The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 3

Phase One

If you listen closely you may hear the sound of comic book fans screaming with joy as today the details of the third phase in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe were announced at an impromptu press conference in which new footage of Avengers 2: The Age of Ultron was screened and the release dates of several movies were unveiled.

Additionally, Robert Downey Jr. tweeted this:

The @Marvel universe is now even larger. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Black Panther… pic.twitter.com/X0G7whoVbL

— Robert Downey Jr (@RobertDowneyJr) October 28, 2014

Chadwick Boseman aka Black Panther on stage with Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. Asked to pick a side.

The first look at the big screen’s Black Panther was seen too!

Click for full image

And we got a look at Thanos with the Infinity Gauntlet! (and a trailer for the Infinity War)

May 6, 2016 Captain America 3
November 4, 2016 Dr Strange 
May 5, 2017… Guardians of the Galaxy 2
July 28, 2017…THOR: Ragnarok
November 3, 2017…Black Panther
May 4, 2018 Avengers: Infinity War Part 1
July 6, 2018…Captain Marvel
November 2, 2018…The Inhumans (to find out who the Inhumans are, click here)
May 3, 2019 Avengers: Infinity War, Part 2

Late addition: leaked scene from Avengers 2: The Age of Ultron showing the aftermath of the Scarlet Witch revealing the Avengers team members’ darker sides which split the team.

Quick reviews: Hulk, Black Panther and X-Men

Hulk #41

The finale of the Omegex cycle, the latest issue of the Hulk (red) is full of fisticuffs but also features plenty of character moments and drama for Gen. Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross. Since taking over the series, Jeff Parker has successfully transformed what was a plot gimmick into a fully developed Marvel character.

For traditionalists looking for a more straight forward Hulk comic, this series has been a dream come true. During the off-the-walls Loeb run, the Red Hulk was shown to be extraordinarily powerful. As depicted by Ed McGuinness, these scenes of explosive action are stunning but in retrospect readers had to ask ‘is he really that powerful?’ At the time it felt more at home in a Warren Ellis book with its over-the-top imagery. Following that run, Jeff Parker has taken to honing and defining the limitations of the Red Hulk and even directly addressing the KO of Utatu the Watcher.

Uatu is one of the oldest cosmic characters of the Marvel Universe. Often shown as a benign being, seeing him get knocked out was absurd. In recent issues, Uatu has set events in motion leading to the release of the deadly Omegex, a being created as the absolute engine of destruction in an alien war long forgotten. Gaining the ‘scent’ of the Red Hulk from his punch on Uatu’s jaw, Omegex hurtles toward Earth to perform his duty. Omegex is essentially a ‘Doomsday’-type villain for the Hulk, an unstoppable powerhouse that challenges the Red Hulk’s abilities.

Adding to the mix of trouble is the fact that the Red Hulk has become infected with devices that would kill him should he revert back to his human state. Additionally, a trio of monstrous villains led by Zero/One is on his path. Ross has had something of a crisis lately, looking back at his failure as a man and a career military officer. Revisiting his family farm, Ross wistfully talked about his early days as a pilot before Omegex arrived and began their titanic battle.

During Fall of the Hulks/World War Hulks, Loeb attempted to paint a rich and full portrait of Ross in a single issue detailing what drove him to take the Leader’s offer and become the Red Hulk. While I liked that issue and enjoyed the break in the action, Parker achieves far more with less effort in this comic. Ross is out of his depth fighting Omegex, but just as he faces definite destruction with no regrets, Zero/One forces him to justify his humanity by revisiting past moments of his life. It’s terribly touching to see a rock-solid persona like Ross humbled into sobriety, watching his marriage dwindle by and his daughter fade from his grasp.

In the end, it wasn’t breaking his knuckles that defeated Omegex, but Ross accepting himself, faults and all. In the hands of another writer, this would have been sappy and dire but Parker has such a strong relationship with the character and a skill with character-driven stories that is unparalleled. Next month sees the arrival of a new artist, but for a farewell storyline, Omegex saw Gabriel Hardman off in style.

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Black Panther #523.1

A friend of mine recently spotted the ‘Black Panther- the Man Without Fear!’ headline online and asked me what the Sam Scratch was going on. I answered by saying that it was complicated and left it at that. To be honest, there really is no reason why Black Panther should have taken over Daredevil’s place as protector of Hell’s Kitchen other than the fact that Marvel Editorial had no idea what to do with him. However, author David Liss and artist Francesco Francavilla have taken lemons and made champagne (if you’ll forgive me murdering an adage). A vigilante and cunning crime-fighter, Black Panther has risen from being one of the best heroes of Marvel Comics to an exciting street-level hero. This is significant because Black Panther has often existed in his own little bubble, far away from the rest of the MU. While he has always been a great character, as a Wakandan king, the Black Panther’s adventures often deterred readers not sold with that kind of story. By placing him on the street with no resources other than his own intelligence and physical prowess, he is instantly relatable.

In effect, he’s Marvel’s Batman.

The Black Panther book has received rave reviews for months by fans in love with the rich pulp novel feel of the series. It was a rough road getting used to it, but after getting past the barrier of ‘why is this happening?’ I recognized how great this series has become.

Without his enhanced abilities or high tech gadgetry, Black Panther has recreated himself as a protector of the innocent. Living a double life as the manager of Diablo’s Kitchen, a dilapidated diner in the heart of the city, Black Panther attempts to keep in touch with the common people around him, often becoming ensnared in their lives in the process. Investigating a series of murders, Black Panther finds that a social worker living across the hall has been killing parents abusing or neglecting their children. Hiring an out of work Russian emigrant, T’Chala finds that he has brought an ex assassin into his little world. It’s all very complicated.

This point one issue is a great opportunity for new readers to catch up and also enjoy an excellent detective/adventure story. Black Panther has been one of Marvel’s rarely respected luminaries for ages. Seeing him gain acclaim has been a fun experience, but I hope I’m not the only one reading. All too often these critically acclaimed books get canceled for lack of sales.

So buy a copy today!
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X-Men Schism #4 (of 5)

The major X-Men event of the ages is coming to a head.

For decades, Cyclops and Wolverine have led the X-Men with a strained kind of respect. The limited series opened showing that even they were shocked at how far they have come, from wanting to kill each other to proudly supporting each other in their leadership of the mutant race. It’s all the more saddening to witness that hard won friendship coming to an end. The schism of the story has, to this point, been one of ideologies. Cyclops has accepted that the X-Men is an army fighting a never-ending war while Wolverine views his teammates as family. This conflict heightens as a global army of malfunctioning Sentinels take to the skies, killing humans and mutants alike. Attempting to save face at the opening of a mutant-related museum opening, the X-Men become targets of the new Hellfire Club led by brutal children bent on domination.

I have always been attracted to the X-Men by their facing impossible odds again and again. There has been no the book showing its cast beaten and battered time and time again like the X-Men. Hated and feared by the world at large, the X-Men are at risk by supervillains and the public citizens as well. It’s a lose/lose situation. Add to that the friction inside the team itself and you have the makings of a powder keg going off every month.

In the latest issue, a mega-Sentinel is bearing down on Utopia island. Cyclops is determined to fight with what he views as his final stand army of children. Wolverine, however, recognizes that they are facing extinction and must evacuate. Unfortunately, Cyclops doesn’t agree, so Wolverine has to force his hand by lacing the island with explosives. On an island about to explode, a massive Sentinel nears with enough power to wipe the entire mutant population from existence.

Then… things get bad.

The friction between Wolverine and Cyclops has always centered on one thing, or person to be more precise… Jean Grey. As soon as she is brought into the argument, things get brutal.

The art chores have strangely shifted each month with this issue drawn by the impeccable Alan Davis. Familiar to comic fans from his work on numerous books, seeing Davis’ art on X-Men again after so long is like a trip down memory lane (a long trip in my case).

Cyclops and Wolverine have had disagreements before but this is bad. I’m very interested in seeing how things shake down in the final part (out today).

This week at your comic shop – 9/28/2011

For the complete list of this week’s comics, click here.

Not sure where your local comic shop is? Try comicshoplocator.com!

(note: all information including ad copy is from the publisher)

If you can’t make it to the shop, just click on any of the images below to be taken to an online retailer. I don’t get any referrals for these sales, I’m just doing my bit to spread the word on some neat products.

Superman #1

Superman #1
By: George Perez, Jesus Merino
The new adventures of Superman begin here! What is The Man of Steel’s startling new status quo? How does it affect Lois Lane and The Daily Planet? There’s no time for answers now, because Superman must stop a monstrous threat to Metropolis – one that he somehow is the cause of!
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Amazing Spider-Man #670

Amazing Spider-Man #670
By: Dan Slott, Humberto Ramos
Nearly 50 years in the making, the story which MUST BE READ: J. Jonah Jameson: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAYOR?!! ‘Nuff Said? Almost, because if that wasn’t enough, a long running member of the Spidey cast has to make the ultimate sacrifice…
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Jenny Finn Doom Messiah TPB

Jenny Finn Doom Messiah TPB
By: Mike Mignola, Troy Nixey, Farel Dalrymple
Before Troy Nixey directed the Guillermo Del Toro movie Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark, he drew Hellboy creator Mike Mignola’s script for a new tale of the macabre with acclaimed Omega The Unknown artist Farel Dalrymple!Singularly impressed by Nixey’s horrifying and creepy art, Mignola created a whole new character and mythology outside the Hellboy universe with Jenny Finn. Now, catch this new, updated and redesigned edition of this lost horror classic.
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Greg Ruth 52 Weeks Project

Greg Ruth 52 Weeks Project
By: Greg Ruth, Ethan Hawke
For those blessed enough with being able to eke out a living as artists, the practice of art to that end can quickly become work, and the requirements and fiscal demands can easily make the artist forget the joys of creation. As an answer, Greg Ruth began The 52 Weeks Project as a way to rediscover the joys of art, by beginning each week with a simple act of artistic play. The 52 Weeks Project collects work from the first two years of the acclaimed weekly drawing series and includes an introduction by Ethan Hawke.
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Doctor Who Vol. 2 #9

Doctor Who Vol. 2 #9
By: Tony Lee, Ben Templesmith, Mark Buckingham
Arriving on a familiar looking space station, the Doctor, Amy, Rory, and new travelling companion Kevin-a cybernetic dinosaur-find a scientific crew under attack from a giant, Cthulhloid space squid!

