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Elfbytes September'08

(Note: this is not your average cut and paste, we actually write this stuff.)

This is for product starting to ship in November 2008.

This months Elfbyte credit goes to: Brock, James, Craig, Omar, Sean, Thomas & Ethan.

For your convenience, click links below to jump to a certain Publisher.

Independent Comics | Dark Horse Comics | DC Comics
Image Comics | Marvel Comics | Toys & Stuff

Remember to get your orders in ASAP! Initial orders due Sep 24th!

INDEPENDENT COMICS HIGHLIGHTS

ASPEN

MICHAEL TURNER: THE TRIBUTE GN

Written & illustrated by various. Cover by Alex Ross.

Whether you like his work or not, you have to accept that Michael Turner was a positive force in the industry. By all accounts he was a great guy who was always there for his fans and kind to those who worked with him. He was professional, courteous, and just plain nice to everyone around him. In creating his company, Aspen, he gave dozens of artists and writers a venue for them to learn from more accomplished professionals, and get the break that nobody else would give them. He was someone who worked passionately at what he loved best, and that kind of enthusiasm and professionalism isn't seen often enough. So if you were a fan, no matter how casual, think about picking up this book. If Aspen wanted to honour Turner, they'd donate every damn cent from this to cancer research. And check out the Aspen backlist, which features Turner collaborating with top writers like Geoff Johns and Jeph Loeb.

AVATAR PRESS

ALAN MOORE’S WRITING FOR COMICS GN

Written by Alan Moore. Illustrated by Jacen Burrows.

Originally written in 1985, this book may be slightly obsolete as a how-to textbook. However, it is a brilliant examination of one man’s writing process. And when that one man is Alan Moore, it is most definitely worth a read.

FREAKANGELS VOL. 1 TP & HC & SIGNED HC

Written by Warren Ellis. Illustrated by Paul Duffield.

Twenty-three years ago, twelve strange children were born in England. Six years later, the world ended. This is the story of what happened next. This volume collects the popular web comic, and can be read at www.freakangels.com, where it's updated every Friday. Or if you’re not that patient and like to read your stories in larger doses, this volume will be perfect for you.

BOOM! STUDIOS

FARSCAPE #1 (of 4)

Written by Rockne O’Bannon & Keith R. A. DeCandido. Illustrated by Tommy Patterson.

Well, it’s worked for BUFFY and ANGEL, and now Original series creator Rockne O’Bannon continues his epic sci-fi masterpiece by giving fans “Season 5” in comic book form. Otherwise known as Season 5 of Muppets in Space.

CARTOON BOOKS

RASL VOL 1: THE DRIFT TP

Written & illustrated by Jeff Smith.

The heartwarming story about a young thief who is run out of thief town with his two cousins, dimwitted lovable thief and shit-talking greedy thief. They meet cartoon animals and fight stupid, stupid rat creatures. No, okay. This is a bit more mature than his last work BONE, but here's Jeff Smith's next masterpiece, about a dimension-hopping thief looking ahead to his next score, while trying not to look back at his tortured past.

CHECKER BOOK PUBLISHING GROUP

RUSE OMNIBUS VOL. 1

Written by Mark Waid. Illustrated by Butch Guice.

Another one of CrossGen Comics’ better creations, Ruse told the story of detective extraordinaire Simon Archard and his partner Emma Bishop. Now collected in a massive collection, the first seventeen issues tell a tale of intrigue and detection, with spots of magic all over the place. Exciting and intelligent, it’s not to be missed.

DIGITAL MANGA PUBLISHING

FLAMBOYANT: THE ART OF UGETSU HAKUA

Written & illustrated by Ugetsu Hakua.

Considering DMP mostly publishes homoerotic manga, it was a bit of a shock to see a book with boobs on it. This is an art book for the character designer of the anime series BURST ANGEL, the video game PHANTASY STAR ONLINE, and other things that involve boobs. And possibly man love. Which sometimes happens after seeing boobs.

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

JUNGLE GIRL: SEASON TWO #1

Written by Frank Cho & Doug Murray. Illustrated by Adriano Batista.

It’s dinosaurs vs. blonds in itty-bitty jungle cat stripped bikini part 2! Jungle Girl returns under the direction of Frank Cho and Doug Murray, with Cho on covers (I wonder what Cho’s wife looks like…….sorry I trailed off there). If you like T n A with good old fashioned fun, thrills, and adventure then take a gamble and pick this title up. The first series was a lot of fun.

ZORRO HC

Written by Matt Wagner. Illustrated by Franceso Francavilla.

Zorro: Year One as brought to you by Matt Wagner. Do you really need to know more? Matt Wagner is a great writer who has revitalized another classic character in the vein of the Lone Ranger by breaking the character down to what makes him work. I love what Dynamite is doing with these classic icons. A classic tale of adventure and revenge awaits within these pages.

GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING

ADVANCE KNIGHT GN

Written by GZA. Illustrated by James Reitano.

