NEWS EDITION #20 - AVENGERS VS. X-MEN, VALIANT PREVIEWS RELAUNCH, THE TICK GETS INVINCIBLE, GATES OFF HAWK & DOVE AND IDW GOING DIGITAL

Welcome one and all to this 20th edition of CBC's News Edition. And we got some very big stories in comics this week.  Let's get to it.


AVENGERS VS. X-MEN

by Frankie Rodriguez

    With sales in Marvel slowly gaining speed again with the recent hits of Incredible Hulk # 1, Uncanny X-Men # 1, Wolverine & the X-Men # 1 and Avengers: X-Sanction # 1, Marvel announces it's big event for 2012. And while we were expect some kind of monthly event, most comic fans were absolutely shocked when we got our first glimpse of Avengers vs. X-Men; the 12 issue, bi-weekly maxiseries event starting in April. The 12 issue event will feature the two biggest teams within Marvel duke it out as the battle is heralded by the return of the Phoenix Force.

 There has every really been an Avengers vs. X-Men Super blowout. So it's almost as if we have to do it,
 said Brian Michael Bendis.

     Bendis will be joined by not 1 but 4 other writers in this Mega-event which includes Jason Aaron, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction and Jonathan Hickman. The five writers will all write at least 2 issues each with 2 of the writers writing 3 issues, each writer taking a turn then returning to the next in order. Joining the five writers in the major epic are artists John Romita Jr, who just finished a recent stint on the Avengers as penciller; Olivier Coipel, who has become apt in drawing both franchises since he drew House of M several years ago; and Adam Kubert, who is no stranger to drawing the X-Men but has done little Avengers work over the years.
     The series will ship bi-weekly with a special code on each of the print issue to obtain a digital copy. Google + will intergrate special promotions for the title before and as the maxiseries prints.

   Storywise, Captain America (and former Uncanny X-Men) writer Ed Brubaker stated:

We're gonna go, you know, balls to the wall. Widescreen. Big ideas. Big action. Big moments.

    The story begins with two events: First, The current Avengers: X-Sanction miniseries where Cable plans on killing the Avengers within 24 hours in order to protect Hope. And second, Nova returning to Earth, stating that the Phoenix Force is back and possibly more destructive than ever after the events of the new Marvel Point One Special released last month. With hints that Hope may become the new host for the Phoenix Force and that the new Phoenix Force could very well destroy the universe with a host . . . the two teams will throwdown like never before.
   
    And the effects, Jonathan Hickman stated:

 Only one can come out on either side. It's gonna impact every book that we have.

 This was hammered home by both EIC Axel Alonso and Brian Michael Bendis as they confirmed that there will be a winner, much like Civil War. And Axel said that, like Schism, each team will have a defensible side:

    You've got two populations whose motivations are simple and understandable and defensible. That's part of the beauty of this. You're seeing a story that evolves out of 'What would you do?'"

 And Hope Summers isn't the only factor. Wanda Maximoff, aka The Scarlet Witch, will also play a part in this after the events of the Avengers: Children's Crusade maxiseries.  And while The Thing will be in it as part of the New Avengers, none of the other Fantastic Four  or the Future Foundation will play a part in the story.  What side will Wolverine's X-Men, who just split from Cyclops's X-Men will play. Will they side with the other X-Men after such a huge, philosophical split? And how will the Summers family play into this alongside Cyclops & Hope? Cable is slated to be sticking around while X-Man is firmly behind his father. Yet, what role Rachel Grey (Summers) will play? Being the one host of the Phoenix who had the most control of it and the current surviving member of the Grey Blood line after the Shi'ar Secret Death Squad killed them, Rachel will have a large stake and role in the story.

 And while Marvel confirmed that this will be the event of 2012, they will not be flooding the market with one shots or miniseries. Alonso himself stated that most, if not all, of the tie-ins will be within the ongoing series as needed and will be significantly less than previous years events.

 Avengers vs. X-Men will start with a recently added prologue issue #0, written by Brian Michael Bendis & Jason Aaron with art by Frank Cho coming out in March. Avengers vs. X-Men #1 will hit stores in April.



VALIANT FIRST HINTS OF RELAUNCH IN MAY

by Frankie Rodriguez 


   Several months back, CBC news edition announced that Valiant Entertainment had been reborn with a vengeance. And now, Valiant announced last week their first few titles for their relaunch and other plans. During Free Comic Book Day this year, Valiant will release a special sampler of their new titles debuting that month . ..  for free. The new anthology will feature stories from Harbinger, Bloodshot and X-O Manowar.
  The new titles will have small stories to give readers a taste of what is to come in the new titles. Plus, it will sport the cover with a brand new, redesigned X-O Manowar, done by Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic. The sleek warrior will be one of the flagship characters of the new relaunch.
 Particular with the redesign of X-O Manowar, the hero will be sporting a sword as Valiant Executive Editor goes into why Aric has a sword this time around.

