Have we told you about how great D&D is? Newsletter 8/27/10

By admin | Published: August 27, 2010

We told you about DC Vertigo’s UNWRITTEN, and we told you about Marvel Comics’ SHIELD.  And you know what?  We think some of you just may be listening….

So NOW we’re here telling you about Dungeons & Dragons.  What?  Oh, yeah — THAT Dungeons & Dragons: the tabletop roleplaying game.  This is NOT your father’s D&D — although it IS packaged in the exact same red box as your father’s D&D he bought in the 1980’s!  But under the hood is the smokin’ hot D&D 4th edition rules, and they ROCK THE CASBAH!  We couldn’t wait to get to the Games section of the newsletter to tell you all about it, so HERE IT IS:

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: STARTER SET

The best way to start playing the 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Roleplaying Game!

Really, folks, says the Voice of The Emerald City, this is the best introduction to Dungeons & Dragons that has ever been presented!  You get introduced to both character generation and rules & combat through a choose-your-own-adventure style scenario — it’s delicious AND nutritious!!!

Designed for 1–5 players, this boxed game contains everything needed to start playing the Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Roleplaying Game, including rules for creating heroes, advice for playing the Dungeon Master, a solo play adventure, and group-play adventure content. Learning the game has never been so easy!

Several different character races (dwarf, elf, halfling, and human) and classes (cleric, fighter, rogue, and wizard) are presented, along with powers for each race and class.

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Comics

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Click here for comics expected next Wednesday (opens in new window)

Featured Comic Books:

NAMOR: THE FIRST MUTANT #1

Spinning out of the pages of X-MEN #1, comes an all-new series starring the world’s first mutant, NAMOR THE SUB-MARINER. When the X-Men are confronted with a deadly vampire threat, Namor takes matters into his own hands on a mission that might bring down the entire might of the vampires on their heads…and in the process, destroy Atlantis! What lurks down below the ocean where the sun can’t reach? What he thought was a fable to scare the children of Atlantis comes to terrifying life in the form of a newly-discovered race of Atlantean Vampires. Namor’s choice, to stand with Atlantis or the X-Men, will define a new chapter in his life…or death.

BATMAN #702

Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel continue their captivating untold tale of Bruce Wayne and his adventures between BATMAN R.I.P. and FINAL CRISIS! Discover the shocking secrets that point toward THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE that we couldn’t show you until now!

STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES – A TALE OF JANGO AND BOBA FETT #1

Here begins a multigenerational tale of honor and redemption, starring two of the heaviest hitters in the Star Wars galaxy-the father-and-clone team of Jango and Boba Fett!

Shortly before the start of the Clone Wars, Count Dooku sends Jango Fett on a mission that will affect the course of Boba Fett’s life some twenty years later. But for now, neither of them knows what the future holds in store, and besides, they have their schedule filled dodging monsters and fighting bad guys!

GUARDING THE GLOBE #1

As the VILTRUMITE WAR rages on within the pages of INVINCIBLE, the ranks of the Guardians of the Globe are suddenly depleted. The world is in danger, and the team is in search of new blood. It’s the biggest recruitment drive since Omni-Man slaughtered the original members. But will the new Guardians of the Globe be ready in time to stop The Order? This series is a can’t-miss action extravaganza!

Featured Graphic Novels:

RIFT

Almost a decade into his astounding career, James Jean has emerged as one of contemporary art’s most important voices. From sell-out gallery shows in New York City and crowded signings at Comic-Con to kudos from the fashion world for his work for Prada, Jean’s richly detailed art has struck a chord with fans across the globe. Rift showcases a brand-new collection of art in an elegant accordion-book format. Inside, two haunting landscapes span the connected pages—folded in a variety of ways, the pages reveal myriad images hidden within the larger paintings.

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Games

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MAGIC THE GATHERING: DECK BUILDER’S TOOLKIT – BACK IN STOCK!

Jump-start your collection with 285 battle-tested cards, perfect for building several different decks! This box also includes a guide containing dueling tips and expert advice on how to custom-build the deadliest and most effective decks possible! And since no two Toolkits are the same, you and an opponent can each pick one up and then duel for the right to say, “Here I Rule!”

HORDES: MINIONS GUN BOAR

The lumbering Gun Boars are walking artillery platforms in the service of Lord Carver. These beasts turn their light cannons upon enemy formations to scatter them with explosive force. The product of mad experiments conducted by Dr. Arkadius, Gun Boars represent substantial fire support for the forces of Farrow and boast a toughened hide that can withstand small arms fire.

HORDES: THE CIRCLE ORBOROS WARPBORN SKINWALKERS

Warpwolves bring an undeniable power to the battlefield, but the massive creatures are difficult to control. Warpborn Skinwalkers are Devourer worshippers who chose to undergo a partial transformation that leaves their minds more human while empowering them with a bestial strength. These monsters wade through opposing formations, ripping soldiers apart with their jaws or their hefty polearms.

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Toys / Collectables

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BLACKEST NIGHT: SERIES 5

Behold the Power of the Black Lanterns!

This fifth series of action figures based on the hugely popular BLACKEST NIGHT event includes Nekron, the Lord of the Unliving; Hawkman, the winged warrior who joins the Black Lanterns after falling victim to them; Deadman, the ghost hero who’s tormented by voices of the dead; and Batman, who, in death, is as susceptible to the Black Lantern Corps as anyone.

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Darwyn Cooke is back with more Parker! Rec. Reads for October

By admin | Published: August 24, 2010

We are just so excited about a new Darwyn Cooke graphic novel that we could just pee!

(but we won’t — we’ll probably just squeal like little girls for a while)

(. . . you know, we’re just digging a hole for ourselves here. Peeing OR squealing isn’t really in keeping with the manly action of Darwyn Cooke’s Parker adaptations. We’ll just quit while we’re ahead — er, behind, really — and just tell you that you need to read this!)

RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE OUTFIT

Darwyn Cooke (w & a & c)

Darwyn Cooke is the Eisner Award-winning writer/artist of such classics as DC: The New Frontier, Selina’s Big Score, and last year’s smash-hit, The Hunter. Now, Cooke is back and following up the New York Times best-selling Hunter with a heart-pounding sequel: The Outfit.

After evening the score with those who betrayed him, and recovering the money he was cheated out of from the syndicate, Parker is riding high, living in swank hotels and enjoying the finer things in life again. Until, that is, he’s fingered by a squealer who rats him out to the Outfit for the price they put on his head… and they find out too late that if you push Parker, it better be all the way into the grave!

Darwyn Cooke is an Eisner- and Emmy-winning creator whose adaptation of Richard Stark’s first groundbreaking Parker novel has earned him multiple 2010 Eisner Award nominations!

HC • PC • $24.99 • 160 Pages • 6” x 9”

———-  DARK HORSE COMICS  ———-

STAR WARS: KNIGHT ERRANT—AFLAME #1 (OF 5)

John Jackson Miller (W), Federico Dallocchio (A), Michael Atiyeh (C), Joe Quinones (Cover), Mark Kenna (I), and Dave Ross (Cover)

On sale Oct 13

FC, 40 pages   $2.99 Miniseries

More than one thousand years before Luke Skywalker, a dark age grips the galaxy as an ineffectual Republic abandons entire systems to Sith control. A newly knighted Jedi on her first mission, eighteen-year-old Kerra Holt has joined a band of Jedi volunteers traveling deep behind enemy lines, with no support from the Republic and little chance of survival. She thinks she is prepared for anything. She’s wrong.

• A new series in a new era, introducing a new female hero to Star Wars!

• John Jackson Miller is also writing a Knight Errant novel for Del Rey starring Kerra Holt in an original adventure! See her here first!

HELLBOY/BEASTS OF BURDEN

Mike Mignola (W), Evan Dorkin (W), and Jill Thompson (A/Cover)

On sale Oct 27

FC, 32 pages   $3.50 One-shot

The paranormal activity in the outwardly charming town of Burden Hill has gone from bad to worse, as seen in Dorkin and Thompson’s hardcover graphic novel Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites. Now the occult-investigating team of dogs (and one cat) need some serious help. Contact with the Wise Dog Society has broken off, leaving the team on its own, as a series of unexplained animal slayings have begun to occur. But magic can work in surprising ways, and help is brought to the team with the unexpected arrival of the World’s Greatest Paranormal Detective.

Evan Dorkin (Milk and Cheese, Bizarro World) and Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother, Magic Trixie) join forces with Mike Mignola (Hellboy, B.P.R.D., Witchfinder, Baltimore) in an amazing one-shot bringing their supernatural worlds together!

METALOCALYPSE/DETHKLOK #1 (OF 3)

Brendon Small (W), Jon Schnepp (W/Cover), Jeremy Barlow (W), Lucas Marangon (P), Eduardo Francisco (I), and Eric Powell (Cover)

On sale Oct 6

FC, 40 pages   $3.99 Miniseries

They’re the most brutal black-metal band on the planet and the world’s seventh-largest economy, five men prophesied to bring about the Metalocalypse. They are DETHKLOK… and they are about to enter the food chain. After a series of sponsorship deals goes sour, Dethklok launches a line of frozen meals in hopes of reclaiming their metal throne. Two things stand in their way: the enigmatic tribunal of world leaders sworn to topple the band, and their own incompetence.

• Based on the popular Adult Swim animated series Metalocalypse. New season begins in August! Brutal!

• Stories by series creator/writer Brendon Small and series director/designer Jon Schnepp! Brutaler!

• Variant cover by series director/designer Jon Schnepp! Brutalest!

THE GUILD TP

Felicia Day (W), Jim Rugg (A), Dan Jackson (C), and Georges Jeanty (Cover)

On sale Dec 8

FC, 96 pages   $12.99

TPB, 6″ x 9″

Chronicling the hilarious on- and offline lives of a group of Internet role-playing gamers, the Knights of Good, The Guild has become a cult hit, and is the winner of numerous awards from SXSW, YouTube, Yahoo, and the Streamys. Now, Day brings the wit and heart of the show to this graphic-novel prequel. In this origin tale of the Knights of Good, we learn about Cyd’s life before joining the guild, how she became Codex, her awful breakup with boyfriend Trevor, and how she began to meet the other players who would eventually become her teammates.

• This story line fills in details never before revealed on the web show, making it an essential new chapter for existing fans as well as a perfect jumping-on point for new fans!

• Collects the three-issue series and features a sketchbook section and pinups!

———-  MARVEL COMICS  ———-

ULTIMATE COMICS THOR #1 (of 4)

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Pencils & Cover by CARLOS PACHECO

Villain Variant by MIKE CHOI

Exploding from the pages of the Ultimates, comes Ultimate Thor! Don’t miss the superstar team-up of JONATHAN HICKMAN and CARLOS PACHECO as they go back to the beginning and tell the origin of Thor, Loki and the rest of Asgard! Ragnorak has descended and Asgard sits at the edge of the end. What will become of Thor and the Warriors Three? And what exactly does Baron Zemo, mysterious commander for the Nazis, have to do with it all? Ultimate Comics Thor brings you the untold story of Thor’s thunderous debut!

32 PGS./Rated T+  $3.99

TRON: THE BETRAYAL #1 (OF 2)

Written by JAI NITZ

Plot courtesy STARLIGHT RUNNER ENTERTAINMENT

Penciled by ANDIE TONG

Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA

Get a first look at the world of the upcoming Tron: Legacy! Following the events of the original Tron, the year is 1983 and Kevin Flynn is now in charge of Encom. He’s built it into the largest videogame company in the world. But that’s not all Kevin has accomplished – he’s also secretly built the Grid, a digital world filled with living programs! More than a place where he can race light cycles, it’s a place where he can build and test environments only limited by his imagination. But the Grid is far more complex than even its creator realizes, and even Flynn can’t be in two places at once. As this new world develops a life of its own, Flynn is going to first need the help of an old friend, a security program named Tron. Showcasing a key time of the mythology of the Tron world, part one of THE BETRAYAL will show the early days of the Grid, and the first appearances of the heroes and villains that will be seen in Tron: Legacy.

