“You mean like C-3PO in a Halloween mask?” Newsletter 1/27/12

By admin | Published: January 27, 2012

You know, C-3PO — he’s a robot. The Halloween mask is a disguise. So … he’s like, um, a robot … in disguise. Like the Transformers!

Hey! That reminds me of this week’s new Transformers comic book series: Robots in Disguise. The companion series that came out recently is called More Than Meets the Eye (see how they did that?).

Also this week: Mark Waid and Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin’s stellar new run on Daredevil is out in hardcover! It’s smart! It’s fun! It’s beatiful! It’s yours for only $19.99!

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

Featured Comic Books:


TRANSFORMERS: ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #1
The war for Cybertron is over—now the hard part begins!
This first of two new ongoing Transformers series offers an excellent jumping-on point and all-new direction as BUMBLEBEE and his fellow AUTOBOTS struggle to maintain control of a world without OPTIMUS PRIME!


KING CONAN #1
First hailing Conan as a liberator after he annihilated Aquilonia’s foes on the battlefield, common folk and politicians alike now rally to unseat the Cimmerian from his stolen throne. Conspirators plot to kill King Conan and take the crown for themselves, but their schemes pale in comparison to a terror waiting quietly in the wings–Thoth-Amon, an enemy who has haunted Conan his whole adult life and whose wicked aspirations dwarf those of maneuvering politicians!


AQUAMAN #5
Aquaman has been left for dead in the middle of the desert! But how did the King of Atlantis find himself marooned in such a hellish environment? As Aquaman struggles to survive impossible odds, what extreme measures will he resort to in order to stay alive?


FANTASTIC FOUR #602
FOREVER PART 3 The Kree Empire vs. the Annihilation Wave, with Earth’s heroes in the middle! And Galactus returns to judge the world!

Featured Graphic Novels:


DAREDEVIL HC
THE DEVIL IS REBORN. RENEWED. RESURRECTED. With new enemies, new friends and that same old “grinnin’ in the face of hell”? attitude, the Man Without Fear is back in action and leading with his face! Mark Waid (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, Irredeemable, RUSE) joins neo-legendary artists Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin for a new spin on Daredevil that will leave you gasping for air. Having turned his world upside during the past several years, Matt Murdock realizes justice may not be blind to his past and villains may not be the only ones looking for answers. Bring it on! If Matt Murdock could see what he was doing, he’d be terrified. Collecting DAREDEVIL (2011) #1-6.


RESURRECTION MAN VOL. 1
Issues #1-14 of the cult favorite series is collected at last!
Mitch Shelley can be killed, but every time he comes back, he has a different power – a new ability that sometimes is a blessing, sometimes a deadly curse.

His deaths and rebirths leave him disoriented, but with the help of a new friend, Mitch discovers bits of his past, although the origin of his powers remains a mystery. Meanwhile, Resurrection Man’s creators have set the ruthless female assassins called the Body Doubles on his trail. Also pursuing Mitch is a sociopath named Hooker, a test survivor like Mitch with one big difference: Hooker’s body is not repairing itself.

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Games
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NEXUS OPS
Nexus Ops is a board game of fierce sci-fi battles and fantastic alien creatures in which two to four players control factions of corporate troops and strange life forms on an alien moon. Players deploy troops from their home base to explore the landscape, mine resources, purchase troops, win battles, and fulfill missions, all in an attempt to gather enough power to claim the moon for themselves.

This new edition of this classic title features detailed plastic figures, stunning new art, a clarified rulebook, and a host of optional rules and variants. Race to the monolith in King of the Hill mode, face the peril of the deadly Vortex, or introduce a full set of alternate unit powers!

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Toys / Collectables
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Face front, true believer! We got restocked on two fan-favorite Marvel Select action figures:


MARVEL SELECT INCREDIBLE HULK
From the pages of the Incredible Hulk comes this Marvel Select action figure featuring the jade giant himself!  This massive eight-inch behemoth includes fourteen points of articulation and a deluxe rubble base showcasing the aftereffects of a Hulk-attack!


MARVEL SELECT THANOS
Thanos, the “Mad God” of Titan, is perhaps best known for his lust and desire to please his dark mistress, the human embodiment of Death. In her name, he has destroyed countless worlds and snuffed out millions of lives. With the cosmically-charged Infinity Gauntlet in his grasp, Thanos nearly wiped out every living being in the universe, and would have succeeded if not for the intervention of some of the Marvel Universe’s greatest heroes!  With 14 points of articulation, the Thanos figure is a detailed representation of the villainous legend, complete with a removable Infinity Gauntlet and a scale unarticulated Death figure.

Excelsior!

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“Roger Roger!” Newsletter 1/20/12

By admin | Published: January 20, 2012

While critics would be quick to point out a battle droid’s mindlessness as a fault, the proponents of the mechanized soldiers would counter that it is instead a virtue. A mindless soldier is a loyal soldier, unquestioning of orders, easily controlled, and absolutely fearless. Battle droids are tall, gaunt humanoids with exposed joints and bone-white metal finishes that gives them an eerie resemblance to animated skeletons.
Battle droid infantry is frightening in its uniformity — only a numerical marking on the back of a comlink booster pack serves to distinguish one droid from another. Droids with specialized functions have distinct colored markings on their armor. Blue denotes pilot droids. Red denotes security droids. Yellow denotes command droids, which function with increased autonomy compared to the standard infantry. For the Trade Federation, the battle droid infantry piloted STAPs, MTTs, and AATs as well as their colossal battleships. For ease of storage and transportation, battle droids could compress into less than half their size.
Following the Naboo debacle, the Galactic Republic enacted strict legislation that prohibited the use of battle droid armies. The Trade Federation has shown its disrespect for Republic law in the past, and for years, many feared that the numerous foundries scattered throughout the galaxy were still churning out assembly lines of tireless soldiers.

What’s that? Why the heck are we rambling on about Battle Droids from Star Wars? Oh! Well, there are fantastic new 12-inch Sideshow dolls of them this week. Read about them at the bottom of the newsletter!

Also this week: one of the most beautiful graphic novels we’ve seen in the last year: Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths. Oh sure, the art inside is very nice — but we mean the actual physical book itself! No dust jacket, exquisitely textured and embossed cover, gold lettering, adorned with sigils, a distinctive Brian Froud cover image, translucent removable informational band on the back. THIS is why we still buy physical books instead of those digital ones and zeroes! I wanna put it on my wall like a poster!

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

Featured Comic Books:


BATMAN #5
Deep beneath Gotham City lies the Court of Owls’ deadliest trap – and Batman has fallen right into it! Can he escape, or will he perish in a maze of nightmare? Enter the labyrinth, Batman – if you dare!


UNCANNY X-FORCE #20
THE TRIAL OF FANTOMEX PART 1 The X-Force team journey to Otherworld! Guest starring Captain Britain and the Captain Britain Corps!


STEED AND MRS. PEEL #1
THE GOLDEN GAME Part One: “Crown and Anchor!” — Your favorite Avengers finally return, courtesy of the one and only Grant Morrison! When Tara King is kidnapped by a mysterious organization, John Steed and Emma Peel must reunite to solve this new mystery. Featuring gorgeous art from Ian Gibson, best know for his work with Alan Moore. on The Ballad of Halo Jones. The original British TV series The Avengers helped define the “Spy-Fi” genre: from January 1961 to May 1969, for 161 episodes, The Avengers was a staple of fandom; one of the longest-running hit espionage series alongside Mission Impossible, and a small screen counterpart to that other famous United Kingdom spy, James Bond! A science-fiction/ spy fiction mash-up from Grant Morrison and two of TV’s most iconic heroes!


LORD OF THE JUNGLE #1
The original Lord of the Jungle returns! If you thought you knew the story, think again! For the first time in its 100 year history the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs story, Tarzan of The Apes is told UNCENSORED! This series will capture the savagery and action of the original while expanding on it with new elements! The story begins in the late 1800s, John Clayton, Lord of Greystoke, and his wife, the Lady Alice, are left stranded on a remote African coast. They must fend for themselves in this savage world, and the fact that Lady Alice is pregnant doesn’t make things any easier!
The violent saga of Greystoke begins in December written by Arvid Nelson and illustrated by Roberto Castro, and featuring covers by Alex Ross, Lucio Parillo, Ryan Sook, and Paul Renaud!

Featured Graphic Novels:


DC SUPER-PETS SERIES 3
The Amazing Mini-Mutts- KRYPTO and his pooch pals visit the Bowwow Boot Camp, a school for up-and-coming pups with powers.
Candy Store Caper- The BOY WONDER’S pet, ROBIN ROBIN, must stop the candy store caper!
Sleepy Time Crime- When STREAKY won’t wake from his catnap, his friend SUPER-TURTLE must find out why.
Starro and the Space Dolphins- When LOBO’S beloved SPACE DOLPHINS go missing, DAWG and BIG RED team up to track them down.
Super-Pets Showdown- While the LEGION OF SUPER-PETS is busy protecting the universe, their KENNEL OF JUSTICE is attacked!


JIM HENSON’S THE DARK CRYSTAL: CREATION MYTHS
Part one of a three-part graphic novel prequel series delving into the origins of the Skeksis, Mystics, Gelflings, the world of Thra and the Dark Crystal itself. Spanning a time period from thousands of years ago to right up to the start of the original film, this graphic novel epic will tell the definitive origin of Dark Crystal, under the supervision of The Jim Henson Company and The Dark Crystal concept designer Brian Froud.

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Games
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POWER GRID: ROBOTS
You finally have a new opponent for your Power Grid games: a robot that acts as an additional player. Thanks to his different actions and special abilities he is a strong opponent. You will manage the robot’s “decisions” and can use him to act against the other opponent(s).

With this expansion, Power Grid is an exciting and fun experience for two (and more) players!

Power Grid: The Robots is designed especially for two players, but you can use a robot with up to five human players, too. You can even use more than one robot in a game.

The robot consists of five tiles, one tile with rules for each phase plus a special ability, which the robot uses during the game.

With a total of 30 tiles – six different tiles for each phase – your Power Grid games will never be the same again!

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Toys / Collectables
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MILITARIES OF STAR WARS: INFANTRY BATTLE DROIDS
This is the Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars Military Series 1:6 scale Infantry Battle Droids 12-inch Figure. This is a two-pack Battle Droid boxed set which features: 2 Newly Developed and Fully Articulated Battle Droid Bodies with over 20 points of articulation each. Authentic and hand painted deco application with detailed weathering deco. 2 Detailed Backpacks with droid identification numbering and extending antennae. 2 E-5 Blaster Rifles.

While critics would be quick to point out a battle droid’s mindlessness as a fault, the proponents of the mechanized soldiers would counter that it is instead a virtue. A mindless soldier is a loyal soldier, unquestioning of orders, easily controlled, and absolutely fearless. Battle droids are tall, gaunt humanoids with exposed joints and bone-white metal finishes that gives them an eerie resemblance to animated skeletons.

Battle droid infantry is frightening in its uniformity — only a numerical marking on the back of a comlink booster pack serves to distinguish one droid from another. Droids with specialized functions have distinct colored markings on their armor. Blue denotes pilot droids. Red denotes security droids. Yellow denotes command droids, which function with increased autonomy compared to the standard infantry. For the Trade Federation, the battle droid infantry piloted STAPs, MTTs, and AATs as well as their colossal battleships. For ease of storage and transportation, battle droids could compress into less than half their size.

Following the Naboo debacle, the Galactic Republic enacted strict legislation that prohibited the use of battle droid armies. The Trade Federation has shown its disrespect for Republic law in the past, and for years, many feared that the numerous foundries scattered throughout the galaxy were still churning out assembly lines of tireless soldiers.

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[CLASSIFIED]. Newsletter 1/13/12

By admin | Published: January 13, 2012

We’re so amused by the writeup for the COBRA annual below, that we’ve decided to also redact much of this week’s newsletter.

In addition to the aforementioned [CLASSIFIED], we’re also quite excited by the new issue of [CLASSIFIED], drawn by Darwyn Cooke! Not to mention the wonderful new graphic novels, [CLASSIFIED] by Sam Keith, and Mystic, by [CLASSIFIED]. And games! Oh, the games! We can’t wait to play the new Lord of the Rings Living Card Game expansion, [CLASSIFIED]! Also this week, the new pre-painted plastic Pathfinder fantasy miniatures are here from [CLASSIFIED]. And let us not forget the spectacular new toys: Predator series [CLASSIFIED], and the new figures from the wildly popular video game franchise, Gears of [CLASSIFIED]!

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

Featured Comic Books:


COBRA ANNUAL 2012: THE ORIGIN OF COBRA COMMANDER
Now that the COBRA CIVIL WAR has ended, a new, more ruthless Cobra Commander has stepped into place. But how much do we really know about this new Commander? There’s only so much we can tell you! In this first-ever COBRA ANNUAL, Cobra Commander’s origin is finally revealed! Once a [CLASSIFIED] in the [CLASSIFIED], the Commander led a [CLASSIFIED] and stole from [CLASSIFIED] and [CLASSIFIED]. Soon, this caught the attention of COBRA. A choice was given: join us or die. Little did High Command suspect that [CLASSIFIED] would one day become the newest leader of COBRA.


SHADE #4
In the tradition of the “Times Past” issues of STARMAN comes a story of revenge, murder and betrayal set in the 1940s! The Shade is just beginning his long criminal career, but when an industrialist who is helping with the war effort is targeted for assassination, the Shade surprisingly seeks to help save the man! Who is this man, and who is the strange woman on this issue’s cover? Find out more about the Shade’s true origin in this story illustrated by the amazing team of Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone!


LOBSTER JOHNSON: THE BURNING HAND #1
When a tribe of phantom Indians start scalping policemen, Hellboy’s crime-fighting hero Lobster Johnson and his allies arrive to take on these foes and their gangster cronies!


SCARLET SPIDER #1
Spinning out of Spider-Island, the secrets of the Brand New Scarlet Spider stand revealed in 40 Pages!! – Who is the new webbed wonder – and why has he come to face corruption in Houston, Texas?

Featured Graphic Novels:


BATMAN: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
In this original graphic novel, Batman meets his foe The Mad Hatter for the very first time – landing The Dark Knight in a Wonderland he could never have imagined, hot on the heels of a white rabbit. But is this strange place real or a hallucination? Robin and Alfred believe he’s deep in delirium – but if that’s the case, how does he manage to resolve several mysteries that have plagued Gotham City for decades…

This fantastic tale is spun by renowned comics writer Bruce Jones (THE INCREDIBLE HULK) with surreal art by Sam Kieth (THE MAXX, BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM – MADNESS, LOBO).


MYSTIC
Eisner Award-nominated writer G. WILLOW WILSON (Air, Superman, Cairo) and superstar artist DAVID LOPEZ (HAWKEYE/MOCKINGBIRD, Catwoman) join forces to bring you the story of two seemingly ordinary orphan girls whose lives are turned upside down by magic. One of them will find herself responsible for saving the world – and the other will become her mortal enemy! Collecting MYSTIC (2011) #1-4.

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Games
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LORD OF THE RINGS LCG: KHAZAD-DUM EXPANSION
The first deluxe expansion for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, Khazad-dum transports players to the mines of Moria where the heroes of Middle-earth must search for Balin and his fledgling colony of Dwarves years after anyone last heard from them. With 165 new cards (with three copies each of its player cards), Khazad-dum provides players two new Dwarf heroes, and new allies, attachments, and events.

Furthermore, Khazad-dum is the first step in the game’s ongoing narrative, expanding the game and its world with nine new encounter sets. These mix to build the encounter decks for three new thrilling scenarios in Khazad-dum, and also lay the groundwork for the scenarios from the upcoming Dwarrowdelf cycle of Adventure Packs.


PATHFINDER BATTLES: HEROES & MONSTERS
Pathfinder RPG combat comes to life on your tabletop with Heroes & Monsters, the debut release in the new Pathfinder Battles prepainted miniatures line! Produced in cooperation with Paizo Publishing, Heroes & Monsters presents a fascinating array of 40 beautifully painted miniatures perfect for use with the Pathfinder RPG or any fantasy miniatures game! From the brave Gnome Fighter to the mighty evil lich, Heroes & Monsters offers a wide range of player characters and dungeon denizens that make a perfect start to your Pathfinder Battles collection!


A GAME OF THRONES LCG: LIONS OF THE ROCK EXPANSION
Lions of the Rock is the sixth deluxe expansion for A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, featuring 165 cards new to the LCG card pool – three copies each of 55 unique cards – that add deck-building opportunities and strategic depth to your game. Lions of the Rock focuses on the ambitious House Lannister, their vast resources and love of intrigue. Each new Lannister represents a different approach to victory, around which entire decks could be built, from Tyrion’s synergy with the Clansman trait, to Tywin’s breathtaking seizure of power during Dominance, to Cersei’s ability to claim power whenever you win intrigue challenges. With Lions of the Rock, players gain the means to defend House Lannister’s claim once and for all!

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Toys / Collectables
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PREDATOR 2: SERIES 4
An amazing collection of all new Predator figures based on the Lost tribe of Predators as seen in Predator 2.

Many of these are action figure firsts! Never before seen in action figure form, all with improved articulation including double knee joints and ball jointed hips.

Over 25 points of articulation on each figure! Series 4 includes the City Hunter, Shaman, and the Boar Predator all with movie accurate accessories.


GEARS OF WAR 3: SERIES 2
Series 2 includes the Dominic Santiago with Sawed-Off Shotgun accessory, Damon Baird with Retro Lancer, wrench and screwdrivers, and Augustus Cole with One-Shot accessory.

Amazing new articulation includes ab crunch, pectoral movement, double elbows and much much more! Additional weapons can peg to figure’s backs.

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Ghost dog! Newsletter 1/6/12

By admin | Published: January 6, 2012

Find out why we call Superman’s dog, Krypto, “ghost dog” in this week’s new Action Comics #5!

The first true Emerald City Newsletter of the new year, and we’re already talking about Grant Morrison’s comics!!! Once everybody just starts reading all of Morrison’s comics, the world — and comic books — will be a better place….

And because just one series of Walking Dead action figures won’t do: we had the Walking Dead comic book figures, but NOW we’ve got the Walking Dead TV SHOW figures!!!

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

Featured Comic Books:


WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN: ALPHA & OMEGA #1
Debut issue by best-selling author Brian Wood (DMZ, Demo, DV8,  and Northlanders).
It’s Wolverine versus Kid Omega for dominance of the Jean Grey School.
Wolverine will discover that the hardest prison to escape can be his own mind.


ACTION COMICS #5
As the assault from an alien threat takes a turn for the worse for Metropolis, keys facts about Superman’s past are brought to light for the first time! And how can certain elements from The Man of Steel’s future help to prevent the theft of the millennium? Don’t miss this awesome issue from series writer Grant Morrison and the guest art team of Andy Kubert and Jesse Delperdang!


FATALE #1
by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips

GUNS! SEX! SECRET CULTS! AND MONSTERS!

Nothing the BEST-SELLING and AWARD-WINNING creators of SLEEPER, CRIMINAL and INCOGNITO have done so far will prepare you for the explosive debut of FATALE!

A reporter in 2012 stumbles on a secret that leads him down the darkest path imaginable… to a seductive woman who’s been on the run since 1935, a mobster who may be an immortal demon monster, and the stories of all the doomed men who’ve been caught in their decades-long struggle.

FATALE blends noir and horror to tell a riveting epic unlike anything you’ve seen before.


UNCANNY X-MEN #4

GUEST ARTIST BRANDON PETERSON!  COLORED BY JUSTIN PONSOR!
It’s the Local Talent Issue of Uncanny X-Men. If we could have only gotten Jimmy Palmiotti to write it, we’d have a Tampa Bay Trifecta!

The Phalanx return for a special one-shot issue of UNCANNY X-MEN.

Featured Graphic Novels:


BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT VOL. 1: GOLDEN DAWN DELUXE EDITION
Delving into the supernatural side of Gotham City, this tale from acclaimed writer/artist David Finch explores the horrific murder of one of Bruce Wayne’s childhood friends…and the terrible ramifications the brutal crime has on Batman’s life, collected from BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1-5!

This deluxe volume also includes a short tale from SUPERMAN/BATMAN #75 and BATMAN: THE RETURN #1, written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Finch!


BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE
Grant Morrison’s best-selling multipart Batman epic continues with this collection of the six-issue miniseries, now in trade paperback! Witness Bruce Wayne’s adventures across time as he is swept through the time stream, from the ancient days that predate history itself through epics set in the times of pirates and the Old West, through his triumphant return to present day Gotham City!

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Games
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MAGE KNIGHT BOARD GAME
The WizKids Mage Knight board game puts you in control of one of four powerful Mage Knights as you explore (and conquer) a corner of the Mage Knight universe under the control of the Atlantean Empire. Build your army, fill your deck with powerful spells and actions, explore caves and dungeons, and eventually conquer powerful cities controlled by this once-great faction! You will not be the only Mage Knight traveling the land (unless you are playing by yourself), and though opposing players may be powerful allies, only one will be able to claim the land as their own at the end of each campaign. Combining elements of RPGs, deckbuilding and traditional board games the Mage Knight board captures the rich history of the Mage Knight universe while providing an all in one box purchase.


ASCENSION: STORM OF SOULS
Samael is dead, but a storm is still raging across Vigil. Ascension: Storm of Souls takes players into the chaos following the Fallen One’s demise. As Samael’s monsters run wild and his minions conspire, the world is being slowly overtaken with souls that should have moved on. Are you ready for the new challenges that Vigil’s future holds?

Ascension: Storm of Souls is the first full-sized expansion for the hit deck-building game from Gary Games. The 200-card set features tons of new cards and mechanics, in addition to a new Event card type.

A complete 1-4 player game playable on its own or with other Ascension games! Combine with other Ascension games to play with up to 6 players!


STAR TREK [DECK BUILDING GAME]: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE NEXT PHASE
“Space, the final frontier…these are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise…it’s continuing mission…to explore strange new worlds…to seek out new life and new civilizations…to boldly go where no one has gone before.”

In Star Trek [Deck Building Game]: The Next Generation – The Next Phase – a standalone game that can also be used as an expansion for Star Trek [Deck Building Game]: The Next Generation – you are the Captain of a small Starship with a standard crew and basic weaponry. Will you use your crew’s experience to improve your ships systems or to recruit more experienced crewmen to your ship? Will you form diplomatic relationships or conquer civilizations in battle? Build your deck and explore the Star Trek universe!

Play these different scenarios or create your own!

Explorations [Free For All] – Explore the universe, interact with alien races, complete missions and experience the mysteries of space. Gain knowledge and power to become a legendary Captain!

Reunification [Teams] – Team-up and determine if you are in favor of peace or war in the Alpha Quadrant! What will be the future of the Federation?

Borg Invasion II [Co-op] – “I am the Borg.” This time the Borg Queen has arrived to assimilate planet Earth! Work with your fellow players to defeat the Borg and the Queen.

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Toys / Collectables
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WALKING DEAD TV SERIES 1
Sharpen up your survival skills, McFarlane Toys is introducing a new line of figures inspired by the highly acclaimed AMC television show, The Walking Dead.

The TV series, adapted from the The Walking Dead comic book series, follows a group of survivors, led by Deputy Rick Grimes, as they travel in search of a safe and secure home after a zombie apocalypse.  Series One includes Deputy Rick Grimes, Daryl Dixon, Zombie Walker and Zombie Biter.

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Harvey Pekar is STILL writing comics! Recommended Reading for February

By admin | Published: January 3, 2012

…and he passed away in 2010! Well, alive or no, we bet Harvey Pekar still writes one of the best graphic novels of 2012 — titled, simply, CLEVELAND.

We have repeatedly exclaimed that one of our favorite comics right now is Uncanny X-Force. And now its writer, Rick Remender, is taking on the Secret Avengers with one of our favorite new artists, Gabriel Hardman.

———-  MARVEL COMICS  ———-

WINTER SOLDIER #1
ED BRUBAKER (W)
BUTCH GUICE (A)
COVER BY LEE BERMEJO
VARIANT COVER BY GABRIELE DELL’OTTO
SKETCH VARIANT BY LEE BERMEJO
CLASSIC ARTIST VARIANT BY JOE KUBERT
• Winter Soldier and Black Widow are the super-spies of the Marvel U!
• Ex-Russian Sleeper Agents awaken, but under who’s control?
• Is that Dr. Doom? Uh oh.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

SECRET AVENGERS #22
RICK REMENDER (W) • GABRIEL HARDMAN (A)
COVER BY ARTHUR ADAMS
ISSUE #22 VARIANT COVER BY GABRIEL HARDMAN
• The ALL-NEW era of Secret Avengers begins here!
• Enter Captain Britain and Giant-Man as Hawkeye becomes the new leader!
• Sentinels hunt mutants, Adaptoids hunt Avengers!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

SUPERIOR PREMIERE HC
WRITTEN BY MARK MILLAR
PENCILED BY LEINIL YU
COVER BY LEINIL YU
Simon Pooni had it all going for him — plenty of friends at school and 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. It’s the newest smash super-hero comic from Mark Millar and SECRET INVASION artist Leinil Francis Yu! Collecting SUPERIOR #1-7.
192 PGS./Mature …$24.99

UNCANNY X-FORCE VOL. 2: DEATHLOK NATION TPB
WRITTEN BY RICK REMENDER
PENCILED BY ESAD RIBIC & RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
COVER BY ESAD RIBIC
There are innumerable and varying potential futures awaiting mankind. Among them exists only one constant: the rise of the Deathloks! Seeded in our present they grow, spreading across all possibilities, infiltrating the fate of mankind. One thing stands in their way: a man who shouldn’t exist. They come in waves, an army of time-displaced Deathlok troopers forged from Earth’s greatest warriors — Captain America, Spider-Man, Elektra, Cyclops, Venom, the Thing, Bullseye — all soldiers in the army of Deathlok. All operating under one directive: Fantomex must die! Collecting UNCANNY X-FORCE #5-7 & #5.1.
112 PGS./Parental Advisory … $15.99

———-  DC COMICS  ———-

JUSTICE LEAGUE #6
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
1:25 Variant cover by ADAM HUGHES
1:200 B&W Variant cover by JIM LEE
On sale FEBRUARY 15 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
The Justice League is united at last against Darkseid! The awesome consequences of this high-stakes battle will resonate within the series for years to come! Geoff Johns and Jim Lee end their historic first arc with a bang!

ACTION COMICS #6
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Backup story written by SHOLLY FISCH
Art by ANDY KUBERT and JESSE DELPERDANG
Backup story art by CHRISCROSS
Cover by ANDY KUBERT
Variant cover by RAGS MORALES
1:200 B&W Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT
On sale FEBRUARY 1 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
The breakneck pace of Grant Morrison’s run on ACTION COMICS continues as the Superman of the present day must team up with suspiciously different versions of the Legion of Super-Heroes to save the jeans-wearing Superman of five years ago! Whose hand is that on the cover? Why, the leader of the Anti-Superman Army, of course!
Plus, a backup by Sholly Fisch and ChrisCross that spins directly out of the lead story!

BATMAN AND ROBIN #6
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
On sale FEBRUARY 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
As the bond between Batman and Robin deteriorates, Robin is forced by NoBody to make a life and death decision – and Batman’s hunt through Gotham City to find them reaches a soul-searing moment that will push Batman to the edge!This issue will ship with three covers. See the order form for more information.

BATMAN INCORPORATED VOL. 1 DELUXE EDITION HC
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by YANICK PAQUETTE, MICHEL LACOMBE, SCOTT CLARK, DAVE BEATY, CHRIS BURNHAM and CAMERON STEWART
Cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
RESOLICIT • On sale APRIL 11 • 264 pg, FC, 7.0625” x 10.875”, $29.99 US
Retailers: This item is resolicited. All previous orders are cancelled.
The first eight issues of the hot new series are collected in this new, deluxe edition hardcover — which now includes new BATMAN INCORPORATED: LEVIATHAN STRIKES #1!
After Bruce Wayne tells the world that he is the financial backer of Batman, he establishes a worldwide franchise of Batmen to protect the entire globe. This is the beginning of a stunning new direction for the world’s greatest detective that will team him with Catwoman, Batwoman and Batman Incorporated representatives on international crimefighting missions against Lord Death Man in Japan, South America and Argentina.
Then, from the pages of the LEVIATHAN STRIKES special, Batman realizes to his horror that he’s been outwitted as the true identity of Leviathan continues to elude him.

———-  OTHER PUBLISHERS  ———-

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1
Brian Wood (W), Becky Cloonan (A/Variant cover), Dave Stewart (C), and Massimo Carnevale (Cover)
On sale Feb 8
FC, 32 pages    $3.50 / Ongoing
In this sweeping adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s fan-favorite “Queen of the Black Coast,” Conan turns his back on the civilized world and takes to the high seas alongside the pirate queen Bêlit, setting the stage for an epic of romance, terror, and swashbuckling. This is Conan as you’ve never seen him, with the combination of one of Robert E. Howard’s greatest tales and the most dynamic creative team in comics!

ROAD RAGE #1 (OF 4)
Stephen King & Joe Hill, Chris Ryall (w) • Nelson Daniel (a) