Mark Millar on the disastrous state of a Justice League movie and an FF/X-Men cross-over

I have mixed feelings about his work, but Mark Millar has a gift at crafting comic book properties that translate to the big screen (Wanted and Kick Ass being two examples). Here he gives his opinion on the possible challenges of a Justice League of America movie featuring superheroes with a long legacy tracking back to the early woolier days of comics when a feller could look goofy, fight silly villains in a four-colored fantasy world.

In my opinion, the strength of the DC Universe is in its fantastic nature (though the current Batman monthly titles feature the Joker literally wearing his own face like a mask, held in place by a belt). Like many, Millar’s approach seems to be similar to the one taken for the Avengers, Watchmen and even the Dark Knight Trilogy in which a comic book reality is translated into the real world. Personally I think that is a mis-step and can only hamper the success of a feature film focusing on colorful characters with larger than life personalities and abilities that seem more at home in children’s adventure stories than a gritty action drama.

Sure, you can make a grim crime fighter hard-edged and sophisticated but how can you turn the same trick with an amazon princess, the fastest man alive, the king of the seven seas and a galactic cop with a magic ring? A much better approach would be to embrace the silliness and weirdness of it all rather than try to make sense of it.

Millar specific worries…

(Via Bleedingcool)

Speaking to Sci-Fi Now, Millar outlined some reasons that he thinks a Justice League adaptation wouldn’t cut it at all.

His first, general complaint is that the characters are old:

The characters were created 75 years ago, even the newest major character was created 68 years ago, so they’re in a really weird time…

So far, I don’t follow him, but he does have character-specific worries too. Here he is on Green Lantern:

His power is that he manifests green plasma from his imagination and uses them as weapons against someone? Even that in itself if you just imagine then watching a fight scene with a guy who’s like a hundred feet away making plasma manifestations fight someone – it’s not exactly raucous, getting up close and personal.

Okay, not a terrible observation but far from a deal breaker. And then, slightly less well-argued are his points against The Flash:

The Flash has door handles on the side of his mask and if he doesn’t wear that mask, I’ll be pissed off, you know what I mean? They’re in a weird, weird situation – if you’ve got a guy who moves at the speed of light up against the Weather Wizard and Captain Cold or whatever, then your movie’s over in two seconds.

Door handles.

Millar is also rather worried about Aquaman’s ability to communicate in his native environment:

Aquaman can’t even talk under water. If you think about it in comics it’s fine, you just have a speech balloon, but how do you have Atlantis and people talking under water? Are they gonna talking telepathically? Is it going to be body forms?

There’s not an insurmountable problem in the lot. In fact, all of these obstacles are easily soluble.

Still, Millar hammers his point home by slamming the whole combination:

The actual logistics of each member of the Justice League is disastrous, and you put them all together and I think you get an excellent way of losing $200 million.

Over at Fox, Millar is nurturing a shared comic book movie universe. That one will blend The X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Deadpool and, very possibly, a few other stragglers that can be pulled in from the peripheries of the X and 4 universes. He’s got a lot of odd problems and legacy quirks to work with too.

I may be late to the party here, but is there really a plan to develop a shared universe between the X-Men and the Fantastic Four?? I know that Sony and Disney want Spider-Man to cross into the Marvel Avengers Universe, but tapping the potential of the Fox-owned properties is very interesting.

Of course a lot rides on the success of the mysterious Fantastic Four reboot and the Days of Future Past X-Men flick from fan favorite director Brian Singer, but if both of those projects work, we may be seeing a lot more comic book movie madness in the near future (and that’s already anticipating the Avengers sequels, Ant Man and Doctor Strange!).

Upcoming Marvel Minimates and The Avengers’ Hulk

From Art Asylum come these images of upcoming minimates and the Marvel Select Avengers Hulk action figure.

The 3.75 Hulk Avengers toy isn’t the best, in my opinion, so I’m pleased that the large scale Select version
is much better. The green giant looks outstanding.

