULLSEYE!

Every issue of Jason Aaron’s new run on PUNISHERMAX takes the level of brutality up another notch. We thought he couldn’t top issue #2, but he totally did with some of the ridiculous, brutality that was in issue #3. We were definitely of the school of thought that when Garth Ennis’s character-defining 60 issue run on PUNISHER ended, there wasn’t much left to  say, but we were wrong. Aaron has taken the ball that Ennis left behid, and ran with it. The series feels like it’s picked up shortly after the end of Ennis’s run, and carries the same tone perfectly.

In addition, Aaron has added a lot of interesting new dynamics to the world of PUNISHER MAX, including the introduction of characters like Kingpin into the gritty, realistic world of PUNISHER MAX.

For those of you unfamiliar with the world of PUNISHER MAX, it’s basically a separate continuity from the regular 616 Marvel Universe. There are no superpowers in this world, and the Punisher mostly goes head to head with real criminals ranging from the Mafia to Russian slavers to war criminals and more. Existing Marvel characters are introduced at some points, but they’re chosen only by being within the bounds of believability (i.e Kingpin, or Nick Fury), and their superhuman attributes are downplayed (no Nick Fury jetpacks, no Kingpin kung fu).

And, this is the perfect setting for a character like the Punisher, who’s portrayed as more of a lone sociopath, in the vein of Taxi Driver’s Travis Bickle, than a rocket-launcher toting superman.

And, in this week’s latest issue of PUNISHERMAX, it looks like we might be seeing just how the MAX version of Bullseye operates. Should be awesome.

Wanna catch up on PUNISHER MAX? We currently have plenty of issues 1, 2 and 3 in stock here at Third Eye.

Click here for a preview of PUNISHERMAX #4

DAYTRIPPER #3 CONTINUES VERTIGO’S KILLER NEW SERIES!

One of the best new Vertigo series we’ve seen in some time is DAYTRIPPER from the team of Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba. This series, only three issues in, has proved to be one of the most poignant slice-of-life tales we’ve seen in quite some time… with a very cool twist on the everyday trials and tribulations of a young obituary writer who feels he’s not living up to the standards he’s set of himself.

I don’t want to give away too much for those of you who haven’t read the first issue yet, but it’s got a very shocking ending, and then from there goes into some very unexpected territory in issue #2. For those of you who did read #2, then you can see the direction the story’s taking, which while different from what I had expected.. is very cool.. showing us the past of the main character, Bras.

I think what’s kind of unique about Daytripper is also what makes it kind of hard to explain… it’s a complete mystery, but in a good way. The writing and art is so good that you almost could care less about what the story is ABOUT, and you just kind of let it pull you in, and carry you where the story’s going. Moon and Ba obviously have many surprises up their sleeves with this one, and we feel that each issue is going to continue to confirm what we thought from the start: this series is going to be something special.

If you’re not yet reading Daytripper, and enjoy stuff that captures the small moments in life well, while still weaving a compelling tale, then we highly recommend checking it out. We currently have plenty of issues #1, and issue #2 in stock, so catch up to issue #3 this week here at Third Eye.

Click here for a preview of DAYTRIPPER #3

THE ANCHOR #5 and THE ANCHOR TP v.1 (collecting issues 1-4, only $9.99) ARRIVE THIS WEEK FROM BOOM! (publishers of IRREDEEMABLE & INCORRUPTIBLE) – HELLBOY MEETS KAIJU MONSTER FIGHTING INSANITY!

One very cool, little sleeper book that started late last year was BOOM!’s ANCHOR ongoing series. This book has been a lot of fun, and takes a couple of standard comic book ideas (a holy avenger, a giant monster fighter, ect ect) and puts a fresh new spin on them. The story of the Anchor is that of a hulking beast of a man who was taken in by a monastery many years ago, and turned into what the series creators have called “God’s Leg Breaker.”

Basically, the Anchor lives a dual existence, half of him (his soul) in the Borderlands guarding Earth from Demons that try to escape to Earth, and the other half (his body) doing a very similar job for those demons that actually do escape to Earth. While at first look, you might think the series is just a Hellboy rip-off, but it’s really got it’s own thing going on. While Hellboy plays up more of a mystery, occultism angle, and exploration of folklore and myth, the Anchor is much more of a big hulking avenging monstrosity beating the snot out of giant monsters kind of thing.

The artwork makes the series pop, and the colors especially give the book a very fresh feel. It really feels like somebody took the elements of something like Hellboy, and crossed it with every Ultraman or Godzilla movie you could think of.

This week, Boom, who’s really built a solid reputation for itself on books like IRREDEEMABLE, and INCORRUPTIBLE, delivers both the first trade paperback of THE ANCHOR (collecting issues 1-4), and then the 5th issue, providing readers who may have not yet jumped onto the series the perfect time to hop aboard. All in all, it’s a really fun series, and if you’re into stuff like Hellboy, the Goon, or just a fan of seeing giant monsters getting the hell out beat out of them, then we recommend it. Great art, great story, this one’s definitely an overlooked gem.

Click here for a preview of THE ANCHOR #5

X-MEN: PIXIE STRIKES BACK FEATURES FAN-FAVORITE X-CHICKS X-23, ARMOR, AND PIXIE!

This one caught my eye, because of two things: 1) The cover is great. Stuart Immonen does some of the best covers, seriously. 2) It’s featuring three X-Characters that are what I’d consider relatively new (all three being created during the 2000s), and all three being pretty cool characters. It’s funny too, because just the other night I was having a conversation with someone here at the shop about how the X-Books always try to shoehorn in new characters, and very rarely do they stick. Well, looking at the cover of this book, it looks like I’ve proven myself wrong, because X-23, Armor, and Pixie are all “new” characters that not only have “stuck” but have really won over loyal fan-followings.

Personally, I dig X-23. I think she’s a great character, and when she was first introduced, I thought I’d hate the character, but it turned out that the writers behind her had a good idea, and it worked. And, then Armor, of course, is also a very cool character, who by the end of Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men run, had won me over. Plus, you’ve got Pixie, who a lot of fans really dig, Mercury, and Blindfold, who’re also both pretty cool.

