Justice League- The Flashpoint Paradox – exclusive preview!

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox [Blu-ray] (2013)

[Justice League Flashpoint Paradox]
The film will have its World Premiere at Comic-Con in San Diego on
Friday, July 19 from 7:30-9:30pm in Ballroom 20. The premiere/panel
description with anticipated participants is below. Panelists are
subject to change (which could include additions!)

Fans can also meet and get autographs (on a Comic-Con exclusive
mini-poster) from the panelists on Saturday, July 20 from 11:00am-Noon
at the Warner Bros. Booth.

Friday, July 19
7:30-9:30 World Premiere of Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox –
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros.
Animation invite you to be the first to experience Justice League: The
Flashpoint Paradox, the highly-anticipated next entry in the ongoing
series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. When time travel
allows a past wrong to be righted for Flash and his family, the
event’s temporal ripples prove disastrous, creating a fractured,
alternate reality where the Justice League never formed, and even
Superman is nowhere to be found. Amidst a new world being ravaged by a
fierce war between Wonder Woman’s Amazons and Aquaman’s Atlanteans,
Flash must team with a grittier, more violent Batman and government
agent Cyborg to restore the continuity of Flash’s original timeline.
Come for the film, but stay for the star-studded panel that features
Grey’s Anatomy stars Justin Chambers and Kevin McKidd as Flash and
Batman, respectively, along with C. Thomas Howell (Southland), Cary
Elwes (The Princess Bride), Sam Daly (The Daly Show) and a few
surprise voice cast members, plus the filmmaking team of producer
James Tucker (Superman: Unbound), director Jay Oliva (Batman: The Dark
Knight Returns), dialogue director Andrea Romano (Batman: The Dark
Knight Returns), screenwriter Jim Krieg (Green Lantern: The Animated
Series) and character designer Phil Bourassa (Young Justice).
Moderator Gary Miereanu will add to the fun with a special
announcement of the 2014 DCU movie slate, as well as exclusive,
cast-autographed prizes for a few lucky fans.

Based on the landmark mini-series by Geoff Johns & Andy Kubert, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox will be available as a digital download on July 19, 2013 and a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack on July 30, 2013.

The DC Comics 52 Explosion Phase 2

The relaunch of DC Comics is in its next phase. Mere months after debuting 52 monthly books, some based on established characters while others were dusted off old concepts (such as OMAC). A handful were canceled to make way for Earth-2, World’s Finest, G.I. Combat and Dial H… and now we are seeing another cycle of death and rebirth as three more books are chopped and three new ones arrive.

What is more unsettling is that DC editorial seems to be struggling with some of their cornerstone properties. Superman and Catwoman will both be on their third change in creative teams, just what is the problem there?

In any case, September has been dubbed Zero Month and will take readers into the hallowed and well-traveled origins of their favorite heroes while also bringing in some new blood.

I have very mixed feelings about the four new books, Talon, Sword of Sorcery, Team 7 and Phantom Stranger but I must applaud the variety that is represented here. Talon is by the hot talent at DC Scott Snyder whom I have deeply enjoyed since he took over Detective then Batman, Phantom Stranger has Brent Anderson on art chores and the character is one of my favorites. Sword of Sorcery does nothing for me, but it’s great that another fantasy title will be joining Demon Knights. Team 7 seems like a 1990’s flashback, but there is a fan base for such things, so… what do I know?

TALON #0
Written by SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES TYNION IV
Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale SEPTEMBER 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• A new series featuring the Court of Owls’ unstoppable killing machine!
• Meet Calvin Rose, the only Talon ever to escape the grasp of the Court of Owls. This former assassin just wants to live a normal life…but that’s impossible, since he’s being hunted by his former masters!

TEAM 7 #0
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art and cover by JESUS MERINO
On sale SEPTEMBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• Threads of the entire DC Universe collide in this new series set in the early days of The New 52 from writer Justin Jordan (The Strange Talents of Luther Strode).
• As Superman emerges, so too does the world’s counter measures against him and his kind!
• Dinah Lance, Amanda Waller, Steve Trevor, John Lynch, Alex Fairchild, Cole Cash, Slade Wilson are Team 7 – and their story will change everything you know about The New 52!

THE PHANTOM STRANGER #0
Written by DAN DIDIO
Art by BRENT ANDERSON and SCOTT HANNA
Cover by BRENT ANDERSON
On sale SEPTEMBER 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• Learn what happened to The Phantom Stranger after the FREE COMIC BOOK DAY story!
• Who has been sacrificed? Who is guilty? Who can save us? And who…is The Phantom Stranger?
• Major players in The New 52 will be introduced in these pages!

SWORD OF SORCERY #0
Written by CHRISTY MARX
Backup story written by TONY BEDARD
Art by AARON LOPRESTI and MATT RYAN
Backup story art by JESUS SAIZ
Cover by JOSHUA MIDDLETON
On sale SEPTEMBER 19 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
• In this new series featuring the long-awaited return of AMETHYST, Amy Winston leads a strange life on the road with her mother. She’s about to learn why it’s all been necessary when she discovers she’s the lost princess of Gemworld — and has powerful enemies hunter her!
• AMETHYST is written by Christy Marx, best known for her work on animated TV series including G.I. Joe, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and more, as well as the comics series Sisterhood of Steel.
• And in the backup story set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the monstrous warrior BEOWULF is charged with finding and defeating the evil Grendel.

In addition to the new titles, there are several zero issues that explore the origins of the New 52 DCU.

Shazam takes center stage in Justice League #0 while Aquaman #0 establishes the king of the seven seas and the fabled continent of Atlantis.

Earth-2 #0 stars the sadly deceased Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman of that parallel world and Green Arrow, the Flash, Wonder Woman and Hawkman all get special secret origin tales.

DC Universe Presents #0 introduces a new version of the Ditko classic heroes Hawk and Dove (has anyone outside of Ditko ever made sense of this due?) just as Captain Atom, Voodoo and Resurrection Man bow out with a zero issue… strangely.

It all strikes me as very bizarre to reboot your universe and a few months down the road amid the carnage of cancelled comics, special issues are released with origin stories. These are just quarter bin fodder as far as I can see. That’s not a slight on the material as most of it looks quite good, but it does appear to be a marketing disaster. The only issues that I plan to pick up are Batman, Batwoman (drawn by JH Williams!), Detective Comics (written by Gregg Hurwitz!) and Nightwing and that’s just because I’m in a bat-fever.

My main complaint isn’t with the material at all, but the scatter-shot nature of the releases.

There are some gems in here such as young John Constantine in Justice League: Dark written by Jeff Lemiere and an early Animal Man story by the same author. Legion of Superheroes will feature artwork by the always exciting Scott Kolins and Legion Lost welcomes the excellent Pete Woods.

GI Combat looks like an astonishingly superb issue that establishes the new Unknown Soldier, as well as more tales from the War that Time Forgot.

Even with all my whinging, there is a lot of high quality material here (hiding in the middle of the awful looking Grifter, Hawkman, Superman, Firestorm and the unlikely physique of Catwoman) and I hope that readers take the time to flip through a few, if only to respect the hard work and outstanding talent that went into them.

What issues are you picking up?

This week at your comic shop – 3/21/2012

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 The Doctor Unofficial Guide To Dr Who

Who Is The Doctor Unofficial Guide To Dr Who
The handbook explores all facets of the six most recent seasons of Doctor Who, providing an essential companion for the show’s avid fans and casual viewers alike. The history of everything related to Doctor Who is touched upon, from Daleks and Cybermen to the eight Classic Series Doctors. Delving into a top-rated series that has made stars out of its actors, gained fame internationally, and encompasses the genres of horror, science fiction, comedy, action, and historical adventure, this all-inclusive guide also features behind-the-scenes tidbits and in-depth analyses of the series’ latest installments.
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Avengers X-sanction #4 (of 4)

Avengers X-sanction #4 (of 4)
By: Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuinness
As the final hours tick down, Cable must take down a berzerker Wolverine and a wisecrackin’ web-head to ensure a deadly future does not come to pass! Sets the stage for Avengers vs. X-Men!
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Invincible Iron Man #514

Invincible Iron Man #514
By: Matt Fraction, Salvador Larroca
Tony Stark is called out for his actions during Fear Itself! The Mandarin on American soil! Has Bethany Cabe found the mole, or has the mole found Bethany Cabe?
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Star Trek/Legion Of Superheroes #6 (of 6)

Star Trek/Legion Of Superheroes #6 (of 6)
By: Chris Roberson, Jeffrey Moy, Phil Jimenez
It’s all been building up to this. Captain Kirk, Cosmic Boy, and the rest of the timelost Legionnaires and Starfleet officers have reached the end of the line, and are confronted with the powerful forces which have unwritten their respective histories. But with half of their teams stranded in the past and the other half held prisoner in the future, what chance do they have of overcoming the odds and restoring the worlds they once knew?
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Uncanny X-Men #9

Uncanny X-Men #9
By: Kieron Gillen, Carlos Pacheco
Prison break! Featuring the Avengers!

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Batman #7

Batman #7
By: Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo
Batman may have survived the Court of Owls’ first strike (barely), but even as he recuperates, the Court is preparing to launch its most deadly and sweeping attack yet.