Yet another Iron Man, this time a better version of the Extremis armor previously released as a rather awkward and lumpy mini in the hard to find Civil War box set. The Rhino is a more-impressive version compared to the one released long ago (though I prefer the earlier simple one).

Iron Man and the Rhino

Unusually two rather obscure characters from Alpha Flight are coming our way, Box and Vindicator. Hopefully this means that further team members are in development such as Guardian, Shaman, Sasquatch and of course Puck.

'Box' and Vindicator

Ultimate Spider-Man Miles Morales makes his debut as a minimate alongside a new version of the Ultimate Captain America.

Ultimate Spider-Man (Miles Morales) and Captain America

The early 1990’s X-Men are getting a special release. This comes from the Australian outback era of the series when Longshot and Dazzler were members of the team. Colossus also bulked up to a larger than usual (and shirtless) look.

Dazzler and Longshot

Havok and Storm

Colossus, Wolverine and Rogue

Brood

It looks like a special Venom Through the Ages set is being released. I really like the latest version and the Eddie Brock mid-mutation is very well sculpted. Can’t say much about the others.

Venom set - 1

Venom set - 2

Finally, the Amazing Spider-Man movie minimates are a bit strange-looking… the Lizard is hauntingly similar to the Abomination minimate from the Incredible Hulk line… and that’s not a good thing.

Amazing Spider-Man and The Lizard

Art Asylum’s minimates are available at Toys ‘R’ Us, your local comic shop and online retailers such as ActionFigureExpress.

Quick reviews -Uncanny X-Men and Captain America

Captain America #2

by Ed Brubaker and Steve McNiven
I have to admit that I am still not entirely sold on the new Captain America series. Brubaker thoroughly revived the character for the modern age back in 2004 with stunning storylines that not only challenged the limits that the comic could reach but also incorporated its legacy. The action was more realistic at times (when not featuring a massive Nazi war robot walking about in Manhattan) and the emotions charged from issue to issue. The move from Steve Rogers to Bucky Barnes as leading man was a bit jarring but if anything it amped up the danger as Barnes was hardly a super soldier and therefore up against greater odds.

The new relaunch seeks to more firmly set Rogers back in his role as Captain America in the wake of Barnes’s death but it seems that a more fantastic and oddball approach is being taken. The new series began with a funeral for Peggy Carter a character who hadn’t been seen in ages (outside of the feature film) and the return of a characters that (to my knowledge) came out of nowhere. It’s not a bad idea, but it’s a bit confusing. A squad of Hydra agents wearing redesigned uniforms led by Bravo, a white-haired WWII operative out of action for decades. The ensuing back story involves reality manipulation, the interference of dreams by a young boy and more. It’s all very bizarre and for a series built on a more realistic approach, it comes from left field.

Nick Fury provides ample back story to Agent Carter regarding a young operative during WWII named Jimmy Jupiter who had the unusual ability to open doorways to imaginary realms. These doorways existed in dreamscapes and could be used as shortcuts between locations, allowing squads of commandos to appear from out of thin air. Unfortunately, Jimmy was attacked during one operation, stranding Agent Bravo along with Hydra agents that acted as the other end of the doorway… for sixty years. Now free somehow, Bravo has teamed up with the Hydra agents, armed with highly advanced weaponry and is back for revenge.

Brubaker and Niven are setting out to establish a new look and feel for Captain America, no doubt taking advantage of the popularity obtained by the movie and the reshuffling of the Marvel Universe due to Fear Itself. It’s all very weird and dream-like in its logic (the issue ends with a massive Captain America attacking the real one) and I wonder how it is impacting longtime readers. The scripts are still solid, the action intense and exciting and the artwork outstanding… but it’s all very weird.

A sister series ‘Captain America and Bucky’ is much more approachable by comparison. That’s not a slight on the regular monthly comic, but I can’t even guess what anyone just walking into a comic shop from the cinema would make of this.

Uncanny X-Men #542

by Kieron Gillen and Greg Land

The latest issue of Uncanny X-Men has accomplished what no other writer has since 1975.