Anyways, what the hell is this one all about you’re probably wondering? Well, it’s a 4 issue limited series where this rag-tag bunch of X-Girls face something they’re not exactly prepared for: High School. Kathryn Immonen did a great job I thought writing the Hellcat mini last year, so it should be cool to see how this one plays out.

Click here for a preview of X-MEN: PIXIE STRIKES BACK #1

Staff Picks
Steve – DEMO #1 – This was AWESOME. It was a strong tie between this and SIEGE #2, but I figured since Torma was already doing SIEGE 2, this would win out. The first issue of DEMO delivered everything I hoped, and it shows why Brian Wood is one of the greats.
Trish – Legends: Enchanted - This was awesome! Jack rides a motorcycle powered by giant blood. Red Riding Hood’s a monster hunter. A real cool steampunk horror take on fairy-tale worlds.
Torma – SIEGE #2 - TOTAL MAYHEM. This is one of the best comics Ive read this year so far. I’ve always liked the Sentry, but this issue proves why he’s such a badass.
Matt – The Boys #39- One of the best issues in this series yet. This book continues to be one of my favorites every month.

GREEN LANTERN #50 *BLACKEST NIGHT* HAL JORDAN vs. the BLACK LANTERN SPECTRE! ATROCITUS RISES TO POWER! ALL THE COLOR SPECTRUMS UNITE! SPECIAL DOUBLE-SIZED ISSUE!

The biggest issue of GREEN LANTERN yet is hitting the stands this week with the double-sized 50th issue of the series penned by Geoff Johns, and illustrated by Doug Mahnke. All I can say, folks, is that this one is going to be EPIC. The solicitations aren’t revealing much, but from where we’ve seen the story going in both Green Lantern and Blackest Night, it looks like some big stuff will be going down in this issue. Plus, it’s an issue 50, and you know with hallmark books like GL, they pull out all stops for the 50th issue. Ontop of all that, each and every issue of GREEN LANTERN has served as a very special in-between story, filling in the gaps between issues of Blackest Night. After the events of BLACKEST NIGHT #6, I think you guys are just as eager as I am to see what’s going to be going down in this one.

From what the solicits do say, it looks like Hal Jordan will be going head to head with the Black Lantern Spectre, who you know, as the friggin’ spirit of God’s wrath, is pretty unbeatable already. As a Black Lantern? He’s going to be impossible. How is Hal going to tackle this, and what does the cover of GL tease with him done up in some VERY familiar looking armor mean? Is Hal going back to the way of Parallax? There’s also some mention of Atrocitus finding new means of power that will make him the most powerful of the Lanterns. All I know is that this issue is going to be packing some big punches, and we cannot wait to see what they are.

Each, and every issue of Green Lantern has been building on the Blackest Night story in a very substantial and meaningful way, and if you’re reading the main series, then you really need to be checking out the Green Lantern issues as well. They basically serve as Blackest Night 1.5, Blackest Night 2.5, Blackest Night 3.5, ect ect… very cool way of keeping things going, and expanding on important things in the storyline and keeping key elements from being glossed over in the main book.

Click here to see some rough preview pages of GREEN LANTERN #50!

BATMAN AND ROBIN #7 BEGINS “IN BLACKEST KNIGHT”… Does Black Hand really have Bruce Wayne’s skull? The road to this spring’s “Return of Bruce Wayne” storyline begins here!

And, as if DC wasn’t already dishing out one huge, monumental issue wasn’t enough, we’re also getting the start of what will probably be the biggest story arc yet in Grant Morrison’s red hot Batman & Robin series. Ever since the very beginning of BLACKEST NIGHT, everyone has been wondering just what the hell is up with that skull Blackhand has been carrying around and claiming as Bruce Wayne’s. And, then after the events of BLACKEST NIGHT #5 where Batman was momentarily resurrected as a Black Lantern, and then put back to rest… we’ve all been puzzled as to just what the deal is. Well, now, these questions are beginning to be answered in this very special three-part story arc that begins in this week’s BATMAN AND ROBIN #7, and it could only be titled none other than “In Blackest Knight.”

While Morrison has said that his series would not be carrying the banner of Blackest Night, because he does enjoy keeping everything contained to the pages of just BATMAN AND ROBIN, he has said that it takes influence and plot-threads from the atmosphere of Blackest Night. The biggest one being: Where does the supposedly-deceased (or lost in time) Bruce Wayne exist in this environment? The book is also going to be featuring every prominent current Bat-character you can think of, ranging from big characters like Batwoman to obscure favorites like Knight and Squire (the English equivalents of Batman).

Why we’re stoked? Well, as if we haven’t given you reason enough already as to why we’re pumped, with all the mention above about what it’s all about.. this is simply put going to be one of the best story arcs in one of the best Batman runs we’ve ever seen. I mean, Batman and Robin already exists as one of the major top tier favorites here at Third Eye, and each issue is guaranteed, quality reading, but from the way Morrison has described this “In Blackest Knight” storyline… we feel that this could be a nice slice of Bat-history unfolding right before our eyes. AND, ontop of all that, it leads into the increasingly anticipated “Return of Bruce Wayne – Fight Through Time” storyline that will be launching this Spring. Add in the involement of Black Hand, and the atmosphere of Blackest Night, plus the teased reveal of what’s going on with Batman’s skull in Black Hand’s grasp.

Knight and Squire? Another reason why I’m stoked about this arc is the involvement of Knight and Squire, the UK equivalent of Batman and Robin. These characters originally appeared way back in the Silver Age, and Morrison first brought them back in his classic run of JLA back in the ’90s (JLA #26, collected now in JLA v.5: JUSTICE FOR ALL) and given more showtime as members of the Ultramarine Corps in Grant Morrison and Ed McGuinness’s often overlooked, but killer JLA: Ultramarine Corps (available now in trade paperback at Third Eye) story arc. Most of you might remember them from the recent BLACK GLOVE storyline (BATMAN: THE BLACK GLOVE TPB). Out of all the members of the “International League of Batmen”, Knight and Squire are my personal favorites, and their involvement in recent happenings throughout the DCU has been very cool to see.

Knight, an “English Batman” who can’t handle the death of his father, and blows his inheritance on booze, drugs, and women, and ends up being dragged out of his self-destructive spiral by a tough, working class girl, is very intriguing. It’s a really cool dynamic to see between the two, and there’s definitely an Avengers (the Emma Peel AVENGERS) and even a little bit of a Doctor Who vibe to the dynamic between Knight and Squire, and it really makes them stand out as some of my favorite supporting DCU characters now.

All in all, this is a must-read story arc, and even if you’ve yet to jump onboard with Morrison’s awesome Batman and Robin series, we highly recommend jumping in with issue #7, and checking out this arc.

If you’ve yet to check out Morrison’s incredible re-invention of the Batman and Robin dynamic with BATMAN AND ROBIN, we currently have all issues, 1-6, in stock now at Third Eye, for you to catch up with.

Click here to read more about BATMAN AND ROBIN #7
Click here to read an interview with about the “Blackest Knight” storyline that begins this week in Batman and Robin #7

THE SIEGE CONTINUES IN NEW AVENGERS #61 *SIEGE*,and AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32 *SIEGE* STEVE ROGERS RETURNS TO THE AVENGERS THIS WEEK!

I gotta say, I am super impressed so far with the SIEGE tie-ins that have hit. Each one so far has done a fantastic job of not just being relevant to the overall SIEGE storyline, but truly making the books and characters they’ve spotlighted feel important, and integral to the overall scheme of things in SIEGE. Granted, there’s only been a couple to hit the racks so far, but each one has delivered big time. Way better than past tie-ins to Marvel major events.

And, before I go forward in talking about this week’s round of SIEGE awesomeness, let me tell you… check out last week’s DARK AVENGERS #13 *SIEGE* and DARK WOLVERINE #82 *SIEGE*, both of these were very pleasant surprises. Dark Avengers #13 took a character I’ve had nearly zero interest in, the Sentry, and revealed the REAL origin of the character and how he fits into the scheme of things with SIEGE and Norman Osborn, and by doing so… they have made me dig the Sentry a hundred times more than I did before. I don’t want to spoil anything, because I know some of you have yet to read this one, but, the origin Bendis has laid out for the Sentry gives him potential to become one of the coolest flawed characters, or over-the-top supervillain. There’s just so many layers to the character, and his whiny, obnoxious demeanor now makes complete sense. As for DARK WOLVERINE #82, the character of Daken also became a thousand times more interesting for me as well. Again, a character that just never clicked with me, I found myself digging Daken a little bit more with his inclusion on the DARK AVENGERS, but, after seeing those last three pages of DARK WOLVERINE #82… he’s much cooler now in my eyes. Now, what happened in those pages, is a HUGE spoiler, and I don’t want to drop it, because it’s a good payoff. But, dude, they really knocked things up a notch with Daken, his place in the Marvel U, and his place in Norman Osborn’s world.. you will be surprised!

Now, lets talk about the books coming out this week that carry the SIEGE banner.
NEW AVENGERS #61 *SIEGE*
First off, we’ve got the next installment of NEW AVENGERS (a consistent Marvel favorite around here), with NEW AVENGERS #61. Again, Marvel reveals very little in the solicits for this issue, but just like with last week’s DARK AVENGERS, and DARK WOLVERINE, we’re expecting some pretty big surprises. What we do know is that this issue features a newly returned Steve Rogers Captain America and his reunion with the AVENGERS. Who does he trust? Who does he count amongst his closest allies in this grave new world? It’s time to see how Marvel’s greatest hero kicks some ass in the face of the God-Killer, Norman Osborn. Click here for a preview of NEW AVENGERS #61

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32 *SIEGE*



The issue preceding this, AVENGERS INITIATIVE *SIEGE PRELUDE* surprised the hell outta me! I haven’t really followed the Initiative book that closely for a few months, because honestly, I just wasn’t digging it. However, the SIEGE tie-in, and the inclusion of one of my favorite B-listers, TASKMASTER, piqued my curiousity as well. Man, was I impressed! It was a very cool look at how the “average” supervillain views their place in the world, and portrayed Taskmaster as your everyman supervillain who just wants to make some cash, and meet beautiful women… and now he’s been roped into Osborn’s Cabal of heavy-hitters, and is getting charred to a crisp by the likes of Dr. Doom!

This SIEGE tie-in that takes place this week in AVENGERS THE INITIATIVE #32 sees Tasksmaster, and many other supervillains just like him being thrown up against the combined forces of THOR, and the immortal Gods of Asgard. This is a little more than they had bargained for when they thought serving as Osborn’s second wave of super-powered goons was a sweet gig.It should be a pretty cool issue, and if the characterization and writing in issue #31 was any indication, it’ll be a really well-written, well-shaped issue. Click here for a preview of AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32

GEOFF JOHNS WRITES “BACK FROM THE DEAD” BLACKEST NIGHT ONE-SHOT ATOM & HAWKMAN #46 THIS WEEK, AND IT LOOKS KILLER!  INDIGO LANTERN ATOM vs. BLACK LANTERN HAWKMAN AND HAWKGIRL!

The “Back from the Dead” one-shots that’ve been carrying the story forward in BLACKEST NIGHT this month have been pretty cool. There’s been a couple where I’ve questioned their involvement, but overall, there’s been some really good reads to come out of these. My favorites so far? Starman, of course, Power of Shazam, and the Suicide Squad/Sinister Six arc.

But, the big one is this week’s ATOM AND HAWKMAN #46, and it’s got us stoked for more than just one reason. First off, it’s being written by GEOFF JOHNS, the man behind BLACKEST NIGHT and GREEN LANTERN. And, then, it’s got an up and coming artist by the name of Ryan Sook rocking the art duties. If you haven’t seen Sook’s pencils, you should look him up, he’s actually pretty good, and I’m hoping that this is the book that gives him some exposure.

But, most importantly, it’s Geoff Johns exploring the fates of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, who we saw killed in the pages of BLACKEST NIGHT #1. It’s no secret that Johns has a soft-spot for these characters, as one of his earliest DC works was the killer Hawkman run he and Rags Morales did. It’s going to be very cool to see where he takes things with this one-shot, and the spin that he puts on two characters who have a huge part of their backstory based around the whole death and resurrection concept.

Ontop of all that, it features the Atom, who is now part of the INDIGO TRIBE, who’s being hunted by Black Lantern Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Personally, after the big events of BLACKEST NIGHT #6, I’m anxious to see all the different characters who were given rings, and while I’m a little more jazzed on Scarecrow as a Yellow Lantern and Lex Luthor as an Orange Lantern, it’s still pretty damn cool to see the results of Atom being inducted into the Indigo Tribe explored.

Click here to read more about BLACKEST NIGHT ATOM & HAWKMAN #46

Have you been following all the Blackest Night “Back from the Dead” one-shots? Each one is the next issue after the “final” issues of many series that were cut down in their prime, giving these books one more chance to tell their stories, and casting the Blackest Night shadow on every corner of the DCU.

In case you’ve missed any of them, we currently have all of the “Back from the Dead” Blackest Night checklists in stock, here’s a list of what’s been released:
The Power of Shazam! #48 by Eric Wallace
- The Question #37 by Greg Rucka
- Suicide Squad #67 by John Ostrander and Gail Simone
- Phantom Stranger #42 by Peter Tomasi
- Catwoman #83 by Fabian Nicieza
- The Atom and Hawkman #46 by Geoff Johns
- Weird Western Tales #71 by Dan DiDio
- Starman #81 by James Robinson

KICK-ASS #8 CONCLUDES MARK MILLAR (WRITER OF OLD MAN LOGAN) AND JOHN ROMITA JR’S ULTRAVIOLENT, YET HUMOROUS TAKE ON THE WORLD OF COSTUMED VIGILANTES!

The finale to Mark Millar and John Romita JR’s ultra-violent, yet humorous real-world take on costumed vigilantes arrives this Wednesday, after much delay. And, even though it’s been almost five months since issue #7… we couldn’t be more stoked. And, of course, there’s the little fact that the trailers have been showing up everywhere for KICK-ASS these days, and they look… AWESOME.

For those of you who’ve been following KICK-ASS, then the series needs no explanation. For those of you who haven’t, we’d recommend waiting, because the graphic novel will be hitting in a week or so, and the early issues of this series have been out of print and impossible to get a hold of since last summer.

What’s the scoop on Kick-Ass? Meet Dave Lizewski, an ordinary high school student who loves comic books. He loves ‘em so much he uses them as inspiration to become a costumed crime-fighter. After buying a wetsuit on eBay, and turning that into his superhero costume, he goes out, and ends up getting his ass kicked. Like, really bad. So bad, they put him in the hospital, and it takes him months to recover. He gets out of the hospital, swears off the idea of fighting the good fight, burns all of his comics, but…. something just won’t let him give it up. He goes out, one more time, in costume, and sees a guy getting beaten by a few guys. He tries to interfere, and they blow him off… so he pulls out his batons, and starts wailing on these guys from behind. And, every single person witnessing this begins to record it on their phones. And, an internet celebrity sensation is born, as the video is uploaded to YouTube, Facebook, and so forth. He’s dubbed KICK-ASS by the world, and uses his newfound confidence to continue his crime-fighting career. Of course, his second time out.. he ends up getting into a bigger mess, and that’s when Hit Girl comes into the picture. A 10 year old girl slicing dudes apart with Katana swords. And, that’s when we find out there’s more than just one costumed amateur crimefighter out there taking out bad guys.

The book is violent, and is fueled by a frenetic energy that makes each issue a fun, breakneck fast read. Mark Millar (OLD MAN LOGAN) demonstrates his knack for dialogue well, and the book is by far one of the most clever we saw last year. For those of you who’re already hooked, we know you’re gonna be eagerly awaiting this one, and for those of you who’ve yet to jump onboard, the graphic novel should be arriving next week.

Click here for a preview of KICK-ASS #8

CHEW #8 *INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR PT 3*CONTINUES THE BREAKOUT IMAGE SERIES OF 2009! ARE YOU READING THIS INCREDIBLE TAKE ON DETECTIVE PROCEDURALS MIXED WITH A LITTLE CANNIBALISM? IF NOT, GET CAUGHT UP THIS WEEK WITH CHEW VOLUME 1 TPB (1-5) FOR ONLY $9.99! THIRD EYE SPECIAL OFFER: TRY CHEW v.1 THIS WEEK, AND IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, BRING IT BACK FOR A FULL REFUND!

The second story arc of IMAGE’s best new series of 2009 continues this Wednesday, as we see Detective Chu tracking down a prize-winning fighting bird. One that’s impossible to defeat, and now that it’s missing, there’s some people who want Poyo (the feathered ass-kicker) back, and Detective Chu’s on the case. How does this tie in to the case Chu’s been working? I guess we’ll find out!

Click here for a preview of CHEW #8!

For those of you who haven’t yet tried CHEW, you have gotta check this series out. Even if you’re not normally a fan of the more off-the-wall books, you will be hooked on this one. It really is a great read, and combines killer art, and killer story to make for a compelling series.

What’s the scoop on CHEW? In a world where all poultry is illegal due to the outtbreak of Bird Flu, and an underground market has developed for the real thing, Detective Tony Chu exists. Chu, though, happens to be cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. He eats a hamburger? He sees the cow being killed. He eats an apple? He can smell the pesticides being sprayed on the trees. It makes his life very unpleasant, and because of that, he only eats beets. You can’t get a strong psychic residue from dirt. And, then, in the first chapter of CHEW, Chu is on a case with his partner, undercover, at a speak-easy that serves chicken. He has the soup, thinking it’ll be his safest bet, and he can’t blow his cover… and then he sees images of girls being killed. He can feel the killer nearby, charges into the kitchen, and well, lets just say, after that incident, the FDA (who is like the ATF in this world) hires Chu on to eat the remains of murder victims to determine how they died. Sound awesome, doesn’t it?

Try CHEW v.1: TASTER’S CHOICE TPB this week at Third Eye, and if you don’t like it, we’ll give you your money back!
Wanna hop onboard with CHEW? The first trade paperback collects issues 1-5, and we’ve got plenty of issues #6, and #7 to catch you up to where the series is currently. We have so much faith in this series, and we personally like it so much, that we’re pretty sure you’re gonna dig it. If you try the trade, and don’t like it, bring it back, and we’ll give you a full refund for it!

GEOFF JOHNS’S (BLACKEST NIGHT WRITER)SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN #4 CONTINUES THE BEST SUPERMAN STORY WE’VE READ IN YEARS!

Man, has this been a good mini-series or what? You know, it’s funny, a few years back, I was the least likely person you could find that’d be raving about a Superman title. The character never clicked for me, but then the combination of Grant Morrison’s incredible ALL-STAR SUPERMAN (available now in TPB here at Third Eye) and then later, Geoff Johns’s killer run on ACTION COMICS (collected in trades likeSUPERMAN: BRAINIAC, and SUPERMAN AND THE LEGION OF SUPERHEROES) got me hooked. I went back and rediscovered some of the great stories of yesteryear like John Bryne’s Man of Steel run, and Alan Moore’s take on the Man of Tomorrow, and I realized that Superman can be one of the coolest characters in superhero fiction when he’s written well. And, Geoff Johns gets that. He understands what makes the character appealing, he understands how to keep the iconic feel of the character while still adding a human, believable feel to the character. He realizes that what makes Superman so human is the fact that he’s not human at all, but from another planet.

The SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN series has been a great read, month after month, with the gorgeous pencils of GARY FRANK (who’s Superman resembles Christopher Reeves more than just a little bit), and the stellar writing of GEOFF JOHNS.

What’s the scoop? SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN is a six-issue limited series that re-introduces, and explores the origins of the Man of Steel, but with a 21st century spin. Essentially, it’s Johns showing us who Superman is, why he can be such a great character, and at the same time, developing the world around the character. Each issue seems to be focusing in on a key part of Superman’s life, we start issue #1 with him as an adolescent, first discovering his powers, and then having his origins revealed to him by Ma and Pa Kent. The second one showcases him as a teenager, and his first meeting with the Legion of Superheroes, who idolize him in the future, and the third, the best of the bunch, focuses on him as a young man in his early 20s, his first day in Metropolis and at the Planet, and a very iconic, first time revealing Superman to the world. Each issue shows the paralells that run between Superman and Lex Luthor, their upbringing, and how they’re getting to where we’ve all come to know them. We currently have all issues out so far, 1-3, well-stocked here at Third Eye, so if you haven’t yet jumped on, be sure to try the book this week, it’s REALLY good. Trust us, folks, this isn’t just a rehash of everything we already know… this is a 21st Century take on the MAN OF STEEL, and the superb characterization shows us why Geoff Johns is the man born to write this character.

This Week in Superman Secret Origin #4? We see the real turning point where Luthor decides it’s time to turn his priorities towards ridding the world of the Man of Steel. There’s hints of Parasite being introduced, as well as a look into his Kryptonian past.

Click here for a preview of SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #4

IRREDEEMABLE #10 CONTINUES TO BUILD ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING NEW SUPERHERO UNIVERSES WE’VE SEEN IN A VERY LONG TIME WITH MARK WAID’S “SUPERMAN GONE EVIL” STORYLINE!

Every single issue of IRREDEEMABLE makes this series better, and better. What could’ve been a simple, one-trick pony with the concept of a powerful superhero gone evil, has turned into a compelling new world being shaped by Mark Waid in the pages of Irredeemable, and now Incorruptible. Simply put, this is superhero awesomeness at it’s finest, and it just gets better with each issue.

The world of Irredeemable is one where the equivalent of SUPERMAN, The Plutonian, snaps after years of being taken for granted, betrayed, and abused by the very world he protects. Through series of flashbacks, we see small events that led to his descent into madness, and each issue, the story gets richer. Mark Waid is on point big time with this one, and he makes the story work, by building up the entire supporting cast, and world of the Plutonian. From his former team-mates, to his arch-enemies, the Plutonian’s world becomes more interesting with each issue.

If you haven’t yet tried IRREDEEMABLE, snag up the first trade paperback for just $10 here at Third Eye. We guarantee you’ll be hooked.

If you’re already aware of what is one of the greatest superhero books hitting the stands now, then we know you’re as anxious to see where things go with Modeus in this issue.

Click here for a preview ofIRREDEEMABLE #10

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #619 *THE GAUNTLET PT 8* THE NEWLY RETURNED, AND EXTRA-VICIOUS MYSTERIO CONTINUES HIS TORMENT OF THE WEBCRAWLER THIS WEDNESDAY IN WHAT’S BEEN THE BEST RUN OF SPIDEY IN RECENT MEMORY!

First off… this cover is AWESOME. Secondly, if you’re a Marvel fan, or a lapsed Spidey fan who fell off during the whole Mephisto nonsense, then you need to hop onboard AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. It has been one of the best returns in quality of a character that we have seen in a long time. The Rhino issue from two weeks ago proves that, and last week’s start of the Mysterio arc continued the trend.

