Dark Justice League film could be DC’s Supernatural Avengers

As Marvel Entertainment have continued to flesh out their motion picture universe, DC Comics has been notably silent. The story goes that Green Lantern was the intended vanguard of a Justice League project mimicking Marvel’s Avengers films with The Flash and Wonder Woman to follow. When the Ryan Reynolds vehicle failed to grab movie goers, it was back to square one. That could change is next year’s Superman movie by Zack ‘300/Watchmen’ Snyder is a blockbuster hit but in the meantime, this odd rumor has surfaced.

Both Marvel and DC have a stable of horror/supernatural characters, but both Swamp Thing and John Constantine (along with Neil Gaiman’s version of Sandman) have long acted as tentpoles for DC’s edgy Vertigo imprint targeting a more sophisticated audience. Forget that both Swamp Thing and Constantine have already been adapted as dire motion pictures as it is possible that Guillermo del Toro could be stepping up to make a comic book movie unlike any that we have seen to date.

When the New 52 launched, an unlikely title brought the supernatural characters of the DCU together in Justice League Dark. This could be the inspiration behind the ‘next big thing.’ Combining these cult characters that appeal to a different demographic than those attending Avengers screening may be just the thing we need, especially when it is directed by del Toro, who made the obscure hero Hellboy a household name.

(never mind that del Toro’s name gets attached to roughly a dozen projects each year that never see the light of day)

… or it could all be false rumor.

The New 52 series Justice League Dark could be the inspiration for DC’s ‘Heaven Sent’

Via Comicbook.com:

Take this rumor with a huge grain of salt–it sounds an awful lot like a pipe dream.

According to a rumor coming out of Latino Review, Hellboy and Pacific Rim director Guillermo del Toro is in negotiations with Warner Brothers to direct a film that, at least as it’s described, sounds quite a bit like a Justice League Dark movie, even if there’s no indication that it will be titled as such.

Actually reportedly titled Heaven Sent, the DC Comics movie will reportedly star Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, The Spectre and more.

According to the report, “[del Toro] does want to do his own version of the Avengers, just supernaturally. Called Heaven Sent, he is combining all the magical beings from DC Comics in one epic adventure. Deadman, The Spectre, Swamp Thing, Constantine Hellblazer, Phantom Stranger, Zatanna, Zatara, and Sargon as well as Etrigan the Demon will team up to no doubt save us from the Stay Puft Marshmallow man. Now this one is a ways away, but Warner’s lawyers have been working every night trying to clear the rights to all these characters.”

Why would they need to clear the rights, when Warner has owned DC free and clear for a number of years? Well, around the same time they were shopping around Arrow and the Booster Gold series that Syfy is developing, Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment optioned the rights to The Spectre to Fox for TV and The CW was looking into making something out of Deadman.

Swamp Thing from DC’s highly acclaimed New 52

Notably absent from this rumor is Amethyst of Gemworld, who has her own series that just launched and has been featured on animated shorts during Cartoon Network’s (currently suspended) DC Nation block. Whether that could mean they’re developing the character on a separate track is unclear.

Two of these characters–Swamp Thing and John Constantine–have starred in their own feature films in the past.

This week at your comic shop – 10/5/2011

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-Men Schism #5 (of 5)

X-Men Schism #5 (of 5)
By: Jason Aaron, Adam Kubert
It all comes down to this! After years of fighting side-by-side the X-Men are torn irrevocably in half. On one side, X-Men team leader, Cyclops. On the other, X-Men mainstay, Wolverine. Between them lies the fate of mutantkind, and surrounding them, the foes who want to end them forever!Be there for the conclusion of the story that will set the stage for the X-Men universe for years to come, from Marvel Architect writer Jason Aaron and art legend Adam Kubert!
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Action Comics #2

Action Comics #2
Written by GRANT MORRISON Art by RAGS MORALES and RICK BRYANT
In his weakest moment, Superman is taken down – but by whom? And if the world wasn’t ready for a man with super powers, they’re utterly unprepared for the rage of a Superman cornered! The cornerstone character of the new DCU continues his debut adventure!
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Roger Langridges Snarked #1

Roger Langridges Snarked #1
(W/A) Roger Langridge FIRST ISSUE! Roger Langridge is back! The Harvey Award-winner behind The Muppet Show and Thor: The Mighty Avenger returns for an all-new, side-splitting adventure that can only be explained as… Snarked! Journey with Langridge as he pulls the carpet out from under such Lewis Carroll classics as ‘The Walrus and The Carpenter’, ‘Through the Looking Glass’, and ‘The Hunting of the Snark’, creating an all-new world of humorous grandeur. Join Princess Scarlett as she and her baby brother Rusty outwit the villainous royal advisors and team up with the infamous Walrus and Carpenter to set sail in search of their father, the Red King, who has been lost at sea for six months. It’s a rip-roaring industry event you won’t want to miss, featuring must-have connecting covers by Roger Langridge and a special 1:10 Thor: The Mighty Avenger homage variant, by fan-favorite Chris Samnee!
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Avengers 1959 #1 (of 5)

Avengers 1959 #1 (of 5)
Written and Penciled by HOWARD CHAYKIN Cover by HOWARD CHAYKIN EXPLODING FROM THE PAGES OF NEW AVENGERS… It’s the tail end of the fabulous fifties. NICK FURY and his AVENGERS roar into their secret mission, hunting down NAZI SUPER VILLAINS…men and women relentlessly preparing to unleash hell on a troubled world barely holding onto peace…only to find the Avengers have what appears to be serious competition in their manhunt for these escaped ubermenschen…when their mission is suddenly compromised by interference from an unlikely source.
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Detective Comics #2