Juggernaut continues his unstoppable approach toward San Francisco and the mutant refuge Utopia. A throng of devoted followers in his wake, he demands the destruction of Utopia itself, even offering leniency through his mouthpiece to everyone else if they get out of his way. This places the Mayor of San Francisco in a very delicate position. She has worked very hard to cultivate a cooperative relationship with the mutant population of X-Men yet she is also being pressured to protect the citizens of San Fran. Cyclops has led a valiant assault on the Juggernaut using all of his resources.

The previous issue and this one is pure role playing game logic. Each pairing of powers and skillful activation of key players has unfortunately resulted in no success. Gambit, Rogue, Magneto, Emma Frost and even Hope Summers are all set against the foe with no result at all and the Juggernaut gains still more ground with each passing moment. Even removing the very ground from beneath his feet does not halt the Juggernaut’s advance.

Finally, Cyclops calls upon the incarcerated Illyana Rasputin (in the brig for risking her friends’ lives in a war in Limbo) for assistance. Against a magical threat, she is their best option. Colossus and Kitty Pryde accompany Illyana to the realm of the Cyttorak, the source of Juggernaut’s power. In a recent issue of Thunderbolts, a similar quest was attempted with no success. In this case, Illyana is successful in obtaining a council with the great Cyttorak. Illyana informs Cyttorak that its servant Juggernaut has abandoned it and is serving the Asgardian god the Serpent.

Outraged, the Cyttorak rescinds its power from Cain Marko (Juggernaut), but coyly demands a new servant. Illyana steps forward but is interrupted by her brother Peter…

Colossus takes up the mantle of the Juggernaut

I have been very patient with Kieron Gillen’s run on the Uncanny X-Men and so far it has been a great success. The fact that so much has been done with a tie-in speaks volumes for Gillen’s skill as a writer. In the editorial at the back of the book, it is confirmed that Colossus’s change in status will not be undone in one issue and has longer lasting implications than one would expect. Despite the fact that so much time has passed since his first introduction, the character of Colossus hasn’t progressed at all. Even his death and return in the pages of Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men saw him return to the point he was at in the late 70’s! I have always enjoyed Colossus, but no one has ever really done much of anything with him. Even in battle he hardly makes an impact and is often knocked clear out of combat into the next county. Hopefully, this power shift will see him take a more active role in the comics.

Unfortunately, there is a mega even called Schism still in action that will call for the end of the current X-Men books and a reshuffling of the status quot. So we’ll have to wait and see if any of these changes are as long lasting as they should be or if Colossus will simply fade back into obscurity when the new books are released.

Quick review: Uncanny X-Men 535

X-Men: Breaking Point part 1

Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Terry and Rachel Dodson

As many readers may recall, I’m a big fan of the X-Men. Back in the day, I was deeply impacted by three comics that I read by sneaking into my brother’s room and carefully removing a classic Daredevil issue by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson as well as X-Men #141/142 – The Days of Future Past story. From that point I was a dedicated follower.

Granted, the series has had many ups and downs since that point, making it difficult to stick by the merry band of mutants through numerous restarts, creative changes, cross overs and… the horror that is Greg Land.

Matt Fraction has made both Iron Man and the Mighty Thor must read books, but somehow the X-Men have eluded his talent, in my opinion. This lack of quality in writing combined with the painful tracery of Land’s art caused me to drop the title outright a few months back. When I learned that Thor scribe Kieron Gillen along with the Dodson art team were coming on board, I decided to give it another go.

Part of the problem in keeping the X-Men enjoyable has to be juggling the many cast members and keeping a strong narrative at the same time. Additionally, there’s a massive backlog of continuity to research and keep up with. Therefore Gillen’s first issue includes Namor fighting a subterranean monster off the coast of Utopia, Magneto’s interest in the magic bullet that he drew to Earth bearing the long lost Kitty who is still trapped in her ghostly phased form and a call back to Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men storyline from way back (a comic that I still cannot understand the appeal of, but I’m in the minority there). It’s an impressive feat and he manages to pull it off while still generating just enough drama to keep readers coming back for more.