56 Pages/$4.99/Rated A

© 2010 Disney Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved

UNCANNY X-FORCE #1

Written by RICK REMENDER

Pencils by JEROME OPEÑA

Cover by ESAD RIBIC

Blank Cover also available

Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC

Variant Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN

Variant Cover by ROB LIEFELD

“AGES,” PART 1

Wolverine promised Cyclops that X-Force would disband — he lied. A secret society has resurrected En Sabah Nur, putting into motion events that will turn this age of heroes into an Age of Apocalypse! To hold them back, Wolverine and Archangel bring together Fantomex, Deadpool, and Psylocke to form The Uncanny X-Force! Stained by their history, they are the only ones capable of making the hard resolutions necessary. A band of likeminded friends and mercenaries set to one purpose, one big ugly task — kill Apocalypse by any means.

32 PGS./Explicit Content …$3.99

STRANGE TALES VOL. 2 #1

COVER BY: Rafael Grampa

WRITER: KATHRYN BEATON, JEFFREY D. BROWN, NICHOLAS GUREWITCH, KEVIN HUIZENGA, JEFFREY LEMIRE, FRANK SANTORO, Dash Shaw, SHANNON WHEELER, Rafael Grampa, Jillian Tamaki, JOHONEN VASQUEZ, GENE LUEN YANG

PENCILS: KATHRYN BEATON, JEFFREY D. BROWN, RAFAEL ALEXANDRE CLAUDINO, DIAS, NICHOLAS GUREWITCH, SHANNON WHEELER, Rafael Grampa, FRANK SANTORO, Dash Shaw, Jillian Tamaki, JEFFREY LEMIRE, KEVIN HUIZENGA, JOHONEN VASQUEZ, GENE LUEN YANG, Nicholas Gurewitch

THE STORY:

Marvel’s critically acclaimed indie anthology returns! The best, most exciting cartoonists working today re-imagine Marvel’s greatest characters in three giant-sized issues! And with no ads! Get excited, folks. Comics absolutely do not get more awesome than this! Don’t miss out on what’s guaranteed to be one of the best reads of the year!!! Parental Advisory…$4.99

SUPERIOR #1 (of 6)

Written by MARK MILLAR

Pencils and Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU

Ollie Janson had it all going for him—plenty of friends at school, good looks, and his coach called him one of the most

talented basketball players he’s ever seen. But that was when he could still move his legs. Now he’s living with multiple sclerosis, missing all the little things he used to take for granted, and escaping into the world of movies and comics with his best friend. Then… SUPERIOR entered his life. The newest smash superhero comic from MARK MILLER (KICK-ASS, NEMESIS, OLD MAN LOGAN) and his ULTIMATE AVENGERS 2 collaborator LEINIL FRANCIS YU (SECRET INVASION, NEW AVENGERS, ULTIMATE

WOLVERINE VS. HULK) is sure to bethe most talked-about new series of 2010!

32 PGS./ Mature…$2.99

———-  DC COMICS  ———-

BATMAN: THE RETURN #1

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Art by DAVID FINCH & SCOTT WILLIAMS

Cover by DAVID FINCH

1:25 Variant cover by TBD

1:200 Variant cover by TBD

The event of the year is here! Bruce Wayne made his long journey back through the timestream in RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, Dick Grayson and Damian uncovered important secrets in BATMAN & ROBIN, Gotham City’s bravest heroes made their mark in BRUCE WAYNE – THE ROAD HOME…and now it’s time for BATMAN to return! What happens to Dick Grayson now that the “real” Batman is back? How will Bruce Wayne handle a reunion with his son, Damian? This special one-shot bridges two exciting eras of The Dark Knight and sets up a surprising new status quo that’s just on the horizon.

Featuring the talents of Batman mastermind Grant Morrison and superstar artist David Finch providing interior art, this issue is a can’t-miss for comics fans!

ONE-SHOT • On sale OCTOBER 27 • 56 pg, FC $4.99 US

VERTIGO RESURRECTED #1

Written by WARREN ELLIS, BRIAN AZZARELLO, GRANT MORRISON, GARTH ENNIS and others

Art by JIM LEE, PHIL JIMENEZ

BERNIE WRIGHTSON and others

Cover by TIM BRADSTREET

“Shoot,” Warren Ellis’s much-talked about, but never published story, involving schoolyard killings leads this mega-sized VERTIGO RESURRECTION Special. Also included are rarely seen tales exploring the disturbing depths of horror, war, romance and science fiction by Brian Azzarello, Brian Bolland, Garth Ennis,

Grant Morrison, Jim Lee, Peter Milligan,

Bill Willingham, Bernie Wrighston and more!

On sale OCTOBER 20 • 96 pg, FC, $7.99 US • MATURE READERS

EX MACHINA VOL. 10: TERM LIMITS TP

Written by BRIAN K. VAUGHAN

Art and cover by TONY HARRIS

In this final EX MACHINA trade paperback collecting issues #45-50 of the Eisner Award-winning series, Mayor Hundred must navigate the most challenging hot-button issue of his career, while a powerful new enemy reveals a terrifying plan that’s been in the works since the very first issue of EX MACHINA!

Will Mitchell Hundred’s new archenemy, a dogged reporter with powers far beyond those of the Great Machine, bring down the mayor’s administration? Will the tragedies hinted at in the very first issue of the series actually come to pass?

On sale NOVEMBER 10 • 160 pg, FC, $14.99 US MATURE READERS

TWO-STEP TP

Written by WARREN ELLIS

Art by AMANDA CONNER & JIMMY PALMIOTTI

Cover by AMANDA CONNER

The fast-paced, 3-issue miniseries is finally collected along with Warren Ellis’s script for issue #1! In a near-future London, Tony Ling’s a Zen gangster. Rosi Blades is a bored camgirl. They’ve never met, but this unlikely pair is about to embark on the chase of a lifetime down the crowded streets of the city.

On sale NOVEMBER 17 • 128 pg, FC, $19.99 US • MATURE READERS

FABLES #100

Written by BILL WILLINGHAM and MARK BUCKINGHAM

Art by MARK BUCKINGHAM, BILL WILLINGHAM, CHRISSIE ZULLO, JOAO RUAS and STEVE LEIALOHA

Cover by JOAO RUAS

In this fantastic 100-page issue, it’s time to put an end to Mister Dark once and for all, and time for the Fables to return home to Fabletown. For that to happen, one of the Fables agrees to take on the Dark Man in single combat! It’s big, it’s epic, and if you live in New York City, you may want to take a quick vacation when this issue comes out, because things are going to get wrecked!

In addition to the larger-than-life main story, we have a FABLES prose story written by Mark Buckingham and illustrated by Bill Willingham! We have an All-Star Burning Questions section that will knock your socks off (seriously, innocent people are going to lose some socks here). We have a puppet theatre created by the unstoppably creative Mark Buckingham, a FABLES board game, sequential stories painted by Chrissie Zullo and Joao Ruas, and even more surprises in this square-bound behemoth celebrating this award-winning Vertigo series!

On sale NOVEMBER 24  • 100 pg, FC, $9.99 US MATURE READERS

FABLES #100 POSTER

ART BY MARK BUCKINGHAM

Play the game of FABLES! In celebration of FABLES #100, DC Direct presents this spectacular poster gameboard by Eisner Award-winning artist Mark Buckingham, direct from this landmark issue! Move along the enchanted path with Rose Red, Bigby Wolf and Snow White as you attempt to dodge the Adversary and claim the treasure! It’s the ultimate game for FABLES fans – and if you win, you may even live happily ever after!

Please note: This poster is for display purposes only, and is not a real game.

On sale November 24, 2010 • Poster * $8.99 US

———-  OTHER PUBLISHERS  ———-

THE WALKING DEAD “HEAD STAB” T-SHIRT

art CHARLIE ADLARD

OCTOBER 6

S-XL—T-Shirt $24.99

XXL—T-Shirt  $27.99

Just in time for the TV series premiere on AMC — an all-new t-shirt featuring ROBERT KIRKMAN’S THE WALKING DEAD! Featuring artwork by CHARLIE ADLARD, it’s the best way to show your love for the undead!

THE WALKING DEAD “I HEART” T-SHIRT

art CHARLIE ADLARD

OCTOBER 6

S-XL—T-Shirt $24.99

XXL—T-Shirt  $27.99

Just in time for the TV series premiere on AMC—an all-new t-shirt featuring ROBERT KIRKMAN’S THE WALKING DEAD! Featuring artwork by CHARLIE ADLARD, it’s the best way to show your love for the undead!

LIBERTY COMICS 2010

Story BRIAN AZZARELLO, ANINA BENNETT, EVAN DORKIN, GARTH ENNIS, THOMAS JEFFERSON, GEOFF JOHNS, ROB LIEFELD, BEN McCOOL, LARRY MARDER, FRANK MILLER, GABRIEL BÁ & FÁBIO MOON, SCOTT MORSE, JIMMY PALMIOTTI, DARICK ROBERTSON, GAIL SIMONE, DON SIMPSON

Art AMANDA CONNER, COLLEEN DORAN, EVAN DORKIN, DAVE GIBBONS, PAUL GUINAN, AMANDA GOULD, SCOTT KOLINS, ROB LIEFELD, LARRY MARDER, FRANK MILLER, TERRY MOORE, GABRIEL BÁ & FÁBIO MOON, SCOTT MORSE, PAUL POPE, DARICK ROBERTSON, DON SIMPSON, JEFF SMITH, ROB STEEN, JILL THOMPSON, BILLY TUCCI,  SKOTTIE YOUNG

Cover A JIM LEE

Cover B DARICK ROBERTSON

Editor LARRY MARDER

OCTOBER 6

48 PAGES / FC           $4.99

A COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND BENEFIT BOOK!

LIBERTY COMICS is the annual ensemble of comic book greats who have donated their time and energy to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

CBLDF is is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics art form and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians and readers. The CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance and education in furtherance of these goals.

The roster for LIBERTY COMICS 2010 includes contributions such as: A new The Boys story by GARTH ENNIS & ROB STEEN, the first new Megaton Man adventure by DON SIMPSON in over a decade, an all-new Milk & Cheese story by EVAN DORKIN, a preview of The Contrarian by SCOTT MORSE, a new Conan tale by DARICK ROBERTSON, Boilerplate by ANINA BENNETT & PAUL GUINAN and “Why We Fight!” by editor LARRY MARDER.

Plus: all-new short stories by GEOFF JOHNS & SCOTT KOLINS, FRANK MILLER, GABRIEL BÁ & FÁBIO MOON, PAUL POPE, JEFF SMITH, TERRY MOORE, DAVE GIBBONS, BRIAN AZZARELLO &  JILL THOMPSON, ROB LIEFELD, COLLEEN DORAN and SKOTTIE YOUNG.

All proceeds from LIBERTY COMICS will benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!

MOUSE GUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD HC

(W/A) Various

Collects the first volume of Legends of the Guard, a new Mouse Guard anthology series featuring the work of artists and storytellers handpicked by series creator David Petersen. Bonus content includes an all-new Epilogue illustrated by João Lemos (Avengers Fairy Tales), cover gallery, character lineup, floor plan of the June Alley Inn, and creator bios. (C: 0-0-1)

8×8, 144pgs, FC          SRP: $19.95

TRON: THE BETRAYAL GN

(W) Fabian Nicieza (A) Andie Tong, Alvaro Lopez, Dave Stewart

Sam Flynn is the rebellious 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, a computer programmer who disappeared when Sam was just a child. When Sam looks into his father’s disappearance, he finds himself pulled into the same world of brutal programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for almost 25 years! This 128-page graphic novel prequel will bridge the story between the first Tron film from 1982 and the upcoming Walt Disney Studio’s eagerly anticipated film, Tron: Legacy! (C: 0-1-2)

SC, 6×9, 128pgs, FC   SRP: $9.99

XENOZOIC: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TP

(W/A) Mark Schultz

Forced into hiding by a global ecological cataclysm, humans emerge from their underground warrens half a millennium later to discover that the Earth has been totally transformed. The familiar flora and fauna are gone, replaced by a radically altered natural order populated by rampaging dinosaurs and strange, new creatures. It takes guts, grim determination, ingenuity and a whole lot of old-fashioned luck just to survive, much less thrive, in this alien wilderness. Xenozoic combines lush artwork with a pulp-fueled narrative to create an action-packed fantasy.