Wu-Tang clan member GZA brings you a graphic novel that combines his two passions: Rap and Chess. Follow G as he makes his way through the rap world using his chess prowess. You heard that right, getting ahead in the rap world through being awesome at chess. I know it sounds like pure cheese but call me interested as the members of the Wu tang clan happen to be very smart and intriguing individuals. I’m kinda curious to see what Gza has done here. Now white nerds can feel like they have street cred, but not have to give up chess. Win-win!

I.D.W. PUBLISHING

ANGEL OMNIBUS VOL. 1

Written and illustrated by “Various People Who are Not Joss Whedon”.

Now that we have delicious, official Angel Season 6 comics (if you can stomach the crappy art, the story in AFTER THE FALL is pretty amazing), why would you want this stuff? Still, some people gotta have their Soul fix, so here are the four IDW Angel series all bound into one. Hopefully, IDW will adjust the size so it will fit next to those Buffy Omnibuses (omnibi?) from Dark Horse.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE LAST GENERATION #1

Written by Andrew Steven Harris. Illustrated by Gordon Purcell.

This looks like a really fun alternate universe (complete with a fantastic homage cover to the X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST) take on the TNG story. The Federation has been destroyed and the Klingons have conquered Earth. But the resistance is led by none other than Jean-Luc Picard, so there is still hope.

UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS #1 (of 2)

Written by Kevin Grevioux. Illustrated by Andrew Huerta.

It’s Underworld 3: The Prequel. Kevin Grevioux screenwriter and actor pens this two part adaptation of the upcoming new Underworld movie. We saw a glimpse of it in the first Underworld movie, this time all your questions will be answered. What happens when a vampire and a Lycan fall in love? The war begins here!

LITTLE BROWN AND COMPANY

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN HARDCOVER BOX SET

Written & illustrated by Herge.

OH MY GOD IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL I WANT IT BUT I CAN'T AFFORD IT BECAUSE I'M MOVING AND I AM SO ANGRY AT THE WORLD.

MOHAWK MEDIA

MR. T GN

Written by Christopher Bunting. Illustrated by J. L. Czerniawski.

Don’t make Mr. T come and find you for not reading his graphic novel.

OPTIMUM WOUND COMICS

KING OF NEKROPOLIS GN

By. Danijel Zezelj.

They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but if you judge it by its cover and synopsis then it’s all good. Ras Casal is a private detective haunted by demons and old memories, on the verge of complete madness. He is hired by an old friend Prof. Noah to find Theo Hall, a brilliant computer scientist. The search for Theo becomes a decent in Ras’ personal hell and his journey into Nekropolis may be his last chance at redemption. It’s always great to pick up something totally not in your comfort zone, cause you never know, you may have found something unique.

RADICAL PUBLISHING

CALIBER VOLUME 1: FIRST CANON OF JUSTICE HC

Written by Sam Sarkar. Illustrated by Garrie Gastonny.

A western re-telling of the Arthurian legend. Here the sword Excalibur is re-imagined as the mythical gun Caliber, whose mighty power will bring law into this here lawless land. Featuring gunslingers and shamans galore, this story is now in development to be a high-octane motion picture with John Woo at the helm. Get on the bandwagon early and pick up this luscious hard cover.

Soon to be a major motion picture!

TWOMORROWS PUBLISHING

THE FLASH COMPANION

Written by Keith Dallas.

These companion books are an awesome way to learn about the long histories of some of DC’s most iconic characters. This volumes looks to educate on the legacy of the Flash. If you just want to know more about your favorite character or simply enjoy comic history this is some great reading.

DARK HORSE COMICS HIGHLIGHTS

THE ADVENTURES OF LUTHER ARKWRIGHT 2^nd EDITION TP

Written & illustrated by Bryan Talbot.

One of the greatest science fiction comics of all time gets a new edition with new scans from the original artwork that restore a lot of detail lost in previous versions. Modern SF comics owe a lot to Luther Arkwright. Warren Ellis steals tricks from this book all the time. Read this and then read Newuniversal and tell me you don't see it.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #20

Written by Jeph Loeb. Illustrated by Eric Wright & Georges Jeanty.

Did you know there was supposed to be a Buffy Animated Series for television? Jeph Loeb was all set to executive produce the show alongside Joss Whedon, and animator Eric Wright. The show was in the proposal stage but apparently the execs and “you’re not too bright” television network didn’t want to green light it. So instead, Jeph Loeb and Eric Wright take the reins of this special stand-alone issue with Georges Jeantry in a twisted animated/cartoon-like tale, that picks up from the Fray/Buffy crossover. Watch out for the Carebears!

THE CLEANERS #1 (of 4)

Written by Mark Wheaton & Joshua Hale Fialkov. Illustrated by Rashan Ekedahl.

Darkhorse brings you the next great Crime Noir story, focusing on a group of specialized trauma scene sanitizers, charged with cleaning up some of Los Angeles worst crime and accident sights. Now, struggling to come to grips with all of the horrible things they have witnessed, this rag tag foursome will face their greatest challenge as they uncover a mystery predating the city itself.