Plus: The secrets revealed in this issue will change Batman’s world forever! You won’t want to miss the issue everyone will be talking about!

This issue is also offered as a special combo pack edition, polybagged with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
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Venom By Rick Remender TPB Vol. 01

Venom By Rick Remender TPB Vol. 01
By: Rick Remender, Tony Moore, Joe Quesada
A new Venom for a new era! Flash Thompson is Spider-Man’s biggest fan. That hero worship inspired him to enlist in the Army, where he became a decorated veteran and war hero. And though he lost his legs, Flash never lost his dignity – or his desire to serve.

Now, the government has offered him a chance to be a hero once again – to don the alien symbiote that grants its wearer powers similar to those of Spider-Man, but also puts them at risk of permanently bonding with the parasitic creature.

Flash Thompson is Venom, the government’s most lethal special operative – sent into the hottest of hot zones against the worst enemies of the state. He’s fought tough foes before, but the toughest opponent he faces may just be himself.

This title collects
Venom (2011) #1-5

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Flashpoint World of Flashpoint The Flash TPB

Flashpoint World of Flashpoint The Flash TPB
By: Sean Ryan, Ig Guara, Ardian Syaf
This is 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?

This title collects
Grodd of War #1, Kid Flash Lost #1-3, Legion of Doom #1-3, Reverse Flash #1, Citizen Cold #1-3
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Amazing Spider-Man #682

Amazing Spider-Man #682
By: Dan Slott, Humberto Ramos
Part one of “Ends of the earth,” the next big Spider-Man event! The Doc Ock story you’ve waited 50 years for! Doctor Otto Octavius holds the entire earth hostage with his dying breath. What price will Spider-Man have to pay to buy the whole world one more day? Special appearance by the Avengers!
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Legion Of Super Heroes #7

Legion Of Super Heroes #7
By: Paul Levitz, Francis Portela, Chris Sprouse
Marooned in a lake of fire, Element Lad, Chemical Kid and Sun Boy face an ecological disaster of 31st-century proportions! And Dragonwing’s got troubles of her own–with her sister’s claws at her throat!

Meanwhile, at the edges of United Planets space, the Dominators haven’t forgotten their humiliation at the Legion’s hands . . . and the next stage of their plan is about to explode!
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Art Of Daniel Clowes Modern Cartoonist HC

Art Of Daniel Clowes Modern Cartoonist HC
By: Alvin Buenavaentura, Daniel Clowes
Throughout his 25-year career, alternative cartoonist/screenwriter Daniel Clowes has always been ahead of artistic and cultural movements. In the late 1980s his groundbreaking comic book series Eightball defined indie culture with wit, venom, and even a little sympathy. With each successive graphic novel (Ghost World, David Boring, Ice Haven, Wilson, Mister Wonderful), Clowes has been praised for his emotionally compelling narratives that reimagine the ways that stories can be told in comics. The Art of Daniel Clowes: Modern Cartoonist is the first monograph on this award-winning, New York Times-bestselling creator, compiled with his complete cooperation. It includes all of Clowes’s best-known illustrations as well as rare and previously unpublished work, all reproduced from the original art.
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Annihilators Earthfall TPB

Annihilators Earthfall TPB
By: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Tan Eng Huat, Timothy Green Ii, Alex Garner
From the fallout of ANNIHILATION and the end of the Guardians of the Galaxy, an all-too-familiar cosmic threat has returned, this time with Earth as his beachhead.

His followers span a thousand worlds, awaiting only the word to begin new wars in his name…unless Gladiator, Quasar, Ronan, Ikon and Beta-Ray Bill – the all-new Annihilators – can silence him first!

So why are the Avengers standing in their way, and what are the true stakes if either side fails? Plus: It’s Mojo versus Rocket Raccoon and Groot onstage for a high-stakes campy cosmic free-for-all!

This title collects
Annihilators: Earthfall #1-4

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Batman Beyond Unlimited #2

Batman Beyond Unlimited #2
By: Adam Beechen, Norm Breyfogle, Dustin Nguyen
The excitement continues in this oversized title chronicling the adventures in the Beyond Universe and making their print debut here!

One of Batman’s most explosive villains is back! In an effort to regain his status in the criminal underworld, however, he loses the one thing he loves best . . . and now all of Gotham may pay the price!

The new Justice League Beyond adventure continues, as the League goes in search of AWOL member Micron–who may or may not have gone native while investigating Kobra!

A larger, darker secret is about to be revealed . . . and it could spell doom for Earth!
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Nightwing #7

Nightwing #7
By: Kyle Higgins, Eddy Barrows, J. P. Mayer
Nightwing vs. Saiko! The truth about Haly’s Circus! A tribute show for the Flying Graysons! They’re all in this amazing issue! Of course, there’s no way they could be related…right?

Plus: As the answers regarding Haly’s Circus are revealed, what do they mean for Dick Grayson’s future in Gotham City? And more important, his future as Nightwing? Be here to find out!
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Flashpoint World of Flashpoint Green Lantern

Flashpoint World of Flashpoint Green Lantern
By: Pornsak Pichetshote, Marco Castiello, Felipe Massafera
This is 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?

This title collects
Hal Jordan #1-3, Abin Sur #1- 3, Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1-3, Green Arrow Industries #1
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DC Superhero Chess Figure Coll Mag #1 Batman White King

DC Superhero Chess Figure Coll Mag #1 Batman White King
The DC Superhero Chess Figure Collector Magazine brings your favorite DC Comics characters to life in a stunning chess-piece collection, complete with a 16-page magazine providing detail on the character as well as instructions on how the piece operates on the chess board! Each official figurine is cast in metallic resin and individually hand-painted.

Get your collection started this month with the first four figures of this amazing set: Batman White King (#1), Robin White Bishop (#2), Joker Black King (#3), and Commissioner Gordon White Pawn (#4)!

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Green Lantern Corps #7

Green Lantern Corps #7
By: Peter J. Tomasi, Fernando Pasarin, Andy Kubert
In the aftermath of the bloody first arc of the series, John Stewart must bring the body of a fallen Lantern back to his family. But how can John tell them the truth: that he caused this Lantern’s death!
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Gonzo A Graphic Biography of Hunter S Thompson

Gonzo A Graphic Biography of Hunter S Thompson
By: Will Bingley, Anthony Hope-Smith
The great American writer, the great American iconoclast, the great American hedonist – however you choose to view him, Hunter S. Thompson remains the high-water mark for all social commentators worldwide, and a truly fearless champion of individual liberties.

This is his story, the story of a troubled kid from Louisville who went on to become an international icon. A story that plumbs the darkest depths of American society and charts the now legendary adventures that birthed Gonzo Journalism, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and a lifestyle beyond imagination.
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Zorro Rides Again #9 (of 12)

Zorro Rides Again #9 (of 12)
By: Matt Wagner, John K. Snyder
Covers: Matt Wagner Writer: Matt Wagner Artist: John K. Snyder III The one and only Matt (MAGE, GRENDEL) Wagner is in the home-stretch of his epic story of Zorro! Zorro is not alone as another swashbuckler sword expert joins the fray. Who is this person? And what does it mean for Zorro? These are thrilling times ahead as ZORRO RIDES AGAIN with issue #9 from Dynamite Entertainment!
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Justice League #7

Justice League #7
By: Geoff Johns, Jim Lee
Now that the team’s origin story is complete, starting with this issue we shift to the present-day Justice League! What has changed? Who has joined the team since?

Featuring artwork by Gene Ha, the story also reintroduces the team’s greatest champion: Steve Trevor! Also starting in this issue: “The Curse of Shazam!” featuring a story by Geoff Johns and art by Gary Frank!

Discover Billy Batson’s place in DC Comics – The New 52 as we reveal his all-new origin story! This issue is also offered as a special combo pack edition, polybagged with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
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Planet Of The Apes #12

Planet Of The Apes #12
By: Daryl Gregory, Carlos Magno
When the Lawgiver was assassinated by a human freedom fighter, the world plunged into chaos. Sullivan, now free from Alaya’s clutches, takes humanity’s fight for freedom to the next level, in a devastating gambit for ape and human alike! Writer Daryl Gregory and artist Carlos Magno continue their critically acclaimed run and end this arc on a cliffhanger that you have to read to believe!
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New Mutants #39

New Mutants #39
By: Dan Abnett, David Lopez, Leo Fernandez
Trapped on an island consumed by a super virus, the New Mutants fall one by one to the monstrous infection . . . and begin to change. Can Warlock keep the virus in check, even if it means going against his friends?
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Kirby Genesis Silver Star #4

Kirby Genesis Silver Star #4
By: Jai Nitz, Johnny D., Alex Ross
What if the Silver Star had never existed? Tracy Coleman wakes up from her decades-long slumber to find a utopian world full of Kirby superheroes, but Silver Star isn’t among them. Tracy is the only person who remembers the most powerful superhero ever, and she is hunted for her forbidden knowledge. Can Tracy survive when everyone in the superpowered world is out to get her? And what happens when she finally finds the powerless Morgan Miller? Alternate universe action in the Kirby tradition, brought to you by Jai Nitz and Johnny D!
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Peanuts #3 (of 4)

Peanuts #3 (of 4)
By: Charles M. Schulz, Vicki Scott
From the newspaper strips to the animated specials, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts gang have held a special place in America’s heart since their first appearance in 1950. Let that young reader in your household discover these beloved characters like they were brand new! Peppermint Patty and Marcy join the series in ‘School Daze,’ and Charlie Brown dons his Manager’s cap for another year of Spring Training. Includes classic Sunday strips from Charles Schulz and a special Linus ‘First Appearance’ variant cover!
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Thunder Agents Vol. 2 #5 (of 6)

Thunder Agents Vol. 2 #5 (of 6)
By: Nick Spencer, Wesley Craig, Frazer Irving
The amazing Mike Choi (X-Force) contributes a sequence in the latest chapter of the miniseries that has everyone talking! The jaw-dropping twists continue, as true intentions come to light, enemies and allies thought long gone return, and the death toll continues to rise . . .
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X-Men First to Last TPB

X-Men First to Last TPB
By: Chris Yost, Paco Medina, Dalibor Talajic, Ed Mcguinness
The Evolutionaries have arrived to save mutantkind. All it will cost is the lives of all seven billion human beings on Earth! Charged with aiding emerging species and helping ensure their survival, the Evolutionaries have judged that mutants are genetically superior to humans.