SC, 8×11, 352pgs, FC SRP: $39.95

ALLEN GINSBERG’S HOWL: A GRAPHIC NOVEL GN

(W) Allen Ginsberg (A) Eric Drooker

A tie-in to the forthcoming movie Howl starring James Franco and featuring graphics by Eric Drooker, this graphic novel adapts Allen Ginsberg’s legendary poem. Howl: A Graphic Novel visualizes the poem stanza by stanza with illustrations drawn from Drooker’s storyboards, key frames, concept art, and cells from the Monk studio’s animation. The book’s introduction tells the story of the genesis of Ginsberg’s poem, the obscenity trial it spawned, and its subsequent victory, and will also describe the making of the film. For the past four years, Drooker has worked as the Animation Designer on the film, utilzing an unusual blend of live action and animation to illustrate the full text of Ginsberg’s epic poem.

SC, 7×9, 224pgs, FC   SRP: $19.99

YO GABBA GABBA: COMIC BOOK TIME! VOLUME 1  HC

(W/A) Various(C) Parker Jacobs

Oni Press and W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, the award-winning entertainment company and producers of Yo Gabbba Gabba!, have teamed to bring DJ Lance Rock, the residents of his magic boombox — Brobee, Muno, Toodee, Foofa and Plex — along with their Story Time pals from their hit series and live stage show, to the wild world of comics books with the first Yo Gabba Gabba! comics project — Yo Gabba Gabba! Comic Book Time Vol. 1. Featuring an all-new cover from Gabba Animation Art Director Parker Jacobs and new stories from YGG animators, comic book superstars like Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, Mike Allred, J. Torres, J. Bone, Jamie S. Rich, and many more, this book promises to be a party for the eyeballs of readers young and old!

HC, 7×10, 128pgs, FC $24.99

CHARLES BURNS’ X’ED OUT GN

(W/A) Charles Burns

From the creator of Black Hole, the first volume of an epic masterpiece of graphic fiction in brilliant color! Doug is having a strange night. A weird buzzing noise on the other side of the wall has woken him up, and there, across the room, next to a huge hole torn out of the bricks, sits his beloved cat, Inky, who died years ago. What’s going on? Drawing inspiration from such diverse influences as Hergé and William Burroughs, Charles Burns has given us a dazzling spectral fever-dream — and a comic-book masterpiece.

HC, 9×12, 56pgs, FC   SRP: $19.95

JIM SILKE’S JUNGLE GIRLS

(W/A) Jim Silke

Here they are, the most fabulous and provocative creatures in the world of fiction — Jungle Girls, from H. Rider Haggard’s She and Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Jane to modern, bold, daring and dangerous beauties that prowl his imagination. They’re all here, the Jungle Goddesses, Queens, and Slaves as well as Tropic Tramps, Dragon Ladies, Harem Damsels, and semi-clad Barbarians. It’s not a history, but a celebration of that impossible, looney, glorious nonsense that Silke somehow finds essential. The book includes 52 original pieces of artwork and an extensive selection of movie stills and images from private collections. Available in Softcover, as well as a Deluxe Hardcover edition, signed by the artist (with dust jacket) and limited to 500 copies.

SOFTCOVER—SC, 8×11, 84pgs, FC            SRP: $24.95

LIMITED SIGNED HARDCOVER—HC, 8×11, 84pgs, FC   SRP: $44.95

SPECTRUM VOLUME 17

(E) Cathy Fenner, Arnie Fenner

Challenging, controversial, educational, and irreverent, the 15th-anniversary addition to the award-winning Spectrum series reinforces both the importance and prevalence of fantastic art in today’s culture. With exceptional images by extraordinary creators, this elegant full-color collection showcases an international cadre of creators working in every style and medium, both traditional and digital. Featured in Spectrum 17 are visionaries such as Brom, James Gurney, Michael Whelan, Donato Giancola, Daniel Dociu, Andrew Jones, David Bowers, Melanie Delon, Anita Kun, and 300 more. Available in Softcover and Hardcover editions. (C: 0-1-2)

SOFTCOVER—SC, 9×12, 264pgs, FC          SRP: $29.95

HARDCOVER—HC, 9×12, 264pgs, FC         SRP: $39.95

DOCTOR WHO: THE ELEVEN DOCTORS ACTION FIGURE COLLECTOR SET

Imported from the UK! For nearly fifty years audiences around the world have watched with rapt attention as the Time Lord known as the Doctor has battled monsters through space and time. Eleven actors have portrayed the Doctor; due to his Gallifreyan biology, when his body nears death it “regenerates” to heal itself, and he takes on a new form — and often, a new personality. This boxed set features 5″ figures of the eleven men to portray the Doctor in the BBC series, with new costumes and new sculpts. Window box packaging. Scheduled to ship in October 2010.

Action Figure    SRP: $119.99

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“This is the end, my only friend . . . the end.” Newsletter 8/20/10

By admin | Published: August 20, 2010

It is of endings we speak, this week!  Every comic book and graphic novel we’re featuring this week is either the last issue, or thematically deals in some way with “last,” or endings, or death.  We’re just a big bowl o’ sunshine this week, ain’t we?!

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Comics

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Click here for comics expected next Wednesday (opens in new window)

Featured Comic Books:

EX MACHINA #50

WildStorm’s groundbreaking, critically acclaimed political thriller reaches its conclusion with an epic, double-sized series finale six years in the making. Former superhero – and current mayor of New York City – Mitchell Hundred finally catches up with the unspeakable tragedy foretold in the very first page of EX MACHINA #1…but countless new surprises still await!

Join award-winning creators Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris and J.D. Mettler for what promises to be the most shocking and talked-about ending since the final issue of Y: THE LAST MAN!

STAR WARS: LEGACY #50

The galaxy is teetering on the edge of a new future, with everyone fighting for a foothold-not to mention their lives! The galaxy that emerges from this chaotic battle could even end up without a Skywalker to carry the legacy that so many have come to depend on . . .

The final issue! Sith versus Sith! Jedi versus Sith! Imperials versus Sith! Cade Skywalker versus Sith! It’s all-out war!

THE LAST PHANTOM #1

Forget everything you know about the Phantom as Dynamite, Alex Ross and Scott (Buck Rogers) Beatty present the ultimate tale of loss, redemption and revenge! This is THE LAST PHANTOM!

Redesigned with the utmost care by Alex Ross – who also provides incredible covers for the series (along with variants by Blackest Night artist Joe Prado and Fabiano Neves), the visuals of the Phantom pay homage to the old, while presenting the Ghost Who Walks for a whole new audience! And what better writer than Scott Beatty to enhance the vision as designed by Alex Ross?! Featuring the Dynamite debut of Eduardo Ferigato, The Last Phantom is the next must-read title from Dynamite!

PHOENIX WITHOUT ASHES #1 (OF 4)

Harlan Ellison, one of the Grand Masters of science fiction and a multiple Hugo-, Nebula-, and Edgar Award-winner, returns to his roots with the graphic novel, Phoenix Without Ashes. The year is 2785, and Devon, a farmer banished for challenging his community’s Elders, discovers a secret that changes everything he knew about the world, leading him on an adventure beyond his understanding and a quest to solve a mystery beyond his understanding before his entire world is destroyed in cataclysm.

Featured Graphic Novels:

With Brian K. Vaughan’s fantastic Ex Machina ending this week, we thought we’d celebrate his other great long-running graphic novel series, from DC Vertigo!

Y: THE LAST MAN VOL. 1: UNMANNED

Y: THE LAST MAN, winner of three Eisner Awards and one of the most critically acclaimed, best-selling comic books series of the last decade, is that rare example of a page-turner that is at once humorous, socially relevant and endlessly surprising.

Written by Brian K. Vaughan (Lost, PRIDE OF BAGHDAD, EX MACHINA) and with art by Pia Guerra, this is the saga of Yorick Brown—the only human survivor of a planet-wide plague that instantly kills every mammal possessing a Y chromosome. Accompanied by a mysterious government agent, a brilliant young geneticist and his pet monkey, Ampersand, Yorick travels the world in search of his lost love and the answer to why he’sthe last man on earth.

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Games

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DC ADVENTURES HERO’S HANDBOOK

Join the never-ending battle for truth and justice in the world’s greatest super-hero universe, using the world’s greatest super-hero roleplaying game! The DC ADVENTURES Hero’s Handbook is a complete super-hero RPG, based on the award-winning Mutants & Masterminds system. Take on the roles of legendary DC heroes like Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman, or create your own! Get started right away with a wide selection of hero archetypes, or build from scratch using a comprehensive creation system. The Hero’s Handbook provides everything you need for hours of adventure in the DC Universe, including all the rules of the game, an overview of the original comic- book setting, and details on major heroes and villains, complete with game information. It’s all presented in gorgeous full-color, with art by some of DC’s most famous illustrators. Experience super-hero adventure in the world that defined the genre: Become a hero of legend with the DC ADVENTURES Hero’s Handbook!

THUNDERSTONE: WRATH OF THE ELEMENTS

Thunderstone returns with all new monsters, heroes, equipment, and now… traps! Thunderstone brought dungeon crawling to the deck-building game genre, and Wrath of the Elements takes Thunderstone to a new level. With four new heroes, six new monsters, and many new village cards, Wrath of the Elements can be stand alone or mixed in with classic Thunderstone for a larger experience. Wrath of the Elements also introduces Traps. This new card type creates perlious dangers for your adventuring party when revealed from the Dungeon Deck. Can you overcome the new monstrosities and claim the Thunderstone?

Wrath of the Elements also features an attractive and durable card box large enough to hold both Wrath of the Elements and classic Thunderstone, and is even more compact and easy to transport! The box also comes with all new labelled card-type dividers for both the new cards and classic Thunderstone cards. Jason Engle returns again with more amazing art as well.

YU-GI-OH 5D’S: DUELIST REVOLUTION

Get ready to turn your Duels upside-down with Duelist Revolution. This 100-card booster set brings you Fusion Monsters, including Yusei’s 3200 ATK Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste.

Duelist Revolution puts a revolutionary new spin on almost any Deck, featuring one of the most talked-about Spell Cards in years: Pot of Duality. This latest Deck-thinning Spell Card lets you look at the top 3 cards of your Deck, and add 1 of those cards to your hand. This can help fine-tune almost any Deck into a well-oiled machine!

The unicorn is one of the famous monsters in history. Now you can add double or triple unicorn magic to your Extra Deck, 5D’s-style! Thunder Unicorn, Voltic Bicorn, and Lightning Tricorn stampede onto the field, with a herd of new Beast-themed monsters, Spells, and Traps to smash through your opponent’s defenses!

Duelist Revolution also includes many cards to team up with your monsters from other sets. Combine Fabled Raven with other “Fabled” monsters in Hidden Arsenal 2 and Hidden Arsenal 3. Add Stygian Street Patrol to your favorite Fiend Deck. And use Mystical Refpanel to re-direct Spell Card effects from one player to another! Plus new Amazoness cards to add to your Amazoness monsters from Gold Series 3.

Join the Duelist Revolution and take your Deck in brand new directions!

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Toys / Collectables

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BATMAN REBORN: SERIES 1

In one of the most exciting, ongoing comics events in recent years, a cast of familiar characters assumes the mantle of the bat. And out of the events of BATMAN REBORN, a new generation of heroes rise!