Breaking Point brings together several characters and plots from Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men series Breakworld, perhaps to attract fans of that storyline that may be brought back to the title by the popularity of the upcoming movie. It’s a gamble, but a safe one.

Agent Brand of S.W.O.R.D. calls on the X-Men to deal with a political upheaval on Breakworld where Colossus’ intervention created a power vacuum that he was reluctant to fill. A war craft from Breakworld appeared on Brand’s deep space scanners, headed for Earth. With very few resources and a strong desire to force the X-Men to clean up their mess, Brand recruits the team in a mission to the stars where they will intercept the craft and take it down from within.

The artwork is finally back in fine form. The Dodsons are amongst my favorite of art teams for the X-Men in recent years, evoking something of Paul Smith in their sleek lines. A massive cast of characters is slimmed down significantly by a small group taking a trip to the stars along with Agent Brand, where they discover that things aren’t exactly as they seem.

The plotting, characterization and dialog are sharper than they have been in decades. X-Men is a tricky comic that has a healthy dose of suspenseful drama, explosive action and a lot of continuity to cater to long time fans like myself. I don’t envy Gillen the task set before him, but I sure am happy that he took the job!

If, like me, you are a big fan of the X-Men but had given up on the series, this may be a good time to give it another go.

The Age of X is coming!

The alternate universe adventure spanning the pages of X-Men: Legacy and New Mutants kicks off in 2011 with a special issue acting as the first of an overarching pair of bookmarks (Alpha and Omega).

The storyline that is already being compared to Age of Apocalypse has a high water mark to reach, but the writing team of Simon Spurrier, Mike Carey and Zeb Wells could very well pull it off. Legacy and New Mutants have been two of the better mutant titles on the shelves (my personal favorite being New Mutants), making this cross-over event a must read.

Official release below:

Next year’s most talked about X-Men event gets bigger this March with AGE OF X: UNIVERSE #1 (of 2), from writer Simon Spurrier (SILVER SURFER: IN THY NAME) and artist Khoi Pham (CHAOS WAR). In the Age Of X, the mutants of the world never banded together to form the X-Men. But what of the Earth’s other heroes? In a world without X-Men, a world without hope, what side do the Earth’s Mightiest stand on? See the story of Marvel’s greatest heroes through new eyes as the future of mankind is decided in AGE OF X: UNIVERSE #1!

AGE OF X UNIVERSE #1 (of 2)

Written by SIMON SPURRIER

Penciled by KHOI PHAM

Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI

Rated T+…$3.99

ON SALE IN MARCH

Additional details and a team shot via Inside Pulse:

…[Writer Mike] Carey confirmed that “X” stands for “X-Men,” but that the story takes place “in a world that has never known the X-Men, in which the X-Men never came together as a team.” But “there’s also a character, kind of, that’s called X. By the time it’s over, it will have stood for several things”…

…[editor Daniel] Ketchum said the series will explore the original idea of “X-Men being something ‘extra,’” and that the characters “will be doing new cool things with their powers” and being configured into new relationships…

….At the start of the story, “There is a fortress–the whole world has become hostile territory for mutants, but there is this fortress where all the surviving mutants are invited to come,” Carey said, but unlike Utopia, “it’s surrounded by enemies.” The area around the fortress “has been squashed flat by years of conflict.” Ketchum added that the fortress emphasizes that “the battle is right at their door.”

Carey said there is “a very good reason” why “Age of X” is structured in ongoing X-books, and it’s set up as “a mystery thriller” that will explain why it relates to the 616 world. “We’re revealing it backwards,” Carey said, adding that the end would reveal why it was done this way….

…”Rogue is very much the protagonist and point of view character in the first of the three acts,” Carey said, but other characters would take center stage as the situation escalates. “But she is our entry character’”…

…There will be a tie-in book likely titled “Age of X: Avengers,” Ketchum revealed….