What’s the Gauntlet?
The Gauntlet is an over-arching storyline that’s been running through AMAZING SPIDER-MAN since issue #612. It’s basically the re-introduction of many of Spidey’s classic Rogues Gallery, as they wear him down one by one, for the eventual return of an all-new, all-brutal Sinister Six. So far, each 2-3 issue arc has done wonders with reintroducing these classic villains, and adding a new level of excitement to the world of Spider-man. And, lets be real, Spidey’s Rogues Gallery is one of the best, up there with Batman’s.. it’s only fair to see these villains being given their due.
Click hereto read the checklist of titles associated with the GAUNTLET

Mysterio!
Last week in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #618, we saw the return of MYSTERIO to things, and I have to say, I like what they’ve done reintroducing him a lot. I think Mysterio, and the new Rhino are probably my favorites so far, and it looks like we’ve got some killer storytelling to look forward to in the next couple of chapters involving Mysterio. PLUS, Marco Martin is doing the art, and he is one of the most perfect fits for Spidey I think I’ve seen in quite some time. A very cool, retro-esque style that definitely fits the overall tone of where the Gauntlet has been heading.

Clickherefor a preview of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #619 *MYSTERIO PT 2*

BLACKEST NIGHT JSA #2 BLACK LANTERN LOIS LANE IN PURSUIT OF SUPERMAN?



The first issue of BLACKEST NIGHT JSA was a personal favorite for me because I have always been a big fan of the Justice Society. DC handles the idea of “legacy” characters so well, and JSA has always done a fantastic job of reflecting this. If you were reading Blackest Night Superman, you’re probably wondering where Earth-2 Lois Lane, now a Black Lantern, went… well she’s in the pages of BLACKES NIGHT JSA in pursuit of Black Lantern Superman. And, this can only mean one thing: Power Girl’s days could be numbered.

PLUS, a whole slew of classic JSA members have returned from the grave, and are hungry for pain, death and misery.

Click here to read more about BLACKEST NIGHT JSA #2

CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #6 CONCLUDES THE EPIC SAGA OF STEVE ROGER’S RETURN THIS WEDNESDAY!

The epic saga of Steve Rogers return concludes here this week in CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #6. We know, it’s a little late, considering both Cap #602, and Who Will Wield the Shield have already shipped, but while late titles suck, we’re glad Marvel decided to keep things progressing and didn’t let the delay on this one slow down everything else in the Marvel U (being that Rogers plays a big role in the currently ongoing SIEGE event).

This whole story arc though has been an incredible read from start to finsh, delivering the bigger than life pulp-fusion storytelling that makes Brubaker one of the best writers Cap’s ever had. And, in this issue, we see the events that precede CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD, and their effects on the future of the Marvel Universe. It’s the Cap and the Avengers vs. The Red Skull, and someone’s going to go down big time.

We’re excited to see where things are going now, considering that a good deal of Brubaker’s run on Cap has been spent developing the character of Bucky Barnes, and his place in the world as the replacement for Captain America. It should be interesting to see his handling of Steve Rogers, in a world that’s a few years removed from what Rogers remembers last (Civil War, ect).

If you haven’t yet checked out REBORN, we currently have the entire series in stock now at Third Eye, which includes CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #1-5 (and now #6), and the CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN: WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD one-shot.

Clickhere to read a preview of CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #6!

ROBERT KIRKMAN (writer of HAUNT and WALKING DEAD) debuts next PILOT SEASON one-shot this Wednesday with DEMONIC



When you’ve got Robert Kirkman writing a book, we tend to pay attention. The man behind some of our top Third Eye favorites like HAUNT, WALKING DEAD, and INVINCIBLE tends to not disappoint. And, after the killer success of his MURDERER one-shot, and it’s quick sellout at the publisher (c’mon TOP COW, give us a second printing!), we’re stoked to see what he has in store for us next.

This week, Kirkman’s going to be rolling out the next in his PILOT SEASON one-shots. Basically, the PILOT SEASON is a series of one-shots he’s writing where he’s doing one-shot “pilots”, and then letting the fans vote to see which one becomes a regular series. This week, it’s DEMONIC.

What’s the scoop on DEMONIC? When is murder justifiable? It’s justifiable to defend yourself, right? It’s justifiable if you’re defending your family, right?  But, is it justifiable if you’re killing in defense of yourself or family, AND to quench the thirst for souls of an ancient demon?

Meet Scott, a superpowered vigilante who kills bad guys. But, he’s not killing them out of his own vendetta for justice, but instead to quench the thirst of an ancient demon’s need for souls, or else he risks losing his family to that same very demon. Now, the question being asked here is: is the demon for real? Is Scott just a guy who’s mind was shattered by the weight of receiving superpowers, and uses the demon deal to explain his murders? And, a reason for his powers to exist.

Honestly, this one sounds freaking cool, and it’s Kirkman, so we know that the story is going to be way on point. Not to mention the interior art looks gorgeous by Joe Benitez.

Click here to read more about PILOT SEASON: DEMONIC

FROM THE FOLKS WHO BROUGHT YOU RETURN TO WONDERLAND, COMES A TWISTED RENDITION OF NEVERLAND IN THIS WEDNESDAY’S NEVERLAND #0! ONLY $1.99!

Here’s one that we’re pretty stoked about at Third Eye. The folks at Zenescope who’ve brought us their Grimm Fairy Tales & Wonderland sagas with a dark twist, are unveiling their next big series this Wednesday, and it’s exploring the mythology of Peter Pan, Neverland, and Captain Hook with a very dark twist. One thing we can almost guarantee sight unseen is that the artwork in this book will be stunning, because that’s one of the big things that Zenescope has become known for.

From what I’ve read of the series, it sounds like it may be an all-new take on the subject, going as far to possibly be casting Peter Pan as the actual villain in this rendition of Neverland. What we do know from Zenescope’s track record is they will apply a very different, and very dark twist to the Peter Pan mythos, and we’re pumped to see where it goes this week. Check it out this Wednesday at Third Eye for only $1.99!

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41 DEBUTS THE ALL-NEW JUSTICE LEAGUE LINE-UP AND ALL-NEW DIRECTION FEATURING DICK GRAYSON AS BATMAN, HAL JORDAN, DONNA TROY, AND MORE!