The man inside the X-O Manowar suit is Aric of Dacia, a Visigoth warrior from about 400 AD. One of the elements I discussed with Jelena and our writer is the idea that while Aric has a value system that might be totally foreign from ours, that doesn't mean he isn't intelligent. Just because a predator drone might be incomprehensible to him, that doesn't mean that he speaks in monosyllabic sentences or grunts when he's hungry. When we were developing the character in house, I discussed General Maximus from "Gladiator," or William Wallace from "Braveheart," as characters that might have the same vibe. When Aric gets ahold of the X-O Manowar suit -- the most sophisticated piece of armor in the universe -- he's dropped into a blender. And although the concept of the subconscious might be alien to him, he still has one. How the armor interacts with him -- with his body and his mind -- is one I wanted to address. The sword is part of his culture, part of his time, and even if it manifests subconsciously, it might be natural that this is how he'd interface with this armor -- or how the armor might interface with him. I don't want to give away too much -- how we execute will be seen in the pages of the book -- and I can tell you right now the creative team we have on board is absolutely crushing it. But from a design standpoint, I think Jelena did an amazing job with the sword. You can just feel the energy coursing through it. In a few weeks we'll announce the team, but I've done this a few times, and I can tell you that the work so far has been stellar.


 X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger and Shadowman are just some of the titles that will be part of the relaunch. The FCBD offering will be released in May.


THE TICK GETS INVINCIBLE FOR #100

by Frankie Rodriguez 


    The Tick. A super strong, near invulnerable super hero that is full of slap stick humor, funnier villians and all around fun for two decades now. Invincible, the Robert Kirkman hero who gives us a Superman powered like hero with a very different life and outlook with wonderful, sometimes bloody, adventures. This March, the landmark 100th issue of The Tick will have the hero meet the Image iconic hero in a special team up as Chairface Chippendale and a mysterious new villain will hold the universe in peril as The Tick, Invincible, Atom Eve and Arthur must stop this threat to save Tick's universe . . . and possibly Invincible's. The landmark team up will also feature a 20 page special History of the Tick, going through the history of this series till now.

    The Tick #100 is written by Benito Cereno with art by Les McClaine, guest-starring Invincible and Atom Eve, will hit stores this March.


IDW GOING SAME DAY PRINT TO DIGITAL

by Frankie Rodriguez

     IDW has been quietly been shifting things over with their line of late. The new Cobra Commander was revealed in the recently released GI Joe issue #8. Transformers #31 ended the ongoing series with the new Death of Optimus Prime issue slated to come out this week as well as the two new ongoings: Transformers: Robots In Disguise and Transformers: More than Meets the Eye to hit stores in January. They even gotten licensing to True Blood comics to start a new ongoing in March.

    Now, IDW is pushing aggressively in their digital sales with a move to comiXology as of  Wednesday of last week. IDW now has a new storefront on iSO and comiXology with new apps for their titles. And as of March 2012, IDW will be going same day print to digital to all their books across all kinds of digital platforms: iSO, Kindle, Web and Android. You will be able to select a back catalogue of titles as well as purchase new ones.

   ComiXology co-founder & CEO David Steinberg commented on the new partnership:

Powering IDW’s entire catalog across their bestselling apps is a privilege. The diversity of IDW’s line offers something for everyone, whether you’re a comic fan or not. With the recent addition of Comics by comiXology pre-loaded on the Kindle Fire to our platform, IDW now has a fully cross-platform solution that can reach new fans.


 IDW Publisher & CEO Ted Adams added:

IDW has always been dedicated to making our comics and graphic novels as accessible as possible on as many platforms as possible, and this deeper IDW-comiXology relationship continues that commitment. We are strong believers that digital comics expand the reach of these books and consistently bring new readers into the industry.


  This deal was instituded after the recent addition to IDW titles pushed comiXology's sales pushed the digital comic book business saw a dramatic 50% rise of sales over their threshold on same day as print offerings. All titles on digital format will be offered at regular cover price. IDW same day as print for their entire line begins this March.


GATES LEAVES HAWK & DOVE TO LIEFIELD

by Frankie Rodriguez

      Finally, as announced this past weekend, Sterling Gates final issue of Hawk & Dove will be released next month. The writer was taken off the book after he was told that they wanted to go a different direction with the book. This marks the second writer in the row who had suffered such a drastic change; just weeks after announcing Ron Marz's last issue of Voodoo is this month's Voodoo # 4 with the same reasoning that DC wanted to take a different direction. Liefield was asked to take over as writer, according to the iconic artist, after a weekend of dilberation, he took on the assignment.

   Gates had stated that he had written issue #6 but that was scraped as well as part of his final issue so that it would help transition over from him to Liefield with ease.

 Hawk & Dove #5 written by Sterling Gates & Rob Liefield and art by Liefield hits stores next month



VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Just cause man. Just cause!




Happy Holidays Everyone. Next Week, we are gonna do the best and worst of 2011 special. See you then.