But since humanity has hunted mutants to near-extinction, all humans must now die so mutantkind can live. And so must Cyclops, an unfit leader who doesn’t share the Evolutionaries’ vision. Does the X-Men’s past hold the key to their future – and that of humanity, as well?

This title collects
X-Men (2010) #12-15, X-Men Giant-Size #1

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Incredible Hulks World War Hulks HC

Incredible Hulks World War Hulks HC
The Hulks go to war! Everything Bruce Banner knows has been turned upside-down – and everything he’s ever desired may be just a heartbeat away. Don’t miss the insane action as Skaar faces his most brutal battle, and Bruce his greatest temptation – and the identity of a certain scarlet smasher is finally revealed!

Plus: Brace yourself for the coming of Hulkpool! And see what the other hulked-out heroes are up to as the gamma-god of thunder and a not-so-friendly neighborhood Spider-Man tear up Washington, D.C., and Wolverine and Bucky Barnes square off!

And what path has led the Savage She-Hulk called Lyra the Wizard’s Frightful Four?

This title collects
World War Hulks #1, Fall of the Hulks: Savage She-Hulks #1-3, Hulked-Out Heroes #1-2, World War Hulks: Spider-Man Vs. Thor #1-2, World War Hulks: Captain America vs. Wolverine #1-2, Incredible Hulk (1968) #312, #609-611
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Avengers West Coast Lost Space Time Prem HC

Avengers West Coast Lost Space Time Prem HC
By: Steve Englehart, Al Milgrom
The West Coast Avengers find themselves flung throughout time in this classic tale featuring everything from Marvel’s Wild West to ancient Egyptian despots!

Witness the ‘Wackos’ as they find themselves face-to-face with such legends as the Two-Gun Kid, the Phantom Rider and the Rawhide Kid – along with the time-tossed villainy of Rama-Tut and Immortus.

With the Fantastic Four and Dr. Strange along for the ride, what other help could the West Coasters need to set things straight? How about Marvel’s modern-day Western heroes, the Texas Rangers!

This title collects
West Coast Avengers (1985) #17-24, Fantastic Four (1961) #19, Doctor Strange (1974) #53
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Axe Cop Volume 3 TPB

Axe Cop Volume 3 TPB
By: Malachai Nicolle, Ethan Nicolle
Axe Cop returns with a collection of new, exciting, and unpredictable stories! Written by the endlessly inventive six-year-old Malachai Nicolle and drawn by his Eisner Award-nominated thirty-year-old brother Ethan Nicolle, Axe Cop joins his comrades Uni-baby, Bat Warthog Man, and Dinosaur Soldier to fight bad guys and restore justice for kids–and grownups–everywhere!

* Foreword by Lost scribe Damon Lindehof!

* Axe Cop Volume 1 has sold over 12,000 copies to date!

“Fun with a capital F.” -Ain’t It Cool News
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Captain Atom #7

Captain Atom #7
By: J. T. Krul, Freddie E. Williams, Stanley Lau
This issue’s got all the answers! Why did Nathaniel Adam sign up for Megala’s experiment? How did he become Captain Atom? Do his powers have any limits? And what’s the deal with those numbers? It’s time to explore the past, present, and future of Captain Atom as he tries to stop a catastrophic event even though he’s already too late!
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Deadpool #52

Deadpool #52
By: Daniel Way, Salva Espin, Nick Bradshaw
‘Pool’s epic “Dead” storyline continues! Deadpool wants to die . . . can he make it happen? Will X-Force stop him . . . or pull the trigger?

Deadpool Pencil Cup Desk Accessory

Deadpool Pencil Cup Desk Accessory
A Gentle Giant Release! Ooh. That’s got to hurt. Inspired by the violent and comedic mutant anti-hero Deadpool, Marvel’s incredibly popular ‘Merc With a Mouth,’ the Deadpool Pencil Cup is the first of Gentle Giant’s line of exciting Marvel desk accessories and is sure to be a conversation starter. Cast in high-quality polystone, this unique piece comes with two shuriken-shaped erasers and a soft plastic arrow fletching cap so you can ‘weaponize’ your favorite pen or pencil!

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Doctor Who Char Building 11 Doctor Mini Figure Set

Doctor Who Char Building 11 Doctor Mini Figure Set
Imported from the UK! The ultimate Doctor Who mini-figure set! This box features all eleven incarnations of the Doctor as highly-detailed mini-figures presented in an impressive TARDIS display box. Each mini-figure includes a Doctor Who display base.

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DC Universe Online Legends #26

DC Universe Online Legends #26
By: Marv Wolfman, Howard Porter
The battle that DCUO Legends has been building to for over a year is finally here: Brainiac versus The Man of Steel! But will even Superman be powerful enough to stop this universal evil? And what stunning role will Lex Luthor play in the events? Find out in the stunning series conclusion!
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Dark Shadows TPB Vol. 01

Dark Shadows TPB Vol. 01
By: Stuart Manning, Aaron Campbell, Francesco Francavilla
Cover: Francesco Francavilla Writer: Stuart Manning Artists: Aaron Campbell Television’s original reluctant vampire is back! Barnabas Collins is re-adjusting to life under his vampiric curse. Haunted by terrifying dreams of his age-old lover and nemesis, Angelique, and fighting his bloodlust, Barnabas fears that danger lies ahead for all who live at Collinwood. Meanwhile, Barnabas’ ally and trusted friend Dr. Julia Hoffman is harboring secrets of her own… Collecting the first four issues of Dynamite’s Dark Shadows series, along with a complete cover gallery!
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Fear Itself Fearless #11 (of 12)

Fear Itself Fearless #11 (of 12)
By: Cullen Bunn, Mark Bagley, Arthur Adams
Valkyrie stands alone against the terrifying power of the D.O.A., while Sin brings her earth-shattering plans to completion! This deadly plot brings in a host of Marvel’s Mightiest Heroes, as a universe fights for survival! Valkyrie faces a shocking fate as the final sleeper awakens on the road to the pulse-pounding climax of The Fearless. Don’t miss it!
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Big Book Of Kolchack Night Stalker TPB

Big Book Of Kolchack Night Stalker TPB
By: Stuart M. Kaminski, Dennis Calero, Cortney Skinner
This tome collects the first two long out-of-print Kolchak trade paperbacks, all in one affordable package! Contains seven complete stories: ‘The Night Stalker’, ‘Get of Belial’, ‘Fever Pitch’, ‘Mask of Moment’, ‘Pain Most Human’, ‘Pain without Tears’, and ‘Devil in the Details’!
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Hellblazer #289

Hellblazer #289
By: Peter Milligan, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Simon Bisley
After another season of hell-raising, John Constantine finally makes it home again. But this time home might be the death of him. Meanwhile, his niece recovers from a brutal attack while his wife goes on the warpath.