GIGANTIC #1 (of 5)

Written by Rick Remender. Illustrated by Eric Nguyen.

Rick Remender has shown multiple times that he is a man with remarkable sci-fi talents with strange, strange ideas. THE TRUMAN SHOW meets the IRON GIANT in this mini-series about a Gigantic alien superhero brainwashed and sent to Earth, as the spotlight in an intrusive television program being filmed without his knowledge. Promising to mix a wry insight on modern media culture with intense sci-fi superhero action this is a refreshing shift from the usual “superhero meets superhero and they tussle” story.

KULL #1 (of 6)

Written by Arvid Nelson. Illustrated by Will Conrad. Variant Cover by Joe Kubert.

The Robert E. Howard revival continues as Kull gets his time to shine. Kull, much like Conan, is one bad man; a leader of his people more equipped to handle a sword than scepter. Kull’s adventure will be a bit more on the magical side, but as Dark Horse has proven time and again, their revivals rock. But there are SO many Kevin Sorbo jokes to make here.

MY NAME IS BRUCE #1 - OFFERED AGAIN BABY!

Written by Milton Freewater, Jr. Illustrated by Cliff Richards.

When Bruce Campbell, B-movie action legend, is kidnapped, he believes it is all part of a movie. But what he doesn’t realize is that the Chinese demon that’s bearing down on him is no special effect… it’s real! Now he must use all the skills and deadly one-liners he’s learned from his training as Ash and Brisco County, Jr. if he is to survive.

UMBRELLA ACADEMY DALLAS #1 (of 6)

Written by Gerard Way. Illustrated by Gabriel Ba. Variant Cover by Jim Lee.

Sure they saved the earth and fulfilled their destiny, but their home was destroyed, one of the team is being held together by tape and another has lost her power. Moral victories suck. Make sure you don’t miss out on the sequel to last year’s fantastic debut.

DC COMICS HIGHLIGHTS

BATMAN #682 & #683

Written by Grant Morrison. Illustrated by Lee Garbett. Cover by Alex Ross. Variant cover by Tony Daniel.

Told entirely from the point of view of one of the DCU’s most noble unsung heroes, this retrospective tale will give you a glimpse into a Gotham without The Batman, and the evolution of the brooding detective. Read the obituary of the Dark Knight Detective as told by his greatest and most important influence, Alfred Pennyworth.

This two-parter bridges the gap between “R.I.P.” and FINAL CRISIS.

DETECTIVE COMICS #850

Written by Paul Dini. Illustrated by Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs.

“Heart of Hush” concludes in an anniversary issue as an “R.I.P” tie in! Does it get any more epic than that! It looks like Paul Dini will actually achieve something in making Hush an interesting character. Thus far Dini has been doing a phenomenal job and looks to redefine the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. There have already been some big revelations in this story, and we can only hope this arc lives up to its promising potential.

SPECULATOR ALERT! -This could be the death of Catwoman.

BATMAN: CACOPHONY #1 (of 3)

Written by Kevin Smith. Illustrated by Walt J. Flanagan & Sandra Hope. Covers by Adam Kubert.

Kevin Smith returns to comics! He’s a pretty good writer, but unfortunately he couldn’t hit a deadline if his children’s lives depended on it. DC assures us that he's handed in a script for #1 and #2, but of course, in pure Smith style, we probably won't see #3 until he makes another movie starring Ben Affleck. Obviously DC hasn’t learned anything from Kevin’s last stint in comics when he was writing for Marvel. DAREDEVIL: TARGET or SPIDER-MAN & BLACK CAT anyone? So really, the question isn’t whether you have high hopes for the book, but whether you want to make the necessary 2 year commitment it will take to complete this three part story.

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #11

Written by Frank Miller. Illustrated by Jim Lee & Scott Williams. Variant Cover by Frank Miller.

Anyone want to guess how many curse words don’t get blacked out in this one? Maybe Batman or Robin or Batgirl will not remember to where underwear? Maybe this will be sent out by mistake and then asked to be destroyed only to create a massive windfall of collector frenzy ebay shopping? Maybe DC will not let batman enjoy a frosty beer and cover it up as a Soda pop? Stay tuned to find out.

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #19

Written by David Hine. Illustrated by Doug Braithwaite.

In a tale written by long-time SPAWN scribe David Hine, The Phantom Stranger teams up with Green Lantern to come to the aid of an alien civilization desperate for help. David Hine is no stranger to mystical action, and his handling of The Phantom Stranger should be intriguing to say the least. Illustrated by the talented Braithwaite, these issues promise to be both highly entertaining and literate.

FINAL CRISIS #6

Written by Grant Morrison. Illustrated by J.G. Jones & Carlos Pacheco.

The penultimate chapter of the year’s most intriguing and complex cross-over arrives as the heroes of the DCU face the combined might of the Gods of Apokalips for what could be the final time. But Darkseid and company are but a preliminary bout, as the real menace steps out from the shadows. Mandrakk is coming. Call it inaccessible, or call it brilliant, but Final Crisis is mythical and meta-fictional world-building at a level rarely seen in the comics medium. The DCU will truly never be the same again.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #21

Written by Geoff Johns & Alex Ross. Illustrated by Dale Eaglesham & Nathan Massengill.

