This week at your comic shop – 5/4/2011

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

Alexandro Jodorowsky Screaming Planet HC

Alexandro Jodorowsky Screaming Planet HC
By: Alexandro Jodorowsky, Williams, Ladronn, Various, Travis Charest
As a remnant of a destroyed planet soars aimlessly through space, it inspires inhabitants of different worlds in ways both tragic and awesome. Written by Alexandro Jodorowosky (Metabarons, The Incal). Includes short stories illustrated by J.H. Williams III (Batwoman), Ladronn (The Spirit), and Adi Granov (Iron Man: Extremis). Cover by Travis Charest.
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Thor Wolves Of North TPB

Thor Wolves Of North TPB
By: Mike Perkins
All-new, classic tales of Thor unchained!

In WOLVES OF THE NORTH, Hela lays siege to Asgard, and demon hordes are loose on Earth. Weakened and alone, Thor must strike a dangerous bargain with a mortal woman to launch a last-ditch assault on the forces of death and chaos – as his enemies were hoping he would. Valiant Vikings, grotesque goblins and lascivious ladies – what more could any Thunder God ask for?

In THE TRUTH OF HISTORY, Thor embarks on one of his most epic adventures ever when the God of Thunder and his fellow Asgardians visit Midgard’s ancient Egypt – and leave behind a startling legacy that will change our world forever!

And in THOR ANNUAL #1, Thor finds himself exiled from Asgard. Without his allies at his side, the wounded and isolated God of Thunder discovers time does not heal all wounds – especially when it’s the Egyptian pantheon bearing the grudge! Seth! Grog! The enemies from Thor’s past have returned, and they’re howling for revenge – ready to exploit Thor’s misery and finish him off once and for all.
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Doctor Who: The Movie (Special Edition)

Doctor Who: The Movie (Special Edition)
Starring Paul McGann
Made to re-launch television’s most famous time traveler, Doctor Who: The Movie is an expensive feature-length episode which attempts to continue the classic series and work as a stand-alone film. Transporting the remains of the Master, Sylvester McCoy’s Seventh Doctor is diverted to San Francisco in 1999. Regenerating in the form of Paul McGann, the Doctor gains a new companion in heart surgeon Dr. Grace Holloway (Daphne Ashbrook) and must stop the Master from destroying the world. All of which might have been fine, had not the most eccentrically British of programs been almost entirely assimilated by the requirements of American network broadcasting. Matthew Jacobs’ screenplay is literally nonsense, dependent on arbitrary, unexplained events while introducing numerous elements that contradict established Doctor Who mythology. The Tardis is re-imagined as a bizarre pre-Raphaelite/Gothic folly, while the Doctor, now half-human, becomes romantically involved with his lady companion. From the West Coast setting to metallic CGI morphing, from the look of Eric Roberts as the Master to a motorcycle/truck freeway chase, director Geoffrey Sax borrows freely from James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Doctor Who fans should feel relieved this travesty was not successful enough to lead to a series, though McGann himself does have the potential to make a fine Doctor. –Gary S Dalkin
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Fear Itself #2 (of 7)

Fear Itself #2 (of 7)
By: Matt Fraction, Stuart Immonen, Steve McNiven
The Mighty Thor–imprisoned by his own father! As Odin and the Asgardians leave the Earth to fend for itself against the God of Fear, the Avengers and the world’s remaining heroes battle the unstoppable tide of terror! And then–the Serpent’s Hammers fall!

Who are the Worthy? Who shall rise up and join the Serpent as living avatars of his evil? And how can the Avengers respond…to fear itself?

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Thor Hero Dyad Flex Fit Cap M/l

Thor Hero Dyad Flex Fit Cap M/l
The New Era classic-style baseball cap is known by many names: the 59Fifty, the ‘fitted,’ the ‘tight lid.’ Whether it’s on the head of professional baseball players worldwide, or adorning the crown of hip-hop royalty, the 59Fifty is a crucial part of any fashion-minded fanboy.

Now you can show your loyalty to your favorite DC or Marvel heroes with these2-tone branded caps. Just one thing to remember: it’s hard to be balla enough to wear this if you pull off the size sticker!
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Taskmaster TPB Unthinkable

Taskmaster TPB Unthinkable
By: Fred Van Lente, Jefte Palo, Alex Garner
Written by FRED VAN LENTE Penciled by JEFTE PALO Cover by ALEX GARNER Taskmaster has trained henchmen for every terrorist organization and criminal cartel in the Marvel Universe. So when the rumor starts that he’s turned traitor and now works for Steve Rogers, a billion-dollar bounty is put on his head. Now, every cadre of costumed fanatics – A.I.M., Hydra, Ultimatum, the Sons of the Serpent and more – is looking to collect. Taskmaster must fight hordes upon hordes of his psychopathic students while at the same time uncovering who framed him – which requires him figuring out who he really is! That’s right, the man with the photographic reflexes has no memory of his true identity – and you’ll learn the unexpected truth along with him! The action-packed secret origin comes courtesy of New York Times bestselling writer Fred Van Lente (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) and acclaimed artist Jefte Paolo (DOCTOR VOODOO)! Collecting TASKMASTER #1-4 and material from AGE OF HEROES #3. 112 PGS./Rated T+
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Robert Fawcett: The Illustrator's Illustrator

Robert Fawcett: The Illustrator’s Illustrator
Robert Fawcett who was known by his peers as ‘The illustrator’s illustrator’, is recently chronicled in a book by Auad publishing, a well known publisher for quality books on artists from the turn of the century to the ‘Golden Age of Illustration’. Walt Reed who is a legend in his own time as an artist and a purveyor of famous artists for almost a century was a personal friend of Robert Fawcett wrote the introduction for the book. The book will contain more than a hundred color illustrations and numerous black and white drawings. These are images which have long been out of circulation and are largely unavailable today. Many of the images from the book were made from the originals which have been hidden away for decades by private collectors so the quality will be superior to the images published in magazines decades ago. The book will measure 9X12”, Hardcover with a dust jacket, 182 pages plus a fold-out. Best of all, the 12 Fawcett Sherlock Holmes illustrations will be together in a book for the first time, some taken from the original paintings.
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Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep #22 (of 24)

Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep #22 (of 24)
By: Philip K. Dick, Tony Parker, Connor Willumsen
Finally, Rick Deckard crosses paths with J.R. Isidore, the only barrier between Deckard and the last three Nexus-6 androids. Will Isidore give up the ‘friends’ he’s been hiding, and is Deckard prepared to retire his greatest enemy?

The countdown to the last issue continues in the mind-blowing final arc of the Eisner Award-nominated series from Philip K. Dick and acclaimed artist Tony Parker!
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They're Here Already!

They’re Here Already!
WOW! I have never seen two sister books as captivating, inviting and amazing as these! I can’t wait to read them both cover to cover – many times. The images are nothing short of breath taking, you have really done an amazing job… –Anonymous Reader

Hello again, Jim! I’m so glad to hear that you did a Sci-Fi book! As I was looking at the other last night, I thought, I sure hope this guy does one on the ’50s films! –Anonymous Reader

It’s the best 1950’s poster book. REALLY champion! –Anonymous Reader

Product Description
If you loved the science fiction movies of the 1950s, you will love this book. War of the Worlds, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Attack of the 50 ft. Woman, Creature From the Black Lagoon, and virtually every other great Sci Fi poster from the 1950s is pictured in this book. Not only are they pictured, but in virtually every size known. This book has over 1,500 pictures on 230 full-color pages, all found in one comprehensive, organized location. Never have these posters been assembled in one location before.
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Hellraiser Masterworks TPB Vol. 01

Hellraiser Masterworks TPB Vol. 01
By: Barker, Wachowski, & More, Ross, O’niell, More, Alex Ross
Straight from the far reaches of Hell, comes a collection of classic Hellraiser tales that will light your soul on fire! This must-have collection features stories originally published by Marvel Comics – classic spinetinglers for die-hard fans and new readers alike, collecting a host of work form comic luminaries that you will not want to miss! Featuring the work of Clive Barker (Hellraiser), Neil Gaiman (Sandman), Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Alex Ross (Kingdom Come), Kevin O’Neill (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), and many more!

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Moon Knight #1

Moon Knight #1
By: Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev
The wait is over! Moon Knight is here…like you’ve never seen him before!

And we mean NEVER! The Eisner award-winning team of Bendis and Maleev tear into the mythos of Moon Knight with the same verve and derring-do they brought to Daredevil.

A MARVELOUS reinterpretation of one of the most enigmatic characters in Marvel history starts right here!
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Jonah Hex No Way Back TPB

Jonah Hex No Way Back TPB
By: Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Tony Dezuniga
Discover how Jonah Hex’s upbringing transformed him into the justice-thirsty vigilante he became.

Legendary Hex artist Tony DeZuniga returns to illustrate a new, archetypal epic written by the acclaimed HEX team of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray.

This heartbreaking, brutal original graphic novel is set against the unforgiving landscape of the Wild West and delves into Hex’s painful past.
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Doctor Who 4th Doctor Sontaran Experiment Action Figure Set

Doctor Who 4th Doctor Sontaran Experiment Action Figure Set
Imported from the UK!

The Doctor, Sarah Jane, and Harry arrive on a desolate future Earth where they discover a group of astronauts, stranded and the subject of a series of experiments by an unknown alien.

That alien is a Sontaran, Field-Major Styre, who is compiling a report on human physical and mental capabilities. This gift set presents the Fourth Doctor in his duffle coat and hat and Field-Major Styre, along with his Sontaran spacecraft, as seen in the classic Doctor Who storyline, ‘The Sontaran Experiment.’