Ghostly visitations, bloody decapitations, and a spot of potential fratricide await in “The Unquiet Grave.”
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Hoax Hunters #0

Hoax Hunters #0
By: Michael Moreci, JM Ringuet, Steve Seeley
‘GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER’ Cryptids. Aliens. Monsters. All the world’s bizarre secrets–what if they were real? Their existence would be debunked by a reality TV show! HOAX HUNTERS is that show, publicly disproving all variety of lore. But their real goal is the opposite: as the world’s dark corners surface, the HOAX HUNTERS cover them up. When a mysterious astronaut made of crows appears in Russia, the HOAX HUNTERS are on the case.
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Dead Mans Run #2 (Cover A - Parker)

Dead Mans Run #2 (Cover A – Parker)
By: Greg Pak, Tony Parker
From acclaimed ‘Hulk’ writer Greg Pak, legendary ‘Walking Dead’ producer Gale Anne Hurd, and Tony Parker, artist of the Eisner-nominated ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’, comes the biggest blockbuster series of the new year – DEAD MAN’S RUN! What does a dead man do when he discovers that Hell is the world’s most horrific maximum-security prison on the planet? If you’re cartographer Sam Tinker, you plan your escape — by pulling together a team of Hell’s most terrifying inmates. Discover how far a good man will go to save his innocent sister, and get ready for an unbelievable supernatural action-packed thriller, as Aspen Comics proudly presents its newest hit series, DEAD MAN’S RUN!
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DC Universe Presents #7

DC Universe Presents #7
By: Paul Jenkins, Bernard Chang, Ryan Sook
What do you do when death wears the face of the one you loved? That’s what June Robbins must deal with, as the one person who didn’t survive last issue’s crash, Ace, returns in a monstrous new form, determined to end the lives of June and the Challengers of the Unknown! Get ready for a globe-hopping, reality-warping thrill ride from Dan DiDio and Jerry Ordway!
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Howard Lovecraft & Undersea Kingdom GN

Howard Lovecraft & Undersea Kingdom GN
By: Dwight MacPherson, Thomas Boatwright
An all-ages H.P. Lovecraft story! Howard Lovecraft’s family has been imprisoned on a far-flung alien planet, Spot hopelessly captured, and he is slowly becoming a mindless Fishman.

Accompanied by his insane father, a pistol-packing constable, and his hungry cat, they must face the all-powerful ruler of the Outer Gods, a revengeful old enemy, an army of deadly monsters, and a lethal world called Yuggoth, to save the day.

All Howard has to do is surrender his father’s Book. But that would mean certain doom for all of mankind!
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Slaine Books Of Invasions TPB (s&s Ed) Vol. 01

Slaine Books Of Invasions TPB (s&s Ed) Vol. 01
By: Pat Mills, Clint Langley
The Sea Devils have risen against Tir Nan Og, the Land of the Young, and Slaine, once the first High King of Ireland, must protect his tribe against this new tide of evil.
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Justice League: Doom [Blu-ray]
The world’s greatest superheroes face their ultimate challenge–the mind of the Batman–when the Darknight Detective’s secret plans to take down his Justice League colleagues should they turn against mankind fall into the hands of immortal villain Vandal Savage and a cabal of their deadliest enemies. Feature-length animated adventure stars the voices of Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly, and Nathan Fillion.
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Keep On Troopin T-Shirt

Keep On Troopin T-Shirt
Don’t let those weirdo Jedi hippies freak you out, man. Just grok the Sith’s groove so you don’t Force-choke…and keep on troopin’.
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Doctor Who Unit Green T-Shirt

Doctor Who Unit Green T-Shirt
Join the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce with this green t-shirt that features the logo of that iconic international military peacekeeping force!
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Star Wars Darth Vader Static Lightsaber Umbrella

Star Wars Darth Vader Static Lightsaber Umbrella
Be ready for any storm, as you wield your lightsaber umbrella against the elements. The handle is based upon the famous lightsaber used by the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader, while the shaft has been beautifully anodized in an iridescent red.The 100% black nylon canopy has the emblem of the Galactic Empire silk-screened on the sides. Comes complete with a sleek nylon carrying sleeve with adjustable shoulder strap. Measures 39″, in length, while the canopy measure 47″ across.
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Thor 1/4 Scale Statue

Thor 1/4 Scale Statue
In the cold wastes of Scandinavia, the Vikings lead a hard and ferocious life in a harsh land, and their gods they worshipped matched their ferocity. Among the gods they worshipped was Thor, a hammer-wielding god who commanded the thunder and lightning and served as humanity’s protector and a sign of virility. ARH Studios casts this thunder god as a 1/4-scale statue that stands 30″ tall. Wearing the rugged clothing of the Norsemen, his hammer is held high and his long red hair flows majestically.
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Universal Monsters Frankenstein Handbag

Universal Monsters Frankenstein Handbag
Available in Four designs: Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, ‘We Belong Dead’, and Dracula.
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Superman 52.1 Symbol T-Shirt

Superman 52.1 Symbol T-Shirt
Three different Man of Steel-inspired shirts are coming at you this Month. Superman 52.1 Symbol shirt inspired by Superman new cape design, features the ‘S’ imprinted on a deep red shirt. Next we have the Superman: Raw T-Shirt featuring the pencil art by Jim Lee imprinted on a white 100% cotton shirt. Last (but certainly not least), we have the long-awaited return of one of our most-popular shirt ever…the Bizarro Superman II Symbol T-Shirt screenprinted on a eggplant-colored, 100% cotton tee. The myth of Superman continues.
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Thor Classic Action Statue

Thor Classic Action Statue
A Bowen Designs Sculpt! ‘I say thee nay!’ With these words, the Norse god Thor would unleash his havoc upon his many enemies, hurling his enchanted uru hammer Mjolnir at his foes or smashing it against the ground. This 18 1/2″ tall statue of Marvel Comics’ Thor brings to life the God of Thunder as only Randy Bowen can sculpt!
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Meet the new DC

As part of the re-branding of DC Comics/DC Entertainment, a new logo was developed. DC Entertainment has applied to trademark the new logo and it has set the internet afire with cries of woe and some surprising support as well. An uninspired and stark image, it lacks both character and movement, something that the most recent logo that appeared not only on the covers of monthly books and graphic novels but also at the beginning of animated films, video games, etc. The DC Comics ‘swoop logo’ was so prevalent in film and the recent relaunch of the monthly comics that I cannot imagine why the company is thinking of introducing yet another change now.

If your company is growing or needs to head in a new direction, changing your brand — most noticeably by changing your logo design — is a critical step in changing the conversation about who you are and what you are doing. It makes everyone take a new look and allows you to, at least initially, set the direction of that conversation. It’s important to remember, though, that your logo is not your brand. DC has been going through quite a lot of change in the last several years, not only relaunching its entire line of comics, but also beginning its transformation from a “comic book” company into a media “entertainment” company. This logo change is the next step in that evolution.

There has already been some criticism of the logo and its sticker peel look, but the first thing I noticed was what a departure it is from the almost straight evolutionary path the DC logo has taken over the past 70 years.

Click through for the thoughts of professional designer Jason Cranford Teague over at Wired.com

I can ‘t shake the notion that there are so many opportunities being missed by DC as their films, video games, toys and comics fail to mesh in presenting a cohesive image. Also, I can’t think of a time when their comics have been so aggressively inappropriate for all ages and feature far more violence than usual. Keep in mind that this is the company that owns Superman and Batman, two characters that are featured on not just toys but clothing, games and even birthday-related products yet their actual books are not only $4 a pop but center on mass murders and villains getting their faces cut off. They are completely unapproachable except by a select demographic.

In comparison, look at Justice League of America #200 which has little violence (Black Canary gets a head wound at one point and Martian Manhunter is very spooky, but that’s about as intense as it gets), has an exciting story and appeals to just about anyone. It remains one of my favorite comics.


I know I’m showing my age here, but why not aspire to recreate that kind of book rather than print hyper-violent comics that a kid would get grounded for buying? All ages doesn’t mean that it has to be childish or innocent, but does almost every comic need to display a grisly murder scene?

I don’t want to come off as a prude and I am buying and enjoying much of what DC is publishing now, but it strikes me as odd that it is not just targeted at an older audience, but it’s entirely inappropriate for kids.

Alex Ross ‘Heroes & Villains’ exhibit at the Warhol in PA

The Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh is currently running an exhibit of over 100 pieces of artwork by Alex Ross, an artist who made his mark on the modern superhero image with Marvels in 1994. His realistic art style is bolstered by a dynamic flair for perspective and tone that sets iconic characters in an entirely new light.

If you have the chance, make sure to stop by (and check out the film series as well!).

Alex Ross is considered one of the great comic book artists of all time, certainly the greatest of the last 15 years. His reinterpretation of classic comic book characters into artworks with the use of pencil, gouache, and his God-given talent has changed the way comic books are painted. From as young as 3 years old, Ross was drawing commercials from memory. By the age of 13 he was creating and drawing original comic books. At 23 years old, he was hired by Marvel Comics for the comic book event, Marvels. His hugely successful comic book series, Kingdom Come (1996), marks the change between the Dark Age of comic books, in which pessimism and gritty stories ruled, into the Modern Age of optimism and strong superheroes.

This exhibition will include many drawings created by Alex between the ages of 4 and 14, as well as construction paper sculptures of the Justice League he created as a child. A highlight in the exhibit is a pair of crayon and pencil drawings of Charlie Brown characters Alex costumed as the Justice League and the Legion of Doom. I will include a progression of Captain Marvel (aka Shazam!) drawings and paintings done when he was 4, 15, and 31 years old, as well as a similar progression of Plastic Man works created throughout his life.

Paintings and sketches from his early career (e.g., Marvels and Kingdom Come) are included, as well as works from more recent projects, such as Justice, Flash Gordon, and Green Hornet.

Showcasing the heavy influence of American illustration and Pop Art on Alex Ross, I will include works by Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, and other illustrators from the early 20th Century. Many of Lynette Ross’ artworks will be exhibited as well. On display will be Myths prints created by Warhol, featuring many of the subjects of Alex Ross paintings – Superman, Uncle Sam, and the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. Since Warhol was a huge comic book fan, we will also have a selection of comic books and related paraphernalia collected by Warhol throughout his life. In addition, Warhol’s uncompleted film Batman/Dracula (1964), which has not been exhibited since 1964, will be included in the exhibition.

