DCU Brave New World

Cover by Ariel Olivetti
Written and illustrated by various
Published by DC Comics

In 2005, DC set the stage for INFINITE CRISIS with the unbelievable $1.00 special COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS. Now, DC presents an equally crucial 80-page one-shot specially priced at just $1.00, giving fans the opportunity to sample six new projects set to debut in July and August!

BRAVE NEW WORLD includes original stories that act as a preview for the following books:

MARTIAN MANHUNTER by A.J. Lieberman (Harley Quinn, Gotham Knights), with art by Al Barrionuevo and Bit (Gotham Knights)

OMAC by Bruce Jones (Year One: Batman/Scarecrow, Nightwing, THE Warlord) with art by Renato Guedes (Adventures of Superman)

UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex, Hawkman) with art by Daniel Acuña (Outsiders, JLA covers)

THE CREEPER by Steve Niles (BATMAN: GOTHAM COUNTY LINE) with art by Justiniano and Walden Wong (Day of Vengeance)

THE ALL-NEW ATOM by Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Villains United) with art by John Byrne (BLOOD OF THE DEMON) and Trevor Scott (THE AUTHORITY)

THE TRIALS OF SHAZAM! by Judd Winick (Batman, Green Arrow) with art by Howard Porter (JLA).

Don't miss the chance to get in on the ground floor of these six exciting new series! Plus, witness the shocking return of a character you never thought you'd see again!

Well it's a buck so that's good...I think the blurb pretty much explains itself...
My bet on the surprise character is....Barry Allen...
Dun Dun Dun!!! Will it happen? find out on wednesday for only $1.00!!!

6 Books You CANNOT Miss!!!

This is a good week for comic-book aficionados! I mean, sure 52 is raging along, and Warren Ellis’ next volume of Black Gas begins, but there are 6 books that you DO NOT want to miss, or you’ll be kicking yourself in the head and scrambling to find them further down the line, and probably at outrageous prices!!! Surprisingly these aren’t Indie books; they belong to the big two! So without further ado, let’s jump right into this week’s Hit List!

GIANT-SIZE HULK # 1
COVER BY: RYAN SOOK
WRITER: PETER DAVID
GREG PAK
PENCILS: JUAN SANTA CRUZ
PUBLISHED BY: MARVEL

THE STORY:
What is the untold story of the battle between one of the strangest superhero teams in the Marvel Universe and the engine of destruction known as the Incredible Hulk? See ol’ Purple Pants go toe-to-toe with Angel, Ice-Man, Ghost Rider, The Black Widow and Hercules in a story that holds a key to Post-PLANET HULK events! By legendary Hulk scribe Peter David and Juan Santacruz.
PLUS! A PLANET HULK INTERLUDE! Bruce Banner makes his first appearance on Planet Sakaar — and battles the Hulk for his body and soul! What secret is the Hulk hiding? What terrible truth does Banner reveal? And who will triumph in this ultimate showdown? By Greg Pak and Aaron Lopresti.
Also: Re-presenting the outstanding INCREDIBLE HULK: THE END by Peter David and Dale Keown.

First up we have Giant Size Hulk #1. With Civil War rampant in the Marvel U, the first hero to be a victim of it was the green skinned goliath. Tony “The Manipulator” Stark shot poor Bruce Banner into the stratosphere and beyond in an effort to finally put a nail in the Hulk’s coffin. Little did he know that Hulk was going to crash land on some distant planet where there is a gladiatorial contest going on and pretty much destrou everyone that got in his way! But the real reason to pick up this book is for the back up story, it was the first Marvel: The End story with Hulk: The End by Peter David and Dale “where the hell are you?” Keown. In this story we see what is left at the end of the universe, cockroaches, and Mr. Greenskin, The Incredible Hulk! The first time I saw this book I neglected to pick it up and boy was I sorry for it, and without spoiling anything, this is the way the Hulk is going out, if he can! So if you see it, grab it, read it, and love it!