The “One World Under Gog” arc is nearing it’s conclusion, and damn am I excited to see where it’s going. JSA has been an extremely consistent series month after month that constantly ups its own ante. Big things are on their way for the first super team.

And for those of you looking to overdose on Alex Ross, you might want to check out the following one shots:

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL: MAGOG #1

Written by Peter J. Tomasi. Illustrated by Fernando Pasarin. Cover by Alex Ross. Variant cover by Dale Eaglesham.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL: THE KINDGOM #1

Written by Geoff Johns. Illustrated by Fernando Pasarin. Cover by Alex Ross. Variant cover by Dale Eaglesham.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL: SUPERMAN #1

Written & illustrated by Alex Ross. Variant Cover by Dale Eaglesham.

Yes, Alex Ross isn't merely a painter of middle-aged people in spandex, he is also a writer. And in a WIZARD interview, he went off on how he hates when hack writers take his favourite superheroes and make them all dark and gritty. Like that, whaddya-call-it. EARTH X. Or KINGDOM COME. Alex Ross HATES THAT SHIT.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #48

Written by Jim Shooter. Illustrated by Francis Manapul.

The Legion renaissance continues under the excellent team of Shooter and Manapul. What is a Legion run without Legion try-outs? Yes folks, it’s that time of the year once again. Follow the exploits of Night Girl, Gazelle, Sizzle, and Turtle as they try to impress Lightning Lad and the rest of the Legion. Who will make it? Will any of them? Plus, a United Planets government leader gets assassinated!

MANHUNTER #36

Written by Marc Andreyko. Illustrated by Michael Gaydos. Cover by Matthew Clark.

The first arc of the newly relaunched series concludes with this issue. If you haven’t been reading this series since it started up again this spring, you’re really missing out. Excellent writing, consistent characterization, and the wonderfully moody artwork of Michael Gaydos all in one fantastic monthly package.

NIGHTWING #150

Written by Peter J. Tomasi. Illustrated by Don Kramer & Jay Leisten.

A Batman “RIP” tie-in! With Batman out of action, it’s up to Nightwing to stop Two-Face from using the same acid that created him to scar the residents of New York. Peter Tomasi continues his mission to propel Nightwing back into the upper echelon of DC’s heroes, and he’s doing a fine job of it.

REIGN IN HELL #5

Written by Keith Giffen. Illustrated by Tom Derenick & Justiniano.

A war that promises to forever change the mystical landscape of the DCU heats up as magical heroes like Nightshade and Ragman are caught up in the battle to control hell. Will Neron retain control? Or will Lord Satanus and Lady Blaze shatter the status quo? And who will our heroes side with?

Find out.

SECRET SIX #3

Written by Gail Simone. Illustrated by Nicola Scott & Doug Hazlewood.

I picked up the first issue on a whim and damn was I pleased. This rag tag group of villains have a very unique dynamic that borders between disturbing and hilarious. The mystery villain is also extremely intriguing and scary. I’m on this ride for the long haul now and you should hop on before you miss out.

SGT. ROCK: THE LOST BATTALION #1 (of 6)

The most iconic character of the wartime rags is back, accompanied by his fellow classics The Haunted Tank and Johnny Cloud. Trapped behind enemy lines they are forced to fight their way out of the Vosges Mountains through a force ten times their own. This promises to bring the same intensity as A&E’s similarly titled movie from a few years back; gritty realism, and raw humanity, easily another Sgt Rock success! Long a staple of the DCU’s war comics, Sgt. Rock makes a welcome return under the sure guidance of superstar Billy Tucci.

ACTION COMICS #871

Written by Geoff Johns. Illustrated by Pete Woods. Cover by Alex Ross.

“New Krypton” part 4. Now with thousands of Kryptonians walking the Earth…ur…I mean flying the Earth, people begin to feel safe and protected. But little do they know, not everyone was raised on a farm by the Kents. Introducing the new Nightwing and Flamebird.

SUPERMAN / SUPERGIRL: MAELSTROM #1 & #2 (of 5)

Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray. Illustrated by Phil Noto.

The things people will do for love. When a vicious Apokoliptian villainess named Maelstrom arrives on Earth to kill Superman as a means of winning over Darkseid, it is up to Supergirl and Superman to stop her. NOT a FINAL CRISIS tie-in! Check it out if you want mythic action without the continuity headache!

TERRA #1 & #2 (of 4)

Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray. Illustrated by Amanda Conner.

Amanda Conner has a refreshing and crisp take on heroines. Her sleek style that provides a strong sexiness for female characters is perfect for this title that introduces the next great DC heroine. Terra, previously seen in SUPERGIRL, is all that stands between our world and a new evil rising from the depths of the earth itself. Will she stand and fight, or fold and flee?