Now don’t miss out on the action figures based on this award-winning, best-selling series, which includes both Azrael and Batgirl in their new costumes.

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Hey, have we told you lately how great Unwritten is?

By admin | Published: August 13, 2010

Unwritten is the next great DC Vertigo comic book series, and the second story just came out in a graphic novel this week!  It collects seven issues of the comic for only $12.99!

Here’s a little background on the series:
Tommy Taylor is the boy wizard who’s the hero of a hugely popular series of novels that are an international phenomenon. However, that is also the name of the son abandoned by the author, Wilson Taylor, who has gone missing without concluding Tommy’s magical adventures. Since the real Tommy was the inspiration for his father’s much adored character, he becomes a legend himself for the legion of fans. Then someone raises doubts about his real identity and he finds himself the target of violent lashback, forcing him to go in search of his missing father and to discover the truth. It’s a journey that takes him to Europe and an encounter with a mysterious group of authors who seem to owe their success to unholy alliances. As Tom is about to discover, someone has been manipulating his life, someone else is the author of his destiny….

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Comics

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Click here for comics expected next Wednesday (opens in new window)

Featured Comic Books:

GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS #1

BRIGHTEST DAY! A whole new chapter in the epic GREEN LANTERN saga gets under way as Guy Gardner begins his secret mission for Atrocitus, bringing him into conflict with Hal Jordan with massive repercussions for the Green Lantern Corps!

Guy takes fellow Emerald Warriors Kilowog and Arisia along as he explores the Unknown Sectors — but what happens when they discover his mission and what’s waiting for them in the unpatrolled darkness?

B.P.R.D.: HELL ON EARTH—NEW WORLD #1

Following the global havoc created by the frog war, and with the B.P.R.D. now operating under strict U.N. oversight, our heroes face new horrors. People are once again vanishing from small towns, monsters are roaming in the woods, and a strange new creature arrives to create hell on earth.

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS #0

Step into the world of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS!

Take your first strides on a long and majestic adventure—fight to stay alive—fight for honor—fight for glory!In this special issue you’ll get two stories introducing you to the upcoming D&D worlds, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, too.

All this leads up to the thrilling release of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS #1 in November and a DARK SUN limited series in January. Don’t miss this value-priced jumping-on point for the all-new wave of D&D comics!

THE THANOS IMPERATIVE #3

Thanos faces twisted versions of the Avengers—while Nova assembles a star-studded cosmic strike force! As the staggering consequences of the Cancerverse’s invasion become apparent, Star-Lord and his battered band of heroes fight to protect Thanos, who has actually become the universe’s only hope! But it’s literally a life and death struggle, and one being hardwired for destruction may ruin everything! Check out this next stunning chapter and find out why AintItCoolNews says “this writing team has taken the Marvel Cosmic line to levels of cool never before seen”!

Featured Graphic Novels:

THE UNWRITTEN VOL. 2: INSIDE MAN
by Mike Carey and Peter Gross
Tom Taylor’s life was screwed from go. His father created the Tommy Taylor fantasy series, boy-wizard novels with popularity on par with Harry Potter. The problem is Dad modeled the fictional epic so closely to Tom’s real life that fans are constantly comparing him to his counterpart, turning him into the lamest variety of Z-level celebrity. In the final novel, it’s even implied that the fictional Tommy will crossover into the real world, giving delusional fans more excuses to harass Tom.
When an enormous scandal reveals that Tom might really be a boy-wizard made flesh, Tom comes into contact with a very mysterious, very deadly group that’s secretly kept tabs on him all his life. Now, to protect his own life and discover the truth behind his origins, Tom will travel the world, eventually finding himself at locations all featured on a very special map — one kept by the deadly group that charts places throughout world history where fictions have impacted and tangibly shaped reality, those stories ranging from famous literary works to folktales to pop culture. And in the process of figuring out what it all means, Tom will find himself having to figure out a huge conspiracy mystery that spans the entirety of the history of fiction.
In this volume, Tom arrives at Donostia prison in Southern France and falls into the orbit of another story: The Song of Roland. Unfortunately for Tom, it’s a story that ends with a massacre. Tom discovers the true meaning of “out of the frying pan” after his escape from Donostia jail takes him to Stuttgart in 1940, a ghost city inhabited by the master liar of the Third Reich, Josef Goebbels, and a tortured soul who’s crying out for rescue – or death…

BONE TALL TALES

by Jeff Smith

This installment introduces Big Johnson Bone, the explorer who founded Boneville. A fearless Davey Crockett-like character, he defeats a cave bear when just a baby and grows up to best all manner of beasts, including a pack of ratlike creatures intent on taking over the forest. Big Johnson’s recklessness in the face of danger results in much humor, as does the commentary of his terrified, sarcastic monkey companion. Smith’s quick wit shines through in the exchanges between Johnson and his companions. The colorful art is jam-packed with action, and the characters are enhanced with exaggerated features and movements. The story moves quickly as Big Johnson falls into one predicament after another.

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Games

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FORCES OF HORDES: THE SKORNE

Enslave and Subjugate

From the blasted stormlands of Immoren march the vicious armies of the Skorne Empire set on the conquest of the Iron Kingdoms. Disciplined ranks of praetorians, elite cataphracts, and malicious paingivers fight alongside fearsome titans and other great warbeasts under the cruel watch of their mighty warlords. Warriors to the core, the skorne employ the dark art of mortitheurgy to push their bodies past normal limits and to fight on past death.

Lead the merciless skorne in their domination of the Iron Kingdoms with Forces of HORDES: Skorne, featuring:

Complete faction rules and profiles for using all current Skorne models in HORDES Mk II. New troops to bring to the fight, plus the all-new warlock Dominar Rasheth. An in-depth look at the history and structure of the Skorne Empire’s military. A painting and modeling guide to help ready your forces for battle. Skorne Theme Force lists and rules, which allow you to create armies based on specialized forces from the Skorne Empire.

Go Forth and Bend All of Immoren to Your Will!

HORDES: THE SKORNE PAINGIVER TASK MASTER

Slavery is one of the most deeply embedded elements of skorne culture. The Paingiver caste takes great pleasure in subjugating new beasts and races, and recent battles have only served to open their minds to new possibilities. Paingiver Task Masters are sent to oversee Skorne Minions in battle, and they are quick to apply the lash to any who grow lax in their service.

HORDES: THE SKORNE DOMINAR RASHETH

In an empire known for discipline and precision, it is a rare man who can excel in spite of his unsavory appetites and predilections. Rasheth leads a house well known for its ability to train mighty titan warbeasts, and profits from the recent push for western expansion has allowed him to delve ever deeper into decadence. Too slothful to walk on his own, the Dominar is carried into battle by a team of Agonizers.

HORDES: TROLLBLOOD TROLLKIN SKINNER

The Trollkin race and their Troll warbeasts are known throughout the Iron Kingdoms for their voracious appetites. In such a culture, the hunters capable of bringing down big game are viewed with great respect. For the Skinners, wilderness Trollkin who dare to stand toe-to-toe with the biggest game of all, that respect borders on veneration. These cunning woodsmen hunt the mightiest of beasts with the same calm and determination as other Trollkin hunt boar or ulk.

HORDES: LEGION OF EVERBLIGHT STINGER LESSER WARBEASTS

Like nightmares given form, Stingers swarm among the greater dragonspawn of the Legion. These awful beasts lurk in shallow burrows waiting for hapless victims to approach so they can sink their barbed tails into living flesh. The stinger is then ripped from the creature’s body as its poison gland continues to pump its victim full of venom. This versatile monster is also capable of spewing forth fiery ash, its preferred attack when battling machines or lightly armored foes.

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Toys / Collectables

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RETRO-ACTION DC SUPERHEROES SERIES 2

With incredible attention to detail, our Retro-Action DC Super Heroes  line captures the look and feel of classic soft-body figures from the ’70s and ’80s. More than recreations, they’re updates based on the old style and, in some cases, improve on iconic features for some of your favorite characters.

THE MUNSTERS: MUNSTER KOACH AND DRAGULA LIMITED EDITION TIN MODEL KIT

The Munsters family cars are back! This 1:25 scale special edition collector set contains both the Munster Koach and the much-requested Drag-U-La. The pair comes packaged in a full-color tin that features retro-style artwork. Also included is an exclusive photo booklet with images of the real vehicles. The Drag-U-La includes the original “Surf Slab” coffin-shaped surfboard caricature, and both kits come with expanded recreations of the original decal sheets. The Munster Koach alone has five different versions of the door crest, and the Drag-U-La features an optional marble-effect decal for the front tombstone marker. These ghoulish and groovy kits have enormous appeal and a big fun factor! Skill level 2 model kit requires glue assembly and paint.

DC COMICS BLACKEST NIGHT KEYCHAIN ASSORTMENT

Which Lantern are you? Are you a Green Lantern with the strength of will? Are you a Red Lantern with the power of rage, a Blue Lantern with the inspiration of hope? Are you a Black Lantern who brings death, or a White Lantern who bestows life? The Lantern Corps of the DC Universe took center stage in the blockbuster Blackest Night series, and now you can carry your keys on a keychain that features the logo and a description of the power of your Lantern Corps of choice.

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“There is no dark side of the sun, really. Matter of fact, it’s all dark….”

By admin | Published: August 6, 2010

Dungeons & Dragons Role-Playing Game: Dark Sun
The Campaign Setting book and the Creature Catalog are here!

Don’t know what Dark Sun is? Well, here’s Wikipedia to help you out:
“Dark Sun is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting featuring the fictional desert world of Athas. The Dark Sun campaign setting was released in 1991 (for 2nd Edition D&D). The themes of this setting could fit in the Dying Earth subgenre and include survival against the elements, ecological disaster, resource depletion, survival of the fittest, slavery and poverty, and the widespread use of psionic abilities. The political setting is similar to ancient Middle East, North Africa or Mesopotamia. Water and metals are extremely scarce. Survival against the elements has made it a harsh exotic world.”

Now, take that description and fill it with AWESOME!

Game on!

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Comics

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Click here for comics expected next Wednesday (opens in new window)

Featured Comic Books:

AVENGERS: PRIME #2

Steve Rogers, Tony Stark and Thor have traveled to a mysterious dimension of the broken Nine Realms and have to fight their way to one anothers side or they will never make it back home. This vital chapter will impact the lives of all of the characters and resonate in the pages of Thor for years to come!

S.H.I.E.L.D. #3

The surprise hit of the year marches on! In this issue, discover the secrets of Sir Isaac Newton, see how Galileo defeated Galactus long before the Fantastic Four ever did and find out why Leonardo da Vinci traveled over 400 years to do. All of this from the twisted minds of writer Jonathan Hickman (FANTASTIC FOUR) and superstar in the making Dustin Weaver (X-MEN LEGACY)!

BALTIMORE: THE PLAGUE SHIPS #1

Months after a devastating plague ends World War I, Europe is suddenly flooded with deadly vampires. Lord Henry Baltimore, a soldier determined to wipe out the monsters, is on the hunt for the creature responsible for this chaos and his own personal tragedy. What he uncovers is a terror as horrific and frightening as any he’s seen on the battlefield.

MAGNUS, ROBOT FIGHTER #1

The continent-spanning city of North Am is a miracle of ingenuity and ambition, a technological paradise where “milespires” pierce the clouds and robots perform virtually all labor, freeing humankind to pursue leisure and bliss. But in the shadows of the sun-drenched towers, human mobsters use robot muscle “thug — bots” to terrorize the citizenry of North Am. Human trafficking, illegal psychoactive substances, violent crime, and corrosive corruption are suddenly epidemic in the glittering utopia, with only the mighty Robot Fighter to stand against them. When a wealthy heiress is kidnapped, Magnus is drawn into the mob’s deepest sanctuary, where Magnus faces the fight of his life against the immensely powerful half robot, half man known as Big Guns.