ETERNALS # 1
COVER BY: RICK BERRY
WRITER: NEIL GAIMAN
PENCILS: JOHN ROMITA JR.
COLORED BY: MATT HOLLINGSWORTH

THE STORY:
"ID"
You are thousands of years old. You have amazing powers. You have watched civilizations rise and fall-- so why does no one remember any of this? Bestselling Author Neil Gaiman (Marvel: 1602, Anansi Boys, Sandman) is joined by superstar artist John Romita Jr. (Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine) to bring you the eagerly-awaited event of 2006—ETERNALS!! Ike Harris has dreams of adventures, love affairs and betrayals, but no one involved remembers or believes him. And who is trying to kill him to keep him from talking about it?

Next up, The Eternals. What can I say, I have a soft spot for Neil Gaiman, I mean, he’s the man! He kicked McFarlane’s ass and reminded him why Image was formed in the first place when he took him on for Miracle Man, but I digress. Gaiman is a storyteller’s storyteller, he is a rare breed of writer that can interweave philosophy and literature into comics, and I don’t care what anyone says, Gaiman is better than Alan Moore! The Eternals are an old concept that hardly anyone knows about, unless you are a hardcore Marvel Zombie. Gaiman’s Sandman was THE best comic ever published, and in that series he toyed with tales of forgotten gods, which is exactly what the Eternals are. Add John Romita Jr.’s art, and you know this is gonna rock like a virgin on prom night! Gaiman is going to screw with your head, and make you re-think the Marvel Universe like he did on 1602. Make Mine Marvel!!!

THE FLASH: FASTEST MAN ALIVE #1
Written by Paul DeMeo and Danny Bilson;
Art and cover by Ken Lashley;
Variant cover by Andy Kubert and Joe Kubert
Published by: DC Comics

The Flash is back. And in this landmark issue written by Paul DeMeo and Danny Bilson — creators of the groundbreaking TV series The Flash — and illustrated by Ken Lashley (LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, Age of Apocalypse), one of the biggest questions of 2006 is answered: Who will wear the ring?

INFINITE CRISIS aimed a mortal blow at the legacy of the Fastest Man Alive — but what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger! Be here for a historic chapter in the legacy of The Flash!

It’s a D.C. book and I’m getting it! I picked up Wonder Woman #1 and was pleasantly surprised with the story and the art, and this issue should be no different. There’s only one reason to get this book however…the question that has been on everyone’s mind since the end of Infinite Crisis…who will wear the ring? My guess…Bart Allen!

ALL-STAR SUPERMAN #4
Written by Grant Morrison
Art and Cover by Frank Quitely
Published by: DC Comics

“Jimmy Olsen, the Daily Planet's "Mister Action," is young, brilliant, and reckless! For this week's story he must become the director-for-a-day of P.R.O.J.E.C.T. With top agents assigned to protect him, he's looking forward to an easy day of jet-setting and international liaisons all in the name of scientific discovery. Instead, P.R.O.J.E.C.T. receives a terrifying directive — to take down a rogue Superman!”

Another DC book, yes yes, I know what you may be saying…WTF Ramos! We Thought you were hardcore Marvel Zombie? And I am, but, these are some truly awesome tales that Morrison is spinning, mind you they’re later than the anti-christ showing up in 1996 but All-Star is worth the wait. Quietly’s art is amazing, I picked up WE3 when it first came out which was a Morrison/Quietly Joint and was blown away, I never thought bunnies, kitties, and doggies were capable of homicide!

The stuff that Morrison has been doing in All-Star has me going huh? Not only does he seamlessly blend in wacky wonky nostalgic Superman history, but he presents some ideas that leave me wishing I had taken that drink he offered me at the SDCC all those years, I thought it was some gay guy in black leather offering me a drink so I was hesitant…HELLO!