With the security robot destroyed, it’s up to the Doctor and his friends to save the day, but who will sacrifice themselves to save the many? With art by the king of the squid god himself, Ben Templesmith!
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Black Panther Deadliest Man Alive #523.1

Black Panther Deadliest Man Alive #523.1
By: David Liss, Jefte Palo, Patrick Zircher
YOUR STARTING POINT IS THIS POINT ONE ISSUE!

Who is murdering the citizens of Hell’s Kitchen that The Panther has previously rescued? That’s what T’Challa wants to know-and he only has hours to solve the mystery before the killer strikes again!

Jump on here and find out why IGN says ‘David Liss’ revamped BLACK PANTHER series continues to be just what the hero needs.’
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Alan Moore Conversations HC

Alan Moore Conversations HC
Alan Moore: Conversations includes ten interviews, beginning with Moore’s first published conversation, conducted by V for Vendetta cocreator David Lloyd in 1981. The remainder cover nearly all of his major work, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, Marvelman, The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, Promethea, From Hell, Lost Girls, and the unfinished Big Numbers. While Moore’s personal life and fraught business relations are discussed occasionally, the interviews chosen are principally devoted to Moore’s creative practices and techniques, along with his shifting social, political, and philosophical beliefs. As such, Alan Moore: Conversations should add to any reader’s enjoyment and understanding of Moore’s work.

Writers’ and Artists’ Names: Edited by Eric L. Berlatsky Product Description British comics writer Alan Moore (b. 1953) has a reputation for equal parts brilliance and eccentricity. Living hermit-like in the same Midlands town for his entire life, he supposedly refuses contact with the outside world while creating his strange, dense comics, fiction, and performance art. While Moore did declare himself a wizard on his fortieth birthday and claims to have communed with extradimensional beings, reticence and seclusion have never been among his eccentricities. On the contrary, for long stretches of his career Moore seemed to be willing to chat with all comers: fanzines, industry magazines, other artists, newspapers, magazines, and personal websites. Well over one hundred interviews in the past thirty years serve as testimony to Moore’s willingness to be engaged in productive conversation.

Alan Moore: Conversations includes ten substantial interviews, beginning with Moore’s first published conversation, conducted by V for Vendetta cocreator David Lloyd in 1981. The remainder cover nearly all of his major works, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, Marvelman, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Promethea, From Hell, Lost Girls, and the unfinished Big Numbers. While Moore’s personal life and fraught business relations are discussed occasionally, the interviews chosen are principally devoted to Moore’s creative practices and techniques, along with his shifting social, political, and philosophical beliefs. As such, Alan Moore: Conversations should add to any reader’s enjoyment and understanding of Moore’s work. From the Inside Flap Conversations with the brilliant and eccentric comics writer
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Captain Britain HC Vol. 02 Siege Of Camelot

Captain Britain HC Vol. 02 Siege Of Camelot
By: Herb Trimpe
The adventures of Marvel U.K.’s first all-original super hero continue!

Captain Britain thought he had it rough facing foes like the alien Star-Creature, the shape-shifting Black Baron, the mad Doctor Claw and the vicious Slaymaster. But that’s nothing compared to what awaits him when travels to America and teams up with Spider-Man to battle the villainous Arcade, and then battles side-by-side with the Black Knight as they plunge into the heart of Otherworld – where they encounter the mystical Merlyn, the evil Modred and the ancient Nethergods…and must resurrect King Arthur himself!

This title collects
SUPER SPIDER-MAN AND CAPTAIN BRITAIN #233-247; MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #65-66; and material from HULK COMIC #1 and #3-46, and INCREDIBLE HULK WEEKLY #47-55 and #57-63
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That Man Flint #0

That Man Flint #0
By: Gary Phillips, Kevin Jones, Mark Maddox
Join writer Gary Phillip as super spy Derek Flint returns to spin the swinging sixties on its head! The Cold War is hot and so are the gorgeous mini-skirted women with their kung fu grip.

Inventor, ballet instructor, dolphinologist and seeker of the third eye, Flint also battles dastardly villains and sultry Russian assassins. That Man Flint is retro revisionist fare capturing the fun and excitement of halcyon espionage outings like The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Steranko’s Nick Fury for today’s audience. Cover by Mark Maddox.
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Savage Hawkman #1

Savage Hawkman #1
By: Tony S. Daniel, Philip Tan, philip tan
Carter Hall’s skill at deciphering lost languages has led him to a job with an archaeologist who specializes in alien ruins – but will the doctor’s latest discovery spread an alien plague through New York City?

No matter the personal cost, Carter Hall must don his wings and become the new, savage Hawkman to survive! Witness the start of a new action series from writer Tony S. Daniel and artist Philip Tan that will take Hawkman where no hero has flown before!
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Annihilators Earthfall #1 (of 4)

Annihilators Earthfall #1 (of 4)
By: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, T E Huat & T Green II, John Tyler Christopher
MARVEL’S COSMIC HEAVY HITTERS COME TO EARTH-AND FIGHT THE AVENGERS!

What has brought Gladiator, Quasar, Ronan, Ikon and Beta-Ray Bill to our planet…and why are they at odds with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? All this, plus each issue will feature a five-page chapter of an all-new, all-hilarious Rocket Raccoon & Groot story!

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Hagar the Horrible: The Epic Chronicles: The Dailies 1976-1977

Hagar the Horrible: The Epic Chronicles: The Dailies 1976-1977
The continuing quest of Hagar the Horrible, the world’s mildest marauder, to put food on the family table and loot in his coffers.

Aided by his crew of odd-balls, misfits and miscreants, his sidekick Lucky Eddie and his long suffering wife Helga, Hagar is the most famous Viking in history. Read for yourself and find out what made Hagar the fastest syndicated newspaper strip of all time.

With a foreword by writer/artist Walter Simonson (Fantastic Four, Manhunter), famous for the comic book adventures of that other Scandinavian superstar, The Mighty Thor.
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Dark Shadows The Original Series Story Digest

Dark Shadows The Original Series Story Digest
For the first time in over thirty years read the original, first graphic novelization of Dark Shadows: The Original Series. Conceived by Gold Key editor Wallace I. Green as a novel illustrated by Dark Shadows comic book artist Joe Certa, this book presents a complete extended story with accompanying artwork. This intriguing story finds Angelique casting Barnabas back to 17th Century Salem!
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New Mutants #31

New Mutants #31
By: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, David Lafuente
Hell ain’t a bad place to be unless it’s been overrun by forgotten horrors and ancient gods, clamoring to swallow all creation. Then it kinda sucks.While the events of Fear Itself tear the world apart, Dani Moonstar has followed the calling of her Valkyrie blood to the Viking underworld to save the queen of the dead. Can the rest of the New Mutants make it to Hell in time to save her and the souls of Valhalla from total Oblivion?
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Avengers Academy #19

Avengers Academy #19
By: Christos Gage, Tom Raney, Billy Tan
The students of Avengers Academy are trapped within their school, stalked by The Worthy! Their only hope against such awesome power is to destroy the Infinite Mansion…but unless they can find a way out, they’ll die with it!

Experience the year’s biggest event through the series that ComicBook Resources.com calls ‘a fantastic addition to Marvel’s canon, and one worthy of the name Avengers.’
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Batman The Dark Knight #1

Batman The Dark Knight #1
By: David Finch, Richard Friend
The Dark Knight struggles against a deadly – yet strangely familiar – foe in this phenomenal debut issue from superstar writer/artist David Finch (BRIGHTEST DAY, ACTION COMICS)!

As a mysterious figure slinks through the halls of Arkham Asylum, Batman must fight his way through a gauntlet of psychos, and Bruce Wayne faces the unexpected legal ramifications of Batman Incorporated!
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Galactus Noms Galactus T-Shirt

Galactus Noms Galactus T-Shirt
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FF #9

FF #9
By: Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting, Daniel Acuna
FF 50th Anniversary Variant by STEPHANIE PERGER

This month in the FF, the EVIL Future Foundation is caught in the middle of the War of Four Cities. Watch as the war expands to encompass the entire Marvel Universe.
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New Avengers #16.1

New Avengers #16.1
By: Brian Michael Bendis, Neal Adams
An Avengers chapter so special, Marvel had to go to legendary Avengers artist Neal Adams to bring the fire!

It’s THE RETURN OF NORMAN OSBORN!

H.A.M.M.E.R. is becoming a force to be reckoned with and the followers of Osborn are ready. The New Avengers/H.A.M.M.E.R. showdown is one for the record books and is the first chapter in the blistering new storyline that will herald the return of the Dark Avengers!
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Blackhawks #1

Blackhawks #1
By: Mike Costa, Ken Lashley
Welcome to a world waging a new kind of war that’s faster and more brutal than ever before. It’s fought by those who would make the innocent their targets, using computers, smart weapons and laser-guided missiles. The new enemy is hard to find – and closer to home than we think.

Between us and them stand the Blackhawks, an elite force of military specialists equipped with the latest in cutting-edge hardware and vehicles. Their mission: Kill the bad guys before they kill us.
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Nam TPB Vol. 03

Nam TPB Vol. 03
By: Doug Murray, Ron Wagner
Written by DOUG MURRAY Penciled by WAYNE VANSANT, SAM GLANZMAN & MICHAEL GOLDEN Cover by RON WAGNER It’s 1967 – and Andy Clark, Dennis Daniels, Pig Meachum, Jimmy Rubino and the rest of the 23rd Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) are on the Ho Chi Minh Trail for the holidays. Meanwhile, back in the World, Sen. Robert Kennedy has an important day of his own. New soldiers enter the war, and old ones leave it – and there are too many bad ways to leave a war. Plus: The battle lines get even blurrier as enemies display their humanity, and soldiers show their darker sides. Includes rarely seen stories from Marvel’s black-and-white magazines.

Collecting THE ‘NAM #21-30, and material from SAVAGE TALES (1985) #1 and #4.
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Batman Classic 1966 Batmobile 1/25 Model Kit

Batman Classic 1966 Batmobile 1/25 Model Kit
Atomic Batteries to Power! Turbines to Speed! One of the most beloved cars in television history arrives in the scale everyone craves. The 1966 Batmobile was one of the many icons to emerge from the classic Batman TV show. Known for its gadgets, the car assisted Batman and Robin on their crusade against the criminals of Gotham. The car features a super-accurate body and detail, metal axles, and figures of Batman and Robin. When completed, it measures 8 1/2″ long. Some assembly and glue are required.
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Justice League Dark #1

Justice League Dark #1
By: Peter Milligan, Mikel Janin, ryan sook
The witch known as The Enchantress has gone mad, unleashing forces that not even the combined powers of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Cyborg can stop. And if those heroes can’t handle the job, who will stand against this mystical madness?