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Conan Volume 10: Iron Shadows in the Moon TPB

Conan Volume 10: Iron Shadows in the Moon TPB
By: Timothy Truman, Tomás Giorello, José Villarubia, Cary Nord
On the run from the army of Turan, Conan and fellow fugitive Olivia hide out on a small island in the Vilayet Sea. They soon find themselves stalked by an unseen terror in the jungles and threatened by a group of pirates belonging to the Red Brotherhood, which is led by Conan’s sworn enemy-Sergius of Koth! However, those may be the least of Conan’s concerns, because when the moon rises on this island, the ruins of a lost civilization stir and an ancient, deadly curse awakens! Conan will be pushed to his limits as he and Olivia fight to survive!

* Collects Conan the Cimmerian issues #22-#25, plus the Weight of the Crown one-shot with its MySpace Dark Horse Presents short-story prologue.

* This collection completes the epic Dark Horse series Conan the Cimmerian.

* Features a foreword by series writer Timothy Truman and an afterword by Robert E. Howard biographer and genre writer Mark Finn!
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Solomon Kane: Red Shadows #2 (Guy Davis cover)

Solomon Kane: Red Shadows #2 (Guy Davis cover)
By: Bruce Jones, Rahsan Ekedal, Dan Jackson, Dave Stewart, Guy Davis
When a dying girl reveals that it’s the despicable Le Loup who has raped and stabbed her, Solomon Kane vows to finally trap and kill this elusive fiend. Le Loup is not an easy man to find, though, and Kane will have to carve, shoot, and burn a path through the criminal mastermind’s murderous minions as he searches for the aloof villain!

* An entirely new creative team takes Solomon Kane into an exciting new era-and all the way to Africa with comic-book titan Bruce Jones at the helm!

* Each issue features two covers.

* Adapts Robert E. Howard’s “Red Shadows” adventure!
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Thor Iron Man Prem HC God Complex

Thor Iron Man Prem HC God Complex
By: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, Scot Eaton, Stephen Segovia
Thor – God of Thunder, Son of Asgard, heir to the ancient and mythic heritage of divine power!

Iron Man – invincible hero, miracle of technology, offspring of scientific genius and engineering wonder!

These two mightiest of Avengers come together to face a menace that is both magical and technological, and which threatens to wipe away the pantheons of legend and science so it can replace them with a shocking new order for the 21st century!

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Doctor Who 5th Doctor Rev Ot Daleks Action Figure Set

Doctor Who 5th Doctor Resurrection Of the Daleks Action Figure Set
Imported from the UK!

The TARDIS, trapped in a time corridor, brings the Doctor, Tegan, and Turlough to Earth, 1984, where they come across a plot to resurrect Davros, the creator of the Daleks, to give the Daleks an edge in their long and futile war against the Movellans. But Davros is merely a pawn in the plans of others, and that is an affront he cannot tolerate as he pushes the Daleks to the brink of civil war!

This action figure pack, based on the season 21 Doctor Who storyline ‘Resurrection of the Daleks,’ comes with the fifth Doctor, Davros, the Dalek Supreme (black), and a Dalek (gray).
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Thor For Asgard HC

Thor For Asgard HC
By: Robert Rodi, Simone Bianchi
Beginning an epic adventure showcasing the God of Thunder as you’ve never seen him before!

The vassals of Asgard are?in armed revolt…Odin is missing…Balder is dead…and the entire continent is battered by a years-long winter. How can Thor?put the empire back together, especially with his mighty hammer Mjolnir mysteriously denied him?

Parental Advisory

This title collects
Collecting THOR: FOR ASGARD #1-6.
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Doctor Who Magazine #433

Doctor Who Magazine #433
Packed with exclusive photos and interviews, Doctor Who Magazine has all the latest news about the new series in 2011, including Neil Gaiman’s highly-anticipated episode; information on spin-offs Torchwood: The New World and The Sarah Jane Adventures; the full-color comic strip continues; behind-the-scenes secrets are revealed in Steven Moffat’s ‘Production Notes’; all the latest audios, books, and DVDs are previewed and reviewed; plus in-depth features and more!

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Jinx GN HC Essential Collection

Jinx GN HC Essential Collection
By: Brian Michael Bendis
POWERS co-creator Brian Michael Bendis brings back his Eisner Award-winning crime-comic classic in an all-new collection!

A female bounty hunter, a handsome small-time grifter and his smarmy partner search for a hidden treasure that takes them on a winding trail through the seedy underbelly of Cleveland – a treasure that’s a ticket out of the city and out of ‘the life.’

The treasure hunt propels this character-driven film noir loosely based on the western classic The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

FOR MATURE READERS.

This title collects
JINX #1-4

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Brightest Day HC Vol. 02

Brightest Day HC Vol. 02
By: Geoff Johns, Peter J. Tomasi, David Finch
Once dead, twelve heroes and villains were resurrected by a white light expelled from deep within the center of the earth. Now, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Firestorm, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Deadman, Jade, Osiris, Hawk, Captain Boomerang and Zoom must discover the mysterious reason behind their return and uncover the secret that binds them all. In this second volumes, which issues #8-16 of the series, find out whether Deadman is truly destined to wield the White Lantern and who the new Aqualad is. Plus, Firestorm’s dueling alter egos take a bizarre journey, while Martian Manhunter returns to Mars to learn about the strange creature that’s stalking him.
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DC Comics Presents Son Of Superman #1

DC Comics Presents Son Of Superman #1
By: Howard Chaykin, David Tischman, J. H. Williams Iii, Mick Gray
Reprinting a classic Superman tale featuring the art of J.H. Williams III! Fifteen years after the disappearance of Superman, a teenage Jon Kent awakens one day to learn that not only is he the son of the Man of Steel, but he has suddenly inherited his powers.

Looking to follow in his father’s footsteps, Jon joins a rebel organization that fights against the now completely corrupt U.S. government and their plan for total economic segregation. But by becoming an enemy of the state, the son of Superman instantly becomes a target of the government-run Justice League.

Now in order to live up to the legacy of his father, Jon must defeat corrupted and deviant versions of Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and The Flash.

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Doom Patrol #22

Doom Patrol #22
By: Keith Giffen, Ron Randall, Matthew Clark
Final issue!

It’s all been building to this! To retake Oolong Island, The Doom Patrol must face a pan-galactic array of foes, old and new alike. Hanging in the balance is the fate of the team, the island – and maybe even the world!
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Doctor Who: The Episode Guide (Pocket Essentials)

Doctor Who: The Episode Guide (Pocket Essentials)
Doctor Who has seen many ups and downs in its long and colorful history, and this guide tracks all of them. From humble beginnings in November 1963 to its cancellation in 1989 and eventual resurrection in 2005, Doctor Who has always been a quintessential element of sci-fi, and British popular culture. The spine-chilling theme music, the multidimensional Tardis, the evil metallic Daleks, and the ever-changing face of the Doctor himself have become trademarks of the program’s witty, eclectic style. Over the years Doctor Who has embraced such diverse genres as science fiction, horror, westerns, history, romance, adventure, and comedy—but has never strayed from its first and most important remit: telling damn good stories. Eleven Doctors, a multitude of companions, and a veritable cornucopia of monsters and villains: the show has it all. This guide includes sections on TV, radio, cinema, stage, and internet spin-offs; novels and audio adventures; missing episodes; and an extensive website listing and bibliography.
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Captain America Forever Allies HC

Captain America Forever Allies HC
By: Roger Stern, Lee Weeks
AMERICA’S IN A RACE ACROSS THE WORLD TO SOLVE A MYSERY FROM WORLD WAR II! James ‘Bucky’ Barnes has led many lives. Once he was Captain America’s partner Bucky, a proud member of the Invaders, a founder of the original Young Allies.

Now he is Captain America, the Sentinel of Liberty, and when an old enemy suddenly reappears, Jim must re-open the last, unsolved case of the Young Allies — to stop a menace that threatens the world! Roger Stern (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) travels from World War II with Nick Dragotta (X-MEN FIRST CLASS) to the modern age with Marco Santucci (SIEGE: SPIDER-MAN) to tell a time-tossed epic tale of mystery, intrigue, and high adventure!

This title collects
CAPTAIN AMERICA: FOREVER ALLIES #1-4, YOUNG ALLIES COMICS 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 and YOUNG ALLIES #1
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Green Lantern Super Spectacular #1

Green Lantern Super Spectacular #1
By: GEOFF JOHNS, JOHN BROOME, ALAN MOORE, DARWYN COOKE, ETHAN VAN SCIVER, GIL KANE, KEVIN O’NEILL, CARLOS PACHECO, JESUS MERINO
As excitement for the blockbuster Green Lantern movie continues to build, DC Comics collects these GL classics in a new, magazine format Super Spectacular!

Don’t miss ‘Flight,’ by Geoff Johns and Darwyn Cooke from GREEN LANTERN SECRET FILES 2005; ‘Alientated,’ featuring Hector Hammond, from writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver, from GREEN LANTERN #4; ‘The Secret Origin of The Guardians,’ by John Broome and Gil Kane, pulled from GREEN LANTERN #40; and ‘Tygers,’ starring Abin Sur from GREEN LANTERN CORPS ANNUAL #2 by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill.
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Batman Long Shadows TPB

Batman Long Shadows TPB
By: Judd Winnick, J. G. Jones
Can the new Batman maintain his grip on Gotham City’s criminal element? With Bruce Wayne gone in the wake of BATMAN: R.I.P., Dick Grayson – formerly known as both Robin and Nightwing – becomes the new Batman in this new title. And it’s not long before the city’s criminals put him to the test!