A Heroes and Villains film series will be presented during the run of the exhibition. Escape from New York, The Toxic Avenger, Night of the Creeps, and Revenge of the Nerds will be screened in 35mm in the Warhol Theater at the Museum. Special guest hosts will be present for the features. For Escape from New York on November 4, Adrienne Barbeau (Maggie) and Tom Atkins (Rehme) will be present to introduce the film and provide a post-film Q&A. Lloyd Kaufman, the director of The Toxic Avenger, will be here on October 21 to present his masterpiece. On November 18, the coolest man in Pittsburgh, Tom Atkins (Detective Cameron), will return with Fred Dekker, director of Night of the Creeps, to present Mr. Dekker‘s film. Finally, on December 2, Curtis Armstrong, best known for his scene-stealing role as Booger, will be present for a screening of Revenge of the Nerds. Limited seating is available and tickets will be available on warhol.org.

For more information on Alex Ross, visit his official website: www.alexrossart.com.

 

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This week at your comic shop – 12/7/2011

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.

X-statix Omnibus HC

X-statix Omnibus HC
Written by PETER MILLIGAN, X & NICK DERINGTON Penciled by MIKE ALLRED, SEAN PHILLIPS, DARWYN COOKE, DUNCAN FEGREDO, PAUL POPE, NICK DERINGTON, PHILIP BOND, NICK DRAGOTTA & MARCOS MARTIN Cover by MIKE ALLRED
Peter Milligan and Mike Allred’s subversive, media-loving mutants – the world-famous X-Statix – star in a series of bizarre, hilarious and deadly adventures with the most shocking ending ever! See all your favorites – including the Orphan, the Anarchist, Dead Girl, Doop, Venus Dee Milo and U-Go Girl – in action against and alongside Wolverine, the Avengers, Dr. Strange and others! Plus: the awful threats of Bad Guy, Pink Mink, Surrender Monkey and more! Collecting X-FORCE (1991) #116-129; BROTHERHOOD #9; X-STATIX #1-26; WOLVERINE/DOOP #1-2; X-STATIX PRESENTS DEAD GIRL #1-5; and material from X-MEN UNLIMITED (1993) #41, I [HEART] MARVEL: MY MUTANT HEART and NATION X #4.
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Detective Comics #4

Detective Comics #4
By: Tony S. Daniel
As Batman uncovers a deranged plot with far-reaching tentacles that touch some of the city’s most elite citizens, he finds himself facing off against his newest and most fearsome foes: Dollmaker and his twisted family of killers!
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Amazing Spider-Man #675

Amazing Spider-Man #675
By: Dan Slott, G. Camuncoli
GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI joins the regular Spidey artist rotation in this high flying free falling ride through Dan Slott’s post Spider-Island world. The VULTURE IS BACK and making kids do his high flying dirty work for him. With Spidey back on the cops’ bad side will he be able to stop this flying Fagan from twisting young runaways before another boy falls from the sky?
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Silver Surfer Vintage Navy T-Shirt

Silver Surfer Vintage Navy T-Shirt

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Action Comics #4

Action Comics #4
By: Joshua Hale Fialkov, Rags Morales, Matt Camp
This issue will ship with three covers. See the order form for more information. Is your mind prepared for an encounter with the deadly Terminauts? What awful master do they serve? What horrible fate awaits Superman and the city of Metropolis? The true scope of Grant Morrison and Rags Morales’ ACTION COMICS run begins to come into view, so get those sunglasses ready, ’cause it is gonna be blinding! And in a backup story from writer Joshua Hale Fialkov and artist Matt Camp that spins out of ACTION COMICS #2, John Henry Irons takes his first steps toward becoming the hero known as Steel!____________________________________________________________________

Defenders #1

Defenders #1
By: Matt Fraction, Terry Dodson
Spinning out of the stunning end of FEAR ITSELF! The final Worthy on a global rampage! o Matt Fraction (FEAR ITSELF, THE MIGHTY THOR, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN) reteams with TERRY DODSON (UNCANNY X-MEN, SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN)! Everyone’s favorite Marvel characters banding together to solve a mysterious conspiracy deep at the heart of the Marvel Universe! o The last line of defense against the forces of the unknown!
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Star Wars Fortune Seeker Shamrock Heather T-Shirt

Star Wars Fortune Seeker Shamrock Heather T-Shirt
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Superman Secret Origin TPB

Superman Secret Origin TPB
Writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank bring you a startling new look at the beginnings of Lex Luthor, The Legion of Super-Heroes, Lois Lane, Metallo, Jimmy Olsen, The Parasite and more of your favorite characters from the Superman family in this new trade paperback collecting the acclaimed six-issue miniseries!
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Avengers Gold Resin Figure Set

Avengers Gold Resin Figure Set
Marvel’s Avengers comes to life as figural desk accessories, and now you can be one of the first to purchase these highly collectible San Diego Comic-Con 2011 exclusive resin desk figures! Each gold-plated resin sculpture features a Marvel hero or villain set atop a letter. When all the pieces are assembled, they spell out ‘AVENGERS.’ The set includes Captain America (A), Iron Man (V), Giant Man (E), Hawkeye (N), The Hulk (G), Vision (E), Loki (R), and Thor (S).
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Justice League International #4

Justice League International #4
By: Dan Jurgens, David Finch, Aaron Lopresti
On their first mission, the team has been separated and defeated – or so it seems! But when a new, galactic threat shows its face, will our heroes be able to defeat it or will the whole world suffer destruction on a cosmic scale?
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X-Men Days of Future Past TPB

X-Men Days of Future Past TPB
By: Chris Claremont, John Byrne
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times: Relive the legendary first journey into the dystopian future of 2013 – where Sentinels stalk the Earth, and the X-Men are humanity’s only hope…until they die!

Also featuring the first appearance of Alpha Flight, the return of the Wendigo, the history of the X-Men from Cyclops himself…and a demon for Christmas!?

This title collects
UNCANNY X-MEN (1963) #138-143 and X-MEN ANNUAL #4

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Hulk #45

Hulk #45
By: Jeff Parker, Patrick Zircher
HULK OF ARABIA reaches its astonishing conclusion! One of the most hotly anticipated Red Hulk stories yet has all been building to this! Red and Machine Man go mono a mono (a machino) against Dagan Shah, the mysterious new powerhouse whose mythical kingdom of Sharzhad has become a destabilizing new force to be reckoned with! Mastermind Jeff Parker and the brilliant Patch Zircher guarantee the result of this epic showdown is one you won’t see coming, and will change the face of the Marvel universe!
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X-Men Collegiate X Blk Zip-up Hoodie

X-Men Collegiate X Blk Zip-up Hoodie
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Avengers West Coast Avengers Prem HC Sins Past

Avengers West Coast Avengers Prem HC Sins Past
By: Al Milgrom & Alex Saviuk
It’s the greatest heroes of the left coast! Hawkeye! Mockingbird! Tigra! The Thing! Wonder Man! Iron Man! Hank Pym! Firebird! See these unlikely allies take on the quirky and deadly threats of Graviton, Headlok, the Griffin, Razorfist, Zzzax, Master Pandemonium, Whirlwind and more!

Guest-starring Nick Fury and the Cat People!

This title collects
WEST COAST AVENGERS (1985) #10-16 and ANNUAL #1, and AVENGERS ANNUAL #15.

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DC Batgirl Bishoujo Statue Black Costume Ver

DC Batgirl Bishoujo Statue Black Costume Ver
A KOTOBUKIYA Japanese import! The first DC Comics bishoujo-inspired statue is back by popular demand in a beautiful new color scheme, BATGIRL BLACK COSTUME! The bishoujo collection combines DC’s superheroines and villains with traditional Japanese stylings. The classic and best known Batgirl first appeared in 1967, the alter ego of Gotham City police commissioner’s daughter Barbara Gordon. As with the original bishoujo statue, every element of her classic bodysuit has been recreated from her tall boots to her bat-symbol, utility belt, gloves, cape, and cowl. But this time, instead of gray and blue Batgirl is clothed head to toe in inky black with bright gold highlights! There’s even a dynamic difference in the textures, with the matte finish of the heroine’s suit contrasting against her glossy cape and cowl. Sculpted by Atelier Bamboo, Batgirl is constructed of high-quality pvc plastic and stands approximately 9 inches tall (in 1/7 scale like all of the DC Bishoujo statues) with the exclusive Gotham City gargoyle base. Barbara looks great in black, and is the perfect companion to the previously released blue and gray version of Batgirl!
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Punisher #6

Punisher #6
By: Greg Rucka, Bryan Hitch, Matthew Clark
THE BIGGEST SHOT OF ALL IS DOWN! o A fallen Frank Castle…alive but dead inside. o Secrets of the Exchange revealed…and it’s connected to some of the Marvel Universe’s darkest secrets!
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Avenging Spider-Man #2