Shade the Changing Man, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Zatanna and John Constantine may be our only hope – but how can we put our trust in beings whose very presence makes ordinary people break out in a cold sweat?
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Mighty Thor #6

Mighty Thor #6

By: Matt Fraction, Olivier Coipel
The finale of THE GALACTUS SEED!

Odin and Galactus are ready to fight one another to the death and only Thor and the Silver Surfer stand between them… and us!

And in Fallen Asgard, Volstagg leads an unlikely army in aide of man and Asgardian alike…but what if only Loki holds the key to saving the day?
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Aquaman #1

Aquaman #1
By: Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado
The superstar creators from BLACKEST NIGHT and BRIGHTEST DAY reunite to take AQUAMAN to amazing new depths! Aquaman has renounced the throne of Atlantis – but the sea will not release Arthur Curry so easily.

Now, from a forgotten corner of the ocean emerges…The Trench! A broken race of creatures that should not exist, an unspeakable need driving them, The Trench will be the most talked-about new characters in the DC Universe!

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Flash #1

Flash #1
By: Francic Manapul, B. Buccellato
The Fastest Man Alive returns to his own monthly series from the writer/artist team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato!

The Flash knows he can’t be everywhere at once, but what happens when he faces an all-new villain who really can! As if that’s not bad enough, this villain is a close friend!
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Star Wars Kenner Luke Skywalker 12-in Action Figure

Star Wars Kenner Luke Skywalker 12-in Action Figure

Star Wars Kenner Tusken Raider 12-in Action Figure

Star Wars Kenner Tusken Raider 12-in Action Figure

Gentle Giant brings collectors and fans a new line of vintage Kenner-inspired Star Wars action figure reproductions, continuing with Luke Skywalker and the Tusken Raider. Digitally scanned from mint 3 3/4″ Kenner originals, these figures are reproduced at a substantial 12″ height – and nothing has been overlooked! Injection molded and made of durable plastics, these jumbo figure include faithfully-reproduced accessories and are fully articulated! These classic Kenner creations come packaged on a 1977 Star Wars-inspired blister card featuring original photos and art work, including a resealable plastic outer clam shell to help protect and display this limited edition collectible.
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Ghostbusters #1

Ghostbusters #1
By: Erik Burnham, Dan Schoening, Schoening, Nick Runge
Are you troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night?

Do you experience feelings of dread in your basement or attic?

Have you or any of your family ever seen a spook, specter or ghost?

If the answer is yes, call the professionals!

Psychokinetic energy is on the rise again, business is booming for the boys, and Ray is troubled by what could be a prophetic dream… Is this an ill omen of an upcoming apocaplypse, or just a little indigestion?

These questions and more are raised in the first issue of the all-new, ongoing GHOSTBUSTERS!
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All Star Western #1

All Star Western #1
By: Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Moritat
Even when Gotham City was just a one-horse town, crime was rampant – and things only get worse when bounty hunter Jonah Hex comes to town. Can Amadeus Arkham, a pioneer in criminal psychology, enlist Hex’s special brand of justice to help the Gotham Police Department track down a vicious serial killer?

Find out in this new series from HEX writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, with lush artwork by Moritat (THE SPIRIT)!
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Shadow Double Novel #53

Shadow Double Novel #53
By: Maxwell Grant/Walter Gibson, Paul Orban, George Rozen
Walter Gibson The Knight of Darkness investigates deadly vampire attacks in two heart-stopping chillers by Walter Gibson writing as ‘Maxwell Grant’ and a classic radio mystery! First, the Master of Darkness must battle a giant vampire bat and enter the dangerous Garden of Death to discover the secret behind a deadly drug monopoly. Then, The Shadow enters haunted Haldrew Hall to unearth the bloody secret behind The Vampire Murders in a sequel to the legendary Victorian thriller, Varney the Vampire! BONUS: Vampires Prowl by Night, a lost thriller from the Golden Age of Radio!

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Iron Man 2.0 #9

Iron Man 2.0 #9
By: Nick Spencer, Ariel Olivetti, Salvador Larroca
War Machine has made an enemy for the ages – and the explosive Palmer Addley mystery races toward deadly consequences!

The villain’s secrets are revealed, but does this give Rhodey the key to defeating him, or make it all the more impossible?

By Nick Spencer (SECRET AVENGERS) and Ariel Olivetti (CABLE)!

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X-Men Legacy #256

X-Men Legacy #256
By: Mike Carey, Steve Kurth, Mico Suayan
‘FIVE MILES SOUTH OF THE UNIVERSE’

When Rogue, Magneto and Gambit jumped into space on an intergalactic search and rescue mission, they had no idea that it would land them in the middle of an extraterrestrial war!

And to make matters worse, the space station that serves as the battlefield for the conflict is slowly falling into a collapsing star.

With time running out and the lives of Havok, Polaris and Marvel Girl on the line, these X-Men are in for a bumpy ride.
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Doc Savage Double Novel #51

Doc Savage Double Novel #51
By: Kenneth Robeson/Lester Dent, Paul Orban, Robert G. Harris/Emery Clarke
Harold A. Davis, Lester Dent The Man of Bronze journeys to The Land of Fear hidden deep within Africa to discover the deadly secret behind the ‘skeleton death’ that dissolves human flesh to the bone. Then, a grisly vampire murder in the lobby of his own headquarters building leads Doc Savage and his beautiful cousin Patricia to the South Atlantic in pursuit of The Fiery Menace.

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Shadowland Power Man TPB

Shadowland Power Man TPB
By: Fred Van Lente, M Asrar & R Height, Mike Perkins
Written by FRED VAN LENTE Penciled by MAHMUD ASRAR & RAY-ANTHONY HEIGHT Cover by MIKE PERKINS Hey, Iron Fist – meet the new Power Man! From the rubble of a destroyed tenement in Hell’s Kitchen, a new hero rises to protect the citizens of New York – for a price! Opposing Daredevil’s reign, the brash young vigilante makes himself a target for the vengeful blade of the Hand. What connection does he share with Danny Rand, and how will Iron Fist and Luke Cage – the original Power Man – protect him from the most despicable villains of their past? It’s a Power Man and Iron Fist story like you’ve never seen before as the battle for the soul of New York City brings new heroes and villains to the forefront of the Marvel Universe! Collecting SHADOWLAND: POWER MAN #1-4 and material from X-MEN: CURSE OF THE MUTANTS SPOTLIGHT.
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New characters and more in Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes season 2

The first season of the Avengers cartoon was a fun ride that firmly established the Marvel Universe in a new way that paid homage to the legacy of the comic book. The Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Giant Man, Captain America, the Wasp, Hawkeye and Black Panther have already been heavily developed as the Avengers in the previous year but there are plenty of new additions coming for their second time out. Hank Pym (Giant Man) will apparently be adopting his Yellow Jacket persona and the wasp will be getting as new costume. Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther and Captain America will all be donning new uniforms and in some case gaining new weaponry!

Several new Avengers; Ms. Marvel, the Falcon, the Vision and Mockingbird are also on their way and are sure to generate lots of excitement from fans. Additionally, the Guardians of the Galaxy will co-star for a story, so get ready for Groot! The Black Widow, Nick Fury, Agent 13 and the Fantastic Four will also be guest-starring.

In addition to new team members, several old villains will be coming back in addition to some new ones. as the concluding episode of season one confirmed, there is a Skrull menace on its way for the planet, so our heroes are sure to have their hands full.

Joshua Fine and Christopher Yost give viewers the details on what to expect in Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Season 2 in this sneak peek video.

Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes season 2 premieres on Disney XD next month.

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Volume One

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Volume Two

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Volume Three

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Volume Four

This week at your comic shop – 5/11/2011

For the complete list of this week’s comics, click here.

Not sure where your local comic shop is? Try comicshoplocator.com!

(note: all information including ad copy is from the publisher)
If you can’t make it to the shop, just click on any of the images below to be taken to an online retailer. I don’t get any referrals for these sales, I’m just doing my bit to spread the word on some neat products
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Fighting American TPB

Fighting American TPB
By: Joe Simon, Jack KirbyThe complete adventures of the quirky Cold War superhero, launched in 1954 by the creators of Captain America, are presented here in an affordable graphic novel format, with weird and wonderful characters like Yucha Liffso, Jiseppi the Jungle Boy, and Poison Ivan! These are the explosive adventures of the Cold War’s answer to Captain America, by the great comics duo of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby!
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Flashpoint #1

Flashpoint #1
By: Geoff Johns, Andy Kubert
Not a dream, not an imaginary story, not an elseworld. This is Flash Fact: When Barry Allen wakes at his desk, he discovers the world has changed. Family is alive, loved ones are strangers, and close friends are different, gone or worse. It’s a world on the brink of a cataclysmic war – but where are Earth’s Greatest Heroes to stop it?

It’s a place where America’s last hope is Cyborg, who hopes to gather the forces of The Outsider, The Secret 7, SHAZAM!, Citizen Cold and other new and familiar-yet-altered faces! It’s a world that could be running out of time, if The Flash can’t find the villain who altered the time line!

Welcome to FLASHPOINT!
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New Mutants #25

New Mutants #25
NEW CREATIVE TEAM! NEW DIRECTION!

DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING (ANNIHILATORS, HEROES FOR HIRE) are joined by LEANDRO FERNANDEZ (HULK, 5 RONIN) at the helm of NEW MUTANTS.

Cyclops is sick of unfinished business coming back to haunt the X-Men, so he’s tasking the New Mutants to finish it. Their first mission: Find X-Man. Nate Grey returned in DARK X-MEN, but ended up in the hands of Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R.. But with the Dark Reign at an end, where is X-Man?

FIND OUT HERE!
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Star Wars Darth Vader Artfx+ Statue

Star Wars Darth Vader Artfx+ Statue
A KOTOBUKIYA Japanese import!

The hit line of smaller scale Star Wars ARTFX+ Statues continues with more of your favorite heroes and villains from the original films in the all new Saga Collection!

Joining the initial releases of Boba Fett and the Stormtrooper 2-Pack comes none other than the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, DARTH VADER!

Ruthless and powerful, Darth Vader stands at the ready with the knowledge that his mastery over the Force can overcome any enemy. His classic armored suit has every detail you’ve come to know and love since Empire Strikes Back was first released 30 years ago. Intricate sculpting brings out the different parts of his chest piece and belt module, while his gloves are accurately textured. Of course, the most attention to detail was put into recreating Vader’s helmet! Darth Vader has a standard stance standing tall with his hands at his belt, though he does come with bonus arm parts for alternate poses. And, like the other ARTFX+ Statues, he has magnets in his feet for display on the included base!

