Pop Artifact! Halloween!

Vintage Halloween comic book cover



Found at the Grand Comic Book Database.

Quick hits

Author Gerard Jones says the paperback edition of his excellent history of the American comic book history, "Men of Tomorrow," will be updated to include new information he gleaned from Michael Siegel, son of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel. Michael declined to be interviewed when Jones was at work on the previous edition of the book but has since agreed to talk.

Dial B pays tribute to Neal Adams' "Dead Man."

Here's a nice gallery of Tiki mugs (via PCL LinkDump).

Also via PCL, a visual history of Superman's shield symbol.

Filming on "Fantastic Four 2" is set to begin in June.

The Batusi Incident

Last week TIP! posted several different cover designs artist Mike Allred did for his issue of DC Comics' "Solo" title, including the fun, Adam West-ish "Batman doing the Batusi" version shown again here.

Well, as anyone picking up "Solo" last Wednesday knows, we got Wonder Girl doing the Batusi instead. Today, blogger Heidi MacDonald points to Allred telling us why the original cover got spiked:

Until this week I wasn't even completely sure that my SOLO book would come out (it would have been strike three for DC after ELSEWORLDS TEEN TITANS and METAL MEN) since I eventually realized the tension between DC and anything relating to the 60's TV show. And my BATMAN A-GO-Go story makes up 18 of the 48 page book.

I have to say that Mark Chiarello,our editor on the project, is one of the best and most inspiring editors I've ever worked with --and with the exception of the cover and a few minor details this comic is everything I was hoping for. It's one of my favorite things I've ever been a part of.

After "Batusi Batman" was taken from me by (overly?) cautious higher ups, I struggled with a replacement--An impossible task given that the "Batusi" cover is among my top favorite covers I've ever done and, arguably, received the most enthusiastic reaction ever, when released with the soliciation.

So, I did several alternatives hoping I'd come close to an equal replacement.

No such luck. But Wonder Girl was ultimately MY choice--and she comes second only to Batman to represent my "childhood to adolescence" affection for DC comics which my SOLO book largely signifies.


And Heidi points further to this interesting missive from cartoonist Jay Stephens, whose retro-take on the Teen Titans (featuring a script by the late Bob Haney) got spiked last year:

This confirms the not-so-secret policy at Dan Didio's DC. Campy, funny, playful, all-ages or accessable versions of DC Universe characters are forbidden. Didio hates that stuff (I hear he literally HATES Metamorpho and Metal Men), and only wants to push grim & gritty superhero work. I also have it on good authority that clean-line, 'cartoony' art is definately OUT. No more Darwyn Cooke/ Mike Allred-ish stuff for Dan Didio, no siree. Call me when his ass is out the door, thanks.

Interesting. Given the awful grim'n'gritty stuff DC is churning out these days, this seems pretty accurate. But, as Heidi also notes, Darwyn Cooke did get the go-ahead to do a revived version of Will Eisner's "Spirit," so maybe Didio's attitude isn't as hard and fast as Stephens thinks.

My theory is that playful takes on DC's core superhero characters probably are discouraged, but that there's more room for experimentation with other, licensed characters such as the Spirit.

Which is why Cooke's "Spirit" is likely to be a lot more fun and creative than anything we see coming out in DC's mainline superhero titles any time soon.

Lennon titles due for remastering

Two John Lennon solo albums, Walls and Bridges and the much-maligned Sometime in New York City are due out in remastered form Nov. 22.

Sometime... features Lennon in full-on topical songwriting mode and the creativity and listenability of the music suffers for it. Still, it's John Lennon and if you're a fan/completist, you'll probably want these tunes in their remixed/remastered form.

Walls and Bridges, on the other hand, is a pretty decent record, featuring the hit single with Elton John "Whatever Gets Your Through the Night." The remaster features a live version of that tune as a bonus track.

ZBS offers audio stories for cellphones

ZBS Media, creator of the wildly entertaining (and just plain wild) audio adventures of Jack Flanders, Ruby and others is now offering 90-second "short stories" for cellphone.

The titles are all penned by Flanders and Ruby creator Meatball Fulton and can be downloaded from the ZBS site. Free sound samples are available there too.

Stories include: "The Okey Dokey Swamp Thingie," "Revenge of the Tooth Fairy," "Hotel Catatonia," "The Sweet Scent of a Succubus," "Frankenstein's Finger," "Don't Eat on Twilight Street," "Zombie Al's Big Night Out," "Doctor Borneo Bob, Head Shrinker," "All My Cells Have Phones!" "Don't Eat at Igor's" and "The X Fillings, Dental Case #122, 'An Odious Extraction'."

Pop Artifact! Halloween!

Vintage Halloween comic book cover



Found at the Grand Comic Book Database.

Comic sneak peeks

Mile High Comics has posted first looks at: Batman Gotham County Line #2; Desolation Jones #4; Jonah Hex #1; Seven Soldiers The Bulleteer #1; Swamp Thing #21; Winter Men #3; Captain Universe/Hulk #1; Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #9; Marvel Team-Up #14; Nightcrawler #11; Sentinel #1; Spider-Girl #92; Spider-Man House of M #5; Spider-Man Unlimited #12 and X-Men Colossus Bloodline #3.

Quick hits

Dial B details the 1972 Rutland Halloween comic book stories, which were a first, sneaky attempt to "cross over" Marvel and DC Comics characters.

Examining Teen Titans mania.

Amidst lots of rumors and hype, Marvel Comics announces an adaptation of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series.

Retrocrush counts down the 100 top horror movies performances of all time.

You can check out four tunes from the new Rubber Soul tribute, This Bird Has Flown here. (The Ben Harper track, for starters, is awful. Dar Williams' isn't bad at all.)

Details on how ABC is using mysterious Web sites to promote "Lost."

DVD new releases for November 2005

Nov. 1


The Dick Cavett Show - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Brady Bunch:Complete Fourth Season

Fox Film Noir Collection (Amazon.com Exclusive)

Fox Studio Classics Collection (Amazon.com Exclusive)

Star Trek Enterprise - The Complete Fourth Season

Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)

Steve Mcqueen Box Set


Nov. 8


Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen Edition)

Remington Steele - Season 2

Doctor Who - City of Death (Episode 105)

The Partridge Family - The Complete Second Season

Doctor Who - The Claws of Axos (Episode 57)

Ducktales - Volume One Collection

Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers - Volume One Collection

George Pal - Flights of Fantasy

Lenny Bruce Performance Film

Live 8

La Dolce Vita (Deluxe Collector's Edition)

Tommy & Quadrophenia Live With Special Guest


Nov. 15


Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Chosen Collection (40 Disc DVD Set)

Charmed - The Complete Third Season

Cheers - The Complete Seventh Season

The Flintstones - The Complete Fourth Season

Frasier - The Complete Seventh Season

Friends - The Complete Tenth Season

The Huckleberry Hound Show - Vol. 1

Madagascar (Widescreen Edition)

Murder One - The Complete Second Season

Scrubs - Season Two

Three's Company - Season Five

Tru Calling - The Complete Second Season

The Yogi Bear Show - The Complete Series


Nov. 22


The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Fourth Season

Astro Boy:Collection Box Set (1980)

Batman Vs Dracula gift set

C.S.I. Miami - The Complete Third Season

Dark Shadows Collection 21

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - 2nd Gig, Vol. 2

King Kong (1976)

King Kong (2-Disc Special Edition) (1933)

King of the Hill - The Complete Fifth Season

Leave It to Beaver - The Complete First Season

Mighty Joe Young (1949)

The Polar Express (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Seinfeld - Season 5

Seinfeld - Season 6

War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition)

Nov. 29


C.S.I. - Crime Scene Investigation Season 5

Family Guy, Vol. 3

Havoc (Unrated Version)

March of the Penguins (Widescreen Edition)

Sky High (Widescreen Edition)

The Tomorrow People - Set 2

Top 10 bestselling graphic novels, DVDs, CDs and action figures/toys

From Amazon:

Graphic Novels

1. Watchmen (Absolute Edition)

2. Batman: Year One Deluxe Edition

3. Watchmen

4. Black Hole

5. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

6. Batman: The Long Halloween

7. V for Vendetta

8. Identity Crisis

9. Bone: One Volume Edition

10. A History of Violence

DVDs

1. Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)

2. Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition)

3. Alias - The Complete Fourth Season

4. Cinderella (Disney Special Platinum Edition)

5. Lost - The Complete First Season

6. Firefly - The Complete Series

7. The Wizard of Oz (Three-Disc Collector's Edition)

8. Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (Full Screen Edition)

9. Titanic - Special Collector's Edition (1997)

10. The L Word - The Complete Second Season

CDs

1. Thanks For The Memory...The Great American Songbook IV ~ Rod Stewart

2. Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook [DualDisc] ~ Bette Midler

3. A Time To Love ~ Stevie Wonder

4. Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane [Live]

5. Prairie Wind ~ Neil Young

6. Confessions on a Dance Floor ~ Madonna

7. Timeless ~ Martina McBride

8. Playing the Angel ~ Depeche Mode

9. Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled ~ Melissa Etheridge

10. Born to Run: 30th Anniversary 3-Disc Set [Original recording remastered] ~ Bruce Springsteen

Toys and Action Figures

1. Mr. Potato Head Darth Tater

2. Star Wars Build Your Own Lightsaber

3. Batman Begins Deluxe Batmobile

4. Power Rangers S.P.D. Delta Command Megazord

5. Star Wars Darth Vader Voice Changer Helmet

6. NFL Legends Figure: Barry Sanders Detroit Lions Blue Jersey

7. Batman Begins 6" Ultra Armor Figure: Laser Blaster Batman

8. Mystery Machine Ghost Patrol (Scooby Doo)

9. Batman Begins Action Cape Batman Figure

10. Power Rangers SWAT Command Truck

Pop Artifact! Halloween!