Detective Comics #2
Written by TONY S. DANIEL Art by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN
Batman sets his sights on the Gotham Ripper, who in turn has his sights on Batman. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne explores a budding romance with television journalist Charlotte Rivers, who’s visiting Gotham City to cover the gruesome slayings – while also trying to uncover Bruce’s own mystery. But time is running out as both Commissioner Gordon and Batman work to uncover the true identity of this new serial killer.
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World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
Max Brooks, the author of the determinedly straight-faced parody The Zombie Survival Guide (2003), returns in all seriousness to the zombie theme for his second outing, a future history in the style of Theodore Judson’s Fitzpatrick’s War. Brooks tells the story of the world’s desperate battle against the zombie threat with a series of first-person accounts “as told to the author” by various characters around the world. A Chinese doctor encounters one of the earliest zombie cases at a time when the Chinese government is ruthlessly suppressing any information about the outbreak that will soon spread across the globe. The tale then follows the outbreak via testimony of smugglers, intelligence officials, military personnel and many others who struggle to defeat the zombie menace. Despite its implausible premise and choppy delivery, the novel is surprisingly hard to put down. The subtle, and not so subtle, jabs at various contemporary politicians and policies are an added bonus.
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Swamp Thing #2

Swamp Thing #2
Written by SCOTT SNYDER Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
Alec Holland thought he knew the history of the Swamp Thing – but he was wrong. The creature’s roots run deeper than he knows, and the Parliament of Trees intends to make him understand the responsibility he wants so desperately to avoid! With this issue, the mythology of the Swamp Thing branches out in ways you never saw coming – don’t miss it!

Swamp Thing Logo T-Shirt

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Thunderbolts #164

Thunderbolts #164
By: Jeff Parker, Kev Walker, Joe Quinones
Written by JEFF PARKER Penciled by KEV WALKER Cover by JOE QUINONES BARON ZEMO RETURNS?! In the midst of their greatest escape in history, will the return of Captain America’s best fiend push the Thunderbolts to making a Devil’s pact with a certain Red Menace? Find out, as the series’ stoic sentries Jeff Parker and Kev Walker bring you FAIL SAFE!
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Spider-island Heroes For Hire #1

Spider-island Heroes For Hire #1
By: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Kyle Hotz, David Yardin
What chance do Misty Knight’s rag-tag band of street heroes have keeping the wild hordes of infected from storming out of Manhattan…especially when the team members themselves are victims of the plague?And can the squad survive or will this crisis destroy the already fragile ‘Heroes’ concept? Considering what’s coming next month for Misty and her agents…maybe not!

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Animal Man #2

Animal Man #2
Written by JEFF LEMIRE Art and cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN
Maxine’s new abilities continue to terrify Ellen and Buddy Baker, and things take a turn for the worse as Buddy begins a startling transformation of his own that will lead him on a journey into the heart of The Red. Meanwhile, The Hunters Three arrive on Earth and set their sights on the Baker family. The Hunt is on as DC’s most surprising new series continues to take ANIMAL MAN in shocking new directions.
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The Savage Sword of Kull Volume 2 TPB

The Savage Sword of Kull Volume 2 TPB
This volume contains over forty-five action-packed stories starring the barbaric Atlantean exile, King Kull! Robert E. Howard expert and legendary scribe Roy Thomas details Kull’s mysterious early life from the time he was born to his enslavement by Lemurian pirates! This tome also includes stories from when Kull was king! The Commorians provoke all-out war with Valusia, and, since their clandestine plan of overthrowing King Kull failed in “The Shadow Kingdom,” the snake-men take a different tact by launching an all-out siege on the City of Wonders!

* This volume includes stories from The Savage Sword of Conan #128-#140, #145, #147-#152, #158, #159, #161, #165, #169, #170, #172, #177, #182, #183, #186, #190-#193, #196-#199, #202, #213, #215, #229, and #230-#233, and Conan Saga #97.
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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Manos The Hands Of Fate

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Manos The Hands Of Fate
If 1966’s Manos, the Hands of Fate isn’t the worst film ever made, it’s certainly one of the strangest; the Texas-lensed oddity, a vanity piece for writer-producer-director-star and fertilizer salesman Hal P. Warren, concerns a family that encounters a supernatural polygamy sect after an aimless drive through the Texas desert. An obscurity to all but the most dedicated “bad” movie fans, Manos was dragged into the spotlight by Mystery Science Theater 3000, which spawned something of a cult following. The Manos set pays tribute to both the film itself and the fourth-season MST3K episode that set off the revival with an impressive collection of extras. The episode, one of the series’ best, finds Joel Robinson (Joel Hodgson) and the ‘bots pushed to their limits to poke fun or even make sense of the picture (they are reduced to simply repeating the film’s title during the endless driving sequences), and even Dr. Forrester (Trace Beaulieu) and TV’s Frank (Frank Conniff) find it necessary to apologize for inflicting the film on them. Nevertheless, there are some stellar bits throughout the episode, many of which address one of the film’s most unsettling aspects, the sect’s twitchy, goatish henchman, Torgo: Joel and the ‘bots muse on whether Torgo’s weirdly oversized thighs (which, according to Manos lore, are due to his being a satyr) really make him a monster, and head writer Mike Nelson turns up in the closer as Torgo to make the world’s longest pizza delivery. The episode also features the second half of the Chevrolet training film Hired!, one of MST3K’s most well-loved shorts.