ARTFX+ Statues are fun-to-assemble pre-painted snap-fit kits that can be easily put together in seconds without glue or modeling skill. Darth Vader stands approximately 8 inches tall (1/10th scale) and is the perfect centerpiece for your Saga Collection!
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Thor Lord Of Asgard

Thor Lord Of Asgard
By: Dan Jurgens & Jose H.p Armenta, Tom Raney

The king is dead…long live the king! He is the Norse God of Thunder – master of the storm and lightning, heir to the throne of immortal Asgard. And in the wake of Odin’s heroic sacrifice, Thor is called upon to fulfill his father’s legacy as lord and master of the Eternal Realm – leaving Earth’s protection in the hands of the untested Tarene! But an old foe of the Thunder God has embarked on a quest for immortality, one that may spell the end of both Midgard’s fledgling guardian and Thor’s new reign! And from beyond the stars comes an even more formidable foe, one whose sights are set on dethroning Asgard’s new liege and wiping the Norse Gods from the pages of history. It’s Thor, Lord of Asgard vs. Desak, Destroyer of Pantheons! In the aftermath, the first steps in a startling change for the once-Thunder God will have ramifications for the entire Marvel Universe!

This title collects
THOR (1998) #44-50

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Superboy The Boy Of Steel

Superboy The Boy Of Steel
By: Geoff Johns, Francis Manapul, francis manapul
Superboy is back – and he can’t wait to jump back into his life in these tales from ADVENTURE COMICS #0-3 and 5-6, plus a tale from SUPERMAN SECRET FILES 2009.

But which life will it be? Conner makes a beeline for the greatest place on Earth: Smallville. While Conner reunites with his former girlfriend, Wonder Girl, Lex Luthor and Brainiac form a partnership that will cause havoc throughout the DC Universe.
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Elias The Cursed

Elias The Cursed
By: Sylviane Corgiat, Corrado Mastantuono
A mighty wizard stole Elias’ face. With his kingdom gone, he wanders the land wearing the face of his enemy. Elias will stop at nothing to find the one who stole his face, his land, and his identity. Highly recommended for fans of Conan the Barbarian and Northlanders.
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Young Marvelman Classic Prem HC Vol. 01

Young Marvelman Classic Prem HC Vol. 01
By: Mick Anglo
By shouting the famous name of his hero, Marvelman, the orphan Dicky Dauntless assumes the form of the redoubtable Young Marvelman! Watch as the Mightiest Boy in the Universe metes out atomic-powered justice to robot bandits, underwater pirates, foreign revolutionaries and more in his earliest adventures!

Black & White
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Godzilla 9in Vinyl Figure 1955

Godzilla 9in Vinyl Figure 1955

Anguirus 9in Vinyl Figure 1955

Anguirus 9in Vinyl Figure 1955

Gamera 8in Vinyl Figure

Gamera 8in Vinyl Figure
Imported from Japan!

For over 50 years Marusan Toys Inc. has been the standard in Japanese vinyl toys. With classics like Godzilla, Ultraman, and Gamera to the recent Michael Jackson figure, Marusan remains a designer toy leader.

In celebration the 50th-anniversary of Godzilla’s arrival on American shores and in her cineplexes, Marusan Toys, makers of the very first Godzilla toy, offers the first US-exclusive Godzilla, Gamera and Anguirus vinyl figures!
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New Avengers #12

New Avengers #12
By: Brian Michael Bendis, Mike Deodato & Howard Chaykin, Mike Deodato
SECRETS!! Who were the first Avengers? That is the question and this chapter will bring you the shocking answer.

And how will the first mission of the earliest Avengers affect the survival of one of the most beloved Avengers of the modern day?

The Dark Avengers team of Bendis and Deodato reunite and bring comics legend Howard Chaykin with them!
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Hellboy: Being Human (one-shot)

Hellboy: Being Human (one-shot)
By: Mike Mignola, Richard Corben, Dave Stewart
A horrible witch and her zombie servant host a dinner party for a family of corpses, and Hellboy and Roger turn up to blast them all back to hell in this team-up story from Roger’s early days at the B.P.R.D.

* Art by Richard Corben (Hellboy: The Bride of Hell, Hellboy in Mexico, Hellboy: The Crooked Man).

* Features an early team-up with fan-favorite Roger!

* Twenty-eight story pages of blood-curdling horror!

“Each comic is able to effortlessly welcome and envelop you back into its strange world filled with odd characters and even odder ideas. I’ve cherished every one of my forays into the world of Hellboy.” –IGN
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Batman And Robin Deluxe HC Vol. 03 Batman Must Die

Batman And Robin Deluxe HC Vol. 03 Batman Must Die
By: Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely
Grant Morrison’s best-selling run on BATMAN & ROBIN continues with this volume collecting issues #13-16 and BATMAN: THE RETURN #1. On the eve of Bruce Wayne’s return to Gotham City, the new Batman and Robin team that battled crime during his absence must deal with the deadly return of The Joker.

Then, Grant Morrison connects BATMAN & ROBIN with the best-selling THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE for the climactic showdown between Batman and The Black Glove. And in an epic tale illustrated by acclaimed artist David Finch, learn what happens to Dick Grayson after the ‘real’ Batman returns.
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X-Men Classic Five Charcoal T-Shirt

X-Men Classic Five Charcoal T-Shirt
The original X-Men in their classic original costumes star on this charcoal gray t-shirt!
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Journey Into Mystery #623

Journey Into Mystery #623
By: Kieron Gillen, Doug Braithwaite, Stephanie Hans
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN

Loki, the great betrayer, the great destroyer has returned! But in all the nine realms there is no one who trusts him. Sadly, when he’s the first to discover the dread secret behind FEAR ITSELF and issues forth a call to arms, none will heed his call. Thrill to the latest JIM installment as the youthened Trickster God makes his devious move for power and control!
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Flash #12

Flash #12
By: Geoff Johns, Francis Manapul
Part of DC’s Flashpoint!

‘The Road to Flashpoint’ concludes as everything Barry Allen knows and cares about is lost. What is the Flashpoint? Find out in the upcoming FLASHPOINT #1!
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Incredible Hulks #628

Incredible Hulks #628
By: Greg Pak, Tom Grummett, Marko Djurdjevic
THE SPY WHO SMASHED ME!

Spy versus spy meets gamma-powered mayhem as Red She-Hulk (Hulk’s estranged wife Betty Banner), partners with a mysterious villain to steal an ancient artifact of unimaginable power. Now it’s up to Banner, Bruce Banner, to save the world — and possibly his marriage.

But will Secret Agent Banner be able to keep his domestic affairs from turning into an international Hulk-off? It’s a story that will leave you shaken, stirred and SMASHED!

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Captain America Omnibus HC Vol. 01

Captain America Omnibus HC Vol. 01
By: Stan Lee With Roy Thomas, Ron Garney (cover)
As America began preparation for the inevitable entry into World War II, a secret military project gave birth to the greatest one-man fighting force ever known: Captain America!

Transformed by the Super-Soldier Serum from a 97-pound weakling into the Star-Spangled Avenger, Steve Rogers led the charge to liberate the world from the Axis Powers’ grasp. But before the war’s end, an accident left Cap frozen in suspended animation and his sidekick Bucky seemingly dead, while the world turned on for decades.

When the Avengers resuscitated him decades later, Steve Rogers was greeted by a world vastly changed. He was a man out of time tormented by the death of his partner, but no less committed to the cause of fighting evil in all its forms.

In this amazing OMNIBUS collection, you’ll experience Captain America’s trend-setting Silver Age solo-stories from the very beginning. Packed with page after page of Stan-and-Jack magic, it’s Cap vs. his most classic foes of the Marvel Age – including the Red Skull, Baron Zemo, M.O.D.O.K., the Super-Adaptoid and more!

And as if every story and every letters page wasn’t enough, we’re topping it off with an in-depth visual analysis of Jim Steranko’s legendary Cap run by no less than Steranko himself! It’s Comics 101 by one of the medium’s greatest innovators! ‘Nuff Said!

This title collects
TALES OF SUSPENSE #59-99, CAPTAIN AMERICA #100-113 and NOT BRAND ECHH #3

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Star Wars Empire Boba Fett Navy T-Shirt

Star Wars Empire Boba Fett Navy T-Shirt
Commemorate the 30th-anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back with this Boba Fett t-shirt!
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Tokidoki X Marvel Mighty Thor Storm T-Shirt

Tokidoki X Marvel Mighty Thor Storm T-Shirt
Simone Legno’s world of tokidoki collides with Marvel Comics on this stylish t-shirts that features cute versions of the Mighty Thor!
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Marvel Universe Action Figure Assortment 201103

Marvel Universe Action Figure Assortment 201103
The heroes and the villains of the Marvel Universe make the leap from the comic books to your action figure collection with these all-new Marvel Universe Action Figures!

Each figure stands 3 3/4″ tall and comes with accessories to save the day – or conquer the world!

Choose from characters like World War Hulk, Modular Armor Iron Man, Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Woman, Cable, First Appearance Wolverine, Apocalypse, Cyclops, Gladiator, and others to bring the Marvel Universe to life! Blister card packaging.
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FF #3

FF #3
By: Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting, Daniel Acuna
What has become of the surviving members of the Council, loosed upon our world by Valeria? That’s what Reed Richards and the new FF must now discover!
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Wolverine X Force Statue

Wolverine X Force Statue
A Bowen Designs Sculpt! In the aftermath of Second Coming, Cyclops ordered that X-Force, the mutant strike team he had secretly established, be disbanded. Desperate times, however, call for desperate measures, and when Wolverine uncovers the shocking truth that Apocalypse is soon to strike, he has no choice but to resurrect X-Force.

This statue depicts team leader Wolverine in his sleek and stealthy gray-and-black X-Force costume. Sculpted by Randy Bowen and Ulises Cantu, Wolverine stands 12″ tall.
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Back Issue #48

Back Issue #48
Back Issue resurrects ‘Dead Heroes’!

The man behind the Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel, Jim Starlin, discusses his remarkable career in a lavishly-illustrated exclusive interview.