Featured Graphic Novels:

BATMAN: ARKHAM REBORN

Following Black Mask’s destruction of Arkham Asylum, Dr. Jeremiah Arkham has rebuilt the Asylum following the design of his mad Uncle Amadeus. But will the new Arkham be a haven for the criminally insane – or a house of torture? Collecting BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL – ARKHAM ASYLUM #1, ARKHAM REBORN #1-3 and DETECTIVE COMICS #864-865

DARK TOWER: THE BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL

A brand new story featuring Roland Deschain and his beleaguered ka-tet as they go on the run following the complete destruction of their beloved city of Gilead! And when such as Gilead falls, the pillars of reality itself—the six beams holding all of existence together—begins to crumble. The satanic plan of the Crimson King to return all of existence to the primal state of chaos is nigh. Collecting DARK TOWER: THE BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL #1-5.

CLIVE BARKER’S THE THIEF OF ALWAYS

Mr. Hood’s Holiday House has been a place of paradise, welcoming numerous children for a thousand years. The house contains treats, sweets and seasons to satisfy any child’s desire.

However, they soon discover that there is a severe price to pay for this place of magic.

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Games

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DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: DARK SUN CAMPAIGN SETTING

Aimed at players and Dungeon Masters, this game supplement explores the heroes and wonders of Athas—a savage desert world abandoned by the gods and ruled by terrible sorcerer-kings. Use it to build Dark Sun  heroes and thrilling D&D adventures set in the Seven Cities of the Tyr Region, the Ivory Triangle, the Sea of Silt, and monster-infested wastelands—or plunder it for your own D&D campaign!

The Dark Sun Campaign Setting provides exciting character options for D&D players, including new races, new character themes and class builds, new paragon paths and epic destinies, and new equipment. It also provides everything Dungeon Masters need to run 4th Edition Dark Sun campaigns or include Dark Sun elements in their homebrew campaigns. It has rules and advice for handling survival challenges, arena encounters, desert terrain, and adventure creation. It also presents a short, ready-to-play introductory adventure.

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: DARK SUN CREATURE CATALOG

This supplement for the Dark Sun Campaign Setting collects the most iconic and dangerous monsters of the Dark Sun  campaign setting into one handy tome. It also contains other hazards and threats found in the desert wastelands and dungeon tombs of Athas. The creatures and threats presented herein make worthy encounters for Athasian heroes or the heroes in your “homebrew” D&D campaign.

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: PSIONIC POWER

Hot on the heels of Player’s Handbook 3 comes Psionic Power, a D&D supplement that explores the psionic power source in more detail. This supplement presents hundreds of new options for D&D characters, specifically focusing on heroes who channel the power of the mind. It provides new builds for the ardent, battlemind, monk, and psion classes, including new character powers, feats, paragon paths, and epic destinies.

PATHFINDER ROLEPLAYING GAME: ADVANCED PLAYER’S GUIDE

Explore new and uncharted depths of roleplaying with the Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player’s Guide! Empower your existing characters with expanded rules for all 11 Pathfinder Roleplaying Game core classes and seven core races, or build a new one from the ground up with one of six brand-new, 20-level base classes. Whether you’re designing your own monstrous helpers as an enigmatic summoner, brewing up trouble with a grimy urban alchemist, or simply teaching an old rogue a new trick, this book has everything you need to make your heroes more heroic.

The Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player’s Guide is a must-have companion volume to the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook. This imaginative tabletop game builds upon more than 10 years of system development and an Open Playtest featuring more than 50,000 gamers to create a cutting-edge RPG experience that brings the all-time best-selling set of fantasy rules into the new millennium.

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Whatever Happened To . . . ?

By admin | Published: July 30, 2010

Paradise Island?  It’s destroyed!

Bruce Wayne?  He’s a cowboy!

The Man of Tomorrow?  He’s fighting his final battle!

The Caped Crusader?  He’s dying again and again at the hands of his Rogue’s Gallery!

The 4th Doctor Who?  He’s become a scarf-a-licious action figure!

Read all about them below….

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Comics

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Click here for comics expected next Wednesday (opens in new window)

Featured Comic Books:

WONDER WOMAN #601

Best-selling comics writer J. Michael Straczynski (THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD, Thor) smashes all your expectations of Wonder Woman by lauching an all-new era for the Amazon Princess! Spinning out of the mind-bending events of WONDER WOMAN #600, Diana must face the biggest mystery of all – who destroyed Paradise Island?

BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #4 (OF 6)

The most anticipated series of 2010 continues!

Grant Morrison’s can’t-miss Batman story rolls on as Bruce Wayne’s next stop on his amazing journey through time brings him to the Wild West – but will he escape alive? Artist Cameron Stewart (BATMAN AND ROBIN) joins Morrison to take The Dark Knight on a ride!

GREEN LANTERN #56

BRIGHTEST DAY shines on as the mystery of the White Lantern piques the curiosity of Hector Hammond. The bizarre telekinetic escapes his prison cell and sets his sights on one being – Larfleeze! Plus, Hal Jordan begins unlocking the secret behind who took Parallax during BLACKEST NIGHT!

TORCHWOOD #1

The hit BBC TV series hits the world of comics! This special debut issue features a story written by Captain Jack himself! Actor John Barrowman (along with his sister, Carole) brings you the story of ‘The Selkie’, as mysterious deaths strike a remote Scottish island. Art is provided by acclaimed artist Tommy Lee Edwards, currently working with UK star Jonathan Ross on the Image comic series, Turf.  In the second half of the comic, we bring you part one of a special five-part story, as Jack, Gwen and Ianto becoem trapped in a cosmic hotel! Plus, an old villain from the TV series returns… “Broken” is by Torchwood TV script editor Gary Russel and artist Adrian Salmon.

ULTIMATE COMICS MYSTERY #1

Now that the Ultimate Enemy has revealed his plan, the heroes of the Ultimate Universe search to discover their enemy’s true identity before any more damage can be done. Join the Ultimate heroes on a chase that will take them all over the world and beyond! Superstar creator Brian Michael Bendis and artist sensation Rafa Sandoval continue to thrill in the next segment of the Enemy Trilogy!

Featured Graphic Novels:

SUPERMAN: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE MAN OF TOMORROW?

Legendary writer Alan Moore’s seminal Superman issues are collected in this title featuring beautiful art from Curt Swan (ACTION COMICS), Dave Gibbons (WATCHMEN), and Rick Veitch (SWAMP THING)! Collects the two-part “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” from SUPERMAN #423 and ACTION COMICS #583 as Superman faces his greatest foes and his final battle! Also featuring the classic story “For the Man Who Has Everything” from ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #11, in which Batman, Robin and Wonder Woman fight the evil warlord Mongul for the fate of The Man of Steel, and DC COMICS PRESENTS #85, in which Superman meets Swamp Thing.

BATMAN: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CAPED CRUSADER?

New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman (THE SANDMAN) joins a murderer’s row of superstar artists in lending his unique touch to the Batman mythos! Spotlighting the story “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?,” from BATMAN #686 and DETECTIVE COMICS #853, in which Gaiman joins artist Andy Kubert and inker Scott Williams for a story that shines a new light on the Batman mythos, this title also collects stories from SECRET ORIGINS #36, SECRET ORIGINS SPECIAL #1 and BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE #2.

RASL POCKET EDITION VOL.1

Collected in this new pocket edition is the hard-boiled, sci-fi tale of Jeff Smith’s inter-dimensional art thief known only by the strange four letter word found spray-painted at the scene of a crime: RASL. This 6 1/2′ x 9′ double edition collects the first seven issues of RASL in one heart-pounding book! A compact, affordable, edition of RASL: a sci-fi/noir tale of violence and corruption where murder and passion mix with folklore and cutting-edge physics.

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Games

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HORDES: PRIMAL MK II

In HORDES, even the earth trembles as towering warbeasts born to fight and trained to kill hurl themselves at their foes in a frenzy of claw and fang that churns the battlefield into a writhing sea of carnage. Within the bloody fog of war, their battle leaders seize this unbridled rage and from it forge momentous weapons to wield against their enemies, knowing only the strongest, fastest, and most cunning will survive.

Take control of a powerful warlock and his horde of fierce warriors and monstrous warbeasts in this fast-paced and aggressive 30 mm tabletop miniatures battle game set in the foreboding wilds of western Immoren, home of the Iron Kingdoms.

HORDES: Primal Mk II thrusts you into this savage world with:

Complete core rules for the HORDES tabletop miniatures game In-depth histories of the non-human nations of western Immoren and the conflicts that have shaped them. Detailed profiles and rules for the powerful warbeasts and soldiers of the Trollbloods, Circle Orboros, Legion of Everblight, and Skorne. An instructional painting and hobby guide that will show you how to bring your tabletop battlefield to life.

Seize the unstoppable power of HORDES Mk II and unleash the fury within!

WARMACHINE: CYGNAR FIREFLY LIGHT WARJACK

Crackling with galvanic energy and unleashing blasts of lethal bolts of electricity to arc through the enemy, the Firefly is among the most advanced warjacks stalking the battlefields of western Immoren today. Its devastating electrical weaponry can fry its enemies to a crisp, leaving the air heavy with the scent of ozone. In addition to its actual weaponry, the Firefly incorporates an advanced mechanikally augmented conducting element into that allows stormsmiths to integrate the ‘jack in their stormcalling.

WARMACHINE: PROTECTORATE OF MENOTH VIGILANT LIGHT WARJACK

The Vigilant’s twin fist-mounted shields make it an incredibly durable light warjack. The tremendous area covered by its towering shields provides nearly unassailable shelter from even the most devastating of enemy artillery fire. Warcasters favor the Vigilant for its great utility, not only is it like a small, mobile battlement but since it carries no weapons its hands are free to hurl enemy combatants about like ragdolls. The jack’s unsophisticated weaponry and cortex make it easy and inexpensive to manufacture, ensuring its place among the Menite crusaders for years to come.

WARMACHINE: CRYX RIPJAW BONEJACKS

The Ripjaw’s pincer-like jaws are used to hold its victims in place while its bone saw cuts them into mangled and unidentifiable bits. Necrotechs take particular delight in using the Ripsaw, as its victims are left in pieces easily utilized in their gory fabrications. In spite of its lethal armaments, the Ripjaw’s most dangerous weapon is its arc node. Quick and agile like its brethren, the Ripjaw ultimately serves to carry its masters’ dark will to the enemies of Cryx.

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Toys / Collectables

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DOCTOR WHO: 4TH DOCTOR 5″ FIGURE

Arguably one of the most popular actors to ever portray the Doctor, Tom Baker’s turn as the fourth Doctor in the 1970s brought Doctor Who  to new heights of acclaim and popularity and made Jelly Babies a household term. Bohemian and disheveled in his appearance, noteworthy for the long scarf and battered hat that he wore, the fourth Doctor was a force to be reckoned with throughout time and space. The Fourth Doctor Action Figure  recreates Baker’s memorable portrayal. Standing 5″ tall, the figure comes wearing the trademark scarf and hat, and in his hand he holds a sonic screwdriver. The figure also comes with an alternate hat-less head.

BIOSHOCK SERIES 2

Based on the hit video game! 2K’s best-selling first-person shooter BioShock makes the leap from the game console to your action figure collection with this all-new assortment of figures! Choose from the Ladysmith Splicer with removable mask, tommy gun, and rolling pin accessories, or a special 2-pack featuring the Little Sister and Young Eleanor Lamb who come with ADAM syringes and 2 small Big Daddy Dolls for the girls to hold.

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Recommended Reading for September

By admin | Published: July 27, 2010

Look at all this amazing talent, and their new comics, in September:

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ Incognito

Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.’s Kick Ass

Darwyn Cooke on Weird War Tales

Zack Whedon’s Serenity: Shepherd’s Tale

Mike Mignola with new material in The Amazing Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects

David Petersen’s Mouse Guard: The Black Axe

O. M. G!!!  We can’t wait!  Read all about ‘em below….

———-  MARVEL COMICS  ———-

FANTASTIC FOUR #583

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Penciled by STEVE EPTING

Cover by ALAN DAVIS

Super Hero Squad Variant also available

Now joined by artist Steve Epting (CAPTAIN AMERICA) , Jonathan Hickman’s tenure on FANTASTIC FOUR hits critical mass with “THREE”, running through FF #583-588. The War of Four Cities has begun, and when it’s run its course, one member of the Fantastic Four will have breathed their last! Change is in the air as the World’s Greatest Comic Magazine lives up to its motto!