THIS JUST IN # 2 - COMICS FOR WEEK OF DECEMBER 7, 2011

Here's the breakdown of the comics coming out this week:


DC COMICS
ACTION COMICS #4 
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Rags Morales
$2.99

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


ANIMAL MAN #4
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Travel Foreman
$2.99


After coming face to face with the mysterious Totems, Buddy learns the truth about Maxine's destiny - but it may be too late, as The Red is infiltrated by agents of The Other, and Buddy struggles to control his new, unfiltered powers with deadly results! Meanwhile, Ellen and Cliff must face the last Hunters alone!


BATWING #4
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Ben Oliver & Chris Cross
$2.99


As Massacre's bloody reign of murder continues and more heroes fall, Batwing closes in on this mad villain. But with his memories stirring, Batwing's dark past begins to emergeÖ At last, the truth of his past will come to light.




DC COMICS PRESENT CAPTAIN ATOM #1
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Cafu
$7.99


In the popular co-feature from ACTION COMICS #879-889, Captain Atom's memory is falling apart right in the heat of battle! Can he get it together in time to face off again Major Disaster? 


DETECTIVE COMICS #4 
Written & Art by Tony Daniel
$2.99


As Batman uncovers a deranged plot with far-reaching tentacles that touch some of the city's most elite citizens, he finds himself facing off against his newest and most fearsome foes: Dollmaker and his twisted family of killers! 


GREEN ARROW #4
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Dave Watkins & Dan Jurgens
$2.99


It's a Tokyo showdown! At an international tech expo that caters to the likes of WayneTech and Queen Industries, party crasher Green Arrow finds himself in the sights of a mystery woman bent on taking down 'evil' corporations - like the one Green Arrow owns! 


HAWK & DOVE #4
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Rob Liefield
$2.99


Following last issue's ultra-brawl with Condor and Swan through the halls of the White House, Hawk and Dove have more questions than answers! Luckily for them, they've taken a prisoner! But even as they begin to question him, sinister forces align with a new target in mind: Dove's boyfriend, Deadman! Can Dove protect the man she loves, or will her ghostly lover fall into darkness? 


HELLBLAZER ANNUAL #1
Written by James Robinson
Art by Simon Bisley
$4.99


A dying woman's desperate need to see her long lost son sends John Constantine on a mission in 'Suicide Bridge,' a haunting tale of evil and melancholy that finds John using his occult connections to learn why so many young people are going missing. It's a story full of strange places and desperate lives that leads Constantine to unearth his own connection to the mysterious disappearance of a boyhood friend.


HUNTRESS #3 (of 6)
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Gullen March & Marcus To
$2.99


The Huntress has vowed to take down one of the most powerful mob bosses in Europe...but who's the even more powerful man behind him? And why is she facing a showdown in the ancient ruins of Pompeii? 


I,ZOMBIE #20 
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Mike Allred
$2.99


How are the people of Eugene dealing with the fallout of the recent zombie invasion? In this issue, we catch up with ghost girl Ellie and her new friend, Frankenteen.


JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #4
Written by Dan Jurgens
Art by Aaron Lopresti
$2.99


On their first mission, the team has been separated and defeated - or so it seems! But when a new, galactic threat shows its face, will our heroes be able to defeat it or will the whole world suffer destruction on a cosmic scale?


LOONEY TUNES #204
Written by ?
Art by ?
$2.99


Ah, the holiday season! Hot cocoa with mini-marshmallows, candy canes, Yule logs, menorahs, Christmas Trees, sleigh bells - and giant, goofy Yetis! (That's the Abominable Snowman to you!) Join Bugs and the Looney Tunes gang for a joyful romp in a snow-packed Blunderland!


MEN OF WAR # 4
Written by Ivan Brandon
Art by Viktor Kalvachev & Tom Derenick
$3.99


Easy Company wrestles with the betrayal of one of their own, as each man processes Kobra's secret in his own way. But the company must forge ahead, marching into unknown enemy territory - while an ancient evil lies waiting in a salty haze. Will this be the end for Rock and his men? Plus: A team of mecha fans turned engineers have built the hardware of their dreams, but will it work out the way it always does in the movies? 


O.M.A.C. #4 
Written by Dan Didio & Keith Giffen
Art by Keith Giffen
$2.99


Kevin Kho finally makes it back home - but while trying to pull the pieces of his life back together, he inadvertently disconnects from Brother Eye! Unfortunately, Kevin's freedom comes with a price, because now he's alone and forced to defend himself against Checkmate and their lethal Bio-gators! 


PENGUIN: PREJUDICE & PAIN #3(of 5)
Written by Gregg Hurwitz
Art by Symon Kudranski
$2.99


In the third issue of best-selling novelist Gregg Hurwitz's PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE miniseries, the Penguin has a new girlfriend! But his new relationship is just an excuse for bigger heists and more vicious crimes, all to obtain gifts for his loved ones! And the flashier the crime, the more easily it catches Batman's eye. With The Dark Knight hot on his trail, will the Penguin back away from his life of crime - or will he continue his push to take over Gotham City's criminal underworld? 