Also, Deadman after Neal Adams, the Jason Todd Robin, the death and resurrection of The Flash and Elektra, and the many deaths of Aunt May!
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John Byrne Next Men #6

John Byrne’s Next Men #6
By: John Byrne
The American Civil War grinds to its grim conclusion, with one last act to be written in blood across the pages of history. But what if someone from the future had prior knowledge of that act? And took steps to prevent it? And what if that someone was Tony Murcheson?
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Deadman TPB Vol. 01

Deadman TPB Vol. 01
By: neal adams

Master comics artist Neal Adams illustrates the original adventures of deceased, revenge-driven hero Deadman, one of the heroes of BRIGHTEST DAY.

These are the stories that introduced costumed high-wire performer Boston Brand, who is assassinated by an unknown marksman in his first adventure, only to return when mysterious deity called Rama Kushna gives him a mission: find his murderer!

This title collects
STRANGE ADVENTURES #205-213

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Marvel Comic Action Figure 2-pk Assortment 20110

Marvel Comic Action Figure 2-pk Assortment 20110
The detailed and highly-articulated Marvel Comics 3 3/4″ action figure line continues with these exciting figure 2-packs! With character combinations like Deadpool/Taskmaster, Wolverine/Silver Samurai, Wolverine/Captain America, Thor/Iron Man, and Spider-Man/The Sentry to choose from, kids can live out their fantasies of defending – or destroying! – the Marvel Universe! Blister card packaging.
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DC Comics Presents The Flash #1

DC Comics Presents The Flash #1
By: John Broome, Robert Kanigher, Andy Kubert, Joe Kubert
Spotlighting tales of time travel and the Rogues, these tales from SHOWCASE #4 and 14, THE FLASH #125, 130 and 139 pit The Scarlet Speedster against ‘The Giants of The Time World,’ ‘The Conquerors of Time,’ along with Mirror Master, Captain Boomerang, The Top, Captain Cold, The Trickster and The Reverse Flash!

This title collects
SHOWCASE #4 and 14, THE FLASH #125, 130 and 139
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Black Panther Man Without Fear #518

Black Panther Man Without Fear #518
By: David Liss, Francesco Francavilla, Simone Bianchi
T’Challa vs. Vlad The Impaler – the final battle!

He’s left a wake of destruction across Hell’s KitchenÖnow Vlad feels the wrath of the Panther! From dark alleys to rain-soaked rooftops, T’Challa must end the bloody career of a ruthless monster, but at what terrible cost?

Plus, don’t miss the shock ending that will launch the next arc of the series that has Aint It Cool News raving ‘I bet you a red billy club Liss and Francavilla will be up for an Eisner…This is good comics!’
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Batman Streets Of Gotham TPB Vol. 01 Hush Money

Batman Streets Of Gotham TPB Vol. 01 Hush Money
By: Paul Dini, Dustin Nguyen, Derek Fridolfs, dustin nguyen
How will the police feel about Gotham City’s new Dark Knight – and can he control the crime in Gotham the way the old Batman did? Commissioner Gordon’s about to find out as he teams with the new Batman to combat the Firefly in this title.

This title collects
BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #1-4, DETECTIVE COMICS #852 and BATMAN #685.
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Amazing Spider-Man #660

Amazing Spider-Man #660
By: Dan Slott, Stefano Caselli
THIS ISSUE IS PACKED!!!

The SINISTER SIX versus SPIDER-MAN and the FFÖ and by FF, we mean ALL of the Future Foundation! Know what’s not a good place for children, even super powered kids? A full-scale battle with the world’s deadliest super villains!

It’s not ‘Bring Your Kids To Work’ Day, not a field trip, and it’s definitely not a game! This is a high stakes battle and there’s no way it will end well…

You also get part 3 of the death-defying team up of Spider-Man and Ghost Rider by Rob Williams and Lee Garbett. And also this issueÖour 2nd in a series of ‘Infested’ preludes leading to this summer’s top secret Spidey event!

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Marvel Ms Marvel Bishoujo Statue

Marvel Ms Marvel Bishoujo Statue
A KOTOBUKIYA Japanese import!

Ms. Marvel stands just over 9″ tall (in the new Marvel x Bishoujo 1/7th scale) atop an exclusive display base.
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DC Comics Presents Legion Super Heroes Damned #1

DC Comics Presents Legion Super Heroes Damned #1
By: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Oliver Coipel
With the hardcover collection of LEGION LOST coming in June, DC Comics collects the tale that led into that space-spanning epic: LEGION OF THE DAMNED.

The story begins as Cosmic Boy, Brainiac 5 and other heroes return to Earth, only to find it dominated by the alien race known as the Blight. How can the team stop these alien invaders when they’re being picked off one by one?

This title collects
LEGIONNAIRES #78-79 and LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #123-124

Quick review: Moon Knight #1

By Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev
The fourth (or is it fifth) volume for this character is here. I remember back in the day seeing grainy ads for Doug Moench and Bill Sienkewicz’ run in the pages of Daredevil or Uncanny X-Men, thinking it looked cool. When I finally got to flip through a few issues I was struck at how modern and slick the style was. It read like an action movie, predating tough guy mercenary programs that would become popular in the 1980’s. Many people call Moon Knight a second or third rate Batman, those people have usually never read an issue of Moon Knight or they’d see that he is nothing of the sort. He throws crescent darts much like Batman uses batarangs, pilots a crescent moon-shaped copter just as Batman uses a Bat-copter, operates as a debonair playboy by day but that’s where the similarities end. Batman may have a kind of ‘super sane’ way of dealing with the death of his parents and his war on crime may be one of obsessiveness taken to a new level but Moon Knight is a whole other deal.

Once a soldier of fortune, Marc Spector operated with a band of cut-throat ex-special ops soldiers, offering up their skills to the highest bidder. His partner in crime, known as Bushman, took to the life and had himself surgically altered; his face tattooed and teeth filed to points in order to appear more beastly. When Spector and his crew stumbled upon an archeological dig ripe with treasure, Bushman and Spector finally butted heads and Marc paid the price. Gunned down and left for dead, he was placed at the feet of the Egyptian god Konshu. Spector believes that Konshu revived him to be the god’s weapon on Earth, resurrected to do the deity’s bidding.

Moon Knight also developed four distinct personalities (to mirror the four phases of the moon), including cab-driver and mustache maven Jake Lockley, the hard as nails soldier of fortune Marc Spector, the playboy Steven Grant and the fist of Konshu, Moon Knight. His initial run remains a cult hit with readers which explains why he keeps getting revived over and over. His most recent run consisted of the hyper violent Charlie Huston issues in which Spector took a dark turn and brutalized crooks in the name of his god followed by the reinvention of the character as a seemingly sane crime fighter who had turned his back on Konshu and even killed off his Marc Spector persona (by Gregg Hurwitz). They are all great comics that not only build on what made the character cool back in the day but give him an edge that makes him brand new.

The latest iteration of Moon Knight comes from that blockbuster team that gave us an incredible run on Daredevil, Spider-Woman and currently Scarlet. Bendis and Maleev have a fantastic collaborative vibe that immediately brings attention to a title. The new series follows Moon Knight after he has become a member of the Avengers and appears to have made good on his decision to turn his back on the madness and just be a vigilante dressed all in white fighting bad guys.

Fortunately, this is not the case and Moon Knight is far nuttier than he has been portrayed before simply because he is unaware of his madness. In the past he would see manifestations of Konshu speaking to him as either his former foe Bushman or a miniature goblin version of Konshu. But these days he is as sly businessman operating in LA as Jake Lockley. Shopping the story of Marc Spector and the legend of Moon Knight as a syndicated TV program.

The issue opens with Wolverine, Captain America and Spider-Man arriving to give Moon Knight a talking to and a reality check to make sure he can perform the duties of LA’ resident superhero. This is significant since the ads and cover show Moon Knight possessing similar abilities to the three Avengers with the tag line that he is ‘all the Avenger you need.’

Yeah, I thought it was a lame tag line too.

Some East Coast supervillains are relocating to sunny California to start up business and the Avengers need to be sure that Moon Knight is capable of taking care of them. Somewhat flippant and distracted, Lockley tries to assure the team that he has a handle on things and immediately gets involved in something way over his head.

A business deal for stolen arms turns out to involve a discarded Ultron robot and a very nasty unknown supervillain capable of intense explosive acts. Retrieving the Ultron head, Moon Knight holds a meeting of the Avengers in his lair, comparing notes and theories. As he concludes that it’s a good thing the Avengers have his back, it is revealed that Moon Knight is in fact alone and talking to himself.

While this is a much subtler and more underplayed opening issue than the previous two attempts at the character, I have to admit that it does intrigue me. Stylistically, the new series has captured the 80’s noir feel of the Moench/Sienkewicz series and that’s a very good thing. I do worry about how long this high profile creative team will be attached to the series and if they do leave soon, will that once again curse the fist of Konshu to an early cancellation?

Who can say.

In the meantime, I recommend picking up an issue and giving it a try. If you are a fan of the street-level Batman, Miller and Janson’s Daredevil or the current Black Panther book, this is right up your alley.

Recommended:

Essential Moon Knight, Vol. 1

Moon Knight: Countdown to Dark

Moon Knight, Vol. 1: The Bottom

Vengeance of Moon Knight, Vol. 1: Shock and Awe

This week at your comic shop- 2/9/11

For the complete list of this week’s comics, click here.

Not sure where your local comic shop is? Try comicshoplocator.com!

(note: all information including ad copy is from the publisher)

If you can’t make it to the shop, just click on any of the images below to be taken to an online retailer. I don’t get any referrals for these sales, I’m just doing my bit to spread the word on some neat products.

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DC Comics Presents Green Lantern Fear Itself #1

DC Comics Presents Green Lantern Fear Itself #1
By: Ron Marz, Brad Parker
Green Lanterns Alan Scott, Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner face a foe that turns their greatest fears into a terrifying reality in this new, low-priced reprinting of the 1999 graphic novel.It’s a tale of three eras, each menaced by an unspeakable evil that grows more powerful with every defeat. In the Golden Age, Alan Scott nearly dies in battle with the monster, who brings his fear of a Nazi-controlled Justice Society to life.

Twenty-five years later, Hal Jordan barely survives his encounter with the same menace, who torments him with images of a Coast City destroyed by nuclear armageddon. And in the modern era, Kyle Rayner must face this being’s deadliest incarnation!
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Inannas Tears HC W/ Dust Jacket

Inannas Tears HC W/ Dust Jacket
By: Rob Vollmar, Mpmann
In Sumer, the prosperous city of Birith is known its devotion to the goddess Inanna. But after a millennium, the city is in danger of being overrun by nomadic refugees. Powerful interests outside of the city begin to question the wisdom of continuing to submit to Inanna’s temple’s authority.When the role of consort is passed unexpectedly to a woman named Entika, she must overcome not only the prejudices of her own people but a cunning enemy backed by the rising tide of history.