Another one I’m really excited to see this week is the first issue of Jame Robinson’s JLA featuring the all-new line-up. The JLA has such a long, rich history that it’s always interesting to see a new team brought in, and I’ve been enjoying James Robinson’s JLA enough that I have high hopes for this one. The line-up is interesting, and for the most part, is one that I think is pretty solid in terms of believability, impact on the DCU, and storyline potential. It’s a good mix of classics like Batman (albeit Dick Grayson), JLA mainstays like Green Arrow, heavy-hitters like Green Lantern, legacy characters moving up the ranks like Starfire, Cyborg, and Donna Troy, and then some oddballs like Dr. Light, The Guardian, and Congorilla.

Yes, I’m excited about a book featuring Congorilla. I know, I can’t believe it either.

Seriously though, this is a great opportunity to hope aboard JLA if you haven’t already been following the book, and it’s a pretty promising start for some killer story arcs to launch out of this issue with the new team.

Click here to see some preview pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41

JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #6 ARRIVES THIS WEDNESDAY! READ THE SERIES THAT’S PAVED THE WAY FOR THE NEW JUSTICE LEAGUE LINE-UP!



James Robinson has been setting up the previously mentioned JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA roster change for a while now in the pages of this killer 7 issue limited series. This limited series, which began after the events of FINAL CRISIS, features a rag-tag gathering of Justice Leaguers, current, and former, who’ve had enough seeing their friends die time and time again. It’s in this series that the heroes step up their game quite a deal, and bring it to the bad guys head to head as they investigate a string of murders tied to (one of my personal favorite) an older JLA villain by the name of Prometheus (often described as the Anti-Batman).

They end up discovering a whole string of murders that tie back to Prometheus, as he has been on a quest to create the ultimate mass murder weapon: a teleporting device he plans to use to wipe out entire cities. Prometheus has been bringing it to the JLA pretty badly, and the events of this limited series are what set up for the brand new team and direction of JUSTICE LEAGUE in JLA #41.

Miss an issue? Haven’t read Cry for Justice yet? We currently have the previous 5 issues all well-stocked here at Third Eye, so if you wanna check the series out, catching up is no problem at all.

Click here to read more about JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #6!

ROBOCOP RETURNS THIS WEDNESDAY IN DYNAMITE COMICS ‘S (Publisher of THE BOYS, COMPLETE ALICE IN WONDERLAND, and MORE) CUTTING EDGE ROBOCOP #1

Who didn’t grow up in the ’80s or ’90s that wasn’t obsessed with ROBOCOP? It’s funny, because all the things that make the original ROBOCOP movie great (lets just forget the two sequels) were completely lost on me as a kid. I just knew it was awesome seeing a cyborg cop running around blowing people up. I recently watched ROBOCOP again a few years ago, and man, Paul Verhoeven really had something cool with that flick. Great social satire, and commentary, in a neat, distinctly late ’80s cyberpunk vein, meshed with some of the craziest ultraviolence you’d catch on a movie theater screen back then.

And, this, is why I’m stoked for Dynamite’s launch of a ROBOCOP comic. The character of ROBOCOP, and his world, lend itself very nicely to the modern style of comic books. And, Dynamite, who has proven they’re not afraid to let the blood spill, or to take a sarcastic approach to a subject (see THE BOYS), means that this should be a pretty solid read for anyone who’s a fan of Verhoeven’s cult classic flick.

Click here to read a preview of ROBOCOP #1

WALKING DEAD #69… NO WORDS NEEDED TO DESCRIBE THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN ONE OF THE ALL-TIME TOP 5 THIRD EYE FAVORITE SERIES!

Words can’t do this series justice. In fact, the less I say about this next issue, the better. As you can see, big things are about to begin to be revealed, and we can’t wait to see what’s happening next.

Are you reading WALKING DEAD in trade, and want to jump onto the singles? Can’t stand waiting months at a time to find out where the most compelling comic series on the stands is going next? We currently have both of the issues that follow after WALKING DEAD v.11 (released two weeks ago), issue #67, and #68, so all you need to hop aboard the monthly is Walking Dead v.11, #67, and #68.. trust us, it makes waiting a little bit easier.

For those of you not reading WALKING DEAD yet… all I can say is: pick up the trade paperback of Volume 1 as soon as you can. I have yet to find one person who didn’t like it. This is some of the best writing in comics. If you think it’s just a zombie story, you’re way off… this is character development, cliffhanger plots, and more. You’ll be hooked.

THOR #606 CONTINUES THE KILLER DR. DOOM vs. THOR STORYLINE THAT LEADS DIRECTLY TO SIEGE! NEED TO CATCH UP? WE HAVE PLENTY OF THOR #604, and THOR #605 (chapters 1 and 2 of the new arc) IN STOCK!

If you were digging JMS’s run on THOR, and left when he did.. then you are missing out on some of the finest THOR storytelling since JMS’s run began! Beginning in issue #604, and carrying over from the finale of JMS’s run, we see that Doom has been using the blood and organs of Asgardians to fuel his war machines, even going as far as to twist the Asgardians into hideous cyborg monsters to do his bidding. Of course, Thor is not down with this, and that leads us to some major throwdowns involving THOR, the Destroyer armor, and Dr. Doom!

Both THOR, and IRON MAN have been running parallel directly into, and alongside SIEGE, and out of many of the ongoing Marvel books, I feel that this series and INVINCIBLE IRON MAN are two of the most crucial to be reading if you’re getting amped up on what’s going down in SIEGE. Plus, Thor’s been a good book for over three years now, and just keeps on getting better. The new creative team of young gun rising star writer Kieron Gillen, and young gun rising star artist Billy Tan are delivering some of their best work on this one. Don’t believe me? Check out those preview pages… tell me the art’s not kicking.

It looks like in this issue we’re going to see what secrets Doom has up his sleeve, in addition to where Loki’s allegiances really lie. Is this going to be Doom’s play for power in taking over Asgard?

Clickhere to read a preview of THOR #606

ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #1 FROM BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS REVEALS THE ULTIMATE UNIVERSE’S GREATEST EVIL!

Brian Michael Bendis, the main man responsible for some of the Ultimate line’s biggest stories delivers this new limited series featuring many ultimate fan favorites like Spidey, Iceman, the FF, and more. This limited series is supposed to explore one of the Ultimate universe’s greatest threats, but outside of that, there isn’t a whole lot of info on the series. What we do know is the preview pages look sweet, and Bendis normally delivers big time on anything set in the ULTIMATE universe.

Clickhere to read a preview of ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #1

PUNISHER #13 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 3* HITS THIS WEDNESDAY! FIND OUT WHY FRANKENCASTLE IS TURNING INTO ONE OF MY PERSONAL BIG CULT FAVORITES! ONE OF THE BEST “LEGION OF MONSTERS” STORYLINES EVER WITH A GREAT QUIRKY, STEAMPUNKY BAD GUY!



Folks, I am loving Frankencastle. I’ll admit, the first issue, I was kind of left with my jaw hanging page after page, thinking one thing: WTF? But, then I read the second issue, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance to win me oer, because it did big time.

First off, you have two very talented guys working on this thing. Rick Remender, and Tony Moore. This is the same creative team who did some really cool stuff on the DARK HORSE series FEAR AGENT. Tony Moore also did the artwork on the first trade of WALKING DEAD. His art in Frankencastle looks to be some of his best work yet, and the colors on it are PERFECT. Most importantly, it fits the quirky, funky tone of the story just right. Secondly, it’s a very fun, fresh idea that brings some forgotten old characters back into the spotlight, and shows us why they’re cool.

The thing is though, you cannot go into FRANKENCASTLE expecting a straight-forward PUNISHER story. In fact, Frankencastle is more of a REALLY AWESOME Legion of Monsters story than it is a PUNISHER story, and I think that’s why it works so well.

What’s the scoop? Punisher got his head cut off in the brutal DARK REIGN THE LIST: PUNISHER one-shot (still in stock here at Third Eye, if you missed it!), by Dark Wolverine (Daken). His body parts get dumped into the sewers, and retrieved by the remaining Morlocks, where they take them deeper into the Morlock tunnels to some very familiar frightful characters. Morbius the Living Vampire, Man-Thing, Werewolf By Night, the Living Mummy… they’re all here. And, they patch the Punisher back together into an undead monstrosity that can only be called Frankencastle (due to the resemblance to Frankenstein’s Monster). See, there’s a legion of cyborg Samurai’s led by a steampunk-esque madman who has one goal in life: DESTROY ALL MONSTERS! Morbius, and his monster brethern decide they need the Punisher’s war time strategy to defend their dying people, and the Punisher (who’s using a synaptic nerve medicine to keep his brain functioning, so he’s not just a rambling madman) is reluctant to help. In fact, he keeps asking “Why did you bring me back?” And, it’s not until the surreal final pages of PUNISHER #12 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 2*, where we see Frank come to the realization he has to help these people, as he cradles a young child Morlock (in a Devo shirt…) in his arms, a smoking hole in the youngster’s chest.

I know, it sounds like it shouldn’t work on any level. It sounds completely absurd, and ridiculous, but I think this is part of why I love it so much, and because of these things… it does work, and takes a completely different angle on the PUNISHER. I won’t lie either, the incredibly fitting artwork of Tony Moore is a big draw too. He manages to capture the surreal, sideshow monster feel in vivid color, and it makes the story moves so smoothly.

If you haven’t yet jumped onboard with FRANKENCASTLE, we still have PUNISHER #11, and PUNISHER #12 in stock, and those two chapters’ll catch you up to the newest installment this week. If you’re a fan of irreverent, quirky fun in books like CHEW, and COWBOY NINJA VIKING, then you should totally be reading this. It rocks.

For those of you who’re on board, it looks like we’re gonna see a giant chaingun-toting Frankencastle laying waste to the monster-hunters in glorious technicolor style.

Click here for a preview of PUNISHER #13 *FRANKENCASTLE PT 3*

TRANSFORMERS: LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERSBRINGS ON MORE CLASSIC G1-STYLE TRANSFORMER GOODNESS!

I’m a child of the ’80s and ’90s, so it’s obvious that I’ve got a soft spot for everyone’s favorite giant robots. The problem I had for a while though, was IDW’s Transformer books often strayed too far from the characters I grew up with, and loved. While I really enjoyed the expanded mythos of the Transformers, I really had no interest in the inclusion of the stuff from the films. Well, it looks like with the introduction of the brand new TRANSFORMERS ongoing series, they’re getting back to basics, and I can tell you from the responses I’ve seen from many of you, I’m not alone in my renewed excitement about the Transformers books.

This Wednesday, we get a new limited series from the creative team that brought us the killer MAXIMUM DINOBOTS, and it’s featuring the Autobots, THE WRECKERS. Now, this can only mean one thing, right? Constructicons? We can hope.

Either way, I’ve been impressed so far by the new ongoing series in terms of the writing and the art, so I’m stoked to see where they go with this new limited series.

Click here for a preview ofTRANSFORMERS: THE LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERS #1

NEW COMICS ARRIVE ON THURSDAY THIS WEEK DUE TO LAST WEEK’S THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Two Big Events in December @ Third Eye!

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.

“Siege The New Year at Third Eye” Day Before New Years Eve Event!

Next up on the agenda, Wednesday 12/30/09 (the day before New Years Eve!), we’ll be running an all day event from 11AM-9PM. We’ll be hosting special sales on select items, and giving away some great freebies. Whats the swag you can get just for coming in on the 30th?
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! :)

THIRD EYE THANK YOU RAFFLE WINNER ANNOUNCED!

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. 

The winning ticket is: 613059

If we do not hear from you by Monday of next week, we will be drawing another ticket, and announcing it in next week’s newsletter.