Vintage Halloween comic book cover



Found at the Grand Comic Book Database.

Comic book books: Big, old, black-and-white reprints

I'm a bronze age baby. I hit my comics-loving peak at age 10, smack dab in 1975.

I still love comics of course. But that was when trips to the spinner rack took on their greatest importance. Later I got interested in records and girls and my priorities shifted.

And one of the things I loved most about reading comics back then were the great reprints. Marvel put out a bunch of reprint books each month. And stories from the 40s, 50s and 60s often appeared as backup features in regular titles. Plus there were those big 80- and 100-page giants and annuals. Not to mention those nice, tabloid-size treasuries.

But best of all were these:



"Superman from the 30s to the 70s" and "Batman from the 30s to the 70s" are still (somewhat tattered) treasures of my comics collection.

(There was a "Shazam" volume too, which I still regret not buying at the time and it still continues to elude me on eBay. I have the whole works on CD, but it's not the same...)

Sure, in 2006 we're spoiled for reprints with DC Archives and Showcase volumes and Marvel Masterworks and Essentials. But I'll never give up my "30s to the 70s" books. They're too much a part of me.



I don't know how many times I've read the stories they contain. I've loved these books to literal pieces, especially the Batman volume. The stories where Batman and Robin traveled back in time were particular favorites. Seeing the mean, gun-wielding Batman of the early tales was startling. And I loved learning there'd been a Batgirl before Barbara Gordon--not to mention a Batwoman!

There are a couple of sections in color, including Denny O'Neil and Irv Novick's classic "One Bullet Too Many," which in just a few pages (panels, really) shifted the tone and course of every Batman story to follow. All without an overpriced, overblown "event" series that promises to change everything but doesn't. It's a re-boot today's comics creators could learn a lot from.

There's great stuff in the Superman book too. It leads off with some of the "Socialist Man" tales, where the Man of Steel regularly championed the downtrodden while socking it to corporate fatcats. And from there it's on to the goofy Bizarro tales, Lois Lane's shenanigans and other assorted whimsies of the Weisinger era. The book ends with some stories from when Julius Schwartz took over the editorial reins, providing another great example of how to makeover a character on the fly.



What got me thinking about these books again and led me to pull them off the shelf is the arrival of DC's Showcase books. These are nice and thick like Marvel's Essentials, but on whiter paper and with better production. Perhaps they'll catch the attention of younger readers like the "30s to the 70s" books did mine. My 7-year-old son, for one, is excited to dig into the Showcase Superman volume I got the other day.

Younger readers will find a heap of fun stuff to read in the Showcase books. It's nice to think about a new generation of kids discovering these stories.

Quick hits

Rhino Handmade, the limited-edition arm of Rhino Records, is releasing a box set collecting recordings by comic Allan Sherman. (Mark Evanier says it's available cheapest via Barnes and Noble.)

Over at the official Star Wars site, you can download wearable paper character masks.

And here's a page where you can download cut-and-fold robots (this and the Star Wars item via BoingBoing.)

Dial B pays tribute to Bernie Wrightson.

Comics artist Charles Burns and Chris Ware chat, link via Drawn.

Mystery novelist and "Dick Tracy" comics scripter Michael Kilian has passed away.

Despite objections from the publishers of the "Asterix" comics, a French mobile phone manufacturer can register the brand name Mobilix.

The revived "Doctor Who" beat out "Desperate Housewives" as most popular drama in the U.K. National Television Awards. Britons are smarter than we are.

Music downloads from the videogame based on Jeff Smith's "Bone" comic are available here.

Will "Buffy" characters live on in straight-to-DVD films?

Everyone do...the Batusi!

I haven't been to the comic book shop this week, but it sounds like DC went with Wonder Girl out of the numerous cover illustrations artist Michael Allred prepared for his issue of the publisher's "Solo" series. I'm looking forward to checking it out. In the meantime, let's review:







Pop Artifact! Halloween!

Vintage Halloween comic book cover



Found at the Grand Comic Book Database.

"Lost" tonight...

...is a repeat of the season opener (sigh). But if you wanna watch it again, or missed it the first time, you might wanna review the various clues and other notable things that occur during the episode. Check up TIP!'s roundup here.

Also see the Best "Lost" Sites on the Web.

New CD releases of note

Oct. 25

Vashti Bunyan Lookaftering
Marshall Crenshaw Downtown, Field Day, Good Evening and Mary Jean & 9 Others
Dave Edmunds Tracks on Wax 4 and Twangin'
The Fiery Furnaces Rehearsing My Choir
Rita Lee (ex-Os Mutantes) Bossa'n Beatles
Jimmy Smith Christmas '64
They Might Be Giants Here Come the ABCs
VA This Bird Has Flown - A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber Soul

Nov. 1

Miles Davis The Cellar Door Sessions 1970
Nirvana Sliver: The Best of the Box
Wilco Kicking Television - Live in Chicago

DC sneak peeks: the return of Kubert, Pini and Garcia-Lopez



If you checked out the DC Comics solicitations for January released the other day, you may've noticed three comics greats have new projects set to debut that month.

Here are some preview pages of the upcoming Sgt. Rock mini-series by Joe Kubert along with a fresh Elfquest story from Wendy Pini and a Justice League Classified arc by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (inks by Klaus Janson).

Sgt. Rock: The Prophecy by Joe Kubert



Elfquest: The Discovery by Richard and Wendy Pini



JLA Classified #16 by Gail Simone and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez

New comics releases Oct. 26



Available now at yer local comics shop or via This is Pop!-supporting links:

Batman Begins Camouflage Batmobile

Batman Under The Hood TP

Conan Volume 2 God In The Bowl and Other Stories TP

Elfquest The Grand Quest Vol 11 TP

Hercules New Labors Of Hercules TP

Incredible Hulk Wall Statue

Krypto And Friends Animated Series Maquette Set

Marvel Masterworks Mighty Thor Vol 4 HC Ltd.

Marvel Masterworks Mighty Thor Vol 4 New Ed

Marvel Monsters Monsters On The Prowl

Marvel Universe Astonishing Kitty Pryde Bust

Marvel Visionaries John Romita Jr

Merchant Of Dennis The Menace TP

Mister X Vol 2 Secret Life Of Mister X TP

New X-Men Academy X Yearbook Special

Rogues Gallery Mysterio Bust

Silver Age Fantastic Four Mole Man Med Statue

Spider-Man Vs The Sandman Statue

Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol 4 Inhuman TP

Uncle Scrooge #347

Vampire Buffy: 12-inch Buffy the Vampire Slayer figure

Fantastic Four movie figure assortment series 4

See the complete list of new and upcoming comics.

Pop Artifact! Halloween!





Vintage Halloween comic book cover



Found at the Grand Comic Book Database.

DVD new releases for Oct. 25, 2005

Alias - The Complete Fourth Season

Bewitched - The Complete Second Season (colorized)

Bewitched - The Complete Second Season (B&W)

Looney Tunes - Golden Collection, Volume Three

Tales From the Crypt - The Complete Second Season

Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection:V2

The Wizard of Oz (Three-Disc Collector's Edition)

DVD cover art: "The Adventures of Superman: Complete Second Season"

Here's a look at the set's cover. It'll be out January 17 and is available for pre-order via Amazon now.

Quick hits

The New York Times reviews the new first season DVD collection of "The Adventures of Superman."

Newsarama talks to comics writer Dan Slott, who has a continuing "Thing" series in the works.

Dial B remembers the silver age Spectre.

Details on upcoming "Teen Titans" episodes

Here's a look at new episodes premiere over the next few weeks:

"Snowblind" Oct. 29
While battling a mysterious creature in the wilds of Siberia, Starfire is lost in a blinding snowstorm. Red Star, a reclusive young soldier, comes to her aid and the two become fast friends. When Robin and the rest of the Teen Titans arrive, they discover Red Star hides not only a tragic past, but a destructive secret.

"Kole" Nov. 5
While in the Arctic Circle, the Teen Titans once again take on Dr. Light. And when an accident sends the Teen Titans through the ice, they discover a exotic new underworld, and two new superheroes: Kole and her caveman sidekick, Gnarrk.

"Hide & Seek" Nov. 12
With the other Teen Titans off fighting exciting battles with the Brotherhood of Evil, Raven is left with the worst task of all -- transporting three rambunctious future superheroes to safety. But this simple task turns into an adventure in babysitting as Raven and her young charges are chased through the Alps by the Brotherhood of Evil's Msr. Mallah.

"Lightspeed" Nov. 19
With Titans dispatched across the globe, members of the Hive Five figure they have it made. Unfortunately their city-wide crime spree is cut short when a new hero in town spoils the fun. Handing him over to the Brotherhood of Evil may score the Hive Five points, but actually catching this lightning-fast do-gooder is much harder than it seems.