…Ketchum said the Phoenix character “is definitely not Hope,” and Carey added that Basilisk is Cyclops, wrapping up the call….

Update- cast image and text from CBR.com interview:

The dystopian political landscape will allow Carey to invest “Age of X” with a healthy amount of political subtext. “Just like ‘Civil War,’ it asks the question of how many things will you trade for security, and whether or not that’s a bargain that every pays off,” Carey remarked. “Like all X-Men stories, it’s also about the tension between groups and within groups. It’s about finding your identity in a very traumatic and challenging situation.”

“Age of X: Alpha” also details how the last remaining mutants come together to form an army in order to protect themselves from the ruling anti-mutant powers. “In the ‘Alpha’ issue, you get these chaotic, desperate individual responses to a situation that’s rapidly escalating out of control,” Carey said. “By the time we meet the characters in ‘Age of X’ proper, there’s an enormous solidarity that’s developed. It’s because they’re under siege. Every day is a battle for life and death. Nobody questions things or steps out of line, which has its upside. They all love each other and trust each other and they’ve totally identified with the cause. Of course, there’s a downside. If anybody steps out of line or comes up with a different way of approaching a situation, there’s kind of a zero tolerance for dissent. That’s a problem that Rogue has to face during the first and second issues.”

Rogue is just one member of a large core cast of characters that includes new versions of classic mutants like Magneto, Cyclops and Gambit as well as alternate reality takes on newer X-characters, as seen in a series of teaser ads. “The characters who were revealed in the teasers are all very important to the story. The core cast develops and grows. In Act One, Rogue is very much our way into the story. We see things from her point of view and the decisions she makes are crucial in setting the narrative into motion,” Carey explained. “Once it does start moving, though, other people get swept up into it; some because they’re directly connected to her, and some for other reasons. So in Act Two, we change our point of view character and have a larger core cast. Act Three is an exponential increase in scale. Everyone is involved and there’s probably a dozen characters at the center of it.”

In Carey’s story there are few remaining mutants, so characters who were arch-enemies in the 616 world may be the best of friends in “Age of X.” “There are some surprising omissions in the story. There are some powerhouse characters that you may expect to be part of this line up who are not present. Sinister is not there. Apocalypse is not there. Some of the most powerful ‘evil’ mutants in the 616 are notably absent in this story. There is a reason for who is and who isn’t there. Absolutely everything makes sense,” Carey revealed. “This will also result in some unlikely character pairings. For example, Cyclops – or Basilisk, as he’s known in the world of ‘Age of X’ – is in an intense and slightly messed up relationship with someone who is a villain in 616, or at least has a dramatically different agenda than the X-Men.”

In order to survive in the world of “Age of X,” many mutants have developed different code names, methods of operations and interpersonal relationships. One thing that hasn’t changed about these characters, however, is their basic personalities. “These characters’ lives have all been about surviving; staying one step ahead of the opposition. The world will not allow them the latitude to act as heroes or be seen as heroes,” Carey explained. “Having said that, these characters have the same personalities as their 616 counterparts. There’s a sense that the personalities of these characters will shine through regardless of what the world throws at them. That’s part of what we’re doing in this story. It’s one of the most enjoyable aspects of it; seeing how the people we know define themselves against these very, very different crises.”

February’s “X-Men: Legacy” #245 is the second chapter of “Age of X,” picking up some time after the “Alpha” issue. The set up of the issue is almost like something out of a zombie movie, with a horde of faceless enemies surrounding the mutants’ last remaining stronghold, Fortress X, trapping them inside. As a result, tensions are understandably high.

X-Men: Age of X cast

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X-Men First Class: images of Emma Frost hit web

The X-Men First Class prequel has many fans scratching their heads in confusion. A period piece movie set in the 1960’s, all of the details that I have seen to date contradict what we have seen in the previous X-Men and Wolverine films.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake), X-Men First Class will develop the relationship between Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) as they build the School for Gifted Youngsters as a haven for young mutants with nowhere else to go. Sebastian Shaw (played by Kevin Bacon) will play the role of super villain as the head of the Hellfire Club, a secret association devoted to mutant domination of the world dating back generations.