While the Fantastic Four have to deal with an uprising in the Forever City of the High Evolutionary, back home in the Baxter Building Val finds her father’s Bridge machine and learns the Cost of Solving Everything. It’s the return of Doctor Doom and the debut of superstar artist Steve Epting in THREE, part 1: ‘In Lateveria, the Flowers Bloom in Winter.

32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

INVADERS NOW! #1 (of 5)

Written by ALEX ROSS & CHRISTOS GAGE

Penciled by CAIO REISS

Cover by ALEX ROSS

The greatest super heroes of World War II blaze into action—this time in the modern world!  For the first time in decades, the original Invaders are alive and active at the same time!  But what mysterious force has drawn them all together…and how does it relate to the darkest moment in Invaders history, an event so horrifying it threatens all life on Earth today?  Featuring: Captain America!  The Sub-Mariner!  The original Human Torch and Toro!  The Golden Age Vision!  Spitfire!  Union Jack! And Steve Rogers!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

THOR: FOR ASGARD #1 & 2 (of 7)

Written by ROBERT RODI

Pencils & Covers by SIMONE BIANCHI

Beginning an epic adventure showcasing the God of Thunder as you’ve never seen him before!  The vassals of Asgard are in armed revolt…Odin is missing…Balder is dead…and the entire continent is battered by a years-long winter.  How can Thor put the empire back together – especially with his mighty hammer Mjolnir mysteriously denied him?

32 PGS. (each)/Parental Advisory …$3.99 (each)

WOLVERINE #1

Written by JASON AARON

Penciled by RENATO GUEDES

Cover by JAE LEE

Acclaimed author JASON AARON (ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN AND WOLVERINE, WEAPON X) and superstar artist RENATO GUEDES (Action Comics, Adventures of Superman) launch an all-new ongoing Wolverine series as Wolverine goes to hell…

literally! Someone’s out to destroy Wolverine—permanently—and they may have succeeded. But if Wolverine’s soul is in hell, how is his body terrorizing those closest to him?

40 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

INCOGNITO: BAD INFLUENCES #1

COVER BY: Sean Phillips

WRITER: Ed Brubaker

PENCILS: Sean Phillips

THE STORY:

LAST YEAR’S BREAKOUT HIT FINALLY RETURNS! By the award-winning team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. One of the biggest Hollywood options of the year, nominated for THREE Eisner Awards, INCOGNITO is finally back for more! It’s apocalyptic pulp noir at its finest! It’s been over a year since Zack Overkill came out of Witness Protection to build a new life. But working for the government isn’t that different from being controlled by them, and his new secret identity is becoming more trouble than it’s worth… So what will Zack do when tasked with a mission that sends him on a hunt into darkest corners of the super-criminal underworld where he was raised? Also returning with Incognito are the exclusive Pulp magazine essays by Jess Nevins, Professor of pulp history, only available in the single issues of Incognito.

MATURE CONTENT/ NO ADS … $3.50

KICK-ASS 2: BALLS TO THE WALL #1 (of 6)

Written by MARK MILLAR

Pencils and Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.

The sequel to the biggest creator-owned comic of the decade–the one that spawned the number one hit movie and the worldwide phenomenon–is here! KICK-ASS is back, just as over-the-top as ever! As everybody’s favorite psychotic 11-year-old HIT GIRL trains KICK-ASS to be…well, a bad-ass, RED MIST gathers a team of super-villains to take them down! It’s super hero mayhem as only MARK MILLAR and JOHN ROMITA JR. can bring you!

32 PGS./Mature Content …$3.99

OZ: THE MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ HC

Written by ERIC SHANOWER

Penciled by SKOTTIE YOUNG

Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG

The epic continues! Fresh off their landmark run on THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF OZ, superstars ERIC SHANOWER (Age of Bronze) and SKOTTIE YOUNG (X-MEN) return with L. Frank Baum’s MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ. Join new characters Tip and Jack Pumpkinhead as they’re whisked to Oz, and meet foes and friends! You’ve NEVER seen L. Frank Baum’s masterpiece like this before… Collecting THE MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ #1-8.

192 PGS./All Ages …$29.99

STEPHEN KING’S N. PREMIERE HC

Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM

Penciled by ALEX MALEEV

Cover by ALEX MALEEV

There is something unearthly and mysterious deep in Ackerman’s Field in rural Maine. There is a Stonehenge-like arrangement of seven stones with a horrifying EYE in the center. And whatever dwells there in that strange, windswept setting may have brought about the suicide of one man…and harbor death for the OCD afflicted “N.”, whose visits to the field have passed beyond compulsion into the realm of obsession. Based on the chilling short story from the recent Stephen King collection, JUST AFTER SUNSET, this adaptation will provide nightmares aplenty. Just keep counting the stones…keep counting…counting… Collecting STEPHEN KING’S N. #1-4.

112 PGS./Parental Advisory…$24.99

———-  DC COMICS  ———-

WEIRD WAR TALES #1

Written by DARWYN COOKE, IVAN BRANDON and JAN STRNAD

Art by DARWYN COOKE, NIC KLEIN and GABRIEL HARDMAN

Cover by DARWYN COOKE

Three sensational short stories from three exceptional creative teams! Whether it’s soldiers risen from the grave, horror beneath the sea or battles among dinosaurs, war has never been weirder than this!

ONE-SHOT • On sale SEPTEMBER 8 • 32 pg FC, $3.99 US

FREEDOM FIGHTERS #1

Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI & JUSTIN GRAY

Art by TRAVIS MOORE & TREVOR SCOTT

Cover by DAVE JOHNSON; 1:10 Variant Cover by SHANE DAVIS

A new call to arms begins as Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters return in an all-new action packed ongoing series helmed by the writing team of Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Travis Moore and Trevor Scott!

A national mystery unfolds when the government learns of the existence of a Confederate super weapon intended to insure the South won the Civil War. Who built it and why wasn’t it used? Find out when Uncle Sam leads the team on a quest through the hidden history of the United States!  With new challenges and old threats returning to plague them, the stakes are higher than ever.  Can even these stalwart heroes stand by their duty when their country calls?  Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

On sale SEPTEMBER 1  • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

BATMAN & ROBIN: BATMAN VS. ROBIN DELUXE EDITION HC

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Art by CAMERON STEWART, andY CLARKE, DUSTIN NGUYEN and SCOTT HANNA

Cover by FRANK QUITELY

The new Dynamic Duo uncovers clues involving the mysterious death of Bruce Wayne before facing off against each other in a heated battle that both heroes will regret — if they live through it!

Pulling stories from issues #7-12 of this hit series, this volume includes the story “Blackest Knight,” which ties into THE BLACKEST NIGHT, as well as stories that lead directly into BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE!

On sale November 3 • 160 pg, FC, 7.0625” x 1.875”, $24.99 US

———  DARK HORSE COMICS  ———-

SERENITY: SHEPHERD’S TALE

Zack Whedon (W), Chris Samnee (A), Dave Stewart (C), and Steve Morns (Cover)

On sale Nov 24

FC, 56 pages   $14.99

HC, 7″ x 10″

One of Serenity’s greatest mysteries is finally revealed in Shepherd’s Tale, filling in the life of one of the show’s most beloved characters—Shepherd Book!

Who was Book before meeting Mal and the rest of the Serenity crew, how did he become one of their most trusted allies, and how did he find God in a bowl of soup? Answers to these and more questions about Book’s past are uncovered in this original graphic novel by rising stars Zack Whedon (Dr. Horrible, Terminator, Fringe) and Chris Samnee (Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps, Daredevil). A pivotal chapter in the ongoing Serenity saga, Shepherd’s Tale is also a rollicking, action-packed epic in its own right!

THE AMAZING SCREW-ON HEAD AND OTHER CURIOUS OBJECTS

Mike Mignola (W/A) and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale Aug 25

FC, 104 pages $17.99

HC, 7″ x 10″

Mike Mignola has deservedly become one of the biggest names in comics for his creation of Hellboy. But when Mignola needs a short break from the Hellboy universe, he turns to diversions such as The Amazing Screw-On Head, winner of the Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication!

When Emperor Zombie threatens the safety of all life on earth, President Lincoln enlists the aid of a mechanical head. With the help of associates Mr. Groin (a faithful manservant) and Mr. Dog (a dog), Screw-On Head must brave ancient tombs, a Victorian flying apparatus, and demons from a dimension inside a turnip. This new collection of oddball Mignola creations also includes “The Magician and the Snake” from Dark Horse Maverick: Happy Endings, and nearly fifty pages of brand new material, all as weird and hilarious as the beloved Screw-On Head.

———-  OTHER PUBLISHERS  ———-

MOUSE GUARD: THE BLACK AXE #1

(W/A) David Petersen

The Eisner Award-winning Mouse Guard returns with The Black Axe, a third volume to be told in six bi-monthly issues. Set in 1115, this prequel to Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 fulfills the promise the wise oldfur Celanawe made to Lieam the day his paw first touched the Black Axe: to tell the young warrior about the mouse who first wielded the deadly weapon. The arrival of distant kin takes Celanawe on an adventure that will carry him across the sea to uncharted waters and lands, all while unraveling the legend of Farrer, the blacksmith who forged the mythic Black Axe.

8×8, 24pgs, FC (1 of 6)            SRP: $3.50

BART SIMPSON’S TREEHOUSE OF HORROR #16

(W/A) Evan Dorkin, Peter Kuper, Kelley Jones, Kelvin Mao, Lemmy

Fan-favorite Evan Dorkin graces the pages of this year’s annual with a tale of an intergalactic monster bent on conquering distant worlds named “The Glavin”, who intercepts a space broadcast from none other than Professor Frink! Alternative and political cartoonist Peter Kuper shows off his penchant for Edgar Allan Poe with a story entitled “The Tell-Tale Bart!” Kelley Jones teams up with Kelvin Mao to tell a tale of burial and betrayal as Flanders finally exacts his revenge on Homer! And finally, brace yourself as cult icon and metal music maestro Lemmy (of Motörhead), takes Homer on hard rockin’, heavy metal trip to Hell!

48pgs, FC        SRP: $4.99

KOKO BE GOOD GN

(W/A) Jen Wang

Koko’s always got a new project cooking, even though they typically end in disaster. But this time will be different, Koko promises herself.  This time, she’s decided to Be Good. But how can a girl whose greatest talent is causing trouble get her act cleaned up? Honest, wrenching, and funny, Koko Be Good is a story about human nature and the inhuman efforts we make to find ourselves. (C: 0-1-2)

SC, 6×8.5, 304pgs, FC            SRP: $18.99

LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES #3

(W/A) Gilbert & Jaime Hernandez

Jaime’s back with all new “Locas” stories! Ray finally gets his date with Maggie! They have much catching up to do… also Jaime delivers another tale of his “Li’l Locas” where a 10-year-old Maggie and her family move away from Hoppers to a ghost town! And in Gilbert’s corner of the ring we have “Scarlet by Starlight” starring the magically endowed and lisping Fritz! “Killer,” “Sad Girl” and “Star” are a trio of stories riffing on Sad Girl’s sultry and bustling film career.