ASTONISHING X-MEN #15
COVER BY: JOHN CASSADAY
WRITER: JOSS WHEDON
PENCILS: JOHN CASSADAY
INKS: JOHN CASSADAY
COLORED BY: LAURA MARTIN
LETTERED BY: CHRIS ELIOPOULOS
PUBLISHED BY: MARVEL COMICS

THE STORY:
“TORN”
Move over Astonishing X-Men...there’s a new club in town and their name is...”Hellfire.” In this issue, after secretly lying in wait for months, they make their move!”

When Morrison was writing New X-Men, it was awesome, then came Whedon, and took what Morrison had established, made it his own, and kicked some more ass!!!

There was a point when I actually thought Emma Frost was turning over a new leaf, after seducing Cyclops and giving him some backbone, but I was wrong, and I’ve never felt so good about being so wrong!

Whedon is an extraordinary writer and teamed with John Cassaday, what’s not to love?

ULTIMATES 2 #11
COVER BY: BRYAN HITCH
WRITER: MARK MILLAR
PENCILS: BRYAN HITCH
INKS: PAUL NEARY
COLORED BY: LAURA MARTIN
LETTERED BY: CHRIS ELIOPOULOS

THE STORY:
“GRAND THEFT AMERICA”

”The penultimate issue of volume two gives us answers to long-standing mysteries and brings us closer to the epic conclusion to “Grand Theft America”! With the traitor revealed and the Triskelion in ruins, the remaining Ultimates must unite to defeat an invasion force bent on establishing a new world order. But with the team shattered, who will lead the charge?”

Millar, man, that guy is awesome at the political intrigue and action. If you guys pickjed up issue 10 then you know what I’m talking about, Hawkeye’s escape was the coolest s#&t I had seen in the series, besides the Hulk eating the “Skrull” in volume 1! This is the type of book I live for and it does make me sad to know that Millar is leaving the book after issue 12 along with Hitch…*sniff, *sniff…Jeph Loeb is supposed to take over with that Mad character drawing, but come on! Millar and Hitch make this book what it is! An action packed balls to the wall ULTIMATE superhero fest that leaves you wanting more and makes me re-read my issue about 6 times before I can finally take a breath and say…DAMN! I wish I would have thought of that!!!

Don’t forget that Star Wars: LEGACY also comes out on Wednesday, I am mentioning it because I’m a huge Star Wars fan, and this book looks Kick Ass!!!

So that’s it for this week, catch you cats here next week for the next round of hits!!!

Civil War #2

WRITER: Mark Millar
PENCILS: Steve McNiven
INKS: Dexter Vines
COLORED BY: Morry Hollowell
LETTERED BY: VC - Chris Eliopoulos
COVER BY: Steve McNiven
VARIANT COVER BY: Michael Turner
PUBLISHED BY MARVEL COMICS

”The super-heroes split as the CIVIL WAR heats up! Registration has become law, household names have gone rogue and a Marvel legend makes a decision that will change a life forever. Featuring the NEW AVENGERS, the FANTASTIC FOUR, the YOUNG AVENGERS and pretty much everybody else!
And, no fooling, true believer... this issue features one of the most shocking climaxes in Marvel Comics history. Miss THIS one and you might just regret it for the rest of your life!”

There's nothing "Civil" about war...

So this is it…the event that is going to break the Marvel U in half. I kind of already guessed at what the major Marvel revelation is going to be, Peter Parker reveals himself to the world as Spider-Man!

You can tell that that’s the direction Spidey’s been taking for the last couple of years. The fact that Tony “Manipulator” Stark has been egging Peter on, and the stuff that’s been happening in Amazing, Peter has no other choice than to reveal himself to the world. I wonder what’s going to happen now that Peter is one of Tony’s team players. As you probably guessed from my disposition, I have already chosen my side, which pretty much puts me at odds with Stark. I’m on Captain America’s side, especially after the way Cap eluded S.H.I.E.L.D. capture in Civil War #1! (If you haven’t picked up Issue 1, shame on you!)