See the Best Teen Titans Sites on the Web.

Pop Artifact! Halloween!

Vintage Halloween comic book cover



Found at the Grand Comic Book Database.

Quick hits

Gordon Lee, who played "Porky" in the "Our Gang" shorts, has passed away.

Turner Classic Movies plans to air nine films by famed animator Hayao Miyazaki, including "Spirited Away," "Princess Mononoke," "My Neighbor Totoro," "Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind," "Castle in the Sky," "Porco Rosso" and "Whisper of the Heart."

CPM is offering anime downloads for iPod. Initial offerings include the upcoming "Armored Trooper VOTOMS."

The new Asterix book reportedly takes a few swipes at Bush Amerika. Those pesky Gauls...

Premiere magazine has listed the 25 most shocking moments in film.

Jason Connery will play the lead in "Stan Lee's Lightspeed," a Sci Fi channel movie.

Actress Dakota Fanning will voice "Coraline" in an animated adaptation of the Neil Gaimin book.

A "Sin City" TV series is planned.

Longtime Lone Ranger comics artist Tom Gill has passed away.

Marvel Comics solicitations for January 2006

ULTIMATE TITLES

ULTIMATE EXTINCTION #1


Written by WARREN ELLIS

Pencils & Cover by BRANDON PETERSON

It's time for the coming of Gah Lak Tus! And his arrival could mean the end of all life on this planet! Not even the power of S.H.I.E.L.D or the brilliance of Fantastic Four leader Reed Richards seems able to stop its inexorable march to Earth. What role do the Ultimate X-Men have in this drama? And who on Earth is Misty Knight and how does she know the fate of our world may rest with‹Ultimate Silver Surfer?

32 pages, $2.99, in stors on Jan. 11.


ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR / X-MEN

Written by MIKE CAREY

Pencils & Cover by PASQUAL FERRY

The mutant-finding machine supreme‹Cerebro‹is in the devious hands of the Mad Thinker, who, with her newly-acquired powers, seems impossible to thwart! Even the combined strength of the Fantastic Four and the X-Men mean nothing in this epic conflict. But will a chance for victory come from the most unexpected source imaginable? It's an ultimate shocker as we conclude this special crossover, begun last month in Ultimate X-Men / Fantastic Four!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #89

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Pencils and Cover by MARK BAGLEY

"SILVER SABLE"

Spider-Man is finally brought to the head of the Roxxon conglomerate for the most bizarre confrontation of his life. Plus‹what makes Ultimate Silver Sable tick? What secrets does this most colorful mercenary hold? This very special issue of Ultimate Spider-Man reveals all! Part 4 (of 5)

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Jan. 11.


ULTIMATE X-MEN #66

Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN

Pencils & Cover by TOM RANEY

"DATE NIGHT" Part 1 (of 3)

After the events of Magnetic North and their recent encounter with the master of magnetism, our heroes kick back for a night on the town with their significant others. But who or what is The Magician and how is he going to wreck their plans? Meanwhile, Wolverine runs into an old teammate who's out for revenge... Join new Ultimate X-Men writer Robert Kirkman and Ultimate Secret's Tom Raney as they take the Ultimate Universe's favorite mutants to dazzling new heights!

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Jan. 11.


ULTIMATES 2 #10

Written by MARK MILLAR

Pencils & Cover by BRYAN HITCH

"GRAND THEFT AMERICA" Despite all the globe-girdling surveillance information and awesome firepower of S.H.I.E.L.D and its super-powered army‹the Ultimates‹the unthinkable has happened! An unknown enemy with unimaginable power and an unstoppable force of will is at our shores... Will hope rise from the ashes of defeat, or is this truly the end for the Ultimates? Part 4 (of 6)

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 25.

SPIDER-MAN TITLES

FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #4

Written by PETER DAVID

Pencils & Cover by MIKE WIERINGO

THE SPIDER-MAN CROSSOVER EVENT OF THE DECADE ENDS HERE! The fourth and final month of "The Other," a startling super-story spanning four months that has turned the wall-crawler's world upside down! The next stage in Spidey's history starts here, True Believer! Peter has been pushed farther than he ever has been before. Farther than anyone should. So what changes are in store for him and, indeed, those he loves most? Can he go back to who he was? Does he want to?

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Jan. 11.


MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #22

Written by REGINALD HUDLIN

Pencils & Cover by PAT LEE

The fourth and final month of "The Other," a startling super-story spanning four months that has turned the wall-crawler's world upside down, and set the stage for the year to come, uniting the creative talents behind all three Spider-Man titles! With great power must come great responsibility...but what comes with great understanding? In the past few months, Peter Parker has traveled to places he never has before. Now the question is, can he go home?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #528

Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

Pencils & Cover by MIKE DEODATO

THE SPIDER-MAN CROSSOVER EVENT OF THE DECADE ENDS HERE! The fourth and final month of "The Other," a startling super-story spanning four months that has turned the wall-crawler's world upside down! The next stage in Spidey's history starts here, True Believer! Changes take many forms. Peter Parker's stared into the abyss -- but did stare back into him? Or is he better armed for the next chapter of his life...a chapter that will transform his world even further...and, indeed, the entire Marvel Universe?

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Jan. 18.


SPIDER-GIRL #94

Written by TOM DEFALCO

Pencils & Cover by RON FRENZ Since the ranks of the Avengers were depleted by injuries suffered during Last Hero Standing, Hawkeye, Scott Lang and the Scarlet Witch get back into harness! Their first mission is to investigate the strange doings at Osborn Corporation...which, quite naturally, leads them into conflict with everyone's favorite web-stunner.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.


SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED #13

Written by AARON WILLIAMS and LENAR CLARK

Penciled by CASEY JONES and TIM SMITH

Cover by JOÃO SILVEIRA Hunger strikes the Rhino and Spidey and they find themselves at Mac's Diner for fine fast-food cuisine! When Mac himself, who hates Spider-Man, asks for Spidey's help to get rid of the Rhino, we're forced to wonder: Will Spider-Man help out a guy who's attitude makes J Jonah Jameson look like the president of the Spider-Man fan club!? And, in our second feature, while the Vulture's scheme may get foiled on page one of "24 Hour Bug," the cold he's got moves into Spidey's home. Now Peter Parker ‹ the Spider-Man ‹ must face his most unbeatable foe ‹ his wife! Budding writers Aaron Williams and Lenar Clark tackle Spider-Man in two hilarious stories penciled by Casey Jones and Tim Smith! Guest starring the Rhino!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.


SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #2

Written by SEAN MCKEEVER Pencils & Cover by TAKESHI MIYAZAWA

Imagine that you announced your true feelings for a girl in front of half the student body and she not only rejects you, she starts spending copious amounts of time with the school dweeb! What do you do? Well, if you're quarterback Flash Thompson, you turn yourself into that dweeb's worst nightmare!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


SPIDER-MAN/BLACK CAT: EVIL THAT MEN DO #6 (of 6)

Written by KEVIN SMITH

Pencils & Cover by TERRY DODSON

No, this is not a dream. No, your eyes are not fooling you. Yes, it is one month later and this is the solicit for the next ­ and final ­ issue of the series you thought would never be finished. And once you read this issue, True Believer, you'll know that the wait was worth it. As events race to a stunning conclusion, Felicia reveals a long-held secret from her past that might be the only key to save a life teetering on the brink. This is a story you'll be discussing and debating for some time.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.

MARVEL KNIGHTS TITLES

ARES #1 (of 5)

Written by MICHAEL AVON OEMING Pencils & Cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN

For thousands of years, Ares, The God of War, has been the most violent and ruthlessly efficient killer in Zeus's stable. The Nuclear Option to be sent in when absolutely, positively, need to kill everything in sight. Now, Ares -- who has invaded Olympus, attempted to take over earth, stood at the walls of Troy, and fought toe to toe with and against Earth's greatest heroes ­ has turned his back on Olympus and centuries of brutal warfare to begin life anew on Earth with one goal: to raise his child. But what happens when Olympus ­ under siege and in danger of falling ­ calls on its most violent son to come to its rescue? And what happens if Ares refuses? Will Zeus destroy his son...and his grandson...to save his city? This five issues miniseries, illustrated by Travel Foreman and written by Mike Oeming, brings together heroes new and old, uniting Hercules and the Greek Pantheon with the Marvel Universe. Ares is the God of War, so we promise this is like no heroic book Marvel has done before. Heads will fly and blood will flow between Ares and anyone who stands in the way of his son.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


BLACK PANTHER #12

Written by REGINALD HUDLIN

Penciled by SCOT EATON

Cover by MIKE DEODATO

"Two the Hard Way"

The Panther continues his guest-star parade when he's called down the bayou to assist Blade, the Vampire Slayer! Do we need to say more? Jump on board here, True Believer, as BLACK PANTHER revs up to an event of cataclysmic proportions. Part 3 of 4

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


BLACK WIDOW 2: THE THINGS THEY SAY ABOUT HER #5 (of 6)

Written by RICHARD K. MORGAN

Breakdowns by SEAN PHILLIPS

Finishes by BILL SIENKIEWICZ

Cover by SEAN PHILLIPS

The Black Widow stands alone with all her enemies arrayed before her. Will she be able to save herself, much less the captured Nick Fury, before it's too late?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