RED LANTERNS
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Ed Benes
$2.99


A Red Lantern's tale never has a happy ending, so brace yourself for the tragic tales of Skallox, Zillius Zox and Ratchet. Their violent destinies set the stage for their new life as seekers of bloody vengeance!


SCOOBY DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #16
Written by Sholly Fiseh
Art by Robert Pope
$2.99


Those meddling kids are back on the case - and this time they're in Egypt, helping to investigate the terrifying tombs of Tootincandy. The Mystery, Inc., gang has mummy madness to deal with - and, of course, Shaggy and Scooby are nowhere to be seen!




STATIC SHOCK #4
Written by John Rozum & Scott McDaniel
Art by Scott McDaniel
$2.99


Static is hot on Piranha's trail, but will he be able to stop Piranha from building his metahuman army? Plus: The Pale Man's true allegiance is revealed, and a foe from Static's past has returned - and he's brought his latest Q-juice creation: Guillotina!


STORMWATCH #4
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Chris Burnham & Alejandro Barrionueva
$2.99


The earth is being eaten alive! As the unstoppable alien antibody continues consuming everything in its path, Stormwatch awakens a slumbering [information redacted] buried deep within the earth. But has the team found an ally or a threat greater than the antibody? However it plays out, the DC landscape literally will be changed forever! Plus: Don't miss a major change to the Stormwatch roster! 


SUPERNATURAL #3 (of 4)
Written by Brian Wood
Art by Grant Bondustin Nguyen
$2.99


Sam's never shaken the memory of the beautiful and deadly 'Emma of the Isles.' When a mysterious box arrives containing a plane ticket to Scotland, a cellphone and a gun, Sam doesn't waste any time catching the first flight out. But in a rural village, where's Emma? Why are the locals a little...off? Can Sam handle this mission without his brother? 


SWAMP THING #4
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Yanick Paquette & Victor Ibanez
$2.99


All across the world, those with a primal connection to the forces of life and death can feel that something is very wrong. The war between The Green andThe Other has begun, and the knights of decay walk the Earth unchecked - but without Alec Holland, the Green has no champion strong enough to fight back! 


SWEET TOOTH #4
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Matt Kindt
$2.99


'The Taxidermist' concludes as Thacker leads his crew on an all-out assault on Simpson's camp in an attempt to slaughter the mysterious antlered child! But will the child live on, or will the plague spread? Jeff Lemire and Matt Kindt conclude their mini-epic in bloody fashion with implications that will affect Gus, Jepperd and more.






BOOM STUDIOS
BETRAYAL OF THE PLANET OF THE APES #2 (of 6)
Written & Art by Gabrial Hardman
$3.99


Hot on the heels of BOOM!'s sold out, best selling Planet of the Apes ongoing series comes a brand new four issue mini co-written and drawn by Gabriel Hardman. Taking place during the continuity of the original fan-favorite film, the feared and respected General Aleron finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could transform ape/human relations! Aleron's journey puts him face to face with Dr. Zaius!


CLIVE BARKER'S HELLRAISER #8
Written by Clive Barker & Christopher Monfette
Art by Stephen Thompson
$3.99


Kirsty Cotton goes back to Hell! When Kirsty receives a startling offer from someone in her past, she's forced to look at her mission and her entire life in a brand new way. The choice she makes will change the story of Hellraiser forever! Covers by Tim Bradstreet and Nick Percival. 


ELRIC: THE BALANCE LOST #6
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Dmitri Armand & Francesco Biagini
$3.99


See why critics and fans love Elric's return to comics! The mystery is deepening for the Eternal Champion, as Elric, Hawkmoon, Corum, and Eric Beck come face to face with nearly unstoppable forces of Law and Chaos. But can they find the key to restoring the balance in time to stop catastrophe across the Multiverse? New York Times bestseller Chris Roberson and legendary fantasy author Michael Moorcock are bringing Elric back to comics in a big way in this critically acclaimed series!


IRREDEEMABLE #32
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Diego Barrento
$3.99


The 4-Part Irredeemable/Incorruptible crossover event begins here! The Plutonian is hunting Max Damage across the planet and Max, torn apart by tragedy, is desperately seeking the key to the Plutonian's defeat. Will Max Damage be the champion that the world has been waiting for - or will his past finally catch up with him? This is the crossover event fans have been begging for! A can't-miss issue of Mark Waid's multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated superhero series! Not reading Incorruptible too? You're missing out! The first chapter of the Irredeemable/Incorruptible crossover! Continued in Incorruptible #25 this month!