Avenging Spider-Man #2
By: Zeb Wells, Joe Madureira
THE HOT NEW SPIDER-MAN ONGOING CONTINUES! SPIDER-MAN and RED-HULK lead an underground army in this action packed extravaganza from superstar artist JOE MADUREIRA
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Stormwatch #4

Stormwatch #4
By: Paul Cornell, Chris Burnham, Alejandro Barrionuevo
The earth is being eaten alive! As the unstoppable alien antibody continues consuming everything in its path, Stormwatch awakens a slumbering [information redacted] buried deep within the earth. But has the team found an ally or a threat greater than the antibody? However it plays out, the DC landscape literally will be changed forever! Plus: Don’t miss a major change to the Stormwatch roster!
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NASA Retro Distressed Red T-Shirt

NASA Retro Distressed Red T-Shirt
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Villains For Hire #1 (of 5)

Villains For Hire #1 (of 5)
By: Dan Abnett, Rodolfo Migliari, Renato Arlem
Villain on villain action! Why has Misty Knight hired psychopaths like Tiger Shark and Speed Demon? Because the Purple?Man is out to build a criminal empire with an army including Avalanche, Shocker and the all-new Scourge! Let the baddest man (or woman) win!
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Venom #10

Venom #10
By: Rick Remender, Tony Moore, Lan Medina
NEW DIRECTION. NEW ARTIST. OLD SOLDIERS. Rick Remender welcomes Lan Medina (PUNISHER) with AMERICAN BADNESS! SPIDER-ISLAND has changed everything and now the death of a loved one reminds Flash Thompson that his secret identity is in the hands of the villainous Crime-Master – and the only way to take his life back is to go rogue. But CAPTAIN AMERICA is out to shut him down. It’s a good old fashioned road trip with Flash Thompson and an alien symbiote!

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Green Arrow #4

Green Arrow #4
By: J. T. Krul, Dave Wilkins, Dan Jurgens
It’s a Tokyo showdown! At an international tech expo that caters to the likes of WayneTech and Queen Industries, party crasher Green Arrow finds himself in the sights of a mystery woman bent on taking down ‘evil’ corporations – like the one Green Arrow owns!

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Spider-Man Storm Creep Blk T-Shirt

Spider-Man Storm Creep Blk T-Shirt
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Hellblazer Annual #1

Hellblazer Annual #1
By: Peter Milligan, Simon Bisley
A dying woman’s desperate need to see her long lost son sends John Constantine on a mission in ‘Suicide Bridge,’ a haunting tale of evil and melancholy that finds John using his occult connections to learn why so many young people are going missing. It’s a story full of strange places and desperate lives that leads Constantine to unearth his own connection to the mysterious disappearance of a boyhood friend.
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Omac #4

Omac #4
By: Dan DiDio, Keith Giffen
Kevin Kho finally makes it back home – but while trying to pull the pieces of his life back together, he inadvertently disconnects from Brother Eye! Unfortunately, Kevin’s freedom comes with a price, because now he’s alone and forced to defend himself against Checkmate and their lethal Bio-gators!
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Jack Kirbys Fourth World Omnibus TPB Vol. 01

Jack Kirbys Fourth World Omnibus TPB Vol. 01
Written by JACK KIRBY o Art and cover by JACK KIRBY and VINCE COLLETTA

At last, the first title in the acclaimed FOURTH WORLD series is in trade paperback, collecting SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #133-139, FOREVER PEOPLE #1-3, NEW GODS #1-3 and MISTER MIRACLE #1-3! Featuring the debuts of Orion, Darkseid, Mister Miracle and more!
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Captain Canuck Complete Ed TPB

Captain Canuck Complete Ed TPB
Richard Comely ‘ George Freeman (a & c)
Richard Comely and George Freeman’s best-selling opus is back, joined by the comic’s three opening issues and the final concluding issue, making this the first-ever complete printing of the series! In addition to the 15 comic book issues, this edition includes the Captain Canuck newspaper strip and the Summer Special.
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Chew Omnivore Ed HC Vol. 02

Chew Omnivore Ed HC Vol. 02
By: John Layman, Rob Guillory
Tony Chu is a detective with a secret. A weird secret. Tony Chu is cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. It also means he’s a hell of a detective–as long as he doesn’t mind nibbling on the corpse of a murder victim to figure out whodunit and why. He’s been brought on by the Special Crimes Division of the FDA, the most powerful law enforcement agency on the planet, to investigate their strangest, sickest and most bizarre cases. Winner of the 2011 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series, this gorgeous oversized edition, loaded with extras, collects issues #11-20, the third and fourth story-arcs of the acclaimed series, ‘Just Desserts’ and ‘Flambé.’
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Animal Man #4

Animal Man #4
By: Jeff Lemire, Travel Foreman
After coming face to face with the mysterious Totems, Buddy learns the truth about Maxine’s destiny – but it may be too late, as The Red is infiltrated by agents of The Other, and Buddy struggles to control his new, unfiltered powers with deadly results! Meanwhile, Ellen and Cliff must face the last Hunters alone!
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Classic Marvel Characters #3: Iron Man

Classic Marvel Characters #3: Iron Man
The 1960s brought a cultural upheaval in music and art, with a host of new icons entering the scene: The Beatles, Andy Warhol, and of course, Marvel Comics, led by a host of characters that redefined modern comic books. Now, these characters will appear just as they did then, in a new line of collectible statuettes from Dark Horse Deluxe.

Our third statuette is Iron Man, depicted as he first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39.
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Drinky Crow "Dook Dook" T-shirt Blue Men's

Drinky Crow “Dook Dook” T-shirt Blue Men’s
Ready to party? Drinky Crow is!

Tony Millionaire’s sobriety-challenged feathered friend, Drinky Crow, is coming forward as a limited line of t-shirts! The t-shirts are available in yellow, light blue, and gray in men’s and women’s styles.

100% premium quality cotton.
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Moon Knight #8

Moon Knight #8
By: Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev
Not everyone is thrilled that Marc Spector is using his alter ego Moon Knight as fodder for a television show….especially Marc’s ex Marlene! Another rip-roaring chapter by the award-winning team of Bendis and Maleev (DAREDEVIL, SCARLET).
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HP Lovecraft The Dunwich Horror #3 (of 4)

HP Lovecraft The Dunwich Horror #3 (of 4)
By: Joe R. Lansdale, Menton3, Peter Bergting
The limits of sanity are stretched as the horror continues! After gaining access to the fabled Necronomicon, four young friends attempt to harness its power to stop the cosmic horror they have unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. A new vision of the most famous H.P. Lovecraft story continues, courtesy of Joe R. Lansdale and company!

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Nick Fury vs. Shield Prem HC

Nick Fury vs. Shield Prem HC
Written by BOB HARRAS Penciled by PAUL NEARY Covers by MARK BRIGHT & JIM STERANKO
When the world peacekeeping agency S.H.I.E.L.D. goes corrupt to its core, it falls to one man to save the day: eye-patch-wearin’, cigar-chompin’ spymaster Nick Fury! Starring all your favorite S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, from Jasper Sitwell to Dum-Dum Dugan! And featuring the combined threats of the Roxxon corporation, the techno-terrorist organization A.I.M. and the never-ending evil of Hydra! Collecting NICK FURY VS. S.H.I.E.L.D. #1-6.
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Quick review Justice League International #1

Justice League International #1

By Dan Jurgens, Aaron Lopresti and Matt Ryan

Back in 1985, the Justice League of America had outlived its popularity. As strange as it may sound, the team of Superman, Aquaman, Batman, Superman, the Flash, Green Lantern and others had fallen from favor. In a desperate attempt to give the team some new personality, it was reborn in Detroit and led by Aquaman. The team was a mish-mash of heroes that would never be considered ‘League material’ from Vibe to Gypsy, Commander Steel and Vixen. The ‘Detroit JLA’ has its fans but by and large it is a laughing stock and often pointed at as a prime example of a comic book in dire need of a reboot.

J. M. De Matteis, Kieth Giffen and Kevin MaGuire assembled the most unlikely team of heroes as their new Justice League. It wasn’t just the line-up that was peculiar, the tone was humorous and absurd. The team members hates each other, were very inexperienced and more often than not stumbled their way through a problem. It was a massive hit with readers and remains a touchstone of the superhero team for modern fans of comics. When the comic transformed into Justice League International, it found its own identity at last and the series really took off.

The new JLI series is an attempt to recapture that rare commodity and in most cases it accomplishes that. An international team of heroes assembled by the United Nations, each member represents a different nation (or in the case of Green Lantern Guy Gardner, a different alien power). Booster Gold is team leader, but from behind the scenes, Batman advises (just as he had in the 1980’s run). There is a refreshingly large portion of female characters here, something that DC Editorial realizes that they must address. I can’t think of another book where the team is split down the middle gender-wise.  Hopefully that situation will remain constant in the months to come.

The team is an odd one, consisting of Booster Gold, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, August General in Iron, Fire, Ice, Vixen and Rocket Red. Even I have little knowledge of most of these characters which can be distracting, but it is their personalities and not their super abilities that are key here. For super powers, look at Justice League of America. Dan Jurgens (one of the chief architects of the Death and Return of Superman) is a workman like author, but he is no J. M. De Matteis nor is he a shadow on Kieth Giffen. Fortunately, he has no interest in impersonating the previous JLI run and instead offers up straight forward superheroic action with some added quirks.