With the Penguin intent on becoming Gotham’s new crime kingpin and Two-Face waging a war of his own, how can any hero, let alone one who’s just stepped into his role, stop them? It won’t be easy – especially since he also has to round up a posse of escaped Arkham Asylum inmates.

This title collects
BATMAN #687-691

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Captain America First Vengeance #1 (of 4)

Captain America First Vengeance #1 (of 4)
By: Fred Van Lente, Luke Ross & Neil Edwards, Tbd
The OFFICIAL comics prequel to the Marvel Studios summer blockbuster begins here!

As Captain America, Steve Rogers is the inspiration for millions during the dark days of World War Two — but where did he get his inspiration from? How did he meet his best friend, ‘Bucky’ Barnes? And what set him on the path to becoming the First Avenger?
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Tokidoki X Marvel Captain America Knit Beanie

Tokidoki X Marvel Captain America Knit Beanie
The fourth season of high-fashion apparel pairing classic Marvel characters with the cheerfulness of the tokidoki universe continues to roll through 2011!

Acclaimed artist Simone Legno brings his unique design aesthetic to the Marvel Universe with his Fall 2011 collection, giving the House of Ideas a hip and hot makeover for the 21st-century and the chillier weather of the autumn months. Whether it’s a knit beanie in the style of Captain America’s cowl, hoodies of Thor or Spider-Man, pop art quads of the heroes or villains of the Marvel U, or shirts that feature Marvel favorites like the X-Men or the Hulk, tokidoki x Marvel brings the fun to Marvel’s classic, beloved characters. Smash it up as the Fall 2011 collection ships to customers beginning in time for the turning of the leaves.

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New Releases 1/12/11

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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Aquaman By Neal Adams T-Shirt

Aquaman By Neal Adams T-Shirt
From the deep blue sea comes the new Aquaman T-Shirt. Features classic art by Neal Adams screenprinted in full-color on a stone-washed blue, 100% cotton heavyweight shirt.
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Tomarts Action Figure Digest #194

Tomarts Action Figure Digest #194
Action Figure Digest puts together special price updates on some of the most popular action figure brands of all time. The ten most popular new lines of the past decade are also reviewed for future value and collectible increases.
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Doctor Who Special #27

Doctor Who Special #27
Discover the behind-the-scenes secrets of the eleventh Doctor’s adventures in this latest DWM special edition! The Doctor Who Companion: The Eleventh Doctor Volume 2 is researched and compiled by Andrew Pixley and packed with unpublished photos, day-to-day details of the series’ production, and thousands of fascinating new facts.
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Doctor Who Magazine #429

Doctor Who Magazine #429
Packed with exclusive photos and interviews, Doctor Who Magazine has all the latest about the 2011 season of Doctor Who and the Christmas Special; information on the new seasons of spin-offs Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures; the latest installment of the full-color comic strip; behind-the-scenes secrets in Steven Moffat’s ‘Production Notes’ column; and all the latest books, audios, and DVDs are previewed and reviewed.
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X-Factor TPB Vol. 10 Second Coming

X-Factor TPB Vol. 10 Second Coming
By: Peter David, Valentine De Landro, David Yardin
Mutantkind is barely hanging on. Their numbers have dwindled dangerously low, and the outside world has turned against them. Many believe their race’s salvation lies in the return of the young girl called Hope, the first mutant birth in ages.

But the X-Men weren’t the only ones anxiously awaiting her return. A super-Sentinel from the future, Bastion, is committed to the complete and utter destruction of mutantkind, including Hope. To succeed in his genocidal plan, he has tasked the creator of the original Sentinels with hunting down and destroying X-Factor. With the team spread out across three continents, can Jamie Madrox, Banshee, Longshot and the rest defend themselves from the brutal Mutant Response Division?

This title collects
X-FACTOR #204-206 and NATION X: X-FACTOR
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Dodgem Logic Magazine #6

Dodgem Logic Magazine #6
By: Alan Moore, Various
Hoax will bend your mind with their sinister front cover and art work inside.

Ian Sinclair graces our pages with his work ‘Kiss The Rod.’ Alan Moore challenges reality as we know it.

Melinda Gebbie discusses her experiences of life as a bondage girl.

Barney Farmer and Lee Healey from Viz deliver yet again a tremendous comic strip. Kevin O’Neill from The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen will blow you away with his artwork.

All our regular contributors and much more.

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B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Gods #1

By: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, Guy Davis, Dave Stewart, Ryan Sook
As Texas goes to Hell, a group of homeless outcasts–led by a young woman who appears to have second sight–evade volcanic eruptions, mass hysteria, and man–eating monsters. When the B.P.R.D. take notice of this, the results turn out to be deadly.

Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, and drawn by Eisner award winning artist Guy Davis, B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth–Gods is the first arc of the pivotal Gods and Monsters saga.

A B.P.R.D. arc unlike any other, jumping around in time, and introducing important new characters!

“Whatever happens in the future if the art and writing for B.P.R.D. stay this good I’m in!!”–GeekWeek
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Batman (Justice) 1/6 Scale Collector Figure

Batman (Justice) 1/6 Scale Collector Figure
Based on the critically acclaimed and best-selling twelve-issue comics series by Alex Ross.

When dreams and nightmares become reality, the Justice League of America fights to save the world and the reputation of heroes when the villains turn the tables of public opinion. Informing the Justice League of an apocalyptic dream, Batman sets events in motion that will ultimately spell the defeat of the villains.

As with the Superman (Kingdom Come) 1:6 Scale Deluxe Collector figure, the Batman body has been extensively modified to reflect the unique style of a particular artist – Alex Ross’s vision of Justice Batman. The 13 high figure features 28 points of articulation, is packaged in a deluxe 4-color window box with a fifth panel and includes a display stand.

Limited Edition. Manufactured to order.
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Marvel Must Haves Wolverine Goes to Hell

Marvel Must Haves Wolverine Goes to Hell
By: Jason Aaron, Renato Guedes, Jae Lee
This Marvel Must Have edition collects issues #1-#3 of acclaimed author Jason Aaron and superstar artist Renato Guedes’s all-new ongoing series.

Wolverine goes to hell… literally! Someone’s out to destroy Wolverine — permanently — and they may have succeeded. But if Wolverine’s soul is in hell, how is his body terrorizing those closest to him?
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Thor Mighty Avenger #8

Thor Mighty Avenger #8
By: Roger Langridge, Chris Samnee
Grab the book that ComicsBulletin.com says ‘just keeps getting better and better, and it started out great.’ Our hot-headed Asgardian has battled his way through a sea of robots–but he never expected there to be a MAN inside one of them! It’s THOR and IRON MAN together, for the very first time!
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Doom Patrol Brotherhood TPB

Doom Patrol Brotherhood TPB
By: Kieth Giffen, Matthew Clark
These new adventures find the Doom Patrol facing off against a pandimensional wrecking crew who have come to Oolong Island looking for something specific – and the Doom Patrol had better find it while there’s still an island left in these tales from issues #7-13 of their new series!

This title collects
Doom Patrol #7-13
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Thunder Agents #3

Thunder Agents #3
By: Nick Spencer, Cafu, Bit, Chris Sprouse
Think the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents are a messed-up team? Wait until you learn the secrets of the evil organization known as Spider! This issue promises twists, turns and a sequence illustrated by the legendary Howard Chaykin!
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Incredible Hulks #620

Incredible Hulks #620
By: Greg Pak, Paul Pelletier, Carlo Pagulayan
Great loves and horrifying enemies return in the battle royale for the souls of the Hulks — and the life of every mortal on Planet Earth! The Hulk faces his darkest demons — literally! — all hell breaks loose — literally! — and there’ll be the devil to pay — literally! And if you thought the Hulk’s battles with his sons were personal, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
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Superman Last Stand Of New Krypton HC Vol. 02

Superman Last Stand Of New Krypton HC Vol. 02
By: James Robinson, Sterling Gates, David Finch
The super citizens of New Krypton face an attack from a newly freed Brainiac and it’ll take all their might – along with Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes – to survive the onslaught!

This title collects
SUPERMAN: THE LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON #3, ADVENTURE COMICS #10-11, SUPERGIRL #52 and SUPERMAN #699
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Heroes For Hire #2

Heroes For Hire #2
By: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, Brad Walker, Doug Braithwaite
Starring Ghost Rider and Silver Sable! Hello, heroÖare you for hire? Can you stop the distribution of lethal combat weapons on the streets of America’s cities?

What happens if the weapons are cursed? Can you fight a demonic force? Who are you going to call for help? HowzaboutÖSilver Sable, Paladin, Misty Knight, Satanna and….Ghost Rider?

The non-stop action and the mysterious shadowplay continues in this smash new street level book from the creative team that changed the face of Marvel Cosmic!
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Marvel Must Haves Avengers Academy

Marvel Must Haves Avengers Academy
By: Christos Gage, Mike McKone
This Marvel Must Have edition collects issues #1-#3 of the brand-new ongoing Avengers title!

Determined to keep the tradition alive, founding Avenger Hank Pym leads a core team of veteran heroes in creating a place where the next generation of Earth’s Mightiest can be trained by the greatest of those who preceded them. An institution where everyone who has ever been an Avenger can share their skill, knowledge and experience. The future is in their hands…and in the hands of the six young superhumans chosen to make up the inaugural class. But who are they? And what dark secret will turn their world — and potentially the entire Marvel Universe–upside down by the end of the issue?