Recently, the film had started production, and finally the first images are available of January Jones as Emma Frost, the telepathic English socialite and White Queen in the Hellfire Club.

More here at I Am the Origami Kid

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New releases 6/30/10

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.

Captain America 1940s Newspaper Strip #1 (of 3)

Captain America 1940s Newspaper Strip #1 (of 3)
By: Karl Kesel, Butch Guice
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Uncovered at last: The 1940’s daily newspaper comic strip starring Captain America that you never knew about!Travel with us through the mists of time to the tumultuous days of World War II, when skinny Steve Rogers was transformed into the star-spangled, shield-slinging Super Soldier! And what is a classic Cap adventure without the two-fisted might of his wise-cracking, jaw-jacking sidekick Bucky? Plus: Rampaging robots! Secret underground cities! Dangerous dames and femme fatales! No-good Nazis that deserve a sock to the kisser! All brought to you by acclaimed writer/artist Karl Kesel! Buy U.S. war bonds…and this!
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Hybrid Bastards!

Hybrid Bastards!
By Tom Pinchuk and Kate Glasheen
Zeus is a god with a reputation for lechery, and it’s been driving his wife Hera nuts for years. Reaching her limit one night, she puts together an epic practical joke: she places a spell on Zeus that makes him fall in lust with every inanimate object in sight! It was a night Zeus doesn’t remember, but his godly seed took root nevertheless. Now, eighteen years later, his unnatural hybrid bastards wander the world. And because Zeus has a reputation to protect, these embarrassing freaks have got to go! But this motley crew refuses to go quietly. Through schemes both ingenious and idiotic – Cotton, a smarmy cloth patchwork; Carmine, a timid automobile; Corey, a self-loathing apple; Walter, a belligerent stack of bricks; and Panos, their gallant would-be leader – will force their negligent father to acknowledge them – that is, if their own squabbling doesn’t defeat them first! Collecting the mini-series that takes Greek mythology in a decidedly different direction, the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover includes a bonus story and pin-ups by talented guests.
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Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep #12 (of 24)

Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep #12 (of 24)
By: Philip K. Dick, Tony Parker, Bill Sienkiewicz, Moritat
Rick Deckard races back to the opera house to catch the renegade Nexus-6 android Luba Luft! Will he retire her in time? Is Deckard’s new partner secretly an android? Find the answers in this exciting issue of the Philip K. Dick’s science fiction masterwork that inspired Blade Runner!
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Prince Valiant: 1939-1940 (Vol. 2)

Prince Valiant: 1939-1940 (Vol. 2)
By Hal Foster
Swords and sorcery at their grandest as the classic adventure strip continues in second volume!
For 35 years, Hal Foster created epic adventure and romantic fantasy in his legendary Sunday strip, Prince Valiant. Realistic in its visual execution and noble in its subject, depicting a time in which the fabled warriors of history and legends fought together for the greater good, it remains one of the great masterpieces of the medium.

In this second volume, Prince Valiant helps his father reclaim his throne in kingdom of Thule, fights alongside King Arthur, and is made a knight of the Round Table in recompense for his bravery and wit. Bored by the peace he helped to create, Val decides to independently pull together the forces to battle the Huns’ descent on Southern Europe. When Val’s army breaches the Huns’ stronghold, however, he discovers that corruption reigns still further west in Rome. Thus Val sets off with Sir Gawain and Tristam of Arthurian legend fame, and the familial kinship of the trio sees them through chivalrous escapades, false imprisonment and daring escapes. By the end of this volume, they go their separate ways, and Val boards a ship to Sicily—yet a storm approaches, throwing him off-course, as adventure follows him everywhere.