SC, 104pgs, B&W       $14.99

AMULET BOOK 3: THE CLOUD SEARCHERS SC

(W/A) Kazu Kibuishi

Emily, Navin, and their crew of resistance fighters charter an airship and set off in search of Cielis, a mythical city believed to be located on an island high above the clouds. The mysterious Leon Redbeard is their guide, and there’s a surprising new addition to the crew: the Elf King’s son, Trellis. But is he ally or enemy? And will Emily ever be able to trust the voice of the Amulet? (C: 0-1-2)

SC, 6×9, 208pgs, FC   SRP: $10.99

THE BEST AMERICAN COMICS 2010 HC

(E) Neil Gaiman, Jessica Abel, Matt Madden

The Best American Comics showcases the work of both established and up-and-coming contributors. Editor Neil Gaiman, one of the top writers in modern comics and an award-winning author of novels and children’s books, has culled the best stories from graphic novels, pamphlet comics, newspapers, magazines, mini-comics, and the Internet to create this cutting-edge collection with entries from luminaries such as Tim Hensley, Michael Kupperman, and Dash Shaw. (C: 0-1-2)

HC, 416pgs, PC          SRP: $23.00

MADWOMAN OF THE SACRED HEART HC

(W) Alexandro Jodorowsky (A) Moebius

Professor Alan Mangel’s journey of madness begins when he impregnates Elisabeth, a student, with what she believes is John the Baptist reincarnated. They meet and conspire with people convinced in bringing forth the Second Coming of Christ. Are they delusional? By the creators of The Incal, Moebius and Jodorowsky. (C: 0-1-1)

MATURE THEMES

HC, 7×10, 192pgs, FC SRP: $29.95

JAMES JEAN: RIFT (ACCORDION FORMAT)

(A) James Jean

Almost a decade into his astounding career, James Jean has emerged as one of contemporary art’s most important voices and his richly detailed art has struck a chord with fans across the globe. Rift showcases a brand-new collection of art in an elegant accordion-book format. Inside, two haunting landscapes span the connected pages; folded in a variety of ways, the pages reveal myriad images hidden within the larger paintings. Measures 4″ x 6″; 5-foot accordion sheet, color images throughout, slipcase, shrink-wrapped. (C: 1-1-2) NOTE: This item may be available through other retail outlets before shipping to comic book specialty shops. NOTE: Not available in Germany.

SC, 4×6, FC    SRP: $12.95

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Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour is at The Emerald City!

By admin | Published: July 23, 2010

The final volume of the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O’Malley arrived this week!  Finish the story in comics before you experience it at the movies!

Also this week: Larry Hama returns to continue the G.I. Joe comics from Marvel in the 1980’s!  IDW continues the original numbering of the series — the first issue of this “new” series is #156!  Read more about it below…

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Comics

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Click here for comics expected next Wednesday (opens in new window)

Featured Comic Books:

G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #156

The ’80s live on in this all-new series that spins out of the Free Comic Book Day issue 155-1/2 and hearkens back to the beloved JOE comics from your childhood!

Larry Hama returns to script Real American Hero even as COBRA wins the bid to provide internal security for a terrorist-beleaguered USA. First order of business: put out a secret assassination order on the disbanded G.I. Joes. Snake Eyes isn’t taking it lying down and overreacts maybe just a tiny bit…

TIME MASTERS: VANISHING POINT #1

“The Search for Batman” starts here! Vanishing Point – where time ends – is tearing itself apart, and one of the keys to keeping reality from being torn asunder is finding exactly where Bruce Wayne is in the time stream! Rip Hunter puts together a high-powered band of Time Masters to travel throughout history in search of the World’s Greatest Detective, but can even the combined might and skill of Superman, Green Lantern and Booster Gold help the Time Master pinpoint where Batman went at the end of FINAL CRISIS?

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #638

ONE MOMENT IN TIME Part 1 & 2 The questions have been haunting readers throughout Spider-Man’s Brand New Day and now the answers are here in four double-sized issues! What really happened at the wedding of Spider-Man and Mary Jane? What does Mary Jane know about Spider-Man today? How did ONE MORE DAY affect the Marvel U? Joe Quesada and Paolo Rivera are here to pull back the curtain and fill in every blank…but the answers may come at a cost to all that Peter Parker loves. This 4-part arc will hold answers, resolutions, and set up the course of Spider-Man’s life for years to come… …and all will be revealed with a whisper. And in Part 2, it’s Mary Jane’s turn to come clean. What secrets has she been keeping? And who REALLY saved Aunt May? You may think you know the answer, but you’re about to find out the truth!

ATLAS #3

The 3D Man has been found, and if ATLAS stands with him they die with him- and even the Hidden City isn’t safe from the unstoppable beings known as THE ECHO PEOPLE. The one agent who can help the most is hit the hardest! AND turn back half a century for a strange insight, the dreams of a killer robot!

Featured Graphic Novels:

THE WALKING DEAD, VOL. 12: LIFE AMONG THEM TP

At long last, the survivors of ROBERT KIRKMAN and CHARLIE ADLARD’s acclaimed post-apocalyptic survival adventure find the hope they’ve longed look for. Can a town not yet ravaged by the horrors unleashed on Earth possibly be all it’s hoped for? Is there a far more sinister secret behind their newfound safe haven? Even worse, can people forever changed by the worst in humanity ever hope to get back to their old selves? The next chapter of the Walking Dead is set to change everything.

SCOTT PILGRIM, VOL. 6: SCOTT PILGRIM’S FINEST HOUR

It’s finally here! Six years and almost one-thousand pages have all led to this epic finale! With six of Ramona’s seven evil exes dispatched, it should be time for Scott Pilgrim to face Gideon Graves, the biggest and baddest of her former beaus. But didn’t Ramona take off at the end of Book 5? Shouldn’t that let Scott off the hook? Maybe it should, maybe it shouldn’t, but one thing is for certain all of this has been building to Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour!

THE OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 40 SC & HC

Celebrate the landmark 40th edition of the comic collector’s Bible! Since 1970, The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide has been the definitive guide for comic collectors and dealers alike. All new insights, features, and data, along with the most comprehensive listing of comics all new entries in the Overstreet Hall of Fame. Perfect for both new collectors and seasoned enthusiasts.

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Games

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SMALL WORLD: TALES & LEGENDS

Small World – Tales and Legends introduces 54 new Event cards that change the storyline of each turn during the game.

Event cards are organized into 6 different themes, each with its own unique flavor. The cards are also rated by their impact on the game: Little Lore cards have only a minor effect; Tall Tales have worldly consequences; and Lordly Legends are guaranteed to turn your Small World upside down!

At the start of each turn (except the first) a new event card is drawn and put into play. The next Upcoming Event is also visible, so players know what faces them on the next turn.

Will you end up drinking the Philter of Forgetfulness, be flung from the Great Catapult or even have a chance to seduce the White Queen?

HORDES: MINIONS LORD CARVER, BMMD, ESQ. III

Lord Carver arose from the squalid hordes of the farrow on a tide of determination and violence, leaving behind him a trail of enemies and rivals crushed beneath his sharpened hooves. Carrying powerful weapons wrested from his enemies, the farrow warlord leads his snorting, bloodthirsty army on a campaign to trod all who would oppose them into the muck.

HORDES: MINIONS WAR HOG

Each war hog is over a ton of muscled, bristling rage. Products of dark experiments, the huge beasts are goaded and augmented by the farrow. Strong enough to rend steel and chew fat from titan bones, war hogs are nightmares from a butcher’s worst dream.

CATAN HISTORIES: SETTLERS OF AMERICA TRAILS TO RAILS

The 19th Century has arrived and America is heading west. Wagon trains form on the frontier. Settlers seeking fresh lives and opportunities strike out to tame wild lands and build new cities. These new cities rely on young railroads for vital goods. Trails become rails and create great wealth.

While the crowded East still offers options, its resources dwindle. Look west to make your fortune. Smart money seeks rich, unclaimed land and hungry new markets. Finance your settlers as they head west to build capitals of tomorrow. Link these cities with rails of steel. Operate your railroad to supply the townsfolk with goods. Go west. Settle the wide, open land. Claim your destiny!

Settlers of America, Trails to Rails™ utilizes the simple, fun Catan hex-tile grid to map the young United States. Collect and trade resources in order to purchase and move settlers, build cities, lay rails and acquire and move trains. Create rail links to acquire gold, which lets you buy resources and use opponents’ rails. Use trains to distribute goods to rival cities. But, as your settlers populate the West, they deplete the resources of the East. Still, your options always abound.

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Toys / Collectables

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DC COMICS SUPER HERO COLLECTION MAGAZINE : LOBO

Each figure is hand-crafted by leading sculptors and master craftsmen and then cast in lead. The figurines are then hand-painted by professionals and presented on theirown embossed DC display bases. Each is individually numbered.

‘TOON TUMBLERS:  BATMAN AND JOKER

Remember when you could walk into a fast-food restaurant, pay a few cents extra, and get a real glass featuring your favorite comic-book or cartoon character? Remember how much fun was it to go back every week to see which glass would be released next?

Well, you might be grown-up now, but PopFun is going to bring back that fun to your favorite barware with ‘Toon Tumblers®, featuring your favorite classic animated, comic book and comic strip characters on high-quality pint glasses.

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“You have to believe we are Magic”: Emerald City Newsletter

By admin | Published: July 16, 2010

THE MAN WITH THE GETAWAY FACE: A PRELUDE TO THE OUTFIT

IDW Publishing and award-winning creator Darwyn Cooke are pleased to announce an exclusive prelude to The Outfit, the second of Richard Stark’s Parker novels that Cooke is adapting. Cooke’s initial Parker release, The Hunter, has been a critical and popular success, appearing on over 50 “best of the year” lists as well as the New York Times best-seller list.

And it’s only TWO DOLLARS!!!

The 2011 Core Set for the trading card game Magic The Gathering is out today!
We highly recommend the Fat Pack.  For only $3 more than buying the 8 booster packs that you get in the Pack, you also get:
One card box with panoramic art
The Magic 2011 Player’s Guide with a complete visual encyclopedia of the set
A learn-to-play insert
Excerpts from the Magic The Gathering novel Test of Metal
A pack of 40 Magic 2011 basic land (8 of each color)
A Magic 2011 Spindown life counter
AWESOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMME!!!

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Comics

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Click here for comics expected next Wednesday (opens in new window)

Featured Comic Books:

SUPERMAN #701

J. Michael Straczynski begins his highly anticipated run on SUPERMAN! After the devastating events of WAR OF THE SUPERMEN, how can Superman possibly continue his battle for Truth, Justice and the American Way? Find out here in “Grounded” part 1 and get in on the starting line of a modern-classic SUPERMAN story!

BATMAN #701

Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel re-team to tell the exciting 2-part, untold tale of Bruce Wayne and his adventures between BATMAN R.I.P. and FINAL CRISIS! What happened to Batman – and Dr. Hurt, for that matter – after the devastating events at the climax of R.I.P.? And what secrets within this story point toward THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE?

THE STUFF OF LEGEND: THE JUNGLE #1

Following the liberation of the board game town of Hopscotch, a brave band of toys continues the quest to rescue their human master from the nightmare realm of the Dark. With the Boogeyman’s army fast approaching for battle, Max the teddy bear and his friends discover one of the Dark’s oldest secrets, and a new threat that could destroy them all.

GORILLA MAN #1

“If you kill the magical Gorilla-Man, you become immortal.” Shooting from the pages of ATLAS, comes an all-new exploration of fan-favorite GORILLA MAN! Yes, Ken Hale is blessed with might and cursed with inhumanity, but you don’t know the entire tale, and how his history may destroy his present! See his storied past as an Agent of Atlas, a soldier of fortune, an ally of the Avengers, and a Howling Commando! Three incredible issues by JEFF PARKER (ATLAS, THUNDERBOLTS, FALL OF THE HULKS ALPHA) and GIANCARLO CARACUZZO (ATLAS)! Plus a “Many Legends of the Gorilla Man” reprint.

Featured Graphic Novels:

BLACKEST NIGHT: BLACK LANTERN CORPS VOL. 1

Superman, Batman and The Titans battle their greatest foes and long lost loved ones, newly undead as evil Black Lanterns, in this collection of three 3-issue BLACKEST NIGHT miniseries.