The two-disc Manos special edition includes both the original 1993 MST3K episode and the film minus the riffing, as well as a number of solid extras. Chief among these is Hotel Torgo, a terrific 2004 documentary that reveals the disastrous creation and release of Manos through an interview with a garrulous surviving cast member (Bernie Rosenbaum, one half of the “makeout couple”) and visits to the original locations. Hodgson, Beaulieu, Conniff, and Mary Jo Pehl revisit their own tribulations with Torgo in Group Therapy, an amusing interview segment that examines the show’s love-hate relationship with Manos. Both halves of Hired!, complete with riffing (though without Hired! The Musical, a hilarious song-and-dance spoof featured in MST3K’s take on Bride of the Monster), are also included, as is a new feature short, Jam Handy to the Rescue, which looks at the production company responsible for Hired! in an educational film spoof starring and written by Larry Blamire (The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra). A brief interview with Hodgson on MST3K’s long history of skewering short films and the original wraparounds from the syndicated Mystery Science Theater Hour round out this stellar, MSTie-must-have set.

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Moon Knight #6

Moon Knight #6
By: Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils & Cover by ALEX MALEEV Moon Knight gets one step closer to the kingpin of Los Angeles and uses Ultron as bait. But in doing so he may have unleashed a hell the West Coast cannot survive. Another blistering chapter from the Eisner award-winning team that brought you DAREDEVIL and HALO!
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The Spider-Man Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles Spun from Marvel's Web

The Spider-Man Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles Spun from Marvel’s Web
Rebooted into a fresh new film franchise (2012) directed by Marc Webb and starring up-and-comers Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, and having debuted in its first ever Broadway appearance in March 2011, Spider-Man is back in the spotlight. Reaching out to millions of devoted fans, The Spider-Man Vault will afford readers a whole new look at the beloved “web-slinger”.

This vivid collection of images and ephemera focuses on a dynamic exploration of Spider-Man’s character, providing a complete biography through his development in comics, media, and culture. Further drawing readers into Spidey’s world will be approximately 20 removable features, housed in the sophisticated plastic pages specific to the “vault” format, and printed on special papers to heighten the noteworthiness of each carefully selected piece.

From the classic comics to the big screen, The Spider-Man Vault is a comprehensive collection of art and ephemera that brings Spidey’s back story out of the archive and into the arms of fans worldwide.
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DC Comics Presents Batman The Demon Laughs #1

DC Comics Presents Batman The Demon Laughs #1
Written by CHUCK DIXON o Art by JIM APARO and JOHN CEBOLLERO
In these stories from BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #142- 145, Ra’s Al Ghul teams up with the Clown Prince of Crime for the first time. Their mission: Destroy the Dark Knight and take over the world!
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Rock Iconz Beatles Yellow Sub John Lennon Statue

Rock Iconz Beatles Yellow Sub John Lennon Statue
‘Once upon a time, or maybe twice…’ KnuckleBonz is creating a series of limited edition statues in their Rock Iconz Series representing the characters from The Beatles’ animated film, Yellow Submarine.

With only 3,000 of each statue available, the figures in this series will be collectible and highly sought-after by Beatles fans the world over.

Collectors can choose from statues of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, or Ringo Starr, each in the outfits they wore in the film, or the Blue Meanie.

Each figure is hand-painted, numbered, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

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Thanos Mini-bust

Thanos Mini-bust
A Bowen Designs Sculpt! One of the Marvel Universe’s deadliest villains, Thanos, the Mad God of Titan, was the self-professed lover of Death and the enemy of all that lived! This ominous villain can be yours as this 7″ tall bust, sculpted by Khurram Alavi, that brings this cosmic threat to life!
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Hardware: The Definitive SF Works of Chris Foss

Hardware: The Definitive SF Works of Chris Foss
Foss’s groundbreaking and distinctive science fiction art revolutionized paperback covers in the 1970s and 80s. Dramatically raising the bar for realism and invention, his trademark battle-weary spacecraft, dramatic alien landscapes and crumbling brutalist architecture irrevocably changed the aesthetic of science fiction art and cinema.

Featuring work for books by Isaac Asimov, E. E. ‘Doc’ Smith, Arthur C. Clarke, A. E. Van Vogt and Philip K. Dick, and film design for Ridley Scott and Stanley Kubrick, this volume brings together many rare and classic images that have never been seen or reprinted before. The first comprehensive retrospective of Chris Foss’s SF career.

“Chris Foss’ name has become pre-eminent among sf artists… He is in love with the monstrous, with angular momentum, with inertia-free projectiles and irresistable objects.” — Brian Aldiss

“[Foss’] creations are real machines, not just an artist’s dreams. They combine the two elements so essential to science fiction: realism and a sense of wonder… A medieval goldsmith of future eons.” — Alejandro Jodorowsky
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Green Arrow #2

Green Arrow #2
Written by J.T. KRUL Art by DAN JURGENS and GEORGE PEREZ Cover by DAVE WILKINS
Super Hero executions will now be televised! After taking down members of a ‘celebrity’ gang – privileged, decadent teens who buy their powers and stage fights with unsuspecting victims – Green Arrow finds himself in the crosshairs of the entire team! It’s Ollie Queen vs. a dozen thrill killers while the world watches – live!
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Fantastic Four 1234 Prem HC