DAREDEVIL #81

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Pencils & Cover by ALEX MALEEV

It's the end of an era. The end of the Eisner-Award winning Bendis/Maleev run is here, and you'll have to see it to believe it! The team that outed Matt Murdock will leave you awestruck with a major change in the life of the Man Without Fear. A major, major change. Guest-starring everyone!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


GHOST RIDER #5

Written by GARTH ENNIS

Art & Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN

"The Road to Damnation"

Hell has come to Texas. Literally! Kazaan has gone and done it. He's unleashed the cream of the Inferno, the greatest fiends of the Pit, onto the mortal soil. How does the Ghost Rider hope to contend with an endless swarm of demons?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


MARVEL KNIGHTS 4 #26

Written by ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA

Penciled by VALENTINE DELANDRO

Cover by ANDY BRASE

Sacrifices have been made, dark forces are gathering like storm clouds over Whisper Hill‹the abandoned home of the deceased witch Agatha Harkness‹and the Fantastic Four's powers are short-circuiting. With the malevolent Salem Seven about to open a portal to the land of the dead, can the FF afford to stay away?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


PUNISHER VS. BULLSEYE #3 (of 5)

Written by DANIEL WAY

Penciled by STEVE DILLON

Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU

"Massacre on 34th Street": Marvel's top two relentless psychopaths square off ­ and pity the fool who gets between them. Like, say, mobster Nico Patrillo, who's sprawled on the floor of a five-ton city bus that's careening down Sixth Avenue, with Bullseye behind the wheel, the Punisher in hot pursuit, and virtually the entire NYPD converging on them all. This is gonna hurt.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


WOLVERINE #38

Written by DANIEL WAY

Layouts by JAVIER SALTARES

Finishes by MARK TEXEIRA

Cover by KAARE ANDREWS

"Origins and Endings" The entire Marvel Universe holds its collective breath­after all this time, can it be true? Wolverine returns to his "birthplace," the top-secret military installation known as Department H, the site of the original Weapon X project. But what is he looking for...and who is looking for him? Part 3 of 5

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


X-STATIX PRESENTS: DEAD GIRL #1 (of 5)

Written by PETER MILLIGAN

Art by NICK DRAGOTTA AND MICHAEL ALLRED

Cover by MICHAEL ALLRED It's hard to keep a good girl down...especially when she's Dead! That's right, True Believers, hold onto you're freaking hats! After a brief hiatus caused by their, ahem, deaths, everyone's favorite mutants are back! And this time, they're bringing a host of...questions with them. Like why do some heroes and villains keep on dying, only to return from the dead? And why do other heroes and villains bite the bullet, only to remain dead? Who decides on this craziness? Is it some karmic wheel in the sky? Some fickle finger of fate? Or is it just some guy in the marketing department? Well, one such deceased villain, named The Pitiful One, is going to find out. When the Pitiful One decides that he's tired of being dead, he assembles a posse of Marvel's deadest villains to attack the world of the living. And it's up to Doctor Strange to stop him and his evil cohorts‹but he needs help from...well, you know. With Kraven the Hunter, Tike Alicar, and a few other surprise, dead guests.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


ALL-NEW OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE A TO Z #1

Written by JEFF CHRISTIANSEN, ERIC J. MOREELS, SEAN MCQUAID, MICHAEL HOSKIN, RONALD BYRD, MARK O'ENGLISH, ANTHONY FLAMINI, BARRY REESE, MIKE FICHERA, STUART VANDAL, BILL LENTZ, MADISON CARTER & CHRIS BIGGS

Cover by KEU CHA

Continuing the success of the 2004-2005 Official Handbooks of the Marvel Universe, 2006 will feature the return of the Handbook from A to Z! While the Handbooks of the past two years focused on specific themes, this twelve-issue monthly series will extend the coverage to all Marvel's characters, teams, objects, events, and places­plus past, future and alternate Earths. The spotlight will fall on more than 600 profiles­including new characters, characters who never received a profile and those needing major updates. As an added bonus, there will be special themed Handbooks covering more than 250 characters throughout the year.

64 pages, $3.99, in stores on Jan. 25.

MARVEL HORROR TITLES

MARVEL ZOMBIES #2 (of 5)


Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN

Penciled by SEAN PHILLIPS

Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM From the pages of Ultimate Fantastic Four! On an Earth inhabited by zombified versions of Marvel's greatest heroes, a ray of hope has appeared‹the space-born Silver Surfer! Still, can even a being wielding the Power Cosmic long survive among the denizens of this undead world?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.

MARVEL ADVENTURES TITLES

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #11


Written by SEAN MCKEEVER

Pencils & Cover by MIKE NORTON

The Mad Thinker can accurately predict future events down to the tiniest variable, making him one of the most dangerous criminal minds alive. So when it turns out Spider-Man somehow operates outside his calculations, the Mad Thinker must find out why-even if he has to destroy Spidey to do it!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.


MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #8

Written by JEFF PARKER

Penciled by MANUEL GARCIA

Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN

Join Reed, Johnny, Sue and Ben on a journey through time and space! Lockjaw, everybody's favorite teleporting puppy, has the sniffles, and his malfunctioning powers take our Favorite Fighting Family up, down and around the universe, with no promise of returning to earth! Can Mr. Fantastic come up with a doggy cold medicine before they go careening into a black hole?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.

MARVEL HEROES TITLES

DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON #1 (of 6)


Written by JUSTIN GRAY & JIMMY PALMIOTTI

Penciled by KHARI EVANS

Cover by KHARI EVANS AND JIMMY PALMIOTTI

Bounty hunters Misty Knight and Colleen Wing star in the sexy action thriller Daughters of the Dragon, the latest project from writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti. An entertaining mix of gritty action, biting comedy and sharp visuals provided by talented newcomer Khari Evans. When four­less­than "super" villains ‹ Whirlwind, 8-Ball, Humbug and Freezer Burn‹skip bail and team up to rob the penthouse apartment of a wealthy publisher, they get more than they bargained for. Misty Knight and Colleen Wing are on the case. Unfortunately, so are a host of villains and assassins looking to recover what was stolen.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


DOC SAMSON #1 (of 5)

Written by PAUL DI FILIPPO

Penciled by FABRIZIO FIORENTINO

Cover by DANIEL ACUNA

FIRST ISSUE! Busting out from the pages of THE INCREDIBLE HULK, Doc Samson gets his first mini-series! Join the green-haired adventurer as he solves problems with psychoanalytical tactics and good ol' fashioned whuppins! In this first issue, see the good doctor provide therapy for wayward aliens, consult mystic art masters and battle living totem poles! Coming to you from the boundless mind of Paul Di Filipo (Top Ten)!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.


AMAZING FANTASY #17

Written by SIMON FURMAN & STEVE NILES

Penciled by JAMES RAIZ

Cover by LUCIO PARILLO

It's one hundred years in the future and the now-benevolent organization known as AIM has been fighting a non-violent conflict with the fascist government it wishes to change. But there's a splinter group that's ready to return to its violent roots with DEATH'S HEAD 3.0. Problem is, the killer robot isn't sure what side it wants to be on. PLUS: BONUS 8-PAGE BACKUP STORY, Starring Morbius and written by Steve Niles!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 25.


BOOKS OF DOOM #3 (of 6)

Written by ED BRUBAKER

Penciled by PABLO RAIMONDI

Cover by PAOLO RIVERA

Victor Von Doom has lost everything he cares about; his science, his ego, and his destiny were all left on the walls of the American University where his dreams were shattered to bits. Now Victor wanders through Eastern Europe, a man without a purpose, a man without a face. But will the Cold War era allow a man like Victor Von Doom to disappear, no matter how much he may want to? This is the story of the missing years between when Doom left America and when his armor was forged, the story of how a broken man decided to take his life back and make the world pay for his disgrace.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


FANTASTIC FOUR #534

Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

Pencils & Cover by MIKE MCKONE

GUEST-STARRING THE HULK! It's a throwdown in the Nevada desert between the Thing and the Hulk--with the rest of the FF caught in the middle!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


FANTASTIC FOUR/IRON MAN: BIG IN JAPAN #4 (of 4)

Written by ZEB WELLS Pencils & Wraparound cover by SETH FISHER

Guaranteed Chock Full'O Monsters! There's trouble in more than just Tokyo now! With the mother of all monsters, the Apocalypse Beast, tearing its way across the globe, the Fantastic Four and Iron Man join forces in a tenuous team-up with the Mole Man! It's a last ditch effort on Monster Island to save the world from getting squashed‹literally!

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on Jan. 25.


IRON MAN: INEVITABLE #2 (of 6)

Written by JOE CASEY

Pencils & Cover by FRAZER IRVING

The Spymaster makes his first move -- which means it's the armored Avenger vs. the Ghost! Classic enemies are emerging with all-new agendas as Tony Stark fights to survive. Pulse-pounding action in the mighty Marvel manner! This is the Iron Man you've been waiting for!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


INCREDIBLE HULK #91

Written by DANIEL WAY

Penciled by JUAN SANTACRUZ

Cover by BRANDON PETERSON

"PEACE IN OUR TIME"

It's Rock vs. Hard Place, as The HULK goes toe-to-toe with a construct capable of adapting to the strength of any opponent. But doesn't HULK get stronger as he gets madder? Something's gotta give, and you won't BELIEVE the killer ending! This is the issue that catapults HULK into Marvel's biggest story line of 2006! Part 4 (of 4)

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


MARVEL TEAM-UP #16

Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN

Penciled by PACO MEDINA


Cover by PHIL HESTER Our heroes come face to face with the villain responsible for taking down every well-known hero in the Marvel Universe.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.