RINSE #4
Written by Gary Phillips
Art by Paul Azaceta & Marc Laming
$3.99


Acclaimed crime novelist Gary Phillips returns to BOOM! with a new brand of crime! The stage is set. The pieces are in place. But time is running out for Jeff Sinclair! Steve Maxon, the kingpin of Vegas, has come to San Francisco in search of his stolen casino skim money, and he ain't happy. The stakes have never been higher - will Jeff be able to pull off the rinse, or will he die trying?


VALEN THE OUTCAST #1
Written by Michael Alan Nelson
Art by Liam Sharp & Matteo Scalera
$1.00


SPECIAL $1 FULL FIRST ISSUE! The King is dead - long live the Dead King! King Valen Brand was a just king and a great warrior until he was killed by a Necromancer in battle and resurrected as one of the walking dead. Now he's considered an abomination in his own realm, an outcast with only one purpose: to restore his lost soul! From the mind of fan-favorite creator Michael Alan Nelson (28 Days Later, Robert E. Howard's Hawks Of Outremer) comes Outcast, a visceral new ongoing series that blends 'epic fantasy' with 'sword-and-sorcery.' Perfect for fans of A Game of Thrones and Conan. 






AVATAR PRESS


CROSSED:PSYCHOPATH #6 (of 7)
Written by David Lapham
Art by Jacen Burrows & Raulo Caceres
$3.99


Harold Lorre has started showing his true colors and proven to be the most sadistic of predators. But with two Crossed clans locked in a battle to the death nearby the quickly-thinning band of survivors is running out of places to hide! Join us as David Lapham and artist Raulo (Capt Swing) Caceres descend into a story about the worst aspects of human behavior, a tale of unspeakable evils, violent assaults on both mind and body, and of longing for death and the sweet release it will bring. When civilization crumbles in one terrifying moment; when people are gleefully breaking into unthinkable acts of violence all around you; when everyone you love has died screaming in agony: What do you do? There is no help. There is no hope. There is no escape. There are only the Crossed. Crossed: Psychopath #6 is available with a Regular cover by Jacen Burrows, a Wraparound cover by series artist Raulo Caceres, a Torture cover also by Caceres, and a special rare Red Crossed retailer incentive. 






DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT


THE BOYS #61 
Written by Garth Ennis
Art by Russel Braun
$3.99


As stormclouds gather, Vought-American enlist the mighty Team Titanic, but the Boys find themselves up against another super group entirely. Hughie finds Annie's patience running thin, while MM struggles to resolve an embarrassing family crisis without alerting the rest of the team. Meanwhile the Seven begin to fall apart, in part two of Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men. 


GARTH ENNIS'S JENNIFER BLOOD # 7
Written by Al Ewing
Art by  Marcos Marz
$3.99


Jen's bloody war against the Blutes is over and it's time for the cleanup phase of the operation. All's well that ends well? In a word... no.

This issue: what a woman who kills six men during the week does on a Sunday, what you think about when the only witness to your mass murder vanishes and you didn't do it, and what happens when you short-change a powerful man with a rotten temper. And waffles. Delicious waffles.


TOTAL RECALL # 4 (of 4)
Written by Vince Moore
Art by Cezar Rezak
$3.99


This is the epic conclusion to the mini-series spinning out of the hit movie. Everything on Mars has changed. Yet, as Quaid learns, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

He is still running for his life. He is still fighting for his life. He is still the hero who holds the fate of Mars in his hands. To save the day, Quaid will have to fight like never before. This last issue is where all of the mysteries are solved. Will Quaid win? If he doesn't, then all of Mars will lose. 


VAMPIRELLA ANNUAL #1
Written by Brandon Jerwa
Art by Lucio Parillo
$4.99


Provenance, Kansas may not be listed on the map, but it's a location of great mystical significance - and the home of a twisted cult that worships Vampirella! When the object of the cult's adoration comes to Provenance looking for answers, things are definitely going to get personal...and bloody. There are surprises in the shadows, choices to be made...and does anyone else hear wedding bells? I hope Vampi's picked out a dress.


VOLTRON #1
Written by Brandon Thomas
Art by Ariel Padilla
$3.99


Ultimate victory has never been closer for the Voltron Force. King Zarkon's brutal regime has been pushed to the edges of the galaxy, left to wage a series of desperate and losing battles to claim innocent victims while they still can. But Zarkon knows something---a secret about Voltron over a hundred years old that could change everything for the Galaxy Alliance. This isn't the Voltron we all know, but one redefined and re-imagined by those he and his adventures have inspired over the years. This is Generation Voltron... 




IDW PUBLISHING




COLD WAR #3
Written & Art by John Byrne
$3.99


Former MI6 agent Michael Swann is racing against time to prevent nuclear dominion over the planet from falling into Soviet hands. Which is harder than it looks while preventing his own death aboard a train speeding across Europe in the dead of winter! The penultimate issue of 'The Damocles Contract' rolls toward an explosive conclusion! 