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Thunder Agents #4

Thunder Agents #4
By: Nick Spencer, Ethan Van Sciver, Scott Hanna
As Dynamo leads a desperate, last-ditch attack on Spider’s forces, learn more about what drives the team’s mysterious powerhouse in a sequence illustrated by George Pèrez, and how the secrets of his past may end up costing the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents their future.All this and a twist ending that you’re definitely gonna want to read for yourself before the Internet spoils it for you!

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Doctor Who Classics Series 4 #1 Seventh Doctor

Doctor Who Classics Series 4 #1 Seventh Doctor
By: Simon Furman, John Ridgway, Tim Perkins, Robert Hack
IDW’s newly recolored reprints of classics Doctor Who tales return with the Seventh Doctor! In ‘A Cold Day in Hell,’ the reptillian ICE WARRIORS are hell-bent on freezing a luxury planet, with only the Doctor and his companions standing in their way!Features an all-new cover by Robert Hack and new colors by Charlie Kirchoff. __________________________________________________________

Power Man And Iron Fist #1 (of 5)

Power Man And Iron Fist #1 (of 5)
By: Fred Van Lente, Wellinton Alves, Mike Perkins
Charging from the pages of SHADOWLAND comes the collector’s item first ever POWER MAN & IRON FIST #1!When Danny Rand transformed his multinational corporation into a non-profit foundation, he thought he had left fighting behind – but with so many innocents wrongly convicted, the battle never ends!

Their first case is Luke Cage and Danny Rand’s former secretary Jennie Royce, imprisoned for a murder she didn’t commitÖ or did she? And Iron Fist isn’t fighting alone – he’s got a new partner with him: Victor Alvarez, the all-new Power Man, he of the exploding punches – and exploding temper!

Can Danny train his new charge well enough to face returning foil El Aguila as well as new threats Don Pagliacci, the Commedia Dell’Morte, and the beautiful, deadly Noir?

That’s right, Marvel’s original mismatched action duo begins a new era of greatness right here!
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Creator Chronicles Complete George Perez DVD

Creator Chronicles Complete George Perez DVD
With many new releases set for 2011 (including a new line of Art Instructional DVDs), we are offering our previous DVDs at a special reduced price!At over 4 hours, this massive interview/DVD set covers all aspects of George’s amazing career, from Titans to Crisis to JLA/Avengers!

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Acts Of Vengeance Omnibus HC

Acts Of Vengeance Omnibus HC
By: MARK GRUENWALD, JOHN BYRNE, PAUL RYAN, VINCE MIELCAREK, DWAYNE TURNER, AL MILGROM, KIERON DWYER, RON LIM, ERIK LARSON, TODD MCFARLANE, SAL BUSCEMA, ALAN DAVIS
Two dozen of Marvel’s top talents set more than 40 super heroes against at least as many super villains in the premier crossover event of the 1990s!Plus: the debut of the New Warriors! The destruction of Avengers Island! Spider-Man’s cosmic power and the madness of the Scarlet Witch! A three-headed monster, a three-faced robot, a trip through the worlds of What If? and more! Special guest-appearance by Abraham Lincoln!

This title collects
AVENGERS #311-313, AVENGERS ANNUAL #19; AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #26-29; AVENGERS WEST COAST #53-55; CAPTAIN AMERICA #365-367; IRON MAN #251-252; QUASAR #5-7; Thor #411-413; CLOAK & DAGGER #9; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #326-329; SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #158-160; WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #59-61
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Marvel Masterworks Atlas Era Battlefield

Marvel Masterworks Atlas Era Battlefield
In the early 1950s with the Korean War raging Marvel Comics’ predecessor, Atlas, launched a bevy of war comics featuring the heroism and horrors of human conflict. Battlefield ranked four-star amongst them with art by Atlas Era luminaries including war comics great Russ Heath along with Paul Reinman, Joe Maneely, Gene Colan, Bill Everett and many more.With challenging scripts by Stan Lee’s stable of Atlas Era scribes these never-before-reprinted pre-Code comics delve into a challenging range of themes-from tales of the American fightin’ G.I., to the machinations of the Communist front, and striking meditations on the atrocities of modern war.

This amazing MARVEL MASTERWORKS collects the complete run of BATTLFIELD in one beautiful volume. Topped off with an introduction by Atlas Era scholar, Dr. Michael J. Vassallo, there’s no doubt that it’s time to join up and set out on the battlefield!

Collecting BATTLEFIELD #1-11.
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Amazing Spider-Man #654

Amazing Spider-Man #654
By: Dan Slott, Stefano Caselli
REVENGE OF THE SPIDER-SLAYER-Part 3 (of 3):’Self-Inflicted Wounds’One of the most pivotal moments of the SPIDER-MAN ‘BIG TIME’ era happens here. Other comics promise you their issues will ‘Change Everything’ or that ‘Nothing Will Ever Be The Same.’ No carnival barker-like pitch this time. Just the plain, simple truth: This issue of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN will have repercussions for Peter Parker and this title’s cast for years and years to come. Guest-starring THE NEW AVENGERS.

Also in this issue: We finally reveal what has become of the alien symbiote. And a dramatic change to Spider-Man’s powers. Do NOT miss this issue!

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Black Panther Man Without Fear #515

Black Panther Man Without Fear #515
By: David Liss, Francesco Francavilla, Simone Bianchi
For the fate of Hell’s Kitchen: T’Challa vs. Vlad the Impaler in a desperate rooftop battle of wills, wits and fists! ‘Urban Jungle’ heats up as Luke Cage guest-stars, friends fall, dark forces prepare to step from the shadows, and a dangerous conspiracy begins to unfold!
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Golden Age Flash T-Shirt LG

Golden Age Flash T-Shirt LG
The Scarlet Speedster takes the spotlight this month with three new shirt designs that span the generations. Brightest Day: Flash features the art of Francis Manapul screenprinted in full-color on a naturalcolored, 100% cotton shirt. From days gone by comes this classic rendition on the Golden Age: Flash Shirt also pronted on a naturalcolored tee. Last but not least is the first appearance by Infantino and Kubert on the Silver Age: Flash Shirt screenprinted in color on a stonewashed green, 100% cotton garment. Also available are the ever-popular symbols from Flash’s past, present and future! NOW AVAILABLE for sale in Canada and U.K.
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Heroes For Hire #3

Heroes For Hire #3
By: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, Brad Walker, Doug BraithwaiteIron Fist asks: Who’s hiring the heroes? The dangerous missions continue — and the mystery behind who’s pulling the strings deepens! As Paladin begins to question the operation he’s signed up to, his curiosity brings him face-to-face with a figure central to Heroes For Hire history…with explosive results! __________________________________________________________

Batman And Robin #20

Batman And Robin #20
By: Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, Mark Irwin
Kicking off the action is ‘Dark Knight, White Knight’ part 1 of 3, as Bruce Wayne returns from the dead and Gotham City finds itself locked in the grip of chaos! Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne come face-to-face with what could possibly be the strangest Bat Villain yet.Who is the White Knight, and why is he hell-bent on making Gotham City into Heaven on Earth?

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The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor Archives Volume 2

The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor Archives Volume 2
By: Donald Glut, Jesse Santos
The inquisitive and adventurous Dr. Adam Spektor is an occult detective, myth researcher, and demon hunter who travels the world over to investigate the strange and the supernatural, aided by his assistant, Lakota Rainflower.Cocreated by writer Donald Glut in 1972–who also provides this volume’s insightful introduction–the character came into his own when artist Jesse Santos was assigned to Spektor’s ongoing comic–book series. In Doctor Spektor Archives Volume 2, you’ll discover the thrilling chronicles of a strange protector–a character who often breaks the fabled “fourth wall” to address readers directly while narrating disturbing tale after tale from his vast files. As a bonus treat for Spektor spawns and disciples.

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Batman Movie Batwing Collectible Prop

Batman Movie Batwing Collectible Prop
Taken from the molds of the original movie models, with the interior references scaled down from the original full-size props, the Batwing prop replica includes a handsome Bat-symbol display base. It also comes equipped with an electronic LED cockpit, two front LED headlights and 2 amber LED landing lights.The Batwing is limited to a production run of 500 units worldwide.

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Marvel Masterworks Galactus 19-in Variant Ed Action Figure

Marvel Masterworks Galactus 19-in Variant Ed Action Figure
Galactus! His name instills terror across the universe. A survivor of the universe before ours, who rode out his universe’s ‘Big Crunch’ and entered our universe during the Big Bang, Galactus has traversed the universe in search of planets to consume to feed his unholy hungers.Brought to life as a 19″ tall action figure featuring a variant color scheme and including a bonus Silver Surfer figure, cast in clear plastic!

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Doctor Who: The Coming of the Terraphiles

Doctor Who: The Coming of the Terraphiles- Audio CD
Award-winning sci-fi author Michael Moorcock writes a thrilling all-new adventure featuring the 11th Doctor and Amy. There are dark tides running through the universe — so strong they swallow light and threaten Captain Cornelius’s familiar existence; if unchecked, they will absorb the whole of Creation. But for now he tracks into the solar winds, searching for the only being he acknowledges as his peer, who is known simply as “The Doctor.”

Moorcock reads from his book at Austin Books

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Incredible Hulks #622

Incredible Hulks #622
By: Greg Pak, Paul Pelletier, Carlo Pagulayan
In the horrific tragedy of life sweepstakes, the Hulk has won the jackpot, time and time again. But now he’s finally had enough.Don’t miss the shocking climax of GOD SMASH as the Incredible Hulk breaks the most fundamental law set by the gods before mortals – by demanding a reckoning from the most formidable Allfather of them all!

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Nova Costume Royal Blue T-Shirt LG

Nova Costume Royal Blue T-Shirt LG
Interstellar space is your playground as the power of Nova courses through you!
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Namor Visionaries TPB John Byrne Vol. 01

Namor Visionaries TPB John Byrne Vol. 01
Namor, the Sub-Mariner! The world’s first mutant! King of Atlantis!See one of Marvel’s most iconic characters written and penciled by the talented John Byrne! As Namor finally learns the truth about his nasty temper, he faces the corporate threat of the diabolical Marrs’ twins, tames the deadly Griffin, is sued for his attacks on New York and gets beheaded!

It’s Namor like you’ve never seen him before! Guest-starring Namorita, Iron Man and the Fantastic Four!