NEW THUNDERBOLTS #17

Written by FABIAN NICIEZA

Pencils & Cover by TOM GRUMMETT

The NEW SWORDSMAN vs. BARON ZEMO! `Nuff said? No-not nearly enough! There's an UNMASKING! A RESURRECTION! And Zemo's master plan is REVEALED ­ and when it is, this book will be turned upside down and inside out!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: WARREN ELLIS/JIM CHEUNG

Written by JOHN RHETT THOMAS

Here's an ULTIMATE SECRET we don't want you to keep: MARVEL SPOTLIGHT celebrates its big second issue with an in-depth profile on Warren Ellis, currently setting his name alongside the legends with stories both thought-provoking and compelling. We'll talk through all subjects high and low­from his first work with Marvel (DOCTOR WHO, EXCALIBUR) to today (ULTIMATE GALACTUS TRILOGY, NEXTWAVE). MARVEL SPOTLIGHT isn't done there, though, as we also bring you up-close to YOUNG AVENGERS' Jim Cheung, a Marvel artist taking the world by storm. We'll look at original art and sketches, and get to know this fan-favorite artist like never before. So don't keep the secret! See you in the pages of Spotlight!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


MARVEL MILESTONES SPECIAL: BLOODSTONE, X-51 & CAPTAIN MARVEL II

Written by JOHN WARNER, DAN ABNETT, ANDY LANNING, JACK KIRBY & ROGER STERN

Penciled by MIKE VOSBURG, PAT BOYETTE, MICHAEL LOPEZ, JACK KIRBY & JOHN ROMITA JR.

Cover by GIL KANE

He has lived for untold centuries, but today is the day he may die! It's the fear-fraught first appearance of Ulysses Bloodstone from MARVEL PRESENTS #1 (October 1975). And proving that Bloodstone runs thicker than water, his daughter, Elsa, inherits the family business in BLOODSTONE #1 (December 2001). Plus: They made him in their own image, then condemned him to death for being too human! Machine Man, the Living Robot­hunted, hounded­fights to survive in a hostile world in MACHINE MAN #1 (April 1978). And finally, who's that lady? Presenting the exciting origin of the all-new, all-different, all-terrific Captain Marvel from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #16 (1982).

104 pages, $4.99, in stores on Jan. 25.


NEW MANGAVERSE #1 (of 5)

Written by C. B. CEBULSKI

Pencils & Cover by TOMMY OHTSUKA

"RINGS OF FATE"

The story they said would never be told! It's been a dark time since we last saw the Mangaverse. Most of the heroes have been driven underground‹and now someone's killing them one by one! Join writer C.B. Cebulski (writer and consultant on the original Mangaverse comics) and artist Tommy Ohtsuka (from the super-popular manga and anime series Slayers and Rescue Angels) for five issues of nonstop action! Whether you're a fan of the original Mangaverse or just a fan of exciting comics‹the New Mangaverse is the place to be!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


NEXTWAVE #1 (of 12)

Written by WARREN ELLIS

Pencils & Cover by STUART IMMONEN

Action! Excitement! Explosions! The Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort, or H.A.T.E. (a subsidiary of the Beyond Corporation©) put NEXTWAVE together to fight Bizarre Weapons of Mass Destruction. When NEXTWAVE discovers that H.A.T.E. and Beyond© are terrorist cells themselves and that the BWMDs were intended to kill them, they are less than pleased. In fact, they are rather angry. So they make things explode. Lots of things. Starring Monica Rambeau (formerly Captain Marvel and Photon), Aaron Stack (Machine Man), Tabitha Smith (X-Force's Meltdown), monster-hunter Elsa Bloodstone and The Captain! Guest-starring Fin Fang Foom!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 25.


NEW AVENGERS #15

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Pencils & Cover by FRANK CHO

The time has come for the New Avengers to go public. Who will stand and declare themselves a New Avenger? Some stay and some go. And some old friends come back to the fold. All this and the New Avengers face their toughest opponent yet... J. Jonah Jameson! Plus the secrets of Jessica Drew continue.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Jan. 25.


NICK FURY'S HOWLING COMMANDOS #4

Written by KEITH GIFFEN

Penciled by EDUARDO FRANCISCO

Cover by ERIC CANETE Trouble in Monsterdise! The evil Merlin is approached by Damien Hellstrom with a deal he can't refuse: form an unholy alliance heck-bent on destroying the Howling Commandos! And you'll never believe who's changing sides to help them! It's action, betrayal, romance, grossness and the strangest group of superhero monsters this side of the apocalypse!

32 PGS./T+ SUGGESTED FOR TEENS AND UP ...$2.99


RUNAWAYS #12

Written by BRIAN K. VAUGHAN

Penciled by ADRIAN ALPHONA

Cover by JAMES JEAN Good-bye, New York City! It's the stunning conclusion to East Coast/West Coast, as the Runaways finally come face-to-face with the New Avengers AND the mystery villain who framed Cloak and attacked Dagger.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


SENTINEL #3 (of 5)

Written by SEAN MCKEEVER

Art & Cover by UDON

Juston and his Sentinel face off against their greatest challenge yet: a whole new breed of Sentinel with stealthy grace and orders to destroy!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.


PULSE #13

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Penciled by MICHAEL GAYDOS

Cover by MIKE MAYHEW

With the eyes of the Marvel Universe looking on...a baby is born! Its a rare occasion in the Marvel Universe, so be here for a genuine emotional event! And it doesn't end the way you might think. Jessica Jones and Luke Cage's life will never be the same again! Guest-starring the New Avengers.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


THE SENTRY #5 (of 8)

Written by PAUL JENKINS

Pencils & Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.

Doctor Cornelius Worth, the Sentry's psychiatrist, has discovered his patient's most devastating secret! Now, will the greatest threat to his life and security be the Void, the mob...or the Sentry himself?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 25.


THING #3

Written by DAN SLOTT

Pencils & Cover by ANDREA DI VITO

"Fun N' Games" Pt. 3 (Conclusion)

The Thing vs. Hulks? When you're on "The Deadliest Place on Earth" anything can happen‹as long as it's guaranteed to get you killed! It's more Fun N' Games with Nighthawk, Constrictor, and Tony Stark.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


SHE-HULK #4

Written by DAN SLOTT

Penciled by SCOTT KOLINS

Cover by GREG HORN

"Return to Bone"

Not too long ago, She-Hulk lost control of her powers and destroyed an entire town... and silently stood by as the blame was cast on her cousin. Now it's time to pick up the pieces, take responsibility for her actions, and pay the price. A done-in-one story that's the official sequel to THE AVENGERS: SEARCH FOR SHE-HULK. Also in this issue, discover which old school AVENGER is joining the cast! You won't see this one coming! Well, unless you look at the cover to SHE-HULK #5 in February's previews... darn it!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


SPIDER-WOMAN: ORIGIN #2 (of 5)

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS & BRIAN REED

Pencils & Cover by JONATHAN LUNA

The epic mini-series continues! Young Jessica Drew's life takes a scary turn as she joins forces with shadowy Hydra, a terrorist organization bent on world domination! Eisner Award-winning scribe Brian Michael Bendis (NEW AVENGERS) and red-hot Marvel newcomer Brian Reed (ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN video game) join forces with the fantastic visuals of The Luna Brothers (ULTRA, GIRLS) to continue the spine-tingling saga of Spider-Woman's early years!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 25.


SABLE & FORTUNE #1 (of 6)

Written by BRENDAN CAHILL

Painted by JOHN BURNS

Cover by JOHN BURNS

Silver Sable is leader of the unstoppable Wild Pack and the world's greatest mercenary! But times change...the Pack has gotten so big it no longer resembles the team Sable once led‹and when evidence points to a traitor, Sable will stop at nothing until she finds him! Enter a brash young private detective calling himself Dominic Fortune, who's out to make a name in the world of international espionage! With Sable branded a has-been‹and Fortune's star ascending‹they're a match made in heaven...as long as Fortune shuts up and follows Sable's orders! Newcomer Brendan Cahill is joined by British comics legend John Burns (Judge Dredd, the Bendatti Vendetta) for six issues of intense superspy heroics!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.

X-MEN TITLES

ASTONISHING X-MEN SAGA

Written by JOSH WHEDON

Cover by JOHN CASSADAY

It's been the hottest 12 issues in comics! Now, here's the entire story in one easily digestible 48-page one-shot! Relive the greatest moments from one of the greatest comics of the year! With a new cover by Astonishing X-Men artist, John Cassaday!

48 pages, $3.99, in stores on Jan. 4.


CABLE/DEADPOOL #24

Written by FABIAN NICIEZA

Pencils & Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER

It's DEADPOOL vs. SPIDER-MAN!!

It's the wisecracking face-off of a lifetime‹a veritable smart#$% smackdown! What brought them together? We're not telling! Who will win? Hopefully, Spidey, since at the least he'd let DP keep breathing. Wait‹what's that you ask? Of course there's a REASON why they're fighting...and it's guaranteed to make sense! But does it matter? It's DEADPOOL vs. SPIDER-MAN!!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


EXILES #75 & #76

Written by TONY BEDARD

Pencils & Cover by JAMES CALAFIORE

"WORLD TOUR: 2099" Part 1 & 2 (of 2)! The Exiles are gonna party like it's 2099! The World Tour continues and the Exiles just might happen to pick up another teammate! Our money's on Hulk! Or Skullfire!

32 PGS. (EACH)/ RATED A ...$2.99 (EACH)


GENERATION M #3 (of 5)

Written by PAUL JENKINS

Penciled by RAMON BACHS

Cover by STUART IMMONEN DECIMATION! Reporter Sally Floyd tells the story of those rocked by the decimating effects of House of M. One such story is that of Frederick J. Dukes, A.K.A. The Blob! There's someone out there that doesn't want these stories to be told and is willing to do anything to silence those who are talking...

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


NEW EXCALIBUR #3

Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT Pencils & Cover by MICHAEL RYAN

"Defenders of the Realm" Part 3 (of 3)

It's New Excalibur vs. the original X-Men!! With the Uncanny X-Men down, can Captain Britain and his team defeat what appears to be a murderous team of Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, Angel and Charles Xavier?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.


MYTHOS: X-MEN

Written by PAUL JENKINS

Painted by PAOLO RIVERA

Cover by PAOLO RIVERA

AN ALL-NEW SERIES OF PAINTED ONE-SHOTS FROM MARVEL, RECAPTURING THE EARLIEST DAYS OF OUR GREATEST HEROES! The first of a series of quintessential, stand-alone, done-in-one stories by Paul Jenkins and Paolo Rivera, MYTHOS: X-MEN takes readers back to the formative days of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, and recounts the first encounter between the nescient, teen-aged X-Men with their ultimate nemesis, Magneto! Filled with new detail and nuance, the MYTHOS books are also the perfect starter set for those readers new to the Marvel cast of characters, or to those who known them only from movies and television cartoons!

32 pages, $3.99, in stores on Jan. 4.


NEW X-MEN #22

Written by CHRISTOPHER YOST & CRAIG KYLE

Pencils & Cover by MARK BROOKS

"Childhood's End" Being a teenager isn't easy. Especially if you're a mutant and people are trying to kill you! The New X-Men are still reeling from the effects of House of M. One of the kids is horribly injured and may not live through the night. And William Stryker is vehemently preaching hatred for mutants. Will any of the kids make it to graduation? Part 3 (of 4)

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.


SON OF M #2 (of 6)

Written by DAVID HINE

Penciled by ROY ALLAN MARTINEZ

Cover by JOHN WATSON

DECIMATION TIE-IN!

Pietro Maximoff, formerly known as Quicksilver, betrayer of mutantkind, is at his lowest ebb. Crushed and defeated, his only hope and refuge lies with the Inhumans. Re-united with his wife Crystal, will his desperate ambitions lead him to an even greater betrayal?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


SENTINEL SQUAD O*N*E #1 (of 5)

Written by JOHN LAYMAN

Penciled by AARON LOPRESTI

Cover by PASQUAL FERRY

A DECIMATION tie-in! Discover the origin of the Sentinel Squad! How did they come together and become the elite group of soldiers to pilot the Sentinels that have made their presence known at the Xavier Institute?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.


UNCANNY X-MEN #468

Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT

Pencils & Cover by CHRIS BACHALO

"END OF GREYS"

DECIMATION! Marvel Girl has reached her breaking point! With her entire life shattering in front of her eyes, this potential nuclear bomb of energy is about to blow! Will the X-Men be able to handle the fallout?! Part 3 (of 3)!

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Jan. 4.


X-MEN #181

Written by PETER MILLIGAN

Pencils & Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA

"WHAT LORNA SAW"

Finally, the mystery of what Polaris witnessed in the recesses of space is revealed. The answer is something so twisted, so mind-bending, so outrageous, you'll be beating yourself with a paddle for missing this issue. Part 2 (of 2)!

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Jan. 18.


X-MEN: THE 198 FILES

Written by ERIC J. MOREELS & MARC-OLIVER FRISCH

A DECIMATION tie-in! Who are the 198? Find out here! Steal a sneak peek into the secret mutant files of the government's new Office of National Emergency in this one-shot companion to X-MEN: THE 198. Providing an essential overview of the X-Men's dangerous new status quo, this keepsake volume features bios on more than 100 mutants and reveals startling new details of Sentinel Squad O*N*E!

48 pages, $3.99.


X-MEN: THE 198 #1 (of 5)

Written by DAVID HINE

Penciled by JIM MUNIZ

Cover by JUAN DOE

A DECIMATION tie-in!

The unthinkable has happened in the Marvel Universe! In the wake of House of M, in the blink of an eye, the whole world has changed! In this new world order, Xavier's School becomes a haven for those that are different. But has this former sanctuary become the one place most dangerous for mutants?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.


X-MEN: COLOSSUS - BLOODLINE #5 (of 5)

Written by DAVID HINE

Penciled by JORGE LUCAS

Cover by CHRIS BACHALO

Colossus' journey into his family tree ends with a bang! And a crash, and a boom! The rage has been building up inside this gentle Russian farm boy, but now it's ready to come out!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.


X-MEN AND POWER PACK #4 (of 4)

Written by MARC SUMERAK

Art & Cover by GURIHIRU

Julie finds herself starting to fall for the cutest boy in her science class... but it looks her dream date is about to turn into a nightmare! Will the X-Men's Cyclops be able to help the remaining members of Power Pack rescue their sister and defeat the most sinister adversary they've ever faced?

32 PGS./All Ages ...$2.99


X-FACTOR #3

Written by PETER DAVID

Pencils & Cover by RYAN SOOK

DECIMATION Tie-In

With X-Factor's forces divided between a client up on murder charges, riots in the streets of mutant town, and Monet doing a striptease, the only person who stands between a crippled Rictor and a would-be assassin is...Layla Miller?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 25.


X-MEN: THE END - MEN AND X-MEN #1 (of 6)

Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT

Penciled by SEAN CHEN

Cover by GREG LAND

The Endgame of the last tale of Marvel's most popular mutants begins! They've suffered through sneak attacks, betrayals, and fatalities‹now, Professor X and Magneto are taking the fight back to the enemy, amidst the stars!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan 4.


X-MEN: DEADLY GENESIS #3 (of 6)

Written by ED BRUBAKER

Penciled by TREVOR HAIRSINE

Cover by MARC SILVESTRI Everything that could go wrong has and now the X-Men are caught between a bizarre and

powerful villain and the U.S. government. Cyclops and Marvel Girl remain in the hands of this mysterious new threat, and elsewhere, in the wreckage of a disaster, Professor X's long-held secret finally begins to come to light. The white-hot creative team of Ed Brubaker and Trevor Hairsine continue to put the X-Men through the wringer in this special 30th Anniversary event, which also features a back-up tale written by Brubaker and drawn by Pete Woods.

40 pages, $3.50, in stores on Jan. 25.

MAX TITLES

PUNISHER #29


Written by GARTH ENNIS

Penciled by LEANDRO FERNANDEZ

Cover by TIM BRADSTREET

"The Slavers," Part 5 of 6: Frank Castle is outgunned and outmatched. He's got his primary target in his sight‹the executor of heinous crimes against children‹but a cadre of well-armed and rigorously trained bodyguards stands in his way. With deadly obstacles and shaky alliances buckling under his feet, Frank has to decide how best to dismember the slavers‹does he cut off the arm or the brain of the operation first? And how big a blade should he use?

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 4.

SUPREME POWER: HYPERION #5 (of 5)

Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

Penciled by DAN JURGENS

Cover by GARY FRANK

Shape! Emil Burbank! Arcanna! And Nuke! When four of the most powerful individuals on earth collide with their prey -- the titanic Hyperion -- the earth-shattering results are not to be missed!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 18.

SUPREME POWER: NIGHTHAWK #5 (of 6)

Written by DANIEL WAY

Pencils & Cover by STEVE DILLON

"The Joke's Over": The homicidal clown known as the Whiteface has been painting the town red ­ with blood. When a trail of corpses leads him to the lair of his mysterious adversary, Nighthawk finally gets what he wants: ringside seats to Whiteface's unquenchable madness. It's the strangest show on earth.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.

ICON TITLES

THE BOOK OF LOST SOULS #4


Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

Pencils & Cover by COLLEEN DORAN

The destinies of most people are defined early on. Then there are the others‹the lost. Those whose numbers aren't in yet, who could go toward the light or toward the darkness‹indeed, who could be tipped one direction or another. Mob hitman Quint has always leaned farther towards the dark than the light, but when he is pursued by an enemy don he failed to kill, he'll find himself at a crossroads, caught between his past loyalty to the Dark Man and the opportunity for salvation that Jonathan represents. J. Michael Straczynski (Amazing Spider-Man, Supreme Power) blends timeless fantasy with modern storytelling in this new ongoing series.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Jan. 11.

POWERS #17

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Art by MICHAEL AVON OEMING

Cover by MICHAEL AVON OEMING

Just six issues ago, POWERS took Detective Deena Pilgrim down a path no comic character has ever gone before ­ taking POWERS in a direction most comics ever dare to go. And now... it's Christian Walker's turn. For fans of POWERS, let's just say... this is the moment you've been waiting for.

32 PGS./MATURE ...$2.95

MARVEL TRADE PAPERBACKS FOR JANUARY

MARVEL VISIONARIES: ROY THOMAS HC

Written by ROY THOMAS

Penciled by STAN GOLDBERG, GENE COLAN, DON HECK, JOHN BUSCEMA, BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH, MARIE SEVERIN, TOM SUTTON, GIL KANE, NEAL ADAMS, HERB TRIMPE, GEORGE PEREZ, ALAN WEISS, FRANK ROBBINS & JACKSON GUICE

Watch Roy Thomas take the Fantastic Four from the sublime to the ridiculous as the team confronts racism, social injustice and the Impossible Man! Meanwhile, the Vision joins the Avengers! The Hulk finds his way to ³Heaven,² and Captain Marvel escapes the Murder Maze! The origin of the Invaders! Secrets of Doctor Strange revealed! Dracula in Salem and the X-Men in Japan! And who is Starr the Slayer? Plus: rarely seen stories from Marvel's Silver Age of humor and romance!

Collects MODELLING WITH MILLIE #44, TALES OF SUSPENSE #73; AVENGERS #35, #57-58 and #100; SUB-MARINER #8 & #14; NOT BRAND ECCH #12; CAPTAIN MARVEL #19; X-MEN #64; CHAMBER OF DARKNESS #4; AMAZING ADVENTURES #8; INCREDIBLE HULK #147; FANTASTIC FOUR #119 and #176; DRACULA LIVES #1; GIANT-SIZE INVADERS #1; and DOCTOR STRANGE #9.

352 pages, $34.99.

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ATLAS ERA TALES TO ASTONISH VOL. 1

By STAN LEE, JACK KIRBY, STEVE DITKO, JOHN BUSCEMA, AL WILLIAMSON, DON HECK, JOE SINNOTT & FRIENDS

Cover by JACK KIRBY

Marvel Masterworks have brought you classic stories from Marvel's Silver Age super-hero heyday and the start of it all with its Golden Age. Now thrill to the first offering of Marvel's Atlas Era! Before the dawn of the Marvel Age, the comics world sat astride the shoulders of Atlas Comics ­ a world full of gun-fighting outlaws, romantic heartbreak, death-defying heroism in battle, terrifying depths of horror, and visionary science fiction. In TALES TO ASTONISH return to the days when atomic monsters roamed the Earth and alien invasions were a daily occurrence. Marvel's classic creators will make you quake at the sight of the 9th Wonder of the World! You'll tremble before the Things on Easter Island! Beware the might of Mummex­King of the Mummies! Flee before the Giant from Outer Space! Dare defy the Floating Head! Prepare to be Astonished! Collects TALES TO ASTONISH #1-10 (1959-1960).

272 pages, $49.99.

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE INCREDIBLE HULK VOL. 3

Written by STAN LEE & GARY FRIEDRICH

Penciled by JACK KIRBY, BILL EVERETT, JOHN BUSCEMA, GIL KANE & MARIE SEVERIN

Cover by MARIE SEVERIN

Brace yourself, True Believer, Hulk is smashing his way into another marvelous monster-sized Masterworks! The batty bullpen declareth that you'd better hide behind a Hulk-Buster because it's not a happy Hulk who faces off against the likes of bombastic Boomerang, the android Hulk-Killer and the one and only Abomination in his classic first appearance by Stan ³The Man² and Gil Kane! That's only the warm up, though! The cosmos itself shudders when the strongest man-like being in the Marvel U. goes toe-to-toe with the Silver Surfer, Prince Namor and the Mighty Thor himself! Grab a crash helmet, bunker down and prepare yourself to be Hulk-inued this January! Collecting TALES TO ASTONISH #80-101 and INCREDIBLE HULK (Vol. 2) #102.

288 pages, $49.99.

NEW AVENGERS VOL. 2: SENTRY PREMIERE HC

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Pencils & All-New Cover STEVE MCNIVEN

THE MYSTERY OF THE SENTRY REVEALED! The Avengers try to help the most powerful super hero in the world figure out who he is and where he came from! But will this knowledge destroy the man they're trying to help? Collects NEW AVENGERS #7-10, and the New Avengers Most Wanted Files.

152 pages, $19.99.

ULTIMATE X-MEN VOL. 5 HC

Written by BRIAN K. VAUGHAN

Penciled by BRANDON PETERSON, ANDY KUBERT & STUART IMMONEN

Cover by BRANDON PETERSON

This deluxe hardcover collects ULTIMATE X-MEN VOLS. 9-11, plus a hefty helping of DVD-style extras! In THE TEMPEST, the death of one of their own leaves the remaining X-Men struggling to deal with the loss. And even before a moment of silence can pass, the mysterious Mr. Sinister arrives, intent on giving the X-Men a lot more to mourn! In CRY WOLF, Gambit's back, but where's he been -- and what does he want? The Fenris twins threaten to expose the Ragin' Cajun's past sins -- and they are legion -- unless he obeys them. But with Rogue on the other side, to whom will Remy finally lend his loyalty? And what decision does Rogue make that will affect her budding relationship with Bobby Drake, Iceman? And in THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME, mutants convicted of capital crimes are being released on an island where contestants hunt them down. Longshot has survived longest, and the X-Men are sent to rescue him ‹ until they become part of the game themselves! With one of their teammates a captive on the island of Krakoa, the malevolent media mogul called Mojo demands the X-Men return Longshot to his headquarters or Angel will soon have a harp to go with his wings! Collects ULTIMATE X-MEN #46-57.

296 pages, $29.99.

NEW AVENGERS VOL. 1: BREAKOUT TPB

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Pencils & Cover DAVID FINCH

In the wake of the systematic destruction of the original Avengers, just what sort of threat to the world could persuade Captain America to assemble an all-new team? And following the events of AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED, who could possibly be on this team? How does Cap, Iron Man, Spider-Man and Wolverine sound? Fate has brought them together, and now Captain America wants to make it permanent! Who will take his hand and join the new Avengers? And will they be strong enough to fight the mysterious forces at play around them? Collects NEW AVENGERS #1-5.

152 pages, $14.99.

ULTIMATE ANNUALS VOL. 1 TPB

Written by MARK MILLAR, BRIAN K. VAUGHAN & BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

Penciled by JAE LEE, TOM RANEY, MARK BROOKS & STEVE DILLON

Cover by BRYAN HITCH

The Ultimate Inhumans debut, two lives are forever changed, Ultimate Juggernaut returns, and everyone guest-stars in the first-ever Ultimate Annuals! In ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1, it's the first appearance of the Ultimate Inhumans! From a hidden race, she came to steal the heart of the FF's youngest member: the beautiful elemental called Crystal! In ULTIMATE X-MEN ANNUAL #1, Juggernaut makes a play for the Gem of Cyttorak, the jewel that will make him truly unstoppable. Only two small things stand in his way: Rogue and Gambit, the new prince and princess of thieves! In ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1, Spidey goes toe-to-toe with some old foes ­ and winds up with a new girlfriend! Who is she? Let's just say she has a familiar face. And in THE ULTIMATES ANNUAL #1, if you thought the Ultimates were the only team S.H.I.E.L.D. was creating ‹ you were wrong! Get ready for the next wave of super-soldiers designed to protect America's vital interests. But is this all Director Nick Fury is up to, or is there much more to this ultra-clandestine program? And can even S.H.I.E.L.D. keep all these super-people under control? Collects ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1, ULTIMATE X-MEN ANNUAL #1, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1 and THE ULTIMATES ANNUAL #1.

160 pages, $13.99.

SPIDER-GIRL VOL. 5: ENDGAME DIGEST

Written by TOM DEFALCO & PAT OLLIFFE

Pencils & Cover by PAT OLLIFFE The daughter of Spider-Man vs. the son of Wolverine! And that's only one of the fights Spider-Girl faces when her deadliest enemies join forces as the Savage Six (or is it Seven?)! But even with the help of rival/critic heroes like Darkdevil and the Buzz, can she deal with the sudden loss of her super-powers? Featuring A-Next, the Fantastic Five and more! Collects SPIDER-GIRL #22-27.

144 pages, $7.99.

WEAPON X: DAYS OF FUTURE NOW TPB

Written by FRANK TIERI

Pencils Cover by BART SEARS

Weapon X is back! The War of the Programs is over; now, Director Malcolm Colcord is ready to take his plans to the next level! It's the Weapon X you love ‹ only now, all bets are off. Witness the beginning of the end of Frank Tieri's Weapon X saga! Starring Agent Zero, Fantomex, Sublime, Chamber and, of course, Wolverine! Collects WEAPON X: DAYS OF FUTURE NOW #1-5.

120 pages, $13.99.

X-MEN: KITTY PRYDE - SHADOW & FLAME TPB

Written by AKIRA YOSHIDA

Pencils Cover by PAUL SMITH

A deadly mystery draws Kitty Pryde and her fire-breathing friend Lockheed from ASTONISHING X-MEN to the shores of Japan. Ninjas and dragons will be the least of their worries! Featuring art by legendary X-Men illustrator Paul Smith and written by Age of Apocalypse scribe Akira Yoshida!