I am curious as to what else is going to go down in this issue, I perused some art from issue #2, and I saw a page of the Young Avenger’s Patriot running atop some buildings being chased and fired on by a Blackhawk, so you know it’s going to have some balls out action and intrigue! I know the identity reveal is going to happen by the last page of last month’s Amazing Spider-Man, but there is a lot more going on in the series that it’s been keeping me guessing. Millar is breaking apart the Marvel U, and who knows how it’ll be put back together, but I have trust in his skills, especially after the phenomenal work he’s done on the Authority and of course the Ultimates!

This series makes me anticipate my batch of books every week! I want to know what’s going to happen, and how it’s going to go down. This reminds me of the old school days when the summer crossovers were worth their weight in gold. We were too young to get into the R-rated summer block buster movies, but we were old enough to read the summer blockbuster crossovers, and of course Marvel would always deliver, in spades!

I hate the wait though, which means that Millar is doing his job, and of course how can I forget the gorgeous Steve McNiven artwork. The widescreen shots that McNiven delivers makes me curl my toes with love of the story! The way he took out the New Warriors in issue one made me feel so much sadness for not knowing these characters more intimately since they went under the radar. Namorita was looking beautiful and deadly until she bit the big one against Nitro along with 600 civilians, and Night Thrasher looked like he was truly a bad ass, they should have had him live instead of friggin Speedball! (sorry Kirkman!)

This brings me to the question I pose for you True Believers, which side do you choose? Marvel or DC? Err..I mean…in Marvel’s Civil War? Pick up this issue and make your decision.

Star Wars: Legacy #0

Writer: John Ostrander
Artist: Jan Duursema, Sean Cooke
Cover Artist: Jan Duursema
Published by: Dark Horse Comics

Let's face it, the only saving grace from Episodes I,II,& III is Darth Maul. I personally think he would have been an awesome villian to keep in continuity and develop as the series unfolded, but obviously what do I know, I'm not Lucas...Wouldn't it have been awesome if General Grevious had in actuality been Darth Maul! I thought that's who it was when I saw the eyes of General Grevious in the Clone Wars...but I digress.

I saw this cover to the new Star Wars series and I was instantly intrigued, a T'Wilek in Darth Maul's tatoos, weilding a lightsaber perhaps?, and looking insanely evil? What's not to love, and best of all it's Jan Duursema art!

Duursema and Ostrander (writer) have done phenomenal work in the Star Wars universe, they are the ones that created good 'ole Quinlan Vos, the "Wolverine" of the Star Wars universe and I'm happy to say that if you had been picking up Star Wars Republic, then you know that Master Vos survived Order 66. I consider Duursema the quentissential Star Wars artist in comic books, she's delivered the goods time and time again during Republic's run, from awesome lightsaber fights, to the deaths of Jedi and Sith alike! (Duursema's Assaj Ventress was probably the best rendered likeness of the character ever!) Ostrander has been a solid writer ever since his days back at Marvel,(the best being the Last Ride of the Western Heroes he did for Marvel a few years back, that still makes me choke up just thinking about it!) Ostrander can weave intricate tales of intrigue and turmoil set against the back drop of galactic fantasy, and he makes you love the characters all the more. This is however, new tales with Ostrander and Duursema kicking off the series with a big bang and shocking revelations about the future of Star Wars!

"More than a hundred years have passed since the events in Return of the Jedi and the days of the New Jedi Order. There is a new evil gripping the galaxy, shattering a resurgent Empire and seeking to destroy the last of the Jedi. Even as their power is failing, the Jedi hold to one final hope: the last remaining heir to the Skywalker legacy."

"It's a brave new galaxy for Star Wars fans, at once familiar and surprising-interplanetary intrigue and adventure on an epic scale; iconic heroes and villains cast in new roles and caught in surprising new situations. Everything you've loved about Star Wars, but nothing you expect!"

In other words, forget everything you know about the Star Wars universe, this a brand new ball game, though it still has ties to SW continuity. If you're a Star Wars freak like I am, I suggest you pick up this issue as it introduces the reader to the same universe in a brand new light. Best of all, it's only 25 cents! How can you beat that?