Fantastic Four 1234 Prem HC
By: Grant Morrison, Jae Lee & Manuel Gutierrez, Jae Lee
Written by GRANT MORRISON Penciled by JAE LEE & MANUEL GUTIERREZ Covers by JAE LEE Reed Richards. Sue Richards. Benjamin Grimm. Johnny Storm. They rocketed into outer space aboard an experimental starship, the first humans to attempt interstellar travel. But a freak encounter with cosmic radiation altered their lives forever, granting each amazing abilities! Now, Marvel’s First Family finds its members divided – their unique powers stretched to the absolute limit, their time-tested resolve pushed to the point of breaking. Each chapter of this quintessential collection focuses on one member of the cosmic quartet as the team’s greatest foes band together in an all-out assault on the FF! Plus: In Grant Morrison’s only other Marvel Knights story, superspy Nick Fury is targeted for death! Collecting FANTASTIC FOUR: 1234 #1-4 and material from MARVEL KNIGHTS DOUBLE-SHOT #2.
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Monsters in the Movies

Monsters in the Movies
As director of An American Werewolf in London and Innocent Blood, Landis is no stranger to horror films. Here, he offers a whirlwind tour of just about everything related to the genre, from the silents to today’s computer-generated imagery. Typical of DK, the book includes thousands of captioned photos featuring Landis’s commentary on the films. Chapters cover vampires, werewolves, mad scientists, zombies, giant apes, atomic mutations, space monsters, and much more. Subsections spotlight actors like Lon Chaney Jr.–this book is extremely thorough. Landis also provides brief interviews with actor Christopher Lee, directors David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, Guillermo del Toro, and Sam Raimi, makeup master Rick Baker, and legendary stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen, a wonderful bonus. Verdict: With tons of cool pics and beautifully reproduced film posters, Landis’s volume knocks it out of the park as a superbrowsable overview of the beasties, ghosties, and ghoulies that have terrified us on the big screen all in the name of fun. Horror fans will love it. –Library Journal, August 1, 2011
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Justice League International #2

Justice League International #2
Written by DAN JURGENS Art by AARON LOPRESTI and MATT RYAN
The United Nations’ new international team of heroes must learn to work together – and fast – if they’re going to discover the mystery behind the giant alien Signalmen who are appearing all over the globe. Can Booster Gold lead his team to victory, or will they fall?
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Monsters From The Vault #29

Monsters From The Vault #29
Monsters from the Vault enteres its 16th year with Daniel Horne’s wonderful painting of Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula on the cover.

The issue’s main feature is a detailed examination of both versions of Dracula released by Universal in 1931 – Tod Browning’s version which featured Bela Lugosi in his first starring role, and George Melford’s Spanish-language version that was filmed at night utilizing the same sets as Browning’s version with a new cast.
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30 Days Of Night Omnibus

30 Days Of Night Omnibus
By: Steve Niles, Ben Templesmith
Steve Niles (w) o Ben Templesmith (a & c) The vampire tale that put horror back on the map! 30 Days of Night Omnibus collects the original trilogy of stories told about Barrow, Alaska, and its deadly visitors, written by Steve Niles and illustrated by Ben Templesmith. Includes 30 Days of Night, Dark Days and Return To Barrow.
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DC Superhero Figure Coll Mag #90 Blue Devil

DC Superhero Figure Coll Mag #90 Blue Devil
The ultimate collection for comics fans, the DC Superhero Collection Figurine Magazine brings together DC Comics’ greatest heroes and villains! Official figurines of the characters, both good and evil, are cast in lead, individually hand-painted and numbered to form an authentic collector’s edition. Each comes with a 20-page magazine providing detailed history and background on the featured characters, including exclusive images and interviews. Choose this month from Blue Devil (#90) and Brainiac 5 (#91).

DC Superhero Figure Coll Mag #91 Brainiac 5

DC Superhero Figure Coll Mag #91 Brainiac 5
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If You're Cracked You're Happy SC Vol. 01 Early Years

If You’re Cracked You’re Happy SC Vol. 01 Early Years
(W) Mark Arnold For over 40 years Cracked was the best-selling humor magazine in the world – if you don’t count MAD! A remarkable and amusing retrospective by author Mark Arnold, recounting the secret origins of the magazine, covering its history with former and future MAD and Marvel Comics contributors John Severin, Jack Davis, Don Martin, Bill Elder, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Al Jaffee, along with Cracked veterans Bill Ward, Don Orehek, and George Gladir. Crammed with creator interviews, rare photos and art and a complete checklist of every issue! A must for comics fans and purveyors of popular media!
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Omac #2

Omac #2
Written by DAN DIDIO and KEITH GIFFEN Art
Brother Eye gives Kevin Kho the ground rules to their new ‘arrangement.’ New players are introduced to the game as Sarge Steel and Checkmate begin their hunt for the One Machine Army Corp, but O.M.A.C.’s appearance may be short-lived when he faces the incredible threat of Rocker Bonn, the Amazing Man!
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Classic Marvel Figure Coll Mag #157 Moondragon

Classic Marvel Figure Coll Mag #157 Moondragon
These fully-authorized, hand-painted lead figurines are sculpted by master craftsmen and based on original pieces of Marvel artwork. Each 3 1/2″ figurine is individually numbered, comes stamped with the Marvel official logo, and comes packaged in its own box. The accompanying 16-page magazine provides a detailed history and background on the featured character, including exclusive images and interviews. The fabulous characters featured this month are Toad (#156) and Moondragon (#157).

Classic Marvel Figure Coll Mag #156 Toad

Classic Marvel Figure Coll Mag #156 Toad
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Prince Valiant HC Vol. 04 1943-1944

Prince Valiant HC Vol. 04 1943-1944
(W/A) Hal Foster With its stunning art reproduced directly from pristine printers proofs, Fantagraphics has introduced a new generation to Hal Foster’s masterpiece, while providing long-time fans with the ultimate, definitive version of the strip. Volume 4 in this acclaimed series features the stories ‘The Long Voyage to Thule’, ‘The Seductress’, ‘The Call of the Sea’, ‘The Jealous Cripple’ and ‘The Winning of Aleta’.

Quick review Swamp Thing #1

Swamp Thing #1


By Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette

Swamp Thing is one of those weird creations of synchronicity. At almost the same time, both Swamp Thing and Man-Thing appeared on the scene and fans have disagreed on who came first ever since (actually, it was a confluence of both coincidence and living situations as both muck monster creators lived together at the time). Despite some really impressive early horror appearances, Swamp Thing is most commonly associated with Sir Alan Moore of V for Vendetta and Watchmen fame. It was under the watchful beard of Sir Moore that Swamp Thing became an existential adventurer and grabbed the comic book reading world by storm. There have been several creators following Moore’s run, but no one was capable of capturing the success that Swamp Thing enjoyed during the gravelly Englishman’s tenure (though I quite like the Rick Veitch material).

Young newcomer to the comics world Scott Snyder has already made a name for himself with Batman: Gates of Gotham and the new Batman comic released this month. He has a knack for the dramatic and Gothic that makes him an ideal writer for Swamp Thing and a sensitive touch that allows the story to flow quite well.

Joining Snyder on this series is another popular name in comics, Yanick Paquette whom I enjoyed on the underrated Young X-Men. The artwork is beautifully horrific. Dead birds fall from the sky in Metropolis, bats descend in bloody heaps in the Bat cave and gnarled fish carcasses float past Aquaman in the ocean depths. Yes, in the first issue alone three superheroes appear, this establishing that this Swamp Thing exists in the DC Universe proper, not some alternate Vertigo-verse as he has done in the past. It’s an exciting touch for me as it legitimizes the comic book and hints at all sorts of possibilities down the road.

One of the only gripes with this issue is that it relies on foreknowledge from other sources… I assume. Alec Holland is living in solitude, a retreat that is broken when Superman seeks out his help in dealing with the dead wildlife. Alex Holland is kind enough to recap his origin story involving a chemical compound that he became infected with when he attempted to destroy it after realizing that it was far too dangerous. The resulting chemical reaction created the Swamp Thing… but then he got better apparently and the Swamp Thing is no more.

The dialog hints at not only Swamp Thing’s return but Holland’s denial of the swamp creature and desire to never again join with The Green, the all-encompassing realm of the plant world. I cannot understand what’s going on there and as it’s a first issue and Superman is an all-new creation, this confuses me even more. At the conclusion, Swamp Thing appears to stop Alec from hurling a secreted container of serum into pieces. Again… confusion, but an inquisitive kind.

Despite these issues, I do highly recommend this comic and hope that it will become easier to read as it progresses. The writing is sharp and the artwork is great and spooky. It’s a good Swamp Thing comic and it’s new. Who knew such a thing was possible?

Swamp Thing has sold out at comic shops (I found my copy at a Barnes and Noble), but can be purchased as a download at Comixology.

This week at your comic shop – 9/7/2011

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.

Moon Knight #5

Moon Knight #5
By: Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev
The new kingpin of L.A. has brought the fight to Moon Knight’s front door and now Marc Spector is going to return the favor.Moon Knight unleashes hell on the L.A. underworld in his race to uncover the kingpin’s secret identity!!

From the Eisner award-winning team that brought you DAREDEVIL and SCARLET.
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Astro City Life In The Big City HC New Ed

Astro City Life In The Big City HC New Ed
By: Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, Will Blyberg, Alex Ross
The original ASTRO CITY miniseries is back in a new edition, simultaneously available in hardcover and trade paperback with new cover art by Alex Ross!

Welcome to Astro City, a shining city on a hill where super heroes patrol the skies. Each chapter in this collection is a stand-alone story highlighting different aspects or characters in the Astro City world.

The city’s leading super hero tries to be everywhere at once, and berates himself for every wasted second as he longs for just a moment of his own. A small-time hood learns a hero’s secret identity and tries to figure out how to profit from the knowledge. A beat reporter gets some advice from his editor on his first day on the job. A young woman tries to balance the demands of her family with her own hopes and desires.

Despite the fantastic settings, the characters in these slice-of-life stories feel like real people, and that gives the stories real power.

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Action Comics #1

Action Comics #1
By: Grant Morrison, Rags Morales, Rick Bryant
The one and only Grant Morrison (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN) returns to Superman, joined by sensational artist Rags Morales (IDENTITY CRISIS), to bring you tales of The Man of Steel unlike any you’ve ever read!

This extra-sized debut issue is the cornerstone of the entire DC Universe!
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Alter Ego #104

Alter Ego #104
Alter Ego proudly celebrates the 50th anniversary of Fantastic Four #1-and the birth of Marvel Comics! With a new, never-before-published interview with Stan Lee and rare art and artifacts by Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Joe Sinnott, Dick Ayers, Roy Thomas, and others! Also: Jim Amash’s interview with 1940s Timely editor Al Sulman, FCA (Fawcett Collectors of America) with Marc Swayze and C.C. Beck, and Michael T. Gilbert in Mr. Monster’s Comic Crypt! All behind a new cover by Ron Frenz and Joe Sinnott!

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Thunderbolts #163

Thunderbolts #163
By: Jeff Parker, Kev Walker, Pasqual Ferry
YOUR EYES DO NOT DECEIVE YOU!

The Thunderbolts have pulled off THE GREATEST ESCAPE IN HISTORY – and joining the powerful ex-cons are CAPTAIN AMERICA and NAMOR the SUB-MARINER!

This new era takes the kings of supercrime to a whole new level- at light speed!!

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Omac #1

Omac #1
By: Dan Didio, Keith Giffen, Scott Koblish

The all-seeing Brother Eye satellite has unleashed a new beast upon the DC Universe in this smashing new series! Kevin Kho has become an unwilling participant in a war between Checkmate and Brother Eye as he is transformed into the One Machine Army Corp known only as O.M.A.C.!
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Doctor Who Classics TPB Vol. 07

Doctor Who Classics TPB Vol. 07
IDW’s collections of re-mastered and fully colored classic Doctor Who tales return with the Seventh Doctor!

From the far reaches of space to Victorian London, follow the seventh incarnation of the Doctor-as portrayed by Sylvester McCoy-as he faces the reptilian Ice Warriors and other fantastic threats.

This volume features the finest writers and artists Who has to offer, such as Grant Morrison, Dan Abnett, Bryan Hitch, and John Ridgway.
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Detective Comics #1

Detective Comics #1
By: Tony S. Daniel, Ryan Winn
DC’s flagship title is relaunched for the first time ever, with new Batman adventures from acclaimed writer/artist Tony S. Daniel! A killer called The Gotham Ripper is on the loose on Batman’s home turf – leading The Dark Knight on a deadly game of cat and mouse.
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Punisher #3

Punisher #3
By: Greg Rucka, Marco Checchetto, Bryan Hitch
Award winning novelist GREG RUCKA continues his violent and visionary return to Marvel.

Even 10,000 feet above New York, no one escapes the Punisher.

As Frank trails the criminal underbelly of the city, he encounters the deadly, mob created villain: THE VULTURE for a brutal battle against death and gravity.

Meanwhile as NYPD detectives get closer to understanding Frank Castle’s new relationship, one of New York’s finest is struggling keep his own Punisher association untraceable.
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New Teen Titans Games HC

New Teen Titans Games HC
By: Marv Wolfman, George Perez, George Perez
Wraparound cover by GEORGE PÉREZ Twenty years in the making, TEEN TITANS: GAMES is a can’t-miss for fans new and old. Harking back to the era when NEW TEEN TITANS was the best-selling monthly comic series comes this lost tale from legendary creators Marv Wolfman (CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS) and George Perez (FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS) starring their fan-favorite characters just in time for the NEW TEEN TITANS’ 30th anniversary! Set in the 1980s during the height of the New Teen Titans popularity, this stand-alone hardcover features a mysterious villain playing a deadly game with New York City as the game board-and the Teen Titans as the pieces! Like something out of a time capsule, this never-before-seen epic is the New Teen Titans story from their original creators that has never been told…until now!
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Swamp Thing #1

Swamp Thing #1
By: Scott Snyder, Yanick Paquette
One of the world’s most iconic characters has returned to the heart of the DC Universe, and every step he takes will shake the foundations of the Earth! Alec Holland has his life back…but the Green has plans for it.

A monstrous evil is rising in the desert, and it’ll take a monster of another kind to defend life as we know it!
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Walter Koenig Things To Come #1

Walter Koenig Things To Come #1
By: Walter Koenig, Juan Baez
Two hundred years after the apocalypse the human race, buried in the bowels of the earth, is a few tortured breaths from extinction.

It offers up one last gift to the poisoned surface and the mutant life forms that survive there; a new species.

Up until now the creatures of fiction, these new beings must determine the purpose of their being. Are they only the violent spawn of mankind’s evil doomed to a soulless eternity or the progenitors of a better more hopeful world?

Is it possible for them to tear the throats from their prey, drink the blood and still pray to god?
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Spider-island Avengers #1

Spider-island Avengers #1
By: Christopher Yost, Mike McKone, Leinil Francis Yu
SPIDER-ISLAND TIE IN!

All of Manhattan has been transformed into an island of Spider-Men… and it’s up to the Avengers to contain the chaos.

But when a spider-powered Ultimatum attacks the United Nations, the?Avengers are spread too thin… and must turn to the one man who can save them all: FROG-MAN.

No, for real.

We were just as surprised as you.

PLUS! Squirrel Girl takes on the most unlikely foe of all!
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Green Arrow #1

Green Arrow #1
By: J. T. Krul, Dan Jurgens, George Perez, Brett Booth, Rob Hunter
Green Arrow is on the hunt. Driven by inner demons, Ollie Queen travels the world and brings outlaws to justice…by breaking every law.

Now, armed with cutting-edge weaponry and illegally gained intel (courtesy of his team at QCore), Green Arrow is shooting first and asking questions later.
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Giant Size Little Lulu Vol. 4 TPB

Giant Size Little Lulu Vol. 4 TPB
By: John Stanley, John Stanley, Irving Tripp
Named one of the top one hundred comics of all time by The Comics Journal, John Stanley’s Little Lulu is one of the most enduring gems of the Golden Age. In a testament to Stanley’s bottomless imagination, this behemoth volume sees mischievous Lulu Moppet’s world continue to expand with new situations and characters, including the first appearance of fan-favorite villain Ol’ Witch Hazel.

* Collecting three more volumes of Dark Horse’s acclaimed reprint series! Contains Marge’s Little Lulu #38-#53.

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Marvel Minimates X-Men First Class Set

Marvel Minimates X-Men First Class Set
A Diamond Select Release! Art Asylum Designs & Sculpts!

Just in time for the release of the major motion picture, X-Men: First Class, Diamond Select turns to the classic X-Men comic with this set of Professor Xavier’s original first class of mutant students!

This Specialty Market Exclusive box set features four of the first mutant heroes in their original blue and yellow outfits, including: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Angel, and Ice Man. Each Minimate stands 2.5″ tall with 14 points of articulation and a variety of removable and interchangeable parts and accessories.
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Potters Field TPB

Potters Field TPB
By: Mark Waid, Paul Azaceta, J. G. Jones
First time in trade paperback! Outside New York City is Potter’s Field, where the unnamed dead are buried. Now, a mysterious man has taken it upon himself to name the unnamed in this cemetery!

Using a network of underground operatives who don’t know each other, he fights to save the unsaved and solve the mysteries of the unjustly slain!

Collecting the critically acclaimed three issue mini-series and the Stone Cold one-shot into one volume!
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The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir

The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir
By Michael Uslan
Is any superhero cooler than Batman? He’s a crime-fighting vigilante with a tragic past, a lawless attitude, and a seemingly endless supply of high-tech gadgetry. In this fully illustrated memoir, author Michael Uslan recalls his journey from early childhood fandom through to the decades he spent on a caped crusade of his own: to bring Batman to the silver screen as the dark, serious character he was at heart. Uslan’s story traces his path from the wilds of New Jersey to the limelight of Hollywood, following his work as Executive Producer on every Batman film from Tim Burton’s 1989 re-envisioning to 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. Through it all, he helped to create one of the most successful pop culture franchises of all time.

“Don’t miss this spellbinding tale of one man who saw what Batman was-and realized what he could become. See how Michael Uslan took a comic book hero and, through the magic of motion pictures, helped transform him into a world-wide icon!” -Stan Lee, Chairman Emeritus of Marvel Comics and Chairman of Pow! Entertainment, co-creator of Spider-Man, X-Men, Iron Man, and The Hulk

Michael Uslan brought comic books to academia in the 1970s with class (figuratively and literally) and he brought Batman to Hollywood a decade later with the same sort of integrity. I’ve been reading or watching his work since my youth and the intellect always shined through – now with his memoir I also see the emotional backbeat of his hero’s journey. -Geoff Boucher, Los Angeles Times
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Men Of War #1

Men Of War #1
By: Ivan Brandon, Tom Derenick, viktor kalvachev
On the ground and on the front lines, a young, headstrong soldier known as Joe Rock assumes command of Easy Company – a team of ex-military men turned contractors.

Will they survive the battle-scarred landscape carved by the DCU’s Super-Villains? Find out in this explosive new series from Ivan Brandon (Viking, DOC SAVAGE) and Tom Derenick (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA)!

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Spider #2

Spider #2
By: Martin Powell, Hannibal King, Dan Brereton
This item is currently not available, but we will special order a copy from our supplier if you choose to backorder it from us today. Delivery will be delayed by two to four weeks while the backorder is processed and shipped from our supplier to our warehouse. Your credit card will not be charged for this item until it is ready to be shipped to you. For more information, please see our backordering help page.

The Spider faces a mastermind of monstrous power, The Thunder King who wields the tempests of the heavens like a scythe, holding New York in a reign of unrelenting terror. In the flooding avenues below, Nita Van Sloan, the Spider’s beloved, alone and against the odds, risks all to save the helpless victims of the drowning city.
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Doctor Who Dalek To Victory T-Shirt

Doctor Who Dalek To Victory T-Shirt
The Ironsides will turn the tide against the Nazi menace on this t-shirt that recreates a classic 1940s propaganda poster!
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Shadow Double Novel #52

Shadow Double Novel #52
By: Maxwell Grant/Walter Gibson, Tom Lovell, Edd Cartier
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows! First, The Shadow executes a deadly chess game with The Crime Master, an underworld kingpin whose amazing superbrain rivals his own. Then, the Master of Darkness seeks to unmask The Fifth Napoleon, the master plotter who commands New York’s four most powerful crime lords. This instant collectors’ item features both classic cover paintings by George Rozen, the original interior pulp illustrations by Tom Lovell and Anthony Tollin profiles radio legend Frank Readick, the ‘Man with The Shadow’s Laugh!’

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Hulk #40

Hulk #40
By: Jeff Parker, Grabriel Hardman
THE OMEGEX SAGA CONCLUDES!

Apparently you really can’t go home again. The Red Hulk just wanted to visit his old homestead, but is now in the fight of his life against the mighty Omegex, the world destroyer!

As Red Hulk is on the ropes and it seems as though things can’t get any worse, super-villainess extraordinaire Zero/One and her henchman Black Fog arrive.

Rulk’s renowned writer Jeff Parker and all-star artist Gabriel Hardman bring a thrilling, action-packed conclusion to Red Hulk’s most dangerous dust-up yet!

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AFX Exclusive Star Wars Logo Bookends (Gold Edition) by Gentle Giant

AFX Exclusive Star Wars Logo Bookends (Gold Edition) by Gentle Giant
Limited Edition of 1000
From the moment it blasted onto the silver screen in 1977, the Star Wars logo has become an iconic fixture of science fiction and fantasy to many generations. Cast in high quality polystone and then hand painted, each bookend is numbered and comes complete with a matching limited edition certificate of authenticity. Whether they’re holding up an assortment of media or on display proudly by themselves, these collectible bookends are sure to add enjoyment to any home or office.
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The Avenger: The Justice Inc. Files

The Avenger: The Justice Inc. Files
From the flames of tragedy, a hero rises! In the roaring heart of the crucible, steel is made. In the raging flame of personal tragedy, men are sometimes forged into something more than human. Life was bliss for millionaire adventurer Richard Henry Benson until the fateful day crime and greed took away his wife and daughter and turned him into something more than human. Driven by loss, compelled by grief, The Avenger is a chilled impersonal force of justice, more machine than man, dedicated to the destruction of evildoers everywhere. This collection features new prose stories of The Avenger by such luminaries as Will Murray, Robin W. Bailey, Matthew Baugh, Joe Gentile, Paul Kupperberg, Howard Hopkins, Mark Ellis, Ron Fortier, and David Michelinie.

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The MAD Fold-In Collection: 1964-2010

The MAD Fold-In Collection: 1964-2010
Al Jaffee s fold-ins, on the inside back cover of virtually every issue of MAD Magazine since 1964, have become an icon of American humor. Generations have grown up with Jaffee s inspired skewerings of our foibles and cultural conundrums. Issue after issue, each Fold-in requires the reader to simply fold the page so that arrow A meets arrow B to reveal the hidden gag image, a simple idea that masks both undeniable artistic ingenuity and comic timing. In this deluxe four-volume set, each of the 410 fold-ins is reproduced at its original size, with a digital representation of the corresponding folded image on the following page (so collectors won t have to fold their book to get the jokes). Featuring insightful essays by such luminaries as Pixar s Pete Docter and humorist Jules Feiffer, The MAD Fold-In Collection is the definitive gift for the millions of fans who ve grown up with MAD for nearly 60 years.
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Animal Man #1

Animal Man #1
By: Jeff Lemire, Travel Foreman, Dan Green, travel foreman
Buddy Baker has gone from ‘super’ man to family man – but is he strong enough to hold his family together when Maxine, his young daughter, starts to manifest her own dangerous powers?

Find out in this dramatic new series from writer Jeff Lemire (SWEET TOOTH) and artist Travel Foreman (The Immortal Iron Fist).
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New Avengers Annual #1

New Avengers Annual #1
By: Brian Michael Bendis, Gabriele Dell’otto
Marvel Architect Variant also available Marvel Architects Sketch Variant also available From the creative team of SECRET WAR!

Simon Williams doesn’t think the Avengers are helping the world and is willing to do whatever is needed to stop them.

Including bringing in his own NEW team…THE REVENGERS!

One of the biggest throwdowns in Avenger’s history starts HERE!
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Blue Sunshine

Blue Sunshine
Directed by Jeff Lieberman (Squirm)
At a party, someone goes insane and murders three women. Falsely accused of the brutal killings, Jerry is on the run. More bizarre killings continue with alarming frequency all over town. Trying to clear his name, Jerry discovers the shocking truth…people are losing their hair and turning into violent psychopaths and the connection may be some LSD all the murderers took a decade before. (via IMDB)

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Heroes For Hire #11

Heroes For Hire #11
By: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Kyle Hotz, Jay Anacleto
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN!

On the devastated Raft, the Purple Man unleashes Elektra as his pet killer-with only The Shroud standing in the way! Meanwhile, in the shattered streets of Manhattan, Misty Knight joins cult faves Gargoyle and Paladin to fight the macabre menace of Monster!
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Doc Savage Double Novel #50

Doc Savage Double Novel #50
By: Kenneth Robeson/Lester Dent, Paul Orban
The Pulp Era’s greatest superman journeys to the American West in classic pulp thrillers by Lester Dent. First, a bequest from a dying scientist leads Doc Savage to Death Valley in search of a long-dead pirate’s legendary treasure.

Can this amazing invention allow The Pirate’s Ghost to speak from beyond the grave? Then, the Man of Bronze goes undercover at a Wyoming dude ranch to solve the bizarre puzzle of a strange Green Eagle with lead feathers.

Plus, an intriguing article by The Shadow’s famous raconteur, Walter Gibson.
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Avengers 4pc Button Set

Avengers 4pc Button Set
The Avengers will assemble, and with Ata Boy’s Marvel Universe button sets, you can decorate your bookbag or jacket with buttons that feature artwork of Marvel Comics’ most popular characters! Each set comes with 4 buttons built around a theme – Captain America, Thor, or the Avengers as a whole. Blister card packaging.
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Godzilla Gangsters & Goliaths #4 (of 5)

Godzilla Gangsters & Goliaths #4 (of 5)
By: John Layman, Alberto Ponticelli, Paul Hanley, Ponticelli
With the help of Mothra, Detective Sato thought he had the Takahashi crime syndicate on the ropes… but Takahashi isn’t going down without a fight!

Sato is once again helpless as his son is kidnapped and Mothra is no longer in his control.

Never one to give up, Sato decides to just think bigger. But what’s bigger than Mothra?

The chaos nears its conclusion!
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