This title collects
NAMOR: THE SUB-MARINER (1990) #1-9
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Flash Dastardly Death Of The Rogues HC

Flash Dastardly Death Of The Rogues HC
By: Geoff Johns, Francis Manapul, Scott Kolins
The Fastest Man Alive must solve the murder of one of his greatest villains and protect his other foes from an elusive killer in this hardcover pulled from THE FLASH #1-6 and THE FLASH SECRET FILES 2010!Racing out of BLACKEST NIGHT, The Flash returns to his life in Central City – but when one of his Rogues Gallery of foes turns up murdered under mysterious circumstances, it’s up to The Fastest Man Alive to solve this bizarre crime and protect those who are targeted by the elusive killer.

This title collects
The Flash #1-6, The Flash Secret Files 2010

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Flash #9

Flash #9
By: Geoff Johns, Francis Manapul, francis manapul
Part of DC’s Flashpoint!BRIGHTEST DAY rushes forward! Now, make way for Hot Pursuit – the latest speedster to come out of the Speed Force! He’s here to make sure no one breaks the speed limit – hero or villain! And just wait until you see whose face is under Hot Pursuit’s helmet. . .

This issue will ship with two covers.

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Doctor Who: The Dominators

Doctor Who: The Dominators
The Doctor takes Jamie and Zoe to the peaceful planet Dulkis for some much-deserved time off only to land on the ‘Island of Death’ by mistake. The dreaded Dominators and their robotic servants the Quarks have some nefarious plans for the pacifist population of the planet that the Doctor must stop. But how can he help a people who refuse to take any action at all?Written by the creators of the Yeti, Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln (and heavily rewritten by script editor Derrick Sherwin), this is hardly a classic, but still a much-loved artifact of the Troughton era, combining comedy, action and explosives.

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This week at your comic shop- 2/2/11

For the complete list of this week’s comics, click here.

Not sure where your local comic shop is? Try comicshoplocator.com!

(note: all information including ad copy is from the publisher)

If you can’t make it to the shop, just click on any of the images below to be taken to an online retailer. I don’t get any referrals for these sales, I’m just doing my bit to spread the word on some neat products.

DC Universe Online Legends #1

DC Universe Online Legends #1
By: Tony Bedard, Marv Wolfman, Howard Porter, Livesay, Adriana Melo, Norman Lee, Ryan SookThe DC event of the year begins, coinciding with the release of the wildly anticipated DCU MMO! Get ready for the ride of a lifetime with this immense, 26-issue biweekly series!

Lex Luthor’s obsession with destroying Superman reaches a fevered limit when he cuts the ultimate Devil’s deal with Brainiac…but with the shake of a hand, has Luthor consigned humanity to genocide?

Comic book legend Marv Wolfman joins fan-favorite writer Tony Bedard and artist Howard Porter to tell the ultimate DC Universe Super Hero tale of good versus evil!
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Brightest Day #19

Brightest Day #19
By: Goeff Johns, Peter J. Tomasi, IVAN REIS, PATRICK GLEASON, ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK, JOE PRADO, DAVID FINCH, SCOTT WILLIAMS
The BRIGHTEST DAYS are numbered as this best-selling series heads toward its shocking conclusion, and fans won’t want to miss a single page of the action!’Aquawar’ breaks out with Aquaman, Mera, Aqualad and a surprise guest star facing off against the terrorist forces of Black Manta and Siren to keep the vast waters of the world from sinking the United States!

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Deadpool And Cable #26

Deadpool And Cable #26
By: Duane Swiercyznski, Leo Fernandez, Dave Wilkins
Cable is dead, and no one’s more devastated than his old friend and partner, Deadpool (a.k.a. Wade Wilson, a.k.a. the Merc With the Mouth, a.k.a. the guy who’s in pretty much every other solicit this month). Sitting by Cable’s grave, Deadpool struggles to find the perfect way to honor his fallen mutant pal.Then… light bulb! Deadpool remembers Rumekistan, the troubled and totally fictional European country that Cable once tried to turn into a Utopia on earth. Deadpool travels there to establish up a Cable museum! A Cable amusement park! A Cable cable TV show! But Rumekistan isn’t quite what it used to be, and Deadpool’s appearance only makes things worse. To set things right, Deadpool will have to do more than just honor his old friend — he must become him!

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Batman Beyond #2

Batman Beyond #2
By: Adam Beecgen, Ryan Benjamin, John Stanisci, Dustin Nguyen
Terry’s family is being held hostage by a crook who’s boosted technology so powerful, he doesn’t even understand what he has – and the Justice League intends to neutralize the threat with full aggression.But Neo-Gotham is Batman’s town, and Bruce Wayne doesn’t intend to give up one iota of control over the situation! With his loved ones’ lives on the line, which way will Terry turn under the pressure?

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Amazing Spider-Man #653

Amazing Spider-Man #653
By: Dan Slott, Stefano Caselli
REVENGE OF THE SPIDER-SLAYER Part 2 of 3 ‘All You Love Will Die’ The SPIDER-SLAYER’S assault escalates as his INSECT ARMY descends on Manhattan!No one in Spidey’s life is safe-from the offices of the Daily Bugle to the Mayor’s staff at City Hall! It’s way more than our wall-crawler can handle. Good thing he’s also a member of the NEW AVENGERS!

Guest-starring LUKE CAGE, JESSICA JONES, MS. MARVEL, MOCKINGBIRD, IRON FIST–and a few surprises.
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Doctor Strange From Marvel Vault #1

Doctor Strange From Marvel Vault #1
By: Roger Stern, Neil Vokes, Mario Alberti
A Marvel Masterpiece from deep inside the treasure vaults can now be told! For decades, Doctor Stephen Strange has worked as a practicing sorcerer out of the weird old brownstone at 177A Bleecker Street in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. But what eerie secrets does the building hide? What lurks within its walls? Is it Ö haunted?Now, at last, the full story of Doctor Strange’s first night in his Sanctum Sanctorum stands revealed — in a tale tastefully told by Roger Stern (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) and dramatically drawn by those Masters of the Comic Arts, Neil Vokes and Jay Geldhof (UNTOLD TALES OF SPIDER-MAN: STRANGE ENCOUNTERS, The Black Forest).

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Shadow Double Novel Vol. 45

Shadow Double Novel Vol. 45
The Shadow confronts a European mastermind of evil to end the murderous menace that lurks on ‘Terror Island.’ Then, Lamont Cranston seeks the strange secret behind the deadly ‘accidents’ that have caused a once-thriving community to become a ‘City of Ghosts.’
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Hulk #29

Hulk #29
By: Jeff Parker, G. Hardman & M. Robinson, Ed McGuinness
SCORCHED EARTH FINALE! Bruce Banner has found the key to stopping the Intelligencia’s assaultÖand it’s going to require RED HULK to team up with the one partner he never thought he would… THE HULK!

With the wounds between them still fresh, the two big brutes of the Marvel Universe must bring their incredible power together or it all ends here.

But was there an even bigger development hidden behind this master plan? Meanwhile on Stage 2- The A-BOMB takes a break from fighting really big monsters, so that he can get killed dead by the mysterious murdering alien-looking dudes!!!
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Superman Forever #1 Mini Statue

Superman Forever #1 Mini Statue
A classic DC Direct statue gets miniaturized!Based on one of the most popular Alex Ross covers ever, this 1:2 scale mini statue features all the sculptural details and intricate painting fans of DC Direct have come to expect.

This limited-edition, hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain statue measures approximately 6.375″ high x 5.875″ wide, is packaged in a 4-color box and is manufactured to order.
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Night of the Living Dead DVDTee

Night of the Living Dead DVDTee
This DVDTee includes both a DVD of George A. Romero’s 1968, Night of the Living Dead, and a tee shirt with the original poster art on it. Night of the Living Dead, widely acknowledged as one of the most influential horror films of all time, tells the story of seven people who are secluded in a Pennsylvania farmhouse trying to avoid savage attacks by zombified corpses seeking to eat their flesh. Through radio and TV reports they learn that radiation from outer space is thought to be responsible for a wave of zombie attacks all over the eastern United States. It seems that this radiation from a fallen satellite has caused the dead to walk, and now they hunger for human flesh. Once bitten, you become one of them. The only way to kill them is by gunshot or a severe blow to the head.

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The Savage Sword of Conan Volume 9 TPB

The Savage Sword of Conan Volume 9 TPB
By: Michael Fleisher, John Buscema, Val Mayerik, Pablo Marcos, Ernie Chan, Vince Colletta, Rudy Nebres
Conan has his hands full in this set of era–defining stories by Michael Fleisher, John Buscema, Ernie Chan, Pablo Marcos, and other familiar talents! In these pages, the Cimmerian faces a demigod who wields the awesome powers of the leopard, three deadly dwarves, a siren with an army of undead pirates, and the return of the Devourer of Souls! Plus, fan–favorite stories “The Blood Ruby of Death,” in which a priceless gem turns even the staunchest allies into enemies, and “When a God Lives,” where the theft of a seemingly harmless statue unleashes the ancient, arcane energies of a god whose only goal is to destroy Conan!

* Over 500 jam–packed pages of adventure, betrayal, and revenge!

* This volume collects The Savage Sword of Conan #94 to #101, complete with covers, frontispieces, backup stories, and pinups from each issue!
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Doc Savage Double Novel #44

Doc Savage Double Novel #44
When mysterious earth tremors endanger New York’s hydroelectric dams, Doc Savage must unearth the strange secret of The Roar Devil.Then, Doc Savage is jailed and charged with murder while investigating oil pipeline sabotage in Arkansas in ‘Satan Black.’

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Famous Monsters Of Filmland #254

Famous Monsters Of Filmland #254
May 27, 2011 marks the centennial birthday of Vincent Price. Join Famous Monsters of Filmland as they celebrate a century of mayhem and menace by giving horror fans a birthday gift, wrapped up in a glorious cover by Jason Edmiston!Plus, Joe Nazzaro fills readers in on spring’s films and April Snellings adds her usual magic.