TRINITY #23 – #26

Written by Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza. Illustrated by Mark Bagley and various.

Normally I wouldn’t recommend the mid point of a story, but in this case the climax is huge! With the titular (and no titular is not a reference to a woman’s mammary glands, you perverts!) characters missing, the rest of the DCU has to step up big time. Can the likes of Green Arrow and Black Adam pull it off when the pressure is on, or do they choke worse than my fellow co-worker Craig on a date?

BATMAN THE MAN WHO LAUGHS TP

Written by Ed Brubaker. Illustrated by Doug Mankhe, Patrick Zircher, Aaron Sowd, & Steve Bird.

One of the defining Joker stories finally makes its way to Trade paperback and it’s about damn time. The wait is finally over! Now witness Batman’s first encounter with the clown prince of crime and how their relationship was defined.

VERTIGO

MADAME XANADU #6

Written by Matt Wagner. Illustrated by Amy Reeder Hadley.

Displaying the longevity of Neil Gaiman’s creations, the character of Death, that spunky goth-girl with attitude from THE SANDMAN, pops up in Vertigo’s newest fantasy sensation. In this chapter, Madame Xanadu wagers her immortality in a game of chance with Death. Wagers with the Endless, however, never go quite as planned (just ask Hob from THE SANDMAN). But Madame Xanadu is no ordinary mortal, and the mind delights at the possibilities of the contest’s outcome.

SANDMAN: THE DREAM HUNTERS #1 (of 4)

Story by Neil Gaiman. Adapted & ilustrated by P. Craig Russell. Cover by Yuko Shimizu.

When it comes to adapting material into graphic form, nobody’s better than P. Craig Russel, especially with regards to Gaiman’s work (MURDER MYSTERIES and CORALINE). Now, he takes a turn at adapting one of Gaiman’s most celebrated works. Released ten years ago, The Dream Hunters was a prose novella featuring illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano. A story of myth and majesty, filled with lyrical prose and lush artwork, it went on to win numerous awards. Under Russel’s pen, it is sure to discover a new life, and a new audience, so don’t miss it.

SILVERFISH TP

Written & illustrated by David Lapham.

Silverfish was actually my first introduction to David Lapham and I was blown away by his originality. This is Urban Noir at its comics finest, as we follow and watch a young girl named Mia fall into a world of Crime and Lies as she tries to get her father’s affections. Are you ready for the nail biting suspense?

YOUNG LIARS VOL. 1 TP

Written & illustrated by David Lapham.

And Lapham’s newest creation is collected for your discovery. This series has gotten off to a fantastic over-the-top start, and now is your chance to read just how good Young Liars is.

WILDSTORM

PUSH #1 & #2 (of 6)

Written by Marc Bernardin & Adam Freeman. Illustrated by Bruno Redondo. Cover by Jock.

Who is Jim Lee sleeping with to get all these liscensing contracts for movies and video games? The man is a business genius! And no, I do not have a man-crush on him. In anticipation of next year’s blockbuster new movie Push, comes this action packed prequel miniseries!

IMAGE COMICS HIGHLIGHTS

BODY BAGS: ONE SHOT

Written by Jason Pearson. Illustrated by Jason Pearson & Dave Stewart.

I love Pearson's art but he is so DAMN SLOW. This has already been cancelled a few times, but I just know it's going to be worth the wait. Mack and his daughter Panda are back! Panda? If you were ever curious about Body Bags and why it has become a sought after title, along with Pearson’s great artwork, you won’t want to miss this one.

INVINCIBLE #58

Written by Robert Kirkman. Illustrated by Ryan Ottley.

Invincible and Atom Eve! Ah young love, how…BLECH…sorry I threw up in my mouth. If for some strange reason you’re not already reading this title, ignore the cutesy hand-holding cover and pick it up immediately, as Kirkman delivers a consistently entertaining read.

JINGLE BELLE: SANTA CLAUS VS, FRANKENSTEIN

Written by Paul Dini. Illustrated by Stephanie Gladden. Variant cover by Greg Horn.

Okay, so this isn't the lamest “versus” comic I've ever seen. That honour goes to the recent SUPERMAN & BATMAN vs. VAMPIRES & WEREWOLVES. But you know who I want Santa to fight?

Jared from Subway. That’d be rad.

LIQUID CITY GN

Written & illustrated by various. Cover by Shelly Wan.

This collection looks like it might be all over the map, but some of it looks very promising. Well worth a look to see some stuff you won’t find anywhere else.

MARVEL COMICS HIGHLIGHTS

ADAM: LEGEND OF THE BLUE MARVEL #1 (of 4)

Written by Kevin Grevioux. Illustrated by Mat Broome.

When an extremely obscure (as in previously non existent) super villain attacks New York City and defeats the Mighty Avengers, only one man can stand against him. Now a thoroughly whipped Iron Man is racing to solve a 40 year old mystery, and uncover what came of the once and mighty BLUE MARVEL, the only person to ever halt the vicious Anti-man.

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE SPECIAL (one-shot)

Written by Christos Gage & Dan Slott. Illustrated by Steve Uy.