If you think this is just another teen hero book… the last page shocker will prove you wrong! Writer Christos Gage (Avengers: The Initiative) and superstar artist Mike McKone (Amazing Spider-Man) unite to bring you a bold new era of greatness!
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Avengers The Coming Of The Beast

Avengers The Coming Of The Beast
By: Steve Englehart, Tony Isabella, George Tuska, Don Heck, Keith Pollard, John Romita, Gil Kane
When the Avengers announce they’re in the market for new members, their first response is from the X-Men’s Beast!

Fresh from turning himself blue, this newly furry mutant is eager to prove himself as a hero-and there’s no better place than among Earth’s mightiest! Oh, my stars and garters-it’s wall-to-wall action as the Avengers face the Toad (in command of a starship?!), the revenge-seeking Whirlwind and an assassin dead-set on killing them one-by-one!

And when Yellowjacket nearly dies, only the Beast’s scientific knowledge can save him! See your favorite mutant hold his own alongside Captain America, Hawkeye and Thor!

This title collects
AVENGERS (1963) #137-140 & #145-146

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Marvel Must Haves Avengers Childrens Crusade

Marvel Must Haves Avengers Childrens Crusade
The Young Avengers return in this collection of issues #1-#3 from the epic, bi-monthly Marvel maxi-series.

When Wiccan’s reality-altering powers begin to rival those of the Scarlet Witch, the young hero sets out on a quest to find her that spans the Marvel Universe and pits Wiccan against both the Avengers and the Young Avengers. But will Wiccan’s desire to solve the mystery of his parentage be his salvation or his undoing?

This self-contained Marvel maxi-series reintroduces and redefines the Young Avengers and the Scarlet Witch for the Heroic Age and is essential reading for any Avengers fan.

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Amazing Spider-Man #651

Amazing Spider-Man #651
By: Dan Slott, Humberto Ramos
The HOBGOBLIN’S fight for power continues! Which side will SPIDER-MAN and the BLACK CAT be on… and why? Also: a surprise for AUNT MAY, and the SPIDEY versus KINGPIN rematch you’ve been dying to see!

Included in this issue: an 8 page story featuring the return of Mac Gargan… as THE SCORPION!
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Captain America Man Out Of Time #3 (of 5)

Captain America Man Out Of Time #3 (of 5)
By: Mark Waid, Jorge Molina, Bryan Hitch
Written by MARK WAID Penciled by JORGE MOLINA Cover by BRYAN HITCH Lost and alone in a brutally unfamiliar world, struggling to interact with a new generation of heroes, Steve Rogers seeks out someone–anyone–who might remember him from his former life. And even longtime Marvelites will be shocked at what he finds!
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Chaos War Dead Avengers #3 (of 3)

Chaos War Dead Avengers #3 (of 3)
By: Fred Van Lente, Tom Grummett
CHAOS WAR tie-in! This is it! The last stand of Earth’s Mightiest Fallen Heroes, the ‘late’ Avengers against the combined might of Grim Reaper, Nekra, and the war machines of the Chaos King.

They’ll learn the hard way: EVEN THE DEAD CAN DIE! The Vision makes his last stab at humanity! Will Dr. Druid be seduced again by Nekra’s charms?

Will Captain Mar-Vell sacrifice all for his comrades? The Swordsman makes his final choice between heroism and villainy! All this and the most poignant ending of the year!
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Deathlok TPB Demolisher

Deathlok TPB Demolisher
By: Charlie Huston, Lan Medina, Brandon Peterson
In the near future, war is a spectator sport, but someone still has to lose. Hot-shot super soldier Mike Travers is an all-world athlete and American hero who owes all of his success to Roxxon, the corporation that made him the star of the world’s most popular sport, Battlezone!

His commanding officer, Luther Manning is just trying to get Travers and rest of his platoon off of the battlefield in one piece. When Travers’ on-field heroics get the two of them blown to pieces by an enemy grenade, Roxxon pulls out all of the stops to get their all-star back on the field and get their TV ratings back to the top.

The result is a nightmarish melding of the two men’s strategic brilliance and bravado, and a marketing bonanza: Deathlok the Demolisher! But the mind of the monster, made up of the fractured psyches of both men, refuses to be tamed and with billions in experimental weaponry at its disposable, Deathlok does precisely what it was manufactured for: DEMOLISHES EVERYTHING!

Parental Advisory

This title collects
DEATHLOK #1-7

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New Releases 1/5/11

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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Who Is Jake Ellis? #1

Who Is Jake Ellis? #1
By: Nathan Edmondson, Tonci Zonjic
Jon Moore is the most sought after spy-for-hire in Europe’s criminal world. This is because of Jake Ellis, a psychic man who is invisible to everyone except Moore.

When a deal goes bad, the only one who can protect Moore from Europe’s most dangerous criminals is Jake Ellis. No one but Moore can see Jake Ellis.

But Jake Ellis can see everything.
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Fraction TPB

Fraction TPB
By: David Tischman, Timothy Green III
The cult-favorite 2004 series is collected in its entirety for the first time! FRACTION stars four tough young men from Philly’s mean streets who pull off a drunken robbery. What they end up stealing are the components to a high-tech suit of battle armor. How far will each of them go to use the armor for his own purposes?
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I Zombie #9

I Zombie #9
By: Chris Roberson, Micheal Allred
While Gwen and Horatio get to know each other better at the miniature golf park, Diogenes the monster hunter is left to face the leader of the Blood Sports vampires all on his own.

The mad scientist Galatea begins revealing her larger scheme to her new assistant, ghost girl Ellie decides that it’s high time she did something about her whole ‘intangible’ problem, and were-terrier Scott and his friends spend a thrilling evening embroiled in role-playing games.

MATURE READERS
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Brightest Day #17

Brightest Day #17
By: GEOFF JOHNS|PETER J. TOMASI|IVAN REIS|PATRICK GLEASON|ARDIAN SYAF|Soft coverOTT CLARK|JOE PRADO|DAVID FINCH

Hawkman and Hawkgirl pay a visit to the Star Sapphires, but with the Hawks’ connection to the cosmic corps, it looks like this meeting may end in bloodshed. And more even more blood may be drawn as Captain Boomerang hunts down Deadman and Dove!
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Heroes Of The DCU Etrigan The Demon Bust

Heroes Of The DCU Etrigan The Demon Bust
Summoned by Merlin in desperate defense, Bound to Blood, he speaks convoluted sense, Change to human and back with a spell Unleashed from the pit, A son of Hell! Gone, gone, the form of man Now The Demon Etrigan… …is the next to arise within the HEROES OF THE DC UNIVERSE bust line!

Designed by New York Times best-selling artist Gary Frank, this bust features The demon Etrigan atop a fire, brimstone and spell-inscribed base. Hand-painted and cold-cast porcelain, it measures approximately 5.5″ high x 2.25″ wide x 3.25″ deep and is packaged in a 4-color box.

Limited Edition. Manufactured to order.
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Doom Patrol #18

Doom Patrol #18
By: Keith Giffen, Matthew Clark, Ron Randall
The Doom Patrol just met The Aristocrats, and how better to follow a punchline than with some actual punching? The world’s strangest Super Heroes face off with the world’s most horrific family – and they’ve never had a fight like this before!

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Starman Congorilla (One Shot)

Starman Congorilla (One Shot)
By: James Robinson, Brett Booth, Gene Ha
In this tie-in to the ‘JLA Omega’ storyline, the new blue and gold team of Congorilla and Mikaal Tomas work to unlock the secrets behind the toxic Omega Man’s dark energy, which encases Washington D.C.

To do this they must embark on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth, encountering diverse heroes from the DCU along the way including Animal Man, Sirocco and a certain wonder dog named Rex. And all the while, Mikaal and Congorilla must outrun and outwit a cadre of terrorist assassins from Gorilla City.

This is a breakneck chase through the DCU, but with a serious end-goal – saving the lives of their fellow members of the JLA! ONE-SHOT
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Star Trek Romulan Bird Of Prey Model Kit

Star Trek Romulan Bird Of Prey Model Kit
A Star Trek fan-favorite returns with the arrival of the Romulan Bird-of-Prey! The mysterious ship from the classic Star Trek episode ‘Balance of Terror’ has been gone for 35 years and Round 2 brings it back!

At 1/650-scale, this model is molded in white, with clear parts, and comes with an optional plasma weapon, accurized nacelle caps, and a decal sheet. Serve the Praetor! Some assembly required.

Star Trek Starfleet Logo Flask

Star Trek Starfleet Logo Flask
Carry Romulan Ale or Saurian Brandy with you wherever you go with the Starfleet Logo Flask. This stainless steel flask features a secure screwtop lid and an etched Starfleet delta emblem.

Packaged in a gift box, this flask is the perfect gift for the Star Trek fan in your life.

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World War 3 Illustrated #41

World War 3 Illustrated #41
By: Sandy Jimenez (Ed.), Various
Consider the ‘Food Chain,’our place in it and our relationship and experiences with/within it, both literally and metaphorically.

Big fish eat little fish; rich men eat organic; poor men eat McDonald’s. Everybody eats, but how do we stop from being eaten? This issue unearths some of the answers and asks the big questions.
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Invincible Iron Man TPB Vol. 04 Stark Disassembled

Invincible Iron Man TPB Vol. 04 Stark Disassembled
By: Matt Fraction, Salvador Larroca, Patrick Zircher
Running out of time – and running out of mind! He’s outrun Norman Osborn, embarrassed him on worldwide television, and kept the database filled to the brim with superhuman secret identities safe and secure. But in doing so, Tony Stark has lost just about everything: His armor. His power. Even his very mind.