I wasn’t bowled over by this comic, but it did just what it claimed on the wrapper and that’s not bad. With many of these new reboots I fear the need to start from square one and inject the authors’ own take on the way things ‘should be,’ but that is not the case here. This is by the books Justice League action. If you enjoyed the cartoon, you’d probably like this.

I remember when I picked up the 1st issue of the Justice League back in the day and was delighted at how bizarre and unique it felt. This series is just getting started but it is a perfect example of the 1st issue done right. Nothing is unexplained, everything is new and it’s all very appealing for a reader looking for a superhero team with a little something new.

I have been looking outside of my local comic shop where these issues are sold out and finding a few copies of the new 52 at scattered bookstores. If you don’t feel as adventurous, Justice League International #1 can be downloaded at Comixology.

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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Details on DC Comics reboot

In September, 52 new first issues will hit the stands. Here’s the skinny on the first week’s 15 titles (much of the info was gleaned from CBR.com)

The new JLA

1. “Justice League” by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee
Batman, Superman, Aquaman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Cyborg team up to for the super team to end all super teams.

Justice League of America hasn’t been highly regaled of late due to numerous changes in the creative staff and an unrecognizable cast of characters. DC hopes to change all of that with Johns and Lee at the helm. Each character has been tweaked and redesigned to appeal to a new younger audience while the roster is as old school as you can get (with the exception of Cyborg).

Johns has a solid reputation on fixing broken characters and has done excellent work on team books such as JSA and Teen Titans. A hit artist, Jim Lee has a big draw for readers, but it has to be said that his pace is slow and he seldom stays on a title for very long. As both creators are now also executives in DC corporate, I imagine that there will be a shift in the names on the cover in no time.

This marks the third time I can think of off the top of my head that Justice League has been rebooted- in 1985, 1997 and in 2006, each time attempting to attract readers to the comic that should have been flying off the shelves as a given.

2. “Aquaman” by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis

Poor Aquaman. The character with as legacy running back as deep as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, he just cannot get a break. Editorial changes their mind on who and what he is from decade to decade. A guy who rules the seas and talks to fish seems to be able to write himself in my opinion, but so much of his material is unreadable and contradictory. In the past twenty years there have been several versions of Aquaman who have nothing to do with each other.

Solution? Give him to Geoff Johns, the same guy who has  fixed Hawkman, Green Lantern and the Flash (all of whom have overly complicated back stories). I am a big Aquaman fan and am sure that if anyone can make this book sell, it’s Johns and Reis (the same artist behind the Rann Thanagar War). That said, is there an audience out there who actually wants an Aquaman book? A character who has been out of the spoitlight for almost ten years is overdue for the 5 star treatment. Don’t call it a come back.

3. “Wonder Woman” by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang

Apparently the W0nder Woman series is the one attracting the most hype, possibly due to the unusual creative team of Azzarello (100 Bullets) and Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow). Wonder Woman is one of the biggest and most important icons in comic books hands down yet her monthly book has been largely unreadable due to several problems starting with editorial. They cannot decide where to take the character, what her purpose is or what she should wear. Additionally, stunt hiring big name authors to writer her book was a major mistake. Jodi Picoult had no idea how to write the character and by the time fan favorite Gail Simone arrived, readers had jumped.

A series that hopes to return some kind of continuity and character to the Amazonian Princess comes from the unlikeliest of places, a crime noir author. It could work, but I suspect that just like the recent JMichael Straczinski retooling of her background, this will be undone in about 12 months with a ‘back to basics’ approach just in time for a film franchise.

4. “The Flash” by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
As anyone who has endured my regular blog reminders of late, I am a big fan of the Flash. In the 60’s, he was the herald of the Silver Age. A quirky hero with bizarre villains and a nerdy personality, he has been revised into a sharp and brilliant criminal detective, solving cases at super speed. Johns has worked his magic on the Flash, but will that extend past the Flashpoint crossover and into his new series? I predict that the Flash is next in line for the big movie treatment after Green Lantern, but a lot depends on that happening. It can happen, but the stars need to align just right.

Additionally, artist Francis Manapul has wowed me with his art, but… can he write?

5. “The Fury of Firestorm” by Ethan Van Sciver, Gail Simone and Yildiray Cinar
A third or fourth tier hero, Firestorm has his devotees. He’s a good character but again, he has had his share of continuity disasters and revisions to make him into an elemental avatar instead of a crime-fighting hero made out of the fusion of a jock and a scientist (the strongest appeal in my opinion).

The latest iteration includes the original Firestorm and the most recent version fusing together into some kind of mega Firestorm. I dunno. Simone is a fan pleaser with her off the wall ideas, so this may work, but is there a clamoring for Firestorm comics?

6. “The Savage Hawkman” by Tony Daniel and Philip Tan
Artist Tony Daniel has proven himself a capable writer from his run on Batman. Hawkman is a character who can sell out in an hour or sit on the shelves for months. He’s a wildcard. All it takes is the correct approach to make him work for the reader. Johns found the magic touch by taking all of the conflicting origins of Hawkman and combining them into one cohesive lifetime, Highlander-style.

The buzz on the new approach is that it will be heavily influenced by Indiana Jones. That could work, but the audience base needs to be there.

7. “Green Arrow” by J. T. Krul and Dan Jurgens
Another reboot with the same writer of the current series, JT Krul (not a villain from Street Fighter as you may think). The smart mouthed bowman had a renaissance of late thanks to Kevin Smith’s run, but interest has waned thanks to the inclusion of crossover events and… reboots. This will be the third Green Arrow #1 in about ten years.

8. “Justice League International” by Dan Jurgens and Aaron Lopresti
Dan Jurgens, one of the architects of the Death of Superman, is not exactly a name to set the world on fire these days. From what I can gather, this series is intended to recapture the appeal of the comedic series from the 1980’s by Kieth Giffen and JM DeMatteis, one of the most enduring of all the JLA iterations. Unfortunately the reception on this one has been luke warm. Perhaps Jurgens can prove the armchair critics wrong.

9. “Mister Terrific” by Eric Wallace and Roger Robinson
Mister Terrific has to be one of my favorite heroes in the DCU. A self-made man, he strove to be the best at everything, from Olympic-level athletics to engineering and computer programming. His appearances in JSA made him a cult hit with readers, but… what’s he doing with his own series? Even as a fan of the character I am dumb founded. Traditionally, monthly books centered on a character as obscure as Mister Terrific tank in about three months. So unless this series is out of this world amazing, I can’t see it breaking that record, sadly.

10. “Captain Atom” by J. T. Krul and Freddie Williams II
One of the Charlton Heroes, Captain Atom has a small devoted following…. somewhere. I recall reading the reboot in 1985 when DC Comics obtained the rights to the Question, Blue Beetle and Captain Atom here. It was passable but failed to retain my interest. He has gone on to co-star in a few team books, but essentially has been a has been of the comic book world. This could be his third #1 since 1985.

11. “DC Universe Presents,” featuring Deadman by Paul Jenkins and Bernard Chang
I am 100% behind an anthology series as it usually has at least one or two good stories in it month to month. Starting with Deadman by the team of Jenkins and Chang is an inspired idea. Anthology books rarely sell all that many copies, however, so I expect that this will tank in no time.

12. “Green Lantern” by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke
Green Lantern has proven himself to be the top tier hero that he was almost meant to be. With a strong back catalog of hardcovers behind him, two animated features, video games and an upcoming weekly TV series, he is here to stay. Once more Johns is at the helm with fan favorite Mahnke (his work on Batman is outstanding) along for the ride. I’m unclear what the ‘new direction’ will be but it will mark the fourth such change in the hero’s comic since he returned in 2005.

13. “Green Lantern Corps” by Peter Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin
The GLC brother title to the Green Lantern monthly is by the established team of Tomasi and Pasarin. Their work on Emerald Allies hasn’t caused panic in the streets, but if the Green Lantern feature film takes off, everyone could be GL crazy.

14. “Green Lantern: The New Guardians” by Tony Bedard and Tyler Kirkham
This series is an absolute enigma and marks the third of four Green Lantern tie-ins.

15. “Red Lanterns” by Peter Milligan and Ed Benes
Peter Milligan, once the maverick behind Shade the Changing Man and X-Statix, is once again dipping his toe into the superhero realm. I’m no fan of Benes’s artwork (it made the already dire Justice League of America book that much worse) but it could be interesting to see him paired up with a writer of Milligan’s caliber.

So that’s the first week’s new comics all coming in September. Expect more announcements to come and think long and hard before you buy one of these issues as each dollar steers the DC Entertainment ship to new shores. They may print the funny books, but we bag and board them. Use your influence as a buyer carefully.

Batman

The Batman Family of comics will consists of nine titles with an one more on the way, Batman Inc. Despite the attempt to place Dick Grayson in the helm of the Batman Empire, DC Editorial has again decided to pull Grayson out of the suit and place him back into the role of Nightwing. You’d think he’d have learned by now.