I don't understand why an issue like this, which is pretty much done by the regular team isn't just added into the regular line of numbers? I get that the artist is different, but a fill in artist isn't unheard of, and it's just going to be collected into the same collection as the issues before and after. And no one who isn't already reading the book is going to give a shit, so what's the point?

ATTENTION AVENGER FANS: Please let us know if you don't want this.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI:13 #7

Written by Paul Cornell. Illustrated by Leonard Kirk. Cover by Bryan Hitch.

What started off as just another SECRET INVASION mini-series has grown and flourished into its own excellent series, and rightly so. It started with a bang and continues to crank up the excitement from issue to issue. Britain’s super team has become a welcome reprieve from the Avengers. This is a great time to jump on and see what all the hubbub is about.

DAREDEVIL & CAPTAIN AMERICA: DEAD ON ARRIVAL #1 (one-shot)

Written by Tito Faraci. Illustrated by Claudio Villa.

See, now this I understand. One shot featuring two characters that aren't going to meet anytime soon (since one is pretty dead) done by a team not working on either series. This is totally a proper one shot. I approve. And it looks great too!

DEADPOOL #4

Written by Daniel Way. Illustrated by Paco Medina.

Medina, former X-force artist, returns to the Marvel U on what is essentially the first issue of this great new series. No longer constrained by needing to “tie-in” to the next big event, Daniel Way will be able to cut loose and really take the Merc with a mouth for a spin. Unfortunately for old Wade, Daniel Way isn’t the only one plotting in this story. Ba-Bum-Bum Tsssshhh!

ETERNALS ANNUAL #1

Written by Fred Van Lente. Illustrated by Pascal Alixe. Cover by Ed McGuinness.

This one is another tricky one. For starters, I think a title should get twelve issues out on time before they can release an annual. Otherwise we have to call this like it is: a one-shot to fill time in between late issues of a book. Still, Van Lente is quite a good writer, so this might be worth checking out.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #7

Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning. Illustrated by Paul Pelletier.

We’re 7 issues in and already an homage cover to the first issue! What does this mean!?! A new line up it looks like. Abnett and Lanning have re-defined cosmic Marvel and this series is consistently showing us why they are the best sci-fi writers in the biz. Great characterizations and epic struggles with the fate of the universe always at hand make this a must read every month.

IMMORTAL IRON FIST #20

Written by Duane Swierzynski. Illustrated by Travel Foreman.

It’s been 2 issues since the departure of the Fraction, Brubaker and Aja and I have to say it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. In fact it’s been pretty enjoyable. Unlike CABLE which moves at a snail’s pace, Swierzynski ran with the momentum of Fraction’s final issue. Don’t write it off just yet people – give it a chance as it looks like it’s still a good series.

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #7

Written by Matt Fraction.

Illustrated by Salvador Larroca.

Iron Man & Spider-Man written by Fraction.

That’s enough reason for anyone to want this one.

IRON MAN: THE END

Written by David Michelinie & Bob Layton. Illustrated by Bernard Chang.

How should the end go?

I hope aged and decrepit Iron Man goes on a drunken rampage, killing millions, before puking inside his armor, rusting it shut and drowning.

MS. MARVEL SPECIAL: STORYTELLER #1 (one-shot)

Written by Brian Reed. Illustrated by Guiseppe Camuncoli.

Please tell me "Why is Ms Marvel so popular?"

I admit my first exposure to her was when Rogue from X-men had fully absorbed her abilities (which gave the Rogue character a darker edge). But why is she the shit lately? Is it simply that she has "Marvel" in her name? And why is Giuseppe Camuncoli drawing books that I desperately want to avoid, when I'm so crazy about his art?

PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL ANNUAL #1

Written by Simon Spurrier. Illustrated by Werther Dell’Edera. Cover by Dave Wilkins.

This one looks like it could be a little trippy. But the image of the Punisher on the cover is a Bowen Designs punisher bust with shadow legs, and that’s pissing me off. All it makes me think is that Dave Wilkins is lazy. And c’mon – freaking shadow legs! At least Simon Spurrier is on writing detail which makes the issue worth while.

SECRET INVASION #8 (of 8)

Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Illustrated by Leinil Francis Yu.

It ends here! The truly shocking, pulse pounding, ass kicking conclusion to the Marvel event of the year … unless it ends up being another fizzle ending like CIVIL WAR.

Either way, Marvel promises that things will never be the same again! (‘cuz, we’ve never heard that before)

SECRET INVASION: INHUMANS #4 (of 4)

Written by Joe Pokaski. Illustrated by Tom Raney. Cover by Stjepan Sejic.

The hunt for Black Bolt concludes. Can Medusa save her husband? Will Black Bolt once again sit on the throne of the Inhumans? The seeds for the upcoming WAR OF KINGS are planted here - Black Bolt versus Emperor Vulcan.

AMAZING SPIDERMAN #577

Written by Zeb Wells. Illustrated by Paolo Rivera. Variant cover by Sal Buscema.