Now, at his absolute lowest point, with his whole life disassembled and the Siege of Asgard raging outside his door, it will take Tony Stark’s last reservoir of will and a band of brothers standing by him including Thor, Captain America, War Machine and Black Widow to keep from losing it all.

This title collects
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #20-24

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Men Of Mystery #84

A Nedor Comics Extravaganza! A tribute to this venerable Golden Age publisher includes a complete reprinting of Black Terror #27, featuring art by Mort Meskin!

Also, other Nedor stories starring Fighting Yank, Doc Strange, Captain Future, Commando Cubs, Liberator, Pyroman, American Eagle, and other Golden Age surprises!
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Papertoy Monsters: Make Your Very Own Amazing Papertoys!

Papertoy Monsters: Make Your Very Own Amazing Papertoys!
A breakthrough paper-folding book for kids—paper airplanes meet Origami meets Pokemon. Papertoys, the Internet phenomenon that’s hot among graphic designers and illustrators around the world, now comes to kids in the coolest new book. Created and curated by Brian Castleforte, a graphic designer and papertoy pioneer who rounded up 25 of the hottest papertoy designers from around the world (Indonesia, Japan, Australia, Italy, Croatia, Chile, even Jackson, Tennessee), Papertoy Monsters offers 50 fiendishly original die-cut designs that are ready to pop out, fold, and glue. The book interleaves card stock with paper stock for a unique craft package; the graphics are colorful and hip, combining the edginess of anime with the goofy fun of Uglydolls and other collectibles. Plus each character comes with its own back-story.

And the results are delicious: meet Pharaoh Thoth Amon, who once ruled Egypt but is now a mummy who practices dark magic in his sarcophagus. Or Zumbie the Zombie, who loves nothing more than a nice plate of brains and yams. NotSoScary, a little monster so useless at frightening people that he has to wear a scary mask. Yucky Chuck, the lunchbox creature born in the deepest depths of your school bag. Plus Zeke, the monster under your bed, Nom Nom, eater of cities, and Grumpy Gramps, the hairy grandpa monster with his very own moustache collection.
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Batman Beyond #1

Batman Beyond #1
By: Adam Beecgen, Ryan Benjamin, John Stanisci, Dustin Nguyen
Yep, you read that right – the future of the DC Universe continues, as BATMAN BEYOND becomes an ongoing series! Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne are stronger than ever after the battle with ‘Hush’ brought their alliance close to the breaking point. But now a super-powered criminal has gotten in way over his head – and the whole Justice League has come to Neo-Gotham to hunt him down!

To top it all off, the crook’s taken hostages… including Terry’s mom! It’s the start of a story that will change Terry’s life – and the BEYOND universe – forever… so don’t miss out!
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Doc Macabre #2 (of 3)

Doc Macabre #2 (of 3)
By: Steve Niles, Bernie Wrightson
Back at his homebase, the good Doctor asks his butler/lab assistant robot, Llyod, to help him build an Ecto-Refractor Suit and get his latest invention, the Ecto-Fusion Coil, back up and running to summon back the ghost that attacked him last issue! But he soon finds out that the apparition is a scam and sends Lloyd on a mission which means the robot must venture outside of the headquarters… for the first time EVER!
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Elric Swords and Roses (Chronicles of the Last Emperor of Melnibone)

Elric Swords and Roses (Chronicles of the Last Emperor of Melnibone)
By: Michael Moorcock
Foreword by Tad Williams

Feared by enemies and friends alike, Elric of Melniboné walks a lonely path among the worlds of the Multiverse. The destroyer of his cruel and ancient race, as well as its final ruler, Elric is the bearer of a destiny as dark and cursed as the vampiric sword he carries—the sentient black blade known as Stormbringer.

Del Rey is proud to present the sixth and concluding installment of its definitive omnibus editions featuring fantasy Grand Master Michael Moorcock’s most famous—or infamous—creation. Here is the full text of the novel The Revenge of the Rose, a screenplay for the novel Stormbringer, the novella Black Petals, the conclusion to Moorcock’s influential “Aspects of Fantasy” essay series and other nonfiction, and an indispensable reader’s guide by John Davey.

Sumptuously illustrated by John Picacio, with a Foreword by Tad Williams, Elric: Swords and Roses is a fitting tribute to the most unique fantasy hero of all time.
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Billy the Kid's Old Timey Oddities and the Ghastly Fiend of London #4 (Eric Powell cover)

Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities and the Ghastly Fiend of London #4 (Eric Powell cover)
By: Eric Powell, Kyle Hotz, Dan Brown, Dave Stewart
Billy the Kid’s mission to stop Jack the Ripper comes to its explosive finish! In this issue, the Ripper kills people, the freaks look freaky, and Billy says something offensive. Don’t miss the conclusion to Eric Powell and Kyle Hotz’s weirdest tale yet!

* Goon backup story by Eric Powell!

* Powell’s The Goon was named the number–four essential indie comic by ugo.com!
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Gotham City 14 Miles Essays On 1960s Batman

Gotham City 14 Miles Essays On 1960s Batman
This essay collection offers the 1960s Batman television series starring Adam West and Burt Ward as the Dynamic Duo the critical reexamination it deserves, on subjects like counter-culture, Batmania, women, camp, gadgetry, music, and more.

Contributors include well-known comics writers including Chuck Dixon, Paul Kupperberg, and Robert Greenberger, as well as noted scholars like Peter Sanderson, Will Murray, Timothy Callahan, and Jeff Rovin.
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Star Wars Farm Boy Luke Skywalker Mini-bust

Star Wars Farm Boy Luke Skywalker Mini-bust
Before he joined the Rebellion, before he trained to become a Jedi, before he knew his father was the Dark Lord Vader, Luke Skywalker spent his days working on his Uncle Owen’s Moisture Farm where he dreamed of adventures beyond Tatooine, joining the Imperial Academy, and becoming the greatest pilot in the galaxy. In Star Wars: A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi hands Luke his fathers lightsaber for the first time, as depicted here in this new Gentle Giant mini bust capturing the youthful essence of the soon-to-be Jedi Knight.

Painstakingly crafted and cast in high-quality poly-stone, no detail was over looked. Luke stands approximately 6″ tall, is hand-numbered, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
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Deadworld Omnibus SC Vol. 01

Deadworld Omnibus SC Vol. 01
A chance to get all of the recent Deadworld series together in one volume! Starting with the reboot of Deadworld in ‘Requiem for the World,’ which ran for six issues from Desperado and Image Comics, and continuing into Deadworld: Frozen Over, which moves the desperate battle for survival to a storm-laden New York City.

Bringing fans up to date is the complete Deadworld: Slaughterhouse, previously available only in hardcover, which shows that zombies aren’t the only menace in a world plagued by a supernatural holocaust.
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Thor Classic Mini-bust

Thor Classic Mini-bust
The Mighty Thor is captured in all his glory as this mini-bust sculpted by Randy Bowen and based on the character’s classic appearance from the classic Lee/Kirby era. Standing over 9″ tall (to the top of Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir), this mini-bust features a real leather strap on the hammer.
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John Byrne's Next Men #2

John Byrne’s Next Men #2
Past, present and future continue to collide as the Next Men struggle to find a common thread-and each other.

Plus, more on the startling discovery from the end of our first issue!
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Shadow Double Novel Vol. 44

Shadow Double Novel Vol. 44
The Shadow is captured by the inventor of a deadly atomic disintegrator ray in a novel that reintroduces audiences to the real Lamont Cranston. Then, the truth behind a fatal automobile accident is concealed in ‘Buried Evidence.’ Can the Shadow unearth the million-dollar secret and prevent more murder?
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Avengers Prime #5 (of 5)

Avengers Prime #5 (of 5)
By: Brian Michael Bendis, Alan Davis
The blockbuster Avengers series that brings the holy trinity of Avengers brotherhood together comes to a whopper of a conclusion as Captain America, Iron Man and Thor team up for the first time in years to bring down the Hela, goddess of death, who threatens the existence of the whole of the Nine Realms! From Avengers writer Brian Bendis and comics legend Alan Davis!
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A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series, 2d ed.

A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series, 2d ed.
Like Godzilla trashing Tokyo, U.S. critics have stomped all over Toho Studio’s venerable series of monster films. Kalat’s project is consequently a rehabilitation. A writer and independent filmmaker, Kalat questions cultural biases and supplies a welter of information in the form of complete synopses and credits for the 23 Godzilla features, impressive production notes, and analyses of sociopolitical subtexts. Although his analyses lack academic rigor, his scholarship is commendable in its harnessing of details from both sides of the Pacific. The author draws upon film industry publications, the mainstream press, and fanzines to rectify the mainstream’s poor critical treatment of Godzilla. Among other things, he reveals that most of the films were scored by Akira Ifukube, Japan’s distinguished classical composer, and that many of them share personnel associated with Akira Kurosawa. Sure to please Godzilla fans, Kalat’s work will also interest scholars pursuing Japanese cultural studies.?Neal Baker, Dickinson Coll. Lib., Carlisle, Pa.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc
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Thor Modern Mini-bust

Thor Modern Mini-bust
Lightning strikes twice as Randy Bowen summons down the power of Asgard to sculpt an exciting new mini-bust based on the Norse Thunder God’s ‘modern’ appearance from the J. Michael Straczynski run.

Standing over 9″ tall to the top of his hammer, this mini-bust features a real leather strap on the hammer.
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Doc Savage Double Novel Vol. 43

Doc Savage Double Novel Vol. 43
By: Lester Dent
Thrill to the original pulp exploits of the newest DC Comics superstar as the Supreme Adventurer returns in two thrill-packed novels! First, Doc’s investigation of a mysterious whaling ship brings the Man of Bronze and Pat Savage to South America in search of the strange secret that lies in Spook Hole.