BLACKEST NIGHT: BLACK LANTERN CORPS VOL. 2

The Flash, Wonder Woman and the JSA come face to face with their greatest foes and long-lost loved ones, newly undead as evil Black Lanterns, in this collection of three 3-issue BLACKEST NIGHT miniseries.

FRACTURED FABLES HC

Some of the comic book industry’s best and brightest use their talents to welcome the next generation of comic book readers with the kid-friendly anthology, FRACTURED FABLES! Features all-new, humorous takes on our most beloved fairy tales, with stories by award-winning creators like JILL THOMPSON, BRYAN TALBOT, PETER DAVID, BEN TEMPLESMITH, TERRY MOORE, SCOTT MORSE, DOUG TENNAPEL, TED McKEEVER, BILL MORRISON, LARRY MARDER, JIM VALENTINO, PHIL HESTER, SHANNON WHEELER and many more!

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Games

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MAGIC: THE GATHERING 2011 CORE SET

The Magic: The Gathering game expands every year, introducing new worlds filled with deadly perils, new wars between ancient enemies, and fantastic new adventures. At the center is the Magic core set, representing the game in its purest form: evocative spells, menacing creatures, and infinite possibilities. But even at its core, the experience is ever changing. The Magic 2011 core set continues that tradition.

Magic: The Gathering 2011 Core Set features 249 black-bordered cards, including randomly inserted premium versions of all cards in the set. It is available in booster packs, intro packs, and fat packs.

MONSTERPOCALYPSE: VOLTRON, DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE

The evil Drule Empire threatens to enslave the entire galaxy. Against this evil stands the Galaxy Alliance, led by the legendary Voltron, Defender of the Universe! Now, in the darkness of space, the fate of untold galaxies is about to be decided. Which side will you choose? Take control of the mighty Voltron and the Galaxy Alliance or Lo-Tron of the fiendish Drule Empire as you wage battle across the unforgiving reaches of space. Featuring superbly detailed, pre-painted plastic figures and compatible with all Monsterpocalypse figures and expansions, the Voltron: Defender of the Universe battle miniatures game puts you in control of power on a galactic scale!

ARKHAM HORROR: THE LURKER AT THE THRESHOLD EXPANSION

Across Arkham, strange doors to other worlds have been opening. They seem to be a living part of an ancient and arcane creature that has been reaching out, tempting the unwary with eldritch power. Now people are vanishing without a trace, and it’s up to a handful of bold investigators to confront the profane being who dwells just beyond these passages. But even working together, will they be able to destroy these unnatural and deadly gates without themselves striking a terrible bargain with the Lurker at the Threshold?

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Toys / Collectables

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U.S.S. ENTERPRISE NCC 1701-D

Join the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise for the adventure of a lifetime with this legendary starship.  Measuring over 17 inches long, every detail of the Galaxy class U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D is recreated, right down to the separating Saucer Section!  Also included are light and sound effects taken directly from the celebrated Star Trek: The Next Generation!

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More #1 issues than you can shake a stick at!

By admin | Published: July 9, 2010

There are so, sooooo many new series out this week.  NOW’s the time to jump on a new comic!  We cover a bunch of them below, and we don’t even MENTION the new Star Wars Old Republic series (based on the upcoming MMORPG video game) or Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s Scarlet (from Marvel’s ICON imprint)!

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Comics

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Click here for comics expected next Wednesday (opens in new window)

Featured Comic Books:

BATMAN: ODYSSEY #1 (OF 6)

Legendary Batman artist and comics pioneer Neal Adams returns to Gotham City with the first issue of two 6-part miniseries!

In this electrifying new story, The Dark Knight faces a series of seemingly unrelated challenges as villains and allies old and new push him to his limits like never before. After Batman discovers a dark and mysterious matrix being superimposed over his life, what sort of life-changing voyage must he embark on to escape from this powerful and insidious force? Be here to find out as Adams writes and illustrates his next masterpiece Batman tale!

BRIGHTEST DAY: THE ATOM SPECIAL

Discover all-new allies, enemies and adventure as The Atom leaps from the pages of BRIGHTEST DAY into this one-shot special! Rising stars Jeff Lemire (SWEET TOOTH) and Mahmud Asrar (Avengers: The Initiative) update the Atom’s origin and kick off the tiny titan’s next major story, which continues this month in ADVENTURE COMICS #516 (see page 87). If you thought you knew Ray Palmer, then think again! The smallest hero in the DCU is about to become one of its biggest, and the excitement starts right here!

SHADOWLAND #1

Matt Murdock Dared Evil…and Lost! The battle for the soul of a hero begins! Pushed beyond his limits, Daredevil faces off for a final time against his deadliest foe–Bullseye– in their most brutal battle ever with more than just Hell’s Kitchen is at stake. Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Punisher and more join forces to stop a war that is breaking out throughout New York, with Daredevil at the center. This event will change the streets of New York City—and the heroes that protect it—forever. Plus, a jaw-dropping final page that will have everyone talking for years to come!

X-MEN #1

“MUTANTS VERSUS VAMPIRES,” PART 1 When a suicide bomber strikes in downtown San Francisco, it gets the immediate attention of the X-Men. But this is not your garden variety terrorist – and he’s not acting alone. Vampires from around the globe are descending en masse on the City by the Bay, staking a brutal claim for the patch of land the X-Men call their home. What is their agenda? Who is their mysterious leader? The X-Men are about to find out, as they brace themselves for a war of the species that will wrack the Marvel Universe.

X-WOMEN #1

International superstar Milo Manara joins X-Legend Chris Claremont for X-WOMEN! Go on a high-flying, death-defying, globetrotting adventure with your favorite X-Ladies. Storm, Psylocke, Shadowcat, Marvel Girl and Rogue save the world and look great doing it. Don’t miss this prestige event!

AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN’S CRUSADE #1

The Young Avengers return in an epic, bi-monthly Marvel maxi-series by series creators Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung. When Wiccan’s reality-altering powers begin to rival those of the Scarlet Witch, the young hero sets out on a quest to find her that spans the Marvel Universe and pits Wiccan against both the Avengers and the Young Avengers. But will Wiccan’s desire to solve the mystery of his parentage be his salvation or his undoing? This self-contained Marvel maxi-series reintroduces and redefines the Young Avengers and the Scarlet Witch for the Heroic Age and is essential reading for any Avengers fan.

HELLBOY: THE STORM #1

A terrible storm is brewing, bodies are missing from their tombs, and the forces of darkness gather against Hellboy for a final bloody showdown.

Mignola and Fegredo reunite for the final arc of the bestselling saga that includes Hellboy: Darkness Calls and Hellboy: The Wild Hunt.

Featured Graphic Novels:

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN VOL. 1: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PETER PARKER

It’s been six months since the Ultimatum Wave laid New York low, and the world according to Peter Parker has a whole new set of rules… The Daily Bugle is no more, the Kingpin has been deposed, Midtown High has another super hero roaming the halls—and would you believe the people of New York City absolutely adore Spider-Man? Even the cops are asking for his autograph! You’d think life for Peter Parker was pretty sweet, but the Ultimate U’s favorite high-schooler has some issues, too: a new girlfriend earning all kinds of drama from the old one, Aunt May turning her modest Forest Hills home into a boarding house for wayward youths and a hot-headed hellion named Mysterio on the loose! And that’s just for starters! Collecting ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #1-6.

B.P.R.D. VOL. 13: 1947

After the discovery of a trainload of Nazi officers drained of blood, the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense learns that there are things far more ancient and dangerous than they could have imagined in this direct sequel to B.P.R.D.: 1946. Broom enlists an already damaged crew to lead an investigation that may be doomed before it can begin, climaxing in a witches’ Sabbath, a vampire massacre, and an exorcism.

BLACKEST NIGHT

As the war between the different Corps rages on, the prophecy of the Blackest Night descends in this hardcover collecting the best–selling BLACKEST NIGHT #0-8. Now, Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps lead DC’s champions into battle to save the universe from an army of Black Lanterns made up of the DCU’s deceased heroes and villains!

BLACKEST NIGHT: GREEN LANTERN

,,,,The Black Lanterns descend on a spectrum of Corps across the universe in this hardcover collecting GREEN LANTERN #43-52. Plus: Black Hand’s connection to the Black Lantern Corps is explained, and key plot points essential to enjoying the storyline to its fullest are revealed.

BLACKEST NIGHT: GREEN LANTERN CORPS

Green Lanterns Kyle Rayner, Guy Gardner and John Stewart join the rest of the GL Corps in the desperate struggle to preserve the Central Power Battery and Oa itself from being consumed by the Black Lanterns in stories from GREEN LANTERN CORPS #39-47.

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Games

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FORCES OF WARMACHINE: MERCENARIES

Our Business is War

Where war arises, warriors-for-hire inevitably follow—and conflict is constant within the Iron Kingdoms. The mercenaries of the region are as varied as its lands and the peoples who inhabit them. From vile assassins such as the infamous Croe’s Cutthroats to the Hammerfall companies from the dwarven nation of Rhul and the highly disciplined Steelheads, generals can find mercenaries to suit any battlefield role.

HORDES MK II 2010 FACTION DECKS

These are must-have items for gamers, who play any of the four factions.  The full color, redesigned stat cards cover every model in each of the four factions produced for the Hordes game and issued before January 1st, 2010.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: TOMB OF HORRORS

For generations, the Tomb of Horrors has held an inescapable allure. It draws adventurers to it like a beacon then devours them utterly like some monstrous predator. Within its sepulchral, trap-ridden halls and chambers lay the secrets and treasures of the demilich Acererak and, some say, the demilich himself.

Tomb of Horrors features a modular design that allows Dungeon Masters to build campaigns around the events herein, or pick and choose from the various chapters for use as standalone adventures. It presents a variety of challenges, from intricate combat encounters to traps and tricks evocative of the classic Tomb of Horrors adventure.

This D&D adventure is designed for characters of 10th–22nd level and includes a full-color, double-sided battle map designed for use with D&D Miniatures.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: DEMONOMICON

Unleash the hordes of the Abyss!

Demonomicon presents the definitive treatise on demons and their masters, the demon lords. Whether you’re looking to introduce demons into your D&D campaign or plunge your heroes into the heart of the Abyss, this book has something for you!

More than just a maelstrom of chaos and corruption, the Abyss is an exciting D&D adventure locale for paragon- and epic-level heroes to explore. Within its many layers lurk powerful demon lords and fiendish hordes eager to be unleashed upon unsuspecting worlds. This tome brings demons into the world of D&D, updates classic demons to 4th Edition, provides statistics for various demon lords, and introduces dozens of new horrors from the abyssal depths. It gives Dungeon Masters ready-to-use encounters and mechanics to make demons exciting elements in their home campaigns.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HS2 ORCS OF STONEFANG PASS

Stonefang Pass wends its way through the mountains of the Stonemarch, home to brutal tribes of orcs. The time has come to clear the pass and gain a foothold, so that it can be used for trade between the town of Winterhaven and the lands beyond the mountains. Brave adventurers are needed to rid the pass of monsters and liberate Stonefang Keep from the orcs. Who’s up for the challenge?

This standalone D&D adventure is designed for 4th-level characters and can be easily inserted into any D&D campaign.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: VOR RUKOTH

Need an exciting adventure location for your heroes to explore? Look no further.

Vor Rukoth presents a fully detailed, ready-to-use fortress ruin, complete with secret locations, maps, adventure hooks, monster and NPC statistics, ready-to-play encounters, and a full-color, double-sided battle map. The book is perfect for Dungeon Masters looking for a mysterious adventure location that fits instantly and easily into their existing D&D campaigns.

Once a stronghold of the tiefling empire of Bael Turath, Vor Rukoth has fallen into ruin and become a haven for monsters. Within its vaults, the treasures and mysteries of Bael Turath wait to be unearthed! In addition to an adventure location, Vor Rukoth holds many hours of excitement and adventure.

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