A double sized spectacular issue pits your friendly neighbourhood Spider-man against your vengeful neighbourhood Punisher. Zeb Wells will do his best to breath new life into an old story, as he puts a cab driving Spidey smack in the middle of a showdown between Frank Castle and Moses Magnum for a power enhancing serum.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #578

Written by Mark Waid. Illustrated by Marcos Martin.

Now this is an exciting creative team. Martin’s artwork reminds me a lot of the early Ditko stuff and gives me the same excitement as reading those first issues. The cover shows the over used (or is that “classic”?) image of Spider-Man trapped under the rubble, but don’t let that small gripe stop you from picking this one up.

THOR: MAN OF WAR (one-shot)

Written by Matt Fraction. Illustrated by Patrick Zircher. Cover by Marko Djurdjevic.

Best Thor ever. Why? Let's compare: Matt Fraction Thor? Kills giants and engages in bloody battle against his father, Odin, against the stark backdrop of legendary Asgard. J. Michael Straczynski Thor? Talks to rednecks against the scenic vista of Broxton, Oklahoma. Having said that, I'll take Olivier Coipel over Patrick Zircher.

THUNDERBOLTS #126

Written by Andy Diggle. Illustrated by Roberto de la Torre. Cover by Francesco Mattina.

Andy Diggle begins his run on Thunderbolts, and I’m fucking excited! Diggle wrote an excellent Vertigo book called THE LOSERS, which was so full of ridiculously awesome badassery that I loved every second of it. His take on Marvel’s most volatile team looks to be one hell of a wild ride, and he has already been quoted as saying he plans to push things further than Warren Ellis, and that just tickles my taste buds. Well worth picking up!

ULTIMATUM #1 & #2 (of 5)

Written by Jeph Loeb. Illustrated by David Finch. Variant Covers by Ed McGuinness.

Nothing will ever be the same in the Ultimate Universe! Wait. Wasn't that the point of the Ultimate Universe to begin with?

Roll on, Fall of the Dark Ultimate Secret Civil House of Apocalypse Clone Saga!

ULTIMATUM TIE INS:

- ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #58

- ULTIMATE X-MEN #98

WEAPON X: FIRST CLASS #1 (of 3)

Written by Marc Sumerak. Illustrated by Mark Robinson. Cover by Michael Ryan.

No. Stop. I get that X-MEN FIRST CLASS is a cute little book for young readers, full of Teen Angst and The Drama. Oh, the Drama. I can even buy a WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS where gruff Logan is the reluctant mentor to shy Kitty Pryde. But Weapon X First Class? Where a charming homicidal monster slaughters everyone but secretly writes emotional poetry? Why not X-Force First Class where Rob Liefeld learns anatomy from a beautiful nurse on crack? Or Excalibur First Class where all the mutant teens go to a secret magic school called Xavierwarts? Fuck Marvel. It hurts because I just know certain customers are going to pick this crap up and it hurts even more because they are the same ones who don't read Elfbytes. But why am I complaining? Should I take there money until they inevitably drop the title? No, I'd rather their money go to buy better quality books. Ahhh but I have the power to not stock the title.... hmmmmmmmm.

WARNING: IF YOU WANT THIS YOU BETTER ORDER IT.

WOLVERINE: CHOP SHOP

Written by Mike Benson. Illustrated by Roland Boschi.

Wolverine has decided to put an end to the underground organ trade by using himself as bait. Poor unsuspecting sods that lure the unsuspecting sods who donate organs are about to trade slice for slice with the master of the cutty cutty… hope they have their affairs in order.

Marvel should totally do a version of Operation the game with Wolvie (y'know that clown that beeps if your touch the edges). Did you know that they already did one with Spider-Man?

X-FORCE #9

Written by Christopher Yost & Craig Kyle. Illustrated by Mike Choi.

It was inevitable that the original X-Force characters (and we use the word original quite loose and carefully when speaking about Rob Liefield) would show up in the new X-Force. A must for any of you old-school X-Forcers as Domino makes her triumphant return.

UNCANNY X-MEN #504

Written by Ed Brubaker. Illustrated by Terry Dodson.

The next X-story starts here as the celebrated Wonder Woman artist makes his return to the X-universe, where his career began. With the X-men scattered across the globe, a despondent Cyclops is left to answer a public uproar and media controversy when footage of the Alaska massacre is revealed… as it turns out, Sarah Palin has a temper.

X-MEN / SPIDER-MAN #1 (of 4)

Written by Christos N. Gage. Illustrated by Mario Alberti.

The title says it all. The most popular Marvel Properties in one happy book. YAY! A four part series that will wind it’s way through every era of the Marvel U, like back when Ditko and Lee where still talking, or back when Liefield still had credibility, or back when Deadlines still mattered, or back when people eagerly shelled out for shiny variant covers which was quite different then when people do that today; after all, today’s variants feature the art work of Ron Lim. RON freaking LIM!

FANTASTIC FOUR: WORLDS GREATEST PREMIERE HC

Written by Mark Millar. Illustrated by Bryan Hitch.