Then, Doc, Monk and Ham’s Miami vacation is interrupted by a failed attempt on Doc’s life which lures them into a sinister sea snare.
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Thanos Imperative Devestation (One Shot)

Thanos Imperative Devestation (One Shot)
By: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, Miguel Sepulveda, Alex Garner

THE THANOS IMPERATIVE is overÖbut who and what has survived? What happened to Thanos? What about Lord Mar-Vell and the Cancerverse? Who rules the Kree and the Shi’Ar? Is anyone left to guard the galaxy?

And who will hold the shattered civilizations of the Marvel Universe together in this bleak new age? Find out from the creative team that delivered the cosmic event that IGN.com hailed as ‘Unbelievably incredible & unimaginably entertaining.
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Mighty Thor Omnibus HC Vol. 01 Kirby

Mighty Thor Omnibus HC Vol. 01 Kirby
By: Olivier Coipel, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Robert Bernstein, Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott, Don Heck, Al Hartley
Whosoever holds this Omnibus, if he be worthy, shall possess the epic stories that began the saga of the Mighty Thor! While vacationing along the coast of Norway, Dr. Donald Blake happened upon a secret chamber and inside it found a strange, gnarled cane.

Upon striking the cane a shower of lightning rained down and the hobbled doctor found himself transformed into the Mighty Thor, God of Thunder and champion of Asgard! Stan Lee and Jack Kirby crafted an epic of power and myth, drama and action, and in this painstakingly-restored Omnibus collection, you’ll experience it all from the very beginning.

Including the first appearances of Odin, the mischievous Loki, noble Balder, Heimdall, the warriors three- Volstagg, Hogun and Fandrall-and the lovely Jane Foster. Packed with the fan-favorite Tales of Asgard, classic battles from Thor vs. the Hulk and the unstoppable Destroyer to the Absorbing Man and the Executioner, along with letters pages and bonus features galore, it’s Mjolnir-class package that’s a must for every Asgardian to be.
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DC Universe Online Statue Batman

DC Universe Online Statue Batman
DC Direct is proud to introduce a brand-new statue series based on art from one of the most anticipated online games of the year! The DC UNIVERSE ONLINE STATUES are from Sony Entertainment’s Massively Multi-Player Online Game, based on the art of Jim Lee!

Set to include many heroes and villains from the game, each character is shown in a dynamic pose, atop a consistent base that features a character-specific logo.

This statue features Batman clutching his cape as he prepares to set off to the rescue. Hand-painted, cold-cast in porcelain and measuring approximately 7.5″ high x 5.5″ wide x 3.5″ deep, this statue is packaged in a 4-color box. Limited Edition.

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Fantastic Four Resurrection Of Galactus Prem HC Variant Ed 53

Fantastic Four Resurrection Of Galactus Prem HC Variant Ed 53
By: Carlos Pacheco, Jeph Loeb, Rafael Marin, Jeff Johnson, Tom Grummett
Abraxas attacks! His first volley has left Galactus dead, the Watcher in a coma and all of reality rewritten! Can the Fantastic Four and their allies stop this all-powerful madman before it’s too late?

Guest-starring the Silver Surfer! Moondragon! Quasar! Captain Marvel! Namorita! She-Hulk! Witness the most narrow of victories as the weakest among them saves the world, trading the defeat of one galactic threat for the rebirth of another! And is the Invisible Woman pregnant?

This title collects
FANTASTIC FOUR (1998) #46-50 and FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL 2001

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Iron Man Legacy #10

Iron Man Legacy #10
By: Fred Van Lente, Steve Kurth, Juan Doe
‘INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION’ (Part 5 of 6) Before their children, the RUNAWAYS, became their greatest nemeses, the villainous PRIDE of Los Angeles faced their greatest threat when a destitute and penniless TONY STARK came to Los Angeles.

Through cat’s-paws both super powered and mundane they tried to break him, but every attempt failed. But now they’ve made a mistake by kidnapping the person closest to him and sacrificing her to their dark masters, THE GIBBORIM. Tony will do everything to get her back, including attacking The Pride on their own turf … with some surprise guest-stars in tow!!!
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Batman: The Brave and the Bold ‘The Last Patrol’

Doom Patrol By Jeff Lemiere

Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani’s Doom Patrol remains one of the finest superhero comic book runs ever printed. Neurotic, strange and absurd, the series chronicled the adventurous lives of three survivors of very unfortunate catastrophes; former screen starlet Rita Farr who was able to stretch or shrink any part of her body at will after inhaling some fumes on the set of a film, test pilot Larry Trainor, possessed by a negative alien energy being who transformed his once healthy body into a bandage-wrapped monstrosity and stunt car driver Cliff Steele who recovered from a horrific wreck only to emerge as a brain encased in a robot shell. Led by the brilliant ‘Chief’ Niles Caulder, they found purpose in life by defending the society that would never accept them from harm. The series ran from 1963-68 only to be revived several times since in print and on the small screen in cartoons such as this one.

I have recommended the Batman: The Brave and the Bold cartoon series to fans of other DC animated projects such as Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League, both high water marking programs of the comic book animation genre. Based on the absurd 1950’s-style art of Dick Sprang Brave and the Bold is a fanciful and juvenile series aimed at a much younger audience which puts off some people. However, there are several episodes that rise above the others and demand to be noticed such as this one.

I have mentioned in previous blog posts how much of a Doom Patrol fan I am. I recently had digital cable re-installed in my house and programed the system to record the latest Brave and the Bold episode. It happened to be this one, what are the odds?

(see more Batman wallpapers at the Bat-Blog!)

Written by J.M. DeMatteis, the episode is essentially a retelling of the final Doom Patrol story of the 60’s, in which the team sacrifices themselves in order to save the lives of a group of strangers by getting blown up on a deserted island. The only difference is that DeMatteis educates the viewer unfamiliar with the Doom Patrol, making them sympathetic to their lot in life. Creator Arnold Drake put it best when he said that the team was made up of freaks who hate themselves and hate each other most of all because the Doom Patrol is the closest any of them will ever have to a family.

Without giving too much away, here is the breakdown of ‘The Last Patrol:’

In the cartoon, the Doom Patrol is depicted as a cultural phenomenon that the youth culture bonded to. After a mysterious caper in Paris, the team disbanded, leaving no clue as to why. The Last Patrol sees the various outlandish villains of the Doom Patrol hunting down the retired members with Batman desperately trying to help them discover why. Reluctantly, the Doom Patrol reunites and encounters the mastermind behind the entire plot, General Zahl who giddily reveals what caused the team to split up by playing back the Paris adventure worldwide. He then forces the team onto an island loaded with explosives and asks them to sacrifice themselves in order to save the inhabitants of a nearby island (echoing the demise of the team in comic book form) while Batman single-handedly fends off their various foes.

When I had the pleasure of meeting Arnold Drake shortly before he passed on, I took the opportunity to talk to him at length about the Doom Patrol, a subject he was both happy and pained to discuss. He had fond memories of his work but was frustrated to see his ideas being stolen and used in other projects such as the Incredibles and various DC Animation projects. Seeing as how he was convinced that Stan Lee devised the X-Men after the Doom Patrol, I can see why Drake would be especially annoyed. As such, I have to admit that even as a fan of the characters I have mixed feelings whenever I see them in any form other than the original comic as it is a disservice to the work that Drake and Premiani created.

All that said, I’d like to think that Drake would have been happy with this animated Doom Patrol homage as DeMatteis lovingly pays service to the original work. The episode is outlandish, action-packed, filled with goofy villains such as ‘Animal-Vegetable-Mineral-Man’ and also centers on the themes that Drake’s book explored. It’s funny and sad and poignant and brilliant to look at. There are even references to the Grant Morrison/Richard Case run for any eagle-eyed viewers!

Batman: The Brave and the Bold is being very slowly released on DVD. A series consisting of 50 episodes and three years old, the first season is still not out on DVD in its entirety. But if you have a chance, check it out. It has been revealed that this will be the final season of the program as yet another iteration of Batman is in the works with a much more serious tone. I for one will miss Brave and the Bold, but I’m thankful for what it has done in the short time it has been on the air. Regardless of your opinion of it, this is definitely a different take on Batman than many are used to.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Season One, Part One

Batman: Brave & The Bold - Season One Part Two

Showcase Presents: Doom Patrol, Vol. 1

Doom Patrol Vol. 1: We Who Are About to Die

2010 NC Comicon (part two)

I’m used to two varieties of comic book conventions, one which features a wide variety of talented artists in attendance but is overblown and the other which is far quieter but rarely attracts creative talent. The NC Comicon is a wonderful fusion of the two variations as it is both intimate and home to some incredibly talented creators. Housed unusually in the Morrisville outlet mall in North Carolina, the convention is spread through three rooms in which fans of the comic book medium can shop for their favorite keepsakes, converse with creators, attend paneled discussions or participate in a costume contest. A two day event, the convention grows each year with more attendees and exhibitions to see.

This year one of the chief guests was Chris Giarrusso who designed the beautiful promotional fliers.

I have enjoyed the Mini-Marvels comic strips by Chris Giarrusso (chrisgcomics.com) for some time now. The quirky innocent humor blended with Giarrusso’s distinctive linework to create a fantastic and fun-loving read. I still laugh at the sequence when Black Bolt attempts to use sign language to communicate with Namor who loses his patience and cuts him off mid-sign. Giarrusso’s Mini-Marvels strips exposed the inherent humor in the comics that appeared to take themselves so seriously and lampooned everything from the Secret Invasion to World War Hulk.

So popular were the Mini-Marvels strips that they were collected and released on CD-ROM as extras in Marvel DVD releases. Following the success of Mini-Marvels, Giarrusso released G-Man, his creator-owned comic following the adventures of a young kid determined to live the life of a superhero even though his parents told him not to. It’s a great all-ages read that I recommend to anyone.

While strolling through artist’s alley, I happened upon Eric Morin (http://www.spookyco.com), an unassuming fella who was actually a vault to the dark dimension made flesh. A cartoonist who has developed the most unusual ands fun-loving view of the macabre, Morin’s comics are a real treat. He has released several collections, the pearl of which is his collaboration with Justin Wayne, the Littlest Zombie, a Christmas Story. Not only is a zombie depicted as cute and adorable, but it is also a holiday tale designed to warm the heart… so long as a zombie doesn’t hear it beating first.

Nathan Edomson (http://nathan-e.com/)

Writer of the critically acclaimed Light (with Surrogates artist Brett Weldele), Olympus (with Christian Ward) and upcoming Jake Ellis mini-series (a book that will involve the incredible artist Tonci Zonjic of The Immortal Iron Fist and Daredevil), Edomson is a consummate writer. The man even had a vintage typewriter next to a digital device that cycled through pages of his work! One of the rising stars of the industry, Edomson’s skill in various genres and sharp plotting and dialog has made his work fly off the shelves. From horror to suspense to mythic super action… Edomson has a varied writing voice.

There is often a cry for more genre comics at conventions, and Edomson is one of the creators who has been filling that need remarkably.

Even with only a cursory walk through artist’s alley, I was very fortunate to meet the courteous and talented Rob Anderson (http://www.pandadogpress.com/) of Panda Dog Press. His comic Animal Control: Special Creatures Unit Preview (inked by Steve Bird) is a new kind of series that blends science fiction with humor and a special kind of genre that is often forgotten, animal books. I love animal books, but there are so few of them out there. Comic books that feature our four-legged and feathered friends allow for rarely seen moments of humor and drama (just look at Grant Morrison’s We 3 if you doubt me) and I’m happy to see that Anderson is pursuing the genre with such success.

The first outing was a grand success with fans are waiting with baited breath for a follow up which if I heard correctly is in the works. If you can’t find it at your local shop, make sure to contact the publisher directly (and mention I sent you).

I also was lucky enough to talk with Richard Case (http://rhomblog.blogspot.com), artist of Doom Patrol, Hunter the Age of Magic and Shade the Changing Man. I had been an obsessed comic book collector in my teenage years but broke clean when I sold my collection to pay a debt. Doom Patrol was the book that brought me back to the habit… so… thanks, Richard.

I had a grand time talking to Mr. Case about working with Peter Milligan and Grant Morrison, two of the weirdest writers in the industry and got to the bottom on some key panels that have always confused me. I had left my Doom Patrol comics at home thinking I wouldn’t get a chance to get them signed but he was kind enough to draft up a doodle on the fly that I’ll try and scan in tomorrow. I was also proud to pass on the information that Doom Patrol, creator Arnold Drake was fond of the Morrison/Case run of the characters, saying that they ‘got it.’ Case had never heard word one on Drake’s opinion of his work and as the creator has passed on, this was apparently the first he had heard of it. I was very pleased to have told him that his work met not just my liking but to the great Arnold Drake’s as well.
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I did promise to share some of my purchases in the dealer room and I only have time for a few. After purchasing a copy of Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 for $5 (the image on this post is a stock photo, mine is lacking a back cover), I thought my day was done, but I soon found myself bunkered at the table of my dreams stocked with hard to find silver and bronze age lovelies and I tried to reduce my sizable stack of finds to only a select few. Amongst them was a copy of Daredevil #134 (featuring Bullseye), JLA #200 (always a good buy) and a few Giant Size DC books… all for $2 a piece.

On my way out the door, however, I made my prize purchase of two vintage FOOM posters. These eye-catching majestic pieces of art are very hard to come by and were produced in limited quantities in 1976. I found two; Captain America by Steranko and Silver Surfer by John Buscema… for $13. I’ll have to scan them in as I can’t find reference pics anywhere.

The convention was a great experience and I hope to attend next year as well so that I can take in a few panels for the full experience. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my day and ask that you take the time to visit each creator’s site linked in these two posts.

Get a glimpse inside the mind of Grant Morrison in the new documentary premiering Oct 9 in NYC

Film director and writer Patrick Meaney

I’ve been friends with Patrick Meaney since I started building Zebramag.com and was making connections on message boards and at comic book conventions. Not only is Patrick an ambitiously gifted writer, he is also a budding filmmaker.

When we premiered the first issue of Zebramag at MoCCA in NY, both of us rather unfashionably left the building to meet with Grant at a signing at the local Forbidden Planet. Both of us were struck at his mixture of accessibility, honesty and brilliance. The man just oozes a kind of magic that you have to experience to believe.

When Patrick started telling me about his documentary on Grant Morrison, I tried my best to stifle my jealousy and just be happy for him.

Patrick was interviewed last year by Wired about the project and Grant’s importance to the comic book world:

“His life is just as interesting as his work,” said Meaney. “In the ’90s, he went through an abduction experience, where he was taken outside of time and shown the nature of the universe. He used The Invisibles to explore the ramifications of that experience, and even lived a crazy rock-star lifestyle that was largely intertwined with that of King Mob, The Invisibles‘ main character.”

“I think his story’s fascinating. There’s no one out there as interesting to talk to as Grant Morrison.”

Read More Here

I received the press release below this morning and encourage any readers able to attend to reserve their seats now. I’ll try to send positive vibes from my Southern home and do my best not to be jealous all over again.

Good one, Pat.

Official release:

GRANT MORRISON: TALKING WITH GODS TO PREMIERE SATURDAY OCTOBER 9 IN NYC

– Documentary to premiere at downtown CINEMA VILLAGE during New York Comic Con –

Los Angeles, CA, October 4, 2010 – Halo-8 Entertainment has announced it will premiere “GRANT MORRISON: TALKING WITH GODS” at the downtown NYC theater CINEMA VILLAGE (22 E 12th St NYC 10003) on Saturday October 9th at 11:30pm. Tickets are $11 adults, $8 student, and Halo-8 is also offering a $20 bundle which includes a preorder of the DVD (to ship for delivery on street date October 26).

GRANT MORRISON: TALKING WITH GODS
NYC Premiere
Saturday October 9, 2010
11:30pm
CINEMA VILLAGE
22 E 12th Street, NYC 10003
212.924.3363
Advanced tix available from www.halo8store.com or direct at these links:

$11 adult / $8 student / $20 bundle with DVD pre-order

“GRANT MORRISON: TALKING WITH GODS” is the first ever feature-length documentary on the mysterious and iconic Grant Morrison, one of the most critically-acclaimed and best-selling writers in the history of comics, known for the groundbreaking, counter-cultural “THE INVISIBLES” and for bold reinventions of super-heroes “ANIMAL MAN,” “DOOM PATROL,” “JLA” and “ALL STAR SUPERMAN.” Directed by Patrick Meaney, produced by Amber Yoder, and shot by Jordan Rennert, the film was previewed at Chicago’s C2E2 Comic Con where Halo-8 president Matt Pizzolo first viewed it.

“Grant Morrison is a transcendent, transgressive artist, he changed the way a lot of us read comics while also blowing the minds of people who don’t read comics at all. On a personal level, he’s a hero of mine, so I’m particularly excited about championing this film,” said Pizzolo. “Patrick, Amber, and Jordan have put together a smart, slick, and insightful film that offers a deeper look at the writer without demystifying him… that’s no simple feat. I knew the moment I saw the preview clips at C2E2 that this was something special.”

“It’s extremely exciting to partner with Halo-8 to release this film. They have extensive experience releasing films that are challenging and transgressive, just like Grant’s work, so it seems like the perfect match. I’ve been nothing but impressed by their plans for getting the film out there,” said Meaney. “Talking With Gods is a unique film that needs a unique distributor and Halo-8 is the perfect match.”

“We’re encouraged by the enthusiasm and experience that Halo-8 is bringing to the project,” said Yoder. “They know our audience and the marketplace, and we’re excited to be working with them.”

GRANT MORRISON: TALKING WITH GODS examines Morrison’s 30-year career and the real-life events that inspired his stories. Featuring extensive interviews with Morrison himself, the film delves into his early days growing up in Scotland, the start of his career in comics, the crazy years of the ’90s as his life and his comics became enmeshed, and his recent attempts to turn personal troubles and social darkness into compelling comics. The film also gives insight into his creative process, including a look into his vaunted idea notebooks. Complementing Morrison’s own words are interviews with many of his most important collaborators, including Warren Ellis, Geoff Johns, Douglas Rushkoff, Frank Quitely, Dan DiDio, Frazer Irving, Phil Jimenez, Cameron Stewart, Jill Thompson, Mark Waid, and others.

Trailer

“The film is designed to be accessible both to long time fans of Morrison and to people who don’t know who he is but are interested in the story of a modern philosopher and magician with radical ideas about the universe and our place in it,” said Meaney.

About Halo-8 Entertainment

Halo-8 Entertainment (www.halo8.tv) is a Hollywood-2.0 movie studio using bleeding-edge strategies to create and distribute daring new films. Recent releases include the megapopular animated series Xombie: Dead On Arrival (which Bloody Disgustingcalled “one of the best online animated series to date”), the legendary NY hardcore documentary N.Y.H.C. (which Cinematical called “smashing… a terrific, well-told, engaging story”), the award-winning hardcore-punk thriller Threat (which Urb Magazine said “makes ‘Kids’ look like an after-school special”), and the critically-acclaimed animal rights documentary Your Mommy Kills Animals (which earned a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes). Upcoming releases include the erotic-art documentary The New Erotic (featuring XXX-auteurs Eon McKai, Kimberly Kane,Dave Naz, Jack The Zipper, Alejandra Guerrero), the animated war-against-squid movie Black Sky by Ben Templesmith (“30 Days of Night”), the horror-heroine-vs-slashers adventure Hack/Slash by Tim Seeley, and the iconoclastic hero’s journeyGodkiller (which Wired called “a horrific yarn of apocalypse, quantum physics, culture jamming & conspiracy theory”).

www.halo8.tv

Desert Island Comics

There are lots of Top Ten lists out there regarding comics. I hate lists. I hate ‘favorites’ even more. I’m not being obnoxious, I just have difficulty listing things that I enjoy or worse yet giving them ranks. In an effort to play fair, I give you a list of comics I’d want to have on a desert island.

I’ve been in a superhero phase for the past couple of years (which anyone reading this blog can attest), so all of my choices are of that genre… sue me.

52 Promotion Art by J.G. Jones

52

One of the most impressive comics in recent memory has to be the group effort that was the year-long weekly comic ’52.’ With Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid and Keith Giffen working together on a tale that defined the DC Universe without Batman, Superman or Wonder Woman, this could be the most definitive work that the company has produced… and it fails to connect in any way to the monthly comics. A major snafu for sure, but readers of 52 entered the series as the DCU was in flux and expected to see the myriad storylines they had been following spill over to the other comics as 52 finished. Imagine their surprise when this did not happen. In some cases this would mark the series as a failure but in this case it is another sign of its genius.

Despite this, 52 remains a high watermark. Each issue was split between several stories; the Metal Men’s creator’s adventure on the island of mad scientists, Ralph Dibney’s quest to revive his deceased wife, Lex Luthor’s attempt to sell super powers, Booster Gold’s time travel story, the Question and Renee Montoya’s search for the truth – which become much more mystical, Bruce Wayne’s vision quest and the galactic adventure of Animal Man, Adam Strange and Starfire with a religious Lobo… this was simply the most wildly inventive a comic book publisher had ever been in decades. Collected in 4 trade paperbacks, it is well worth a look.

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52: Book One – Book Two – Book Three – Book Four

Jonah Hex by Frank Quitely

Jonah Hex

I came to Jonah Hex late in life. While most kids of my generation had read of the facially scarred bounty hunter at least once, I avoided him. Judging the genre as a waste of the comic book medium, I missed out on some of the best sequential stories out there.

Created by John Albano and Tony DeZuniga, Jonah Hex is a joy to read. Part of its charm is a lack of an insistence on continuity, something that comic fans love and hate. They love a story that spreads over the span of several issues but hate it when they miss an issue and are penalized for lack of knowledge. None of that gets in the way here as readers are treated to short stories told in the style of the pulp lavishly drawn by DeZuniga. The series was picked up in recent years by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti who have continued to uphold the great tradition of Jonah Hex tales.

DC Comics collected an assortment of black and white western reprints including Jonah Hex, but I also recommend the new series.

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Showcase Presents – Jonah Hex: A Faceful of Violence

Sgt. Rock by Brian Bolland

Sgt. Rock

Alongside westerns I hated war comics as a kid. Imagine my surprise when I found that Sgt. Rock was one of the most exciting and engrossing reads that I had missed out on. Veteran comic creators Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert joined forces to tell it the way it was in WWII as seen through the eyes of the regular joes who fought in it. Each short story in Army at War stands on its own and never asks the reader to ever pick up another, but I wager that you’ll be hard pressed to stop once you start. These stories are so expertly told and full of characters written and drawn so well that they hold the reader in a kind of trance issue after issue.

DC Comics has collected Sgt. Rock in full color archive editions, but for the budget reader a couple of black and white Showcase Presents collections will suffice.

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Showcase Presents 1, Showcase Presents 2

Spider-Man by Steve Ditko

Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s Spider-Man

Perhaps the most important modern superhero comic book on the market, it doesn’t get much better than Spider-Man as created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The first 38 issues of Spider-Man tell an almost complete story. Awkward teenager Peter Parker obtains super powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider, something the reader is almost shocked to see does not enrich the youngsters life but instead complicates it. An array of colorful rogues all created by these two masterminds including Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Electro, the Lizard and the Sandman (just to name a few) battle our hero who is possessed of uncanny strength and agility yet he is such a neurotic mess that they are usually not the real problem as Peter Parker sees it. The adventure tales are enjoyable enough for inclusion in my desert island list, but the superb art is so imaginative and bizarre that it has matured like a fine wine over the years.

Many talented creators have tried to make their mark on Spider-Man, but in all honesty if nothing had been published after Ditko left… it would not have been the end of the world.

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Marvel Masterworks: Spider-Man

Jack Kirby's Kamandi

Jack Kirby’s Kamandi

After leaving Marvel Comics, Jack Kirby had decided to create a line of comics with rival publisher DC. Each of his springboards was just brilliant, but my personal favorite is Kamandi. Set in the far off future, Kamandi follows the adventures of the last boy on Earth. The planet has survived a cataclysmic event called ‘the Great Disaster’ and is now ruled by clans of warring animals. Lions, rats, cheetahs and even giant grasshoppers all clamber about a world strewn with the garbage left behind by the once proud race known as Mankind. Rumor has it that Kirby had intended the series to be spun off into a cartoon (and looking at his other creation Thundarr the Barbarian you can see that he never left any ideas idle), but it never worked out in his lifetime.

Animator Bruce Timm finally adapted Kirby’s future world in an episode of the Brave and the Bold, something that many Kirby fans are still shocked to see happen. Again a major part of this series’ appeal is that it can be picked up and put down at any time. Stories to pick up issue to issue but never in a way that demands you read each one in order.

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DC Archives: Kamandi

Wally Wood's THUNDER Agents

Wally Wood’s Thunder Agents

I have written in part about this series before but it really is one of my big faves. Part super spy action book part superhero series, Thunder Agents just has it all. I had discovered Wally Wood first from his Wit’s End series published in Eclipse magazine, I later found an issue of Daredevil drawn by Wood that blew my socks off. His smooth line and sense of motion are a joy to behold!

I was overjoyed to find out about the Thunder Agents from a new attempt at the series published by Deluxe Comics. Digging back in the bins at several comic book conventions I eventually built a complete collection of the entire series (and even a couple of the spin-offs!). The characters are quirky, the action is bombastic and the talent is like a who’s who of 1960’s comics.

After DC Comics started working on reviving the series for the first time they reprinted the Thunder Agents in attractive (if expensive) archive editions. But I prefer the original printings.

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DC Archives: Thunder Agents

The Doom Patrol

Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani’s Doom Patrol

Meeting Arnold Drake at a Boston Comic Con, I was tickled to see the old man giggle as he explained the difference between the Doom Patrol and any other superhero team, ‘They hate each other!’ Yes, the Fantastic Four has the rivalry of Ben and Johnny and the X-Men are hated and feared by those they have sworn to protect, but these guys really do hate each other. Why? Because they serve as reminders of how each one has nowhere else to go.

The members of the Doom Patrol are all survivors from one traumatic disaster or other, collected into some kind of commando group by their benefactor ‘the Chief.’ Former silver screen starlet Rita Farr is transformed by some weird gas into a size-stretching freak called Elasti Girl. Struck by strange unearthly radiation, brave test pilot Larry Trainor’s body has become a cage for the deadly menace known as Radioactive Man. Worst of all is dashing and handsome race car driver Cliff Steele whose entire body is burnt to a crisp. Only his brain survives, skillfully transplanted into a robot body by ‘The Chief.’ Known only as ‘Robot Man,’ Steele’s body is blasted, melted and rent asunder month after month by the most bizarre assortment of villains ever seen.

The comic can be read in parts but if you have any interest, you should stick with it to the end. As is most fitting, the series has the most unbelievable finale ever.

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DC Archives: Doom Patrol

Fireside- Son of Origins of Marvel Comics

The Marvel Comics Fireside Collection

I’m cheating here but after noticing so many DC books in this list I figured I should level the playing field. Released in the mid-1970’s, these collections published by Fireside Books are perhaps the first attempt to bridge the gap between the newsstand and the book store. Each book is a selection of the most compelling Marvel Comics stories along with an introduction by Stan Lee that is sometimes informative and other times not so much. Remember, this is at a time when there was no internet to research these characters and there was also no series of cheap Essential books on the market to provide a quick back library of reference material.

Titles range from collections of stories featuring the best of Fantastic Four, Captain America, Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, an over-sized Hulk book and theme books focusing on the women of Marvel, super villains, superhero origins, team-ups and greatest battles. There’s even an original Silver Surfer story that retells his origin without the Fantastic Four! It’s a series of books some which have been reprinted but I recommend hunting down the first printings.

Seeing as how Marvel was embraced by the College set in the 60’s, this was probably an attempt to retain that demographic by printing up something that looked respectable on a guy’s mantle rather than a stack of wrinkled comics (kinda like today). Everyone wanted to look cool but somehow also keep up with Spider-Man.

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Anyway… that is my desert island list of comics in no particular order. I’m sure that I’m missing a few (like Kirby and Simon’s Boy’s Ranch and Captain America comics… maybe something by Mike Allred and a good Eisner Spirit collection), but thankfully I don’t have to worry about packing for a doomsday event just yet.

What would make your list?