Fantagraphics is proud to present these strips, which, thanks to the use of original proof sheets and advances in printing technology, are even brighter and crisper than when they were originally published 70 years ago. Foster’s work, painterly and sweeping, is finally treated to the grand depiction it deserves. These illustrative, time-honored comic strips will enthrall old readers and just as easily awe new ones. 112 pages of color comics
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Elephantmen #26

Elephantmen #26
By: Richard Starkings, Moritat, Boo Cook
‘QUESTIONABLE THINGS,’ Part Three Blackthorne is assigned to assist Hip and Ebony in tracking down the MAPPO agents loose in Los Angeles. Miki reluctantly agrees to help.
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Doomwar #5 (of 6)

Doomwar #5 (of 6)
By: Jonathan Maberry, Scott Eaton, John Romita Jr.
The Fantastic Four, Storm, Deadpool and the Panthers continue to hammer at Doctor Doom, attacking his worldwide network, destroying his factories, and trying to force him to face them on the field of battle. But you have to be careful what you wish for, because when Doom wages total war, he doesn’t leave any ammunition behind.
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X-Necrosha HC

X-Necrosha HC
By: CRAIG KYLE, CHRISTOPHER YOST, MIKE CAREY, DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI, ZEB WELLS, CLAYTON CRAIN, DIOGENES NEVES, CLAY MANN, ADI GRANOV
NECROSHA – the massive event tying X-FORCE, X-MEN LEGACY and NEW MUTANTS!

Selene’s Inner Circle stands revealed and her master plan has been set into motion. Watch as the resurrected dead lay siege to the X-Men’s headquarters, and the fight to survive the Black Queen’s vengeance begins. But while Warpath and Wolverine realize what’s happening, they may be too late to stop it. Because Selene is already well on her way to achieving ultimate power half a world away. Plus, the rest of the X-Men fight mutants back from the dead!

This title collects
X-FORCE #21-25, NEW MUTANTS #6-8, X-MEN: LEGACY #231-234 and X NECROSHA
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Thor #611

Thor #611
By: Matt Fraction, Pasqual Ferry
All new creative team! The perfect jumping-on point!

A bold new era for THOR begins under writer Matt Fraction and artist Pasqual Ferry! In the wake of SIEGE, Asgard must take its proper place as the Golden Realm, most glorious of the nine worlds of myth. But that means Thor’s home isn’t just a beacon…it’s a target! And what happens to the Asgardians and the denizens of all nine worlds — including Earth! — when a dark, destructive force from another reality comes on the warpath?
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Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Strange Tales Vol. 03

Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Strange Tales Vol. 03
By: Stan Lee, Joe Maneely, Tony DiPreta, Joe Sinnott, John Forte, Bill Everett, Gene Colan, John Buscema, Carmine Infantino, Bernie Krigstein, Paul Reinman, Harry Anderson, Ed Goldfarb, Dick Ayers, Bill Benulis, Jack Katz
In the 1950s Mighty Marvel was known by another name-Atlas-and during that era of tension and paranoia Stan Lee brought together the best and brightest artists of the era, all to scare the pants off you! From titans of the times like Joe Maneely, Bill Everett and Bernie Krigstein, to young talents like John Romita, Gene Colan and John Buscema, they all came together to make Strange Tales one of the greatest horror mags of the day.

Populated by vampires, ghouls, werewolves, mad scientists, stone-cold killers and outer space evils with an eye towards Earth, every issue brims with dark and horrific stories as could only be crafted in the days before the Comics Code.

So come share a coffin with the Marvel Masterworks and take a strange trip to the time when horror ruled the racks and the only thing scarier than the stories was turning the lights out after you read them.

This title collects
STRANGE TALES #21-30
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Alter Ego #94

Alter Ego #94
It’s ‘The Earth-Two Companion, Part II!’ with more on the classic 1963-1985 series that changed comics forever! The Huntress, Power Girl, Dr. Fate, Freedom Fighters, and more, with art by the greats of the period. Plus, part 2 of the George Kashdan interview, profiles on C.C. Beck and Marc Swayze courtesy of the Fawcett Collectors of America, and much more.
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Invincible Iron Man Annual #1

Invincible Iron Man Annual #1
By: Matt Fraction, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Salvador Larroca
The Mandarin is a collection of lies, stories, myths, and legends. But two things are true: He wears, upon each finger, an alien weapon of unimaginable powerÖand he’s going to kill Tony Stark. Is he a violent street crook born in a brothel? The scion of an aristocratic dynasty? Was his father was a petty criminal or an ambassador? Was his mother a British noblewoman, or maybe a dragon-chasing wastrel lost in the underbelly of the world?