Collecting the first fantastic arc by Millar and Hitch as the FF face their greatest challenge ever: Reed Richards’ first love. Yeah I know, I always thought it was Sue Storm too. Stop screwing with my brain Marvel, with your continuity rewrites! I don’t like change! Next you’ll tell me Wolverine has a son or Bucky survived.

TOYS & MISC. HIGHLIGHTS

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 4^th EDITION STARTER KIT

If you haven’t already jumped onto the new, simplified D&D then now is your chance with a new starter set for all newcomers who are curious and want to get started. Everything you need to get playing can be found in this kit, and Wizards always does a great job with them. Try it out, it’s a fun game, you may just enjoy it.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS DRACONOMICON I – CHROMATIC DRAGONS

4^th edition has been released for about 3 months and we already have a Draconomicon. Wizard is pumping out books so it can be on par with 3.5 as soon as possible. The level of depth the books have had so far has been impressive so I hope the trend continues here.

GI JOE MIGHTY MUGGS

YO JOE!! We all know how awesome the mighty muggs for Star Wars and Marvel have been, so is there any doubt that these are going to rock. A great first wave launch consisting of Duke, Cobra Commander, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, guarantees these will be red hot. So get them while you can. Now you know. And knowing is half the battle.

HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY ANGEL OF DEATH DELUXE ACTION FIGURE

I remember kicking myself for not ordering the huge 32 inch version from gentle giant, but the price was hefty. Now it seems someone is shining some sort of flashlight on me as a 13” version of the beautiful Angel of Death will be available. I don’t care what you thought of the movie (personally, I thought it was great), but what we can’t deny is how amazing Del Toro’s monsters are. I know I'm getting mine... Order yours today.

HEROES OF THE DC UNIVERSE: GREEN LANTERN BUST

The women of the DC universe series of busts were phenomenal and very true to the art which inspired them. This new series of statues from DC direct promises to do the same and is a must for any DC fan.

The series starts with a great Green Lantern bust as designed by Carlos Pacheco.

I can hear James cringing as I write this.

JOKER ENAMELED CUFFLINKS

People I implore you – if you want them, order them! Don’t wait, because we won’t be able to get any more. So many hearts were broken after we sold our Batman and Superman cufflinks. But be careful: owning these just may make you want to buy a purple suit.

SANDMAN I T-SHIRT

Kelly Jones brings us a dark and moody piece of art depicting Morpheus circa Seasons of Mist. If you like your Sandman brooding, this is the shirt to get.

SANDMAN VII T-SHIRT

P. Craig Russell illustrated what many consider to be the best of the Sandman issues, number 50. Straight from this magical tale filled with beauty, Russell’s art on this shirt depicts Morpheus in all his mystical glory, bringing with him a profound sense of wonder.

SANDMAN: THE WAKE T-SHIRT

A white t-shirt to match Daniel, the ivory hued successor to Morpheus’ throne, this piece of clothing proudly displays Michael Zulli’s delicate pencil work, a fitting tribute to the new king of dreams.

STAR WARS MIMOBOT 2GB DESIGNER FLASH DRIVES (SERIES 3)

Quite pricy, but pretty damn cool. Look stylish for your peers by showing off your awesome looking two gigabyte flash drives. Pick from C-3PO, EMPEROR PALPATINE, RED CEREMONIAL GUARD & CUTE EWOK WICKET!

THE TICK STATUE

Spoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His first appearance in 1986 was as the mascot of a comic shop newsletter, and quickly The Tick gained notoriety for the superhero spoof's absurdist antics. A black and white independent comic followed, and then The Tick caught a big break with the animated TV series in 1994!

This statue stands about 12 inches and is one of the best homage to the Tick thus far.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE BOBBLEHEADS

Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s storybook comes to theatres this fall, directed by Spike Jonze.

Max and 3 of the monsters he meets, Emil, Bernard, and Moishe have been sculpted as 6 inch tall detailed bobbleheads, based on Sendak’s award winning artwork.

Man I loved this book as a child.

ZOMBIE OUTBREAK SURVIVAL KIT

Are you ready for the Zombie Invasion? If you haven’t read Max Brooks’ ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE, you should be ashamed. But that’s just a side note. Get your self preparations started with this neat little kit complete with information, outbreak tape, bite kits and more.

BOOKS (the kind with no pictures)

STAR TREK MEMORIES SC

Written by William Shatner and Chris Kreski

Shatner reminisces about the making of the monumental sci-fi legend, and keeps things remarkably frank and ego-free. That in itself, is quite an achievement. But more than that, the book is insightful and engaging, and definitely deserves a spot in any sci-fi, Star Trek, or television fan’s bookshelf.

BUTTON BUTTON SC

Written by Richard Matheson.

Richard Matheson, author of I Am Legend and Hell House, is an astounding talent, and a master of the short story. He shows off this mastery in a new collection that takes its title from a story that asks the question: If you were given $50,000 every time you pressed a button, but someone died, would you still press it?

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