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Iron Man Legacy #11

Iron Man Legacy #11
By: Fred Van Lente, Steve Kurth, Juan Doe
THE ILLUMINATI versus THE PRIDE as ‘INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION’ reaches its senses-shattering conclusion!… ‘NUFF SAID!
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Atari Cocktail Recipe Pint Glass

Atari Cocktail Recipe Pint Glass
Make cocktail concoctions inspired by Atari’s classic video games with this pint glass that comes imprinted with the recipes!
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Metropolis DVD & XL T-Shirt

Metropolis DVD & XL T-Shirt
In Fritz Lang’s influential silent classic Metropolis, set in a sprawling city of the future, a workers’ uprising threatens to destroy the metropolis. In the 21st century, society has been divided into two classes – the lowly workers who live underground, and the wealthy ruling class who indulge in a decadent existence in the towering skyscrapers above. One of the ruling class is lured below ground and becomes horrified by what he witnesses. He endeavors to help improve their plight, but a mad scientist and his evil robots are enlisted to thwart the young man and crush the labor reform efforts. This special edition DVD comes with an X-Large t-shirt that features the movie’s original poster art.

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Blake's 7: The Early Years | Season 1

Blake’s 7: The Early Years | Season 1
Featuring Colin Salmon, Craig Kelly, Keeley Hawes, Geoffrey Palmer, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jake Maskall, Peter Guinness, Owen Aaronovitch, Michael Cochrane, Carrie Dobro, Stephen Lord, Jan Chappell and Michael Keating
VILA & GAN (Story 1.1), TRAVIS (Story 1.2), AVON (Story 1.3), CALLY (Story 1.4.1 and 1.4.2), JENNA (Story 1.5.1 and 1.5.2).The audio adventures feature DEREK RIDDELL (The Book Group, Ugly Betty) as the eponymous rebel leader Roj Blake, COLIN SALMON (James Bond, Alien vs Predator) as computer genius Kerr Avon and DANIELA NARDINI (This Life) as Supreme Commander Servalan.

Other cast members include CRAIG KELLY (Queer as Folk) as arch-villain Travis, CARRIE DOBRO (Babylon 5) as Jenna, MICHAEL PRAED (Robin of Sherwood), DOUG BRADLEY (Hellraiser), GEOFFREY PALMER (As Time Goes By) and KEELEY HAWES (Ashes to Ashes).

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Marvel Knights: Black Panther

Marvel Knights: Black Panther
Djimon Hounsou (Actor), Alfre Woodard (Actor), Mark Brooks (Director)
Deep in the heart of Africa lies Wakanda, an advanced and unconquerable civilization. A family of warrior kings possessing superior speed, strength and agility has governed this mysterious nation as long as time itself. The latest in this famed line is young King T’Challa, the great hero known worldwide as the Black Panther.Now, outsiders once again threaten to invade and plunder Wakanda. Leading this brutal assault is Klaw, a deadly assassin with the blood of T’Challa’s murdered father on his hands, who brings with him a strong army of super-powered mercenaries. Even with Wakanda’s might and his own superhuman skills, can the Black Panther prevail against this deadly invading force?

From respected filmmaker/producer Reginald Hudlin and legendary comic book artist John Romita, Jr., comes the epic Black Panther story for which comic fans have waited 25 years. Starring Djimon Hounsou (Gladiator, Blood Diamond) and Alfre Woodard (True Blood, Star Trek: First Contact).
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Marvel Minimates Series 37 Assortment

Marvel Minimates Series 37 Assortment
A Diamond Select Release! Art Asylum Designs & Sculpts!Diamond Select continues the longest running collector line in toy history. After 36 series of Marvel Minimates you might be wondering what is left. How about the always popular Spider-Man paired with the long awaited Minimates debut of the classic villain Lizard. Next up two eagerly awaited mutants rounding out previous release get ready for 90’s era Professor Xavier and X-Force’s own Warpath. Rounding out the main release the ever loving blue eyed Thing as well as the army building Doombot.

For the specialty exclusive two pack get ready to make room for Thing in his trench coat disguise and more Doombots. Each Minimate stands 2.5″ tall with 14 points of articulation and a variety of removable and interchangeable parts and accessories.

NOTE: This is a factory sealed case assortment.
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Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep #19 ( of 24 )

Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep #19 ( of 24 )
By: Philip K. Dick, Tony Parker, Brett Weldele
The Eisner-nominated series from the novel that inspired Blade Runner continues as Rick Deckard makes a decision that may be the biggest mistake of his life.Or it may also be the most enlightening experience of his life. Only three renegade Nexus-6 remain, you won’t believe what happens next in Philip K. Dick’s sci-fi masterpiece!

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Quicksilver Costume Turquoise T-Shirt XXL

Quicksilver Costume Turquoise T-Shirt XXL
Feel the speed of Quicksilver with this t-shirt! Dress up as the Avenger/Evil Mutant Pietro Maximoff and speed past the jibes and snickers from your foes!
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Hellboy: The Sleeping and the Dead #2

Hellboy: The Sleeping and the Dead #2
By: Mike Mignola, Scott Hampton, Dave Stewart
Hellboy is trapped in a dark basement littered with bones and small coffins, and the only way out is through the floating creature of death!For the first time, Mike Mignola teams up with artist Scott Hampton (Batman, The Sandman Presents: Lucifier) for this gothic tale.

* Classic vampire horror!

* The exciting conclusion!
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War of the Worlds 2005 1/8 Scale Alien Creature Model Kit

War of the Worlds 2005 1/8 Scale Alien Creature Model Kit
Straight from Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster 2005 movie War of The Worlds comes the incredible alien creature model kit! From its unique three limbs and creepy walk, to its refractive eyes and long fingers, it’s striking design invokes feelings of fear and fascination.Created from the original 3D computer model used in the movie, the kit consists of one alien figure with alternate neck for posing options and detailed logo display base.

War of the Worlds 1:8 Scale Martian Model Kit

War of the Worlds 1:8 Scale Martian Model Kit
When meteors began to fall on the Earth in the mid-1950s, no one could have imagined that they were not rocks from space but the vanguard of an invasion from another world.This model kit recreates the Martian from George Pal’s classic 1953 film, The War of the Worlds. Taken from images from Paramount’s original studio prop, this model comes with 2 sets of arms for multiple posing options, and it stands atop a detailed film logo display base.

Assembly required.

Marvel Entertainment prepares Black Panther for the big screen

Even with three Captain America movies, at least one Thor and a third Iron Man all planned for the near future and a trio of Avengers movies, Marvel is already looking to the future. The next big character who may be set for his silver screen debut could be the Black Panther.

Created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee (the team that collaborated on every Marvel property from the Hulk to the Mighty Thor, the X-Men and over 100 issues of Fantastic Four) introduced T’Challa back in 1966 as the ruler of a mega city that remained hidden in Africa unconquered for generations. Far in advance of other cultures in technology, Wakanda was a super city right out of the pages of 1950’s pulp comics predicting a Utopian future. After encountering the Fantastic Four, T’Challa then met Captain America who recommended that the Black Panther replace him in the Avengers.

The Black Panther grew in popularity, earning a starring role in Marvel Jungle Action where writer Don McGregor granted the character some of his best material. In recent years, the Black Panther has enjoyed a high point in popularity even though he has been replaced in his own comic by his sister Shuri, a worthy successor in the role,. while he sought out new forms of combat against a mysterious threat within his own empire (later revealed to be Doctor Doom). To save face, T’Challa will debut as the protector of Hell’s Kitchen in Black Panther, Man Without Fear early next year.

The first black superhero, the Black Panther is an immensely popular creation that has a strong fanbase and plenty of potential.The character was the star of an animated series adapting the Marvel Knights” Who is the Black Panther story line by Reginald Hudlin and John Romita, Jr. The series had some trouble in making it onto the TV screen and ended up as an online series, but received mainly favorable response and will finally see a DVD release in January, 2011.

Reports are started to come in that voice actor Djimon Hounsou of the BET Black Panther animated series is very interested in playing the ruler of Wakandan on screen (see: http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2010/12/djimon-hounsou-keen-to-star-in.html , http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/12/03/black-panther-movie-djimon-hounsou/and http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEgJnI6lFt4Tjn). As reported by Coventry, England’s Geek Files blogger David Bentley:

At July’s San Diego Comic-Con, president of production Kevin Feige confirmed that the film would arrive sometime after 2012’s The Avengers.

The studio’s intentions were further signalled in Iron Man 2, released earlier this year. In one scene (see images below), there’s a map of the world that highlights part of Africa, and director Jon Favreau stated on the Blu-ray that this was intended as a reference to Black Panther.

More as it comes…

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/hr1m

Recommended:

Black Panther: Power

Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther

Marvel Masterworks: Black Panther Vol. 1

Marvel Knights: Black Panther (the animated series)

Black Panther -from King of Wakanda to the protector of Hell’s Kitchen

There’s a great article over at Newsarama on the history of the Black Panther. It centers on the look and costume of the Black Panther and how it is informed by the character himself. The article thoroughly covers the hero’s history from his first Fantastic Four appearance all the way to his new role as the Man Without Fear (below).

Read the entire article by clicking on this link: http://blog.newsarama.com/2010/10/15/agent-of-s-t-y-l-e-wakanda-wild-side-with-the-black-panther/

The Black Panther is probably the most prominent hero of color, but he’s not the only one. The Falcon, Luke Cage and Black Lightning are all African American heroes with a common denominator, Tony Isabella. A monument in comic books, writer Tony Isabella worked on all three and while they may look corny today they made a bold statement at the time by introducing some variety in a stagnant industry populated mainly by white guys in tights beating each other up.

I have only read a little on the initial plans of both Isabella and artist Trevor Von Eden regarding Black Lightning, the hero’s unlikely (and shocking origins) and the artist’s disappointment with where Black Lightning ended up. Click here for more on this story- http://www.trevorvoneeden.com/blklghtn.html

By contrast, T’Challa – the Black Panther (who predates Luke Cage, The Falcon and Black Lightning) is entirely different. A master scientist on part with Reed Richards and a hand-to-hand fighter worthy of Captain America’s mettle, he is also from a culture that has thrived in secrecy, creating its own super science that only makes sense in a Kirby drawing. As the Black Panther, T’Challa was the latest in a long line of rulers of the secret nation of Wakanda, devoted to the protection of his people. When he fought alongside Captain America and later became an Avenger, he saw that many forces of evil that threatened all people, not just his nation of Wakanda.

The aftermath of Doomwar has forever altered former Black Panther T’Challa’s role in both his own country (he is no longer its ruler) and in the Marvel Universe (he showed both his cunning and cold-hearted resolve when he attacked Doctor Doom in an all-out act of war, something no one has ever done before). When he takes over the role (and monthly title) of the Man Without Fear, he will be starting over from square one, meaning that Marvel Comics will have a unique opportunity to both redefine and re-introduce one of their most successful superheroes.

Black Panther: The Man Without Fear debuts in December, taking over the numbering of Daredevil with #513.

Preview below:

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/d0g0