He’s a murderer, a businessman, an artist, a terrorist, a hero. And this is the story of his life.

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Flash #3

Flash #3
By: Geoff Johns, Francis Manapul
It may be BRIGHTEST DAY, but when a mysterious group of so-called heroes turns up, another Rogue ends up dead. Plus, the mystery deepends as The Flash witness another murder – his own!
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Wonder Woman #600

Wonder Woman #600
By: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, GEOFF JOHNS, GAIL SIMONE, GEORGE PÉREZ, PHIL JIMENEZ, JOE MADUREIRA
You’re invited to the gala celebration featuring WONDER WOMAN talent from the past and present to commemorate this landmark issue!

Renumbered to reflect Wonder Woman’s starring role in 600 issues, this book features the industry’s top talent – including Geoff Johns, Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Gail Simone, Joe Madureira and more! Plus, readers won’t want to miss a chance to check out the exciting, all-new direction for the Wonder Woman universe as new ongoing writer J. Michael Straczynski (SUPERMAN, BRAVE AND THE BOLD, Amazing Spider-Man) provides a story of his own!

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Shade The Changing Man Vol. 03: Scream Time

Shade The Changing Man Vol. 03: Scream Time
By: Peter Milligan, Jamie Hewlett
Shade and Kathy George conclude their dangerous journey into the heartland on the trail of the deadly American Scream in this new SHADE collection featuring issues #14-19 of the acclaimed series.

This title collects

Shade the Changing Man #14-19
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Death Of Dracula #1

Death Of Dracula #1
By: Victor Gischler, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Marko Djurdjevic
He is the legendary Lord of the Vampires. Dracula. Who would dare attempt to overthrow him? Only Dracula’s son Xarus, a ruthless and clever upstart with the bold ambition to unite all the world’s vampire sects under one flag. But Xarus’s older brother Janus isn’t sure he likes the idea of a new regime and seeks allies to oppose Xarus. The ultimate battle to control Earth’s Creatures of the Night unfolds, with the future of the vampire race – and possibly the Marvel Universe – at stake.
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Lone Ranger Magazine May 1937

Lone Ranger Magazine May 1937
By: Fran Striker, H.j. Ward
‘The Masked Rider’s Justice.’

Justice meant more to the Lone Ranger and his companions that merely saving an innocent boy from a blood-lusting lynch mob; it meant following the job through until the youth’s name was cleared and the real murderer brought to justice.

Published by the same publisher as Spicy Detective, The Lone Ranger was an oddity for Trojan Publications. This reproduction of the original pulp magazine brings this rare collectible to a modern audience.
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IPHONE/IPAD/IPOD COMICS UPDATES
Batman Black & White: A Black and White World
Batman Black & White: An Innocent Guy
Batman Black & White: Good Evening, Midnight
Batman Black & White: Perpetual Morning
Batman Black & White: Two of A Kind
Green Lantern #21
Green Lantern #29
Green Lantern Corps #14
Green Lantern: Rebirth #1-#6
Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1
Incredible Hulk #4-#6
Invaders #1- #4
Jonah Hex #1-#6
Justice League: Generation Lost #1-#4
Marvel Knights #10
Marvel Knights #7
Marvel Knights #8
Mystery Society #1
New X-Men #34-#38
Planetary #1- #6
Superman/Batman #1-10
The Authority: World’s End #1
The Losers #1-#12
The Origin of Batman #1
The Origin of Superman #1
The Resistance #1
The Unwritten #1
Uncanny X-Men #481=#483