Batman by writer/artist Tony Daniel will continue his highly acclaimed run while the darker series Detective
Comics by Scott Snyder and Jock is sure to retain readers. Additionally Batman & Robin by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason and Batman Dark Knight by David Finch will also relaunch with no real changes heralded aside from the fact that only Bruce Wayne will wear the cowl in the revised DCU.

The popular all female Birds of Prey will be returning with Duane Swierczynski (Punisher) and Jesus Saiz. Catwoman will again relaunch thanks to Judd Winick and artist Guillem March and looks to be a stylish and slick read. Gail Simone and artists Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes will be tackling Batgirl, a heroine who deserves a good monthly books. Batwoman will finally get that monthly book she was promised agers ago by J.H. Williams III, Haden Blackman and Amy Reeder, a series that promises to be well worth a buy and always a bridesmaid Nightwing will be back in his usual togs courtesy of Kyle Higgins and Eddy Barrows.

The Batman universe looks to be trying to reorganize once again and maybe this time it will work. One of the most appealing comic book characters out there, he speaks to almost every reader in one way or another. Tortured, brilliant and the finest tactician around, he has a big appeal. But can DC Editorial figure out how to make a hero that sells video games and movie tickets work on the printed page?

Batman #1

Detective Comics #1

Catwoman #1

Batwoman #1

Batgirl #1

Nightwing #1

DC Comics and their Identity Crisis

DC Entertainment (as they are now known) has once again decided to radically alter their heroes to reach the ever depleting audience of comic book readers.

The new JLA

This marks at least the fourth instance of DC turning back the clock to restart their comic book universe (the most important one being Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985, the same period that Watchmen and Frank Miller’s Dark Knight rocked the world). The approach then was viewed as a tool to appeal to readers that were attracted to the more sophisticated Marvel Comics across the street (back when the rival companies really were across the street from each other). Since the first time The Flash (Barry Allen) visited an alternate reality where an earlier version of the Flash seen in print (Jay Garrick) lived, the multiverse of numerous Earths had created a universe of fantastic worlds where heroes from various periods fought evil in divergent manners. This was far too silly for the growing adult audience that wanted to see a reality that was more believable (according to DC editorial at the time).

The solution was two-fold, a massive event that brought into view all of DC’s heroes for one last battle against their biggest challenge ever, leaving a clean slate to address the many ‘problems that needed fixing.’ Editorially it was a mixed bag and resulted in some successes and many continuity problems (the shaky realm of security that comic book fans rely on). Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, the Justice League and the rest started over again and the readers responded with interest. Some of the biggest names in comics were involved: John Byrne, Dick Giordano and Jerry Ordway on Superman, Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli on Batman, George Perez on Wonder Woman, Tim Truman on Hawkman… etc.

The revival worked.

Some devotees to the old guard were disgusted, but the insurgence of new readers looking for a new take on classic heroes that had gotten stale stayed around, finding a new readership for DC to publish more articulate comics such as the new Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, Hellblazer by Jamie Delano, Doom Patrol by Grant Morrison and Sandman by Neil Gaiman (eventually leading to a new imprint called Vertigo).

Not long afterwards, DC felt they needed to fix the many problems again… and again… and again. Each time, readers fluctuated as some dropped comics in frustration, others attracted to the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a character rather than trying to connect to a long line of continuity drawing back ten or twenty years.

The latest attempt at this need for revision is brought about by the new creative directors Jim Lee and Geoff Johns, both of whom are famous for revising characters from a writer’s or artist’s point of view.

In September, retailers will be faced with 52 new comics to stock on the shelves. Nothing like this has ever happened before. Creatively it’s questionable to mix up so many characters at once and cut off a legacy reaching back over 600 published issues in some cases. Logistically, it’s a mess as retailers will have to decide how they can steer through a sea of #1’s (always a dicey problem). It could also very well be the deadliest wound submitted to the brick and mortar market as comic shops will compete directly with same-day digital sales.

(Fellow blogger Gary Miller has a lot to say about this over at his blog, which I highly recommend)

Via TimesDaily:

DC Comics made two announcements Tuesday. The first is, starting Aug. 31, DC will release digital editions of its comics on the same day the print versions go on sale. In a world of iPads and Kindles, that was bound to happen, and you can bet DC’s chief rival, Marvel Comics, won’t be far behind in making the same move. The second announcement, however, is more baffling. It’s a sign of desperation. DC is rebooting its entire superhero universe. No one is safe. Not Superman. Not Batman. Not Wonder Woman. All of the company’s superhero comics are going back to square one, which includes each of them getting a brand new issue No. 1. But that’s just the window dressing.

Inside, familiar characters will be younger, their costumes altered. (They’re intent on making Wonder Woman wear pants.) DC is, if not going back to the beginning, at least turning back the clock. Apparently, DC’s powers that be — primarily Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns and Co-Publishers Jim Lee and Dan DiDio — have decided they’ve done such a lousy job of running DC Comics for the past several years that the only thing to do is blow up their superhero universe and start again. They’re half right about that. Virtually the only readable DC superhero comic of the past decade, apart from an occasional gem such as Paul Cornell’s “Knight and Squire” miniseries, has been Grant Morrison’s “Batman,” which actually did something remarkable: It changed the status quo. But changing the status quo is unforgivable when it comes to corporate-owned superheroes.

The author goes on to state that Marvel Comics poorly executes ‘okay ideas’ in their comics and that DC Entertainment is attempting to repackage an old idea in a new look. I partly agree, in that DC Comics is once again attempting to revisit their heroes from their origins, changing not just the appearance but identity of their heroes. The end result will be that readers will once again see Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman’s origins, once again tackled from a more modern approach. The need to do revise, in my opinion, is informed by a misconception that DC Comics’ creations should ever be updated. The very appeal of Superman and Batman is that they are timeless icons. They are modern myths, untouched by the passage of time.

The Rolling Stones didn’t feel the need to release a techno album. Superman should not feel that he needs a fade haircut to fit in with ‘the kids.’

In contrast, Marvel’s heroes are pulp characters who are very much a part of the current psychology of the modern world and they adapt to being changed and reworked (in good ways, anyhow).

Via NY Times:

For anyone who ever dreamed of owning a copy of Action Comics No. 1 they will have their chance in September. On Tuesday afternoon, DC Comics announced that starting Aug. 31, the company would renumber its entire line of superhero comic books.

As the devoted know, Wednesdays are the days that new issues of comic book series arrive in stores and a typical week sees the release of more than 10 Marvel or DC titles each. But on Aug. 31, DC will release just two titles: the final issue of the “Flashpoint” mini-series, about an alternate timeline that has affected the DC Universe of characters, including Superman, Batman, Flash and Wonder Woman, and Justice League No. 1, written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Jim Lee. (Last February, the two men were promoted to crucial positions in the company: Mr. Lee was named co-publisher along with Dan DiDio, and Mr. Johns was named chief creative officer of DC Entertainment.)

Starting in September, more No. 1 issues will follow for DC’s superhero line, which includes Action Comics, Superman, Detective Comics, Batman, Wonder Woman and more. According to an article in USA Today, Mr. Lee has redesigned some of the character’s costumes and Mr. Johns has said his Justice League will focus on the interpersonal relationships of the team.

The renumbering rumors have been recent fodder for discussion on columns and message boards of various comic-book Web sites. One of the big questions regarding the move has been whether these are simply new directions for the various characters (say, Batman moves to San Francisco) or a “reboot” (a new take on the character that ignores previous continuity, say, Batman is now a teenager or an alien from the future).

I think former EIC Joe Quesada said it best when he stated that DC has the best characters around. ‘They have Superman and Batman,’ Joe said. ‘We (Marvel) should not be in business.’ I’m paraphrasing, but it’s true. I’m a devoted Marvel Zombie, but DC’s stable of heroes are gods in comparison to the Marvel line of madcap creations. The only thing getting in the way of DC’s success is DC.

The incessant revisions and reboots, successful in 1985, are a danger of drawing current readers away and alienating their creations from a public expecting to see the iconic versions of their favorite characters and instead finding new versions that have no relation to their understandings of the heroes from their childhood. I have seen this failure in many ways in my interactions with fellow fans.

The Batman animated series drew from the classic identity of the Batman mythos, different but similar enough to appeal to fans of the comics. The Justice League cartoon drew on these strengths and built on the history of the Batman cartoon. This crafted a long continuity that fans of the animated universe could call their own and that was similar enough to the printed world that it fit the legacy image of the icons.

When the animated films started getting released direct on DVD, DC Entertainment chose to release stories that were divergent from the animated universe and the comic book continuity. Viewed on their own, the animated projects are fantastic, but to fans looking for a continuation of the animated universe they so adored, there was nothing but frustration. This was not the same Batman they had watched on TV, in fact in some cases it wasn’t even the same voice. It alienated an audience that was hungry for the products that DC was releasing.

The new Young Justice series is another example. I highly recommend it, but Young Justice presents viewers with yet another version of their animated universe, different enough to be distracting to anyone looking for continuity. In my opinion, DC Entertainment has in its possession the most important modern mythology of heroes ever created and they are failing to use them correctly, leaving a large group of potential customers eager to purchase toys, DVDs, video games, and even comic books in the dust.