120 pages, $14.99.

X-MEN/BLACK PANTHER TPB

Written by PETER MILLIGAN & REGINALD HUDLIN

Penciled by SALVADOR LARROCA & DAVID YARDIN

Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA

Investigating a sudden outburst of strange, mutated wild animals in Africa, the X-Men ­ led by Storm ­ come face to face with something worse: mutant bio-organisms the likes of which the world has never seen. The key to unraveling their secret ­ and defeating them ­ may lie in that region's protector: the Black Panther! Collects X-MEN #175-176 and BLACK PANTHER #8-9.

96 pages, $11.99.

DAREDEVIL VS. PUNISHER TPB

Written by DAVID LAPHAM

Pencils & Cover by DAVID LAPHAM

It's wall-to-wall David Lapham (Stray Bullets) as the Eisner Award-winner and indy sensation writes, pencils and inks two of Marvel's biggest icons! Daredevil and the Punisher vie for the soul of Hell's Kitchen as half the East Coast's underworld ‹ in chaos since Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, was deposed‹scramble for a shot at the big chair. And as the city descends into chaos‹as murder and intimidation become the staples of the day‹Daredevil and the Punisher each seek to restore order in their own unique way. For Daredevil‹who's anointed himself the city's new ³Kingpin²‹this means dispensing justice at the end of a billy club. But for the Punisher, justice at the end of a billy club isn't justice at all. For the Punisher, justice for these animals is at the end of a shotgun. Featuring more Marvel villains than you can shake a stick at‹including Hammerhead and the return of the nefarious...Jackal! Collects DAREDEVIL VS. PUNISHER #1-6.

144 pages, $15.99.

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE: UNIVERSAL HEROES TPB

Written by JAY FAERBER, JEFF PARKER, CRAIG KYLE & CHRISTOPHER YOST

Penciled by CARLOS MAGNO, PAUL SIQUEIRA, FRANCIS PORTELA & JAMES RAIZ

Cover by DANIEL ACUNA

Captain Universe is known as the name for the recipient of the mysterious Uni-Power, a special kind of energy that endows an individual with superhuman powers during a time of crisis. How it has determined its hosts in the past remains a mystery. Now, the unraveling of one of the greatest enigmas in the universe begins as the Uni-Power must possess a handful of Marvel heroes­Hulk, Daredevil, X-23, Invisible Woman and Silver Surfer­to save itself form an enemy hell bent on its destruction! Collects AMAZING FANTASY #13-14, CAPTAIN UNIVERSE/HULK, CAPTAIN UNIVERSE/DAREDEVIL, CAPTAIN UNIVERSE/X-23.

136 pages, $13.99.

MARVEL KNIGHTS 4 VOL. 4: IMPOSSIBLE THINGS HAPPEN EVERY DAY TPB

Written by ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA

Penciled by VALENTINE DE LANDRO

Cover by MIKE ALLRED

Four tales of the Four! First, when two Inhuman children seek asylum with the Fantastic Four, old alliances are threatened and friends stand now as enemies! Next, when Reed forget their anniversary yet again, it's up to Sue's best girlfriends -- Alicia, Crystal and the Sensational She-Hulk -- to cheer her up with a night out on the town... Marvel style! Then, on Yancy Street, someone -- or something -- is putting the hurt on the neighborhood's tough guys. Ben Urich, Jessica Jones and the Thing are on the case, but what exactly is the nature of the threat they're facing? And finally, one of the Marvel U's most powerful entities -- the reality-bending Impossible Man -- pops up to cause havoc in this offbeat tale that blurs the line between fact and fiction, men and myth! Collects MARVEL KNIGHTS 4 #19-24.

144 pages, $14.99.

MARVEL 1602: NEW WORLD TPB

Written by GREG PAK

Penciled by GREG TOCCHINI

Cover by SERGIO TOPPI

Return to the world of 1602! Rising stars Greg Pak (X-MEN: PHOENIX -- ENDSONG) and Greg Tocchini (THOR: SON OF ASGARD) pick up where the best-selling story by Neil Gaiman left off: America, the New World! When Captain America was thrust back in time, it changed reality as we know it. Dinosaurs still roam the earth, and the Marvel super heroes we know came to exist 500 years early. Witness David Bruce Banner and Peter Parquagh become the Hulk and Spider-Man in the most eagerly-awaited event of the year! Collects MARVEL 1602: NEW WORLD #1-5.

120 pages, $14.99.

NEW WARRIORS: REALITY CHECK TPB

Written by ZEB WELLS

Pencils & Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG

The return of the New Warriors! When Night Thrasher strikes a mysterious deal with a Reality-TV producer, the team moves out of New York to help the villain-plagued denizens of small-town America. But will their filmed exploits be uplifting, or just exploitative? And is heartland America ready for Big City Super-Heroics? Collects NEW WARRIORS #1-6.

144 pages, $14.99.

SPIDER-MAN VS. SILVER SABLE VOL. 1 TPB

Written by TOM DEFALCO & PETER DAVID

Penciled by RON FRENZ, BRETT BREEDING, ALAN KUPPERBERG & RICK LEONARDI

Cover by TODD MCFARLANE

He's a wall-crawling wonder; she's a mercenary marvel! Together, they...well, get on each other's nerves, mostly -- but they make a great team, as long as they're not matching blows and ideologies themselves! See their lives intertwine both in shared adventures and apart, as Spidey faces the ability and ego of Silver's ex, the Foreigner, while Silver herself squares off against that hot-headed Hobgoblin-to-be, Jack O'Lantern! Plus: the gathering of the Sinister Syndicate and the reformation of Sandman! Guest-starring Daredevil and the Black Cat! Collects AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #265 and #279-281, and PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #128-129.

144 pages, $15.99.

AVENGERS: ABOVE AND BEYOND TPB

Written by KURT BUSIEK, STEVE ENGLEHART, ROGER STERN & ROY THOMAS

Penciled by ALAN DAVIS, IAN CHURCHILL, STEVE EPTING, TOM GRUMMETT, KLAUS JANSON, JOHN PAUL LEON, JORGE PEREIRA LUCAS, JOHN MCCREA, PAT OLLIFFE, IVAN REIS, PAUL SMITH & JIM STARLIN

Cover by ALAN DAVIS

The Avengers learn what too much of a bad thing can be when they face a city of robots and a village of Hulks! And in other international news, Blood Wraith has a BIG problem with Ultron's extermination of Slorenia! Meanwhile, Silverclaw shines and Triathlon triumphs in Kurt Busiek's penultimate Avengers saga! Featuring the villainy of Ultron, Diablo and Kang the Conqueror! Collects AVENGERS #36-40, #56 and ANNUAL 2001; and AVENGERS: THE ULTRON IMPERATIVE.

232 pages, $24.99.

ESSENTIAL GODZILLA VOL. 1 TPB

Written by DOUG MOENCH

Penciled by HERB TRIMPE, JIM MOONEY & TOM SUTTON

Cover by HERB TRIMPE

For two years, Japan's greatest export was one of Marvel's biggest stars, and the King of the Monsters upheld his title against some of the best and worst the House of Ideas had to offer ­ including the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and Nick Fury and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.! Godzilla shrinks, goes West, travels through time and hosts one of Spider-Man's most gratuitous guest-shots ever! Plus: aliens, mutants, mad Scientists and almost a dozen MORE giant monsters! It's so big, you can't miss it! Collects GODZILLA #1-24.

432 pages, $19.99.

ESSENTIAL AVENGERS VOL. 5 TPB

Written by ROY THOMAS, HARLAN ELLISON, CHRIS CLAREMONT, STEVE ENGLEHART & STEVE GERBER

Penciled by BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH, RICH BUCKLER, JOHN BUSCEMA, GEORGE TUSKA, JIM STARLIN, DON HECK, BOB BROWN, DAVE COCKRUM, SAL BUSCEMA, SAM KWESKIN & SYD SHORES

Cover by BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH From the Sentinels and the Savage Land Mutates to Loki, Dormammu and Thanos, the Avengers prove the universe's worst are no match for their best! Magnetic mayhem and nuclear nostalgia! Featuring Golden Age guest stars, mythic menaces and more! Plus: the Avengers-Defenders War and Hawkeye vs. Daredevil! Includes rare Marvel work by best-selling author Harlan Ellison! Collects AVENGERS #98-126, DAREDEVIL #99, DEFENDERS #8-11 and GIANT-SIZE AVENGERS #1.

600 pages, $16.99.

ESSENTIAL OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE VOL. 1 TPB

Written by MARK GRUENWALD, PETER SANDERSON, ELIOT R. BROWN & MORE

Penciled by JOHN BYRNE, DAVE COCKRUM, BOB LAYTON, JOHN ROMITA JR. & MORE

Cover by JOHN BYRNE

A picture's worth a thousand words, and there have always been top supplies of both in the ever-moving manuals of marvels and miscreants! Now, witness first-hand the series that started it all in Mark Gruenwald's original fifteen issues worth of secrets, super-powers and schematics! About the best, by the best! Collects OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #1-15.

544 pages, $16.99.