ETERNAL DESCENT VOL. 2 #2 (of 6)
Written by Shaun McLaughlin
Art by Jason Metcalf
$3.99


The battle rages on at the center of the universe! As Loki schemes to pull the plug on the Music of the Spheres, Sirian and his friends-including Gus G.-make a final, desperate bid to save our reality. Can Loki be stopped, and at what cost?! Also features COBALT: 'Prescription Perception,' Part 2. 


G.I.JOE #8 
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Tom Feister & Will Rosado
$3.99


ALL HAIL COBRA COMMANDER! As the Cobra Civil War draws to a close, the Cobra council must make a decision and elect one victorious candidateÖ but all is not as it seems within the ranks of Cobra High Command. Back-stabbbing, unexpected twists and dangerous revelations lead to a tense standoff between candidatesÖ but only one shall rise to the rank of Cobra Commander! Featuring a special scratch-off lottery cover revealing the new CC! 


HP LOVECRAFT'S THE DUNWICH HORROR #3 (of 4)
Written by Joe R. Lansdale
Art by Menton3 & Peter Bergting
$3.99


The limits of sanity are stretched as the horror continues! After gaining access to the fabled Necronomicon, four young friends attempt to harness its power to stop the cosmic horror they have unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. A new vision of the most famous H.P. Lovecraft story continues, courtesy of Joe R. Lansdale and company! 


JURASSIC PARK DANGEROUS GAMES #4 (of 5)
Written by Greg Bear
Art by Jeff Zornow & Jorge Jimenez
$3.99


Agent Espinoza has evaded near death on Jurassic Park countless times over the past 24 hours. Now he's looking to payback the man behind it all- drug kingpin Cazares! That means breaking into Cazares' headquaters in the Jurassic Park hotel... which is fortified with countless gun-toting goons! How can Espinoza storm the compound? A herd of triceratops might not hurt, for starters! 


TRANSFORMERS #31
Written by Mike Costa
Art by Casey Coller
$3.99


CHAOS is over. The future holds many mysteries, but the past can never be forgotten. As Ironhide looks back at what was, he comes to realize that it may hold the key to what lies ahead. A new peace has settled, and a new time has come for the Autobots, for the DecepticonsÖ for Cybertron. 


TRUE BLOOD: THE FRENCH QUARTER #4 (of 6)
Written by Mariah Huehner & David Tischman
Art by David Messina & Claudia Balbonia
$3.99


Eric deals with his Hep D infection, but he is forced to lean on Sookie and Bill for help-with surprising results. They also learn the truth about Guerra's death at the hands of Godric more than 200 years ago. But who is the real killer, and can they find him before the New Orleans police? Meanwhile, Lafayette creates a new drink for the vampire girls on the go at Fangtasia-The Transfusion.






IMAGE COMICS


BLOOD RED DRAGON # 2
Written by Jonathan David Goff
Art by Carlo Soriano
$3.99


 KNEEL BEFORE THE MIGHT OF DARKEST OBLIVION! As the world teeters on the brink of annihilation, Yoshiki is thrust into battle against a massive invasion force led by Oblivion's mightiest mass murderer, KY'RANN the Slayer. It is up to Yoshiki, with the aid of his new allies, the beautiful, yet deadly, SHRINE MAIDENS of the DRAGON TEMPLE, to defeat Oblivion's armies. But can he hope to control the power of the Blood Red Dragon before it consumes him? Or is this the last standoff for the world's newest hero? Created by comic book legend, STAN LEE, and rock icon, YOSHIKI, with art direction by the one-and-only, TODD McFARLANE, BLOOD RED DRAGON introduces a brand-new hero to the world of comics!!! BORN OF LIGHT. POWERED BY DARKNESS. A HERO WILL RISE.


BREED III #7 (of 7)
Written & Art by Jim Starlin
$2.99


...AND IT ENDS WITH A LIE!' It's the conclusion to Starlin's decade-spanning Ray Stoner versus his demonic father battle! What more need be said? 


CHEW #22
Written by John Layman
Art by Rob Guillory
$2.99


Two Kidnappers.


HACK SLASH #10
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Dan Leister
$2.99


'INTERDIMENSIONAL WOMEN'S PRISON BREAKOUT,' Part Two The woman's prison escapees are staking their claims on NYC! Cassie and Samhain are caught in the middle! While fighting the likes of killer ladies Dr. Weir, April Fool and Bomb Queen, they're also fighting the urge to knock boots! A little bit of sexy, and a whole lot of bloody! 


HEART #2 (of 4)
Written by Blair Butler
Art by Kevin Mellon
$2.99


The evolution of cage fighter Oren 'Rooster' Redmond continues - but will a fist to the face stop his momentum before it starts? If you like dudes punching each other in the grill, this one's for you!


LAST OF THE GREATS #3
Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov
Art by Brent Peeples
$2.99


THE DEAL,' Part Three Meet mankind's last hope for survival. He's called The Last, and he hates our guts. The Last is the center of our universe, Superhero, Celebrity, God-Emperor - and loving it. But Beaumont has one final dark secret that even the Last doesn't know. The balance between good and evil shifts once more. 


MORIARTY
Written by Daniel Corey
Art by Mike Vosburg
$2.99


THE LAZARUS TREE,' Part Three Veteran artist MIKE VOSBURG joins the creative team for this link in the Lazarus Tree mystery, which finds Moriarty reflecting on a case in 1880's Kingston, Jamaica. Answers are revealed to present-day questions, including the identity of the sniper that has been murdering residents of Kyauktada and stoking the fires of rebellion.


REED GUNTHER #6
Written by Shane Houghton
Art by Chris Houghton
$2.99


'FROM COWBOY TO COWMAN!' Reed recalls the tale of how he and his grizzly bear steed, Sterling, first met. This spooky and fun origin tale is the perfect jumping on point for folks who have never read the exciting adventures of Reed Gunther!


SPAWN #214
Written by Will Carlton
Art by Szymon Kudranski
$2.99


'THE GATHERING STORM,' Part Two No longer willing to sit idly by as outside forces manipulate his life, Jim sends a violent warning in order to secure an uneasy alliance with one of his greatest enemies. Meanwhile, an old friend is pulled deeper into the pit of intrigue surrounding the new Hellspawn, as Marc's search into Jim's mysterious past takes a surprising turn.


STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE #3 (of 4)
Written by Justin Jordon
Art by Tradd Moore
$2.99


The acclaimed new series continues as Luther decides to take advantage of his new talents and become a hero. He's got the powers, he's got the costume, but is it enough? Meanwhile the Librarian is tightening the noose around Luther's life as the body count begins to pile up. 


THOUGHT BUBBLE ANTHOLOGY #1
Written by Andy Diggle, Stuart Gordon & Antony Johnston
Art by Charlie Adlard, Duncan Fergedo & D' Israeli
$2.99


Top names come together to celebrate Thought Bubble's fifth year with an anthology of new short comics. This collection will also print the winners of the first ever Northern Sequential Art Competition. All profits from this comic will go to the charity Banardos.


WALKING DEAD WEEKLY # 49
Written by Robert Kirkman
Art by Charlie Adlard
$2.99


Everything is different now.




MARVEL COMICS




AMAZING SPIDERMAN #675
Written by Dan Slott
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli
$3.99


GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI joins the regular Spidey artist rotation in this high flying free falling ride through Dan Slott's post Spider-Island world. The VULTURE IS BACK and making kids do his high flying dirty work for him. With Spidey back on the cops' bad side will he be able to stop this flying Fagan from twisting young runaways before another boy falls from the sky? 32 PGS./Rated T 


AVENGING SPIDERMAN #2
Written by Zeb Wells
Art by Joe Maduriera
$3.99


THE HOT NEW SPIDER-MAN ONGOING CONTINUES! SPIDER-MAN and RED-HULK lead an underground army in this action packed extravaganza from superstar artist JOE MADUREIRA 32 PGS./Rated T+ 


DEADPOOL #47
Written by Daniel Way
Art by Salva Espinick Bradshaw
$2.99


Deadpool is a terrorist?! That's how Captain America sees it, but Cap doesn't know there currently are two Deadpools in NYC--one who's totally evil and one...well, one who's not quite as bad. How will our dubious hero clear his name, get Captain America to not despise him, defeat the most formidable enemy he's ever faced...oh, and evade capture by international law enforcement? Uh, who said he does? 32 PGS./Parental Advisory 


DEADPOOL MAX X-MAS SPECIAL #1
Written by David Lapham
Art by Kyle Baker
$4.99


How do Deadpool and Bob, the two most wanted terrorists in the world, spend their holiday break? By faking their own deaths, breaking into CIA headquarters, hunting down internet-porn-peddling jihadists and causing a riot in an insane ?asylum, of course! 40 PGS./Explicit Content 


DEFENDERS #1
Written by Matt Fraction
Art by Terry Dobson
$3.99


pinning out of the stunning end of FEAR ITSELF! The final Worthy on a global rampage! o Matt Fraction (FEAR ITSELF, THE MIGHTY THOR, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN) reteams with TERRY DODSON (UNCANNY X-MEN, SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN)! o Everyone's favorite Marvel characters banding together to solve a mysterious conspiracy deep at the heart of the Marvel Universe! o The last line of defense against the forces of the unknown! 32 PGS./Rated T+ 


FEAR ITSELF: THE FEARLESS #4 (of 12)
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Arthur Adams & Mark Bagley
$2.99


Guest-starring the Thing and the FF, Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Thunderbolts and more! The Serpent's hammers could be the most dangerous artifacts in the world - vfm knows this all too well as she lays siege to the impenetrable headquarters of the FFÖwhere the Thing stands guard over his own hammer of power! Meanwhile Sin and Crossbones pursue the weapons of mass destruction, from the depths of the seas to claim one from the undersea vault of the Sub-MarinerÖto the shores of the island prison called the Raft to confront the Thunderbolts! 32 PGS. (each)/Rated T+ 


HULK #45
Written by Jeff Parker
Art by Patrick Zircher
$2.99


HULK OF ARABIA reaches its astonishing conclusion! One of the most hotly anticipated Red Hulk stories yet has all been building to this! Red and Machine Man go mono a mono (a machino) against Dagan Shah, the mysterious new powerhouse whose mythical kingdom of Sharzhad has become a destabilizing new force to be reckoned with! Mastermind Jeff Parker and the brilliant Patch Zircher guarantee the result of this epic showdown is one you won't see coming, and will change the face of the Marvel universe! 32 PGS. (each)/Rated T+ 


MOON KNIGHT #8
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Alex Maleev
$3.99


Not everyone is thrilled that Marc Spector is using his alter ego Moon Knight as fodder for a television show....especially Marc's ex Marlene! Another rip-roaring chapter by the award-winning team of Bendis and Maleev (DAREDEVIL, SCARLET). 32 PGS./Rated T+


PUNISHER #6
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Matthew Clark
$2.99


HE BIGGEST SHOT OF ALL IS DOWN!  A fallen Frank Castle...alive but dead inside. o Secrets of the Exchange revealed...and it's connected to some of the Marvel Universe's darkest secrets! 32 PGS./Parental Advisory


THOR: THE DEVIANTS SAGA #2 (of 5)
Written by Robert Rodi
Art by Stephen Segovia
$2.99


THOR VERSUS THE CHAMPION OF THE DEVIANTS! The thunder god travels to Olympia, home of the Eternals, to enlist their aid in finding the Deviant goddess Ereshkigal before she destroys the very fabric of reality. But the city is virtually empty...and what few allies Thor does find there are overrun by a horde of Deviants. Featuring the return of the superhuman behemoth Tutinax, whose one-on-one clash with Thor is unlike anything you've seen before! 32 PGS./Rated T+


ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDERMAN MUST HAVES #1
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Sarah Pinchelli
$4.99


Reprinting Ultimate Comics Spiderman #1-3


ULTIMATE COMICS THE ULTIMATES MUST HAVES #1
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Esad Ribic
$4.99


Reprinting Ultimate Comics THE ULTIMATES #1-3


ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #1
Written by Nick Spencer
Art by Paco Diaz
$4.99


Reprinting Ultimate Comics X-Men #1-3


VENOM #10
Written by Rick Remender
Art by Lan Medina
$2.99


NEW DIRECTION. NEW ARTIST. OLD SOLDIERS. Rick Remender welcomes Lan Medina (PUNISHER) with AMERICAN BADNESS! SPIDER-ISLAND has changed everything and now the death of a loved one reminds Flash Thompson that his secret identity is in the hands of the villainous Crime-Master - and the only way to take his life back is to go rogue. But CAPTAIN AMERICA is out to shut him down. It's a good old fashioned road trip with Flash Thompson and an alien symbiote! 32 PGS./Rated T+ 


VILLIANS FOR HIRE #1 (of 5)
Written by Dan Abnett
Art by Renato Arlem
$2.99


Villain on villain action! Why has Misty Knight hired psychopaths like Tiger Shark and Speed Demon? Because the Purple?Man is out to build a criminal empire with an army including Avalanche, Shocker and the all-new Scourge! Let the baddest man (or woman) win! 32 PGS./Rated T+ 


X-23 #18
Written by Majorie Liu
Art by Kalman Andrasofszky & Saka Takeda
$2.99


ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING continues! What could possibly go wrong for X-23, on an already disastrous night? More dragons? Hellion and his bad mood? How about being kidnapped to another galaxy by...THE COLLECTOR? 32 PGS. (each)/Parental Advisory 


X-CLUB #1 (of 5)
Written by Simon Spurrier
Art by Paul Davidson
$2.99


WE DO SCIENCE!' In the wake of SCHISM, the X-Men's Science Team takes it upon themselves to make a gesture of goodwill on behalf of mutantkind and better the world...using SCIENCE. But just as construction of the X-Club's state of the art space elevator nears completion, chaos erupts! And it appears to the world that mutants are to blame. Can Dr. Nemesis, Madison Jeffries, Kavita Rao and Danger clear the X-Men's name before their experiment backfires? Don't miss this new limited series that will surely change how you look at the X-Men and the Periodic Table of Elements FOREVER! 32 PGS./Rated T+


X-FACTOR #228
Written by Peter David
Art by Leonard Kirk
$2.99


X-Men Regenesis Still reeling from the shocking death of one of their own, how can the X-Factor team possibly take down the one responsible?-- the deadly Bloodbath?


X-MEN #22
Written by Victor Gishler
Art by Will Conrad
$3.99


x-men regenesis The X-Men and War Machine are on a collision course with an international incident of catastrophic proportions. No longer content to fend off attackers, the Governor and her army of Sentinels are hell-bent on going on the offensive...leading towards one of the worst ethnic cleansings in the history of the world. 32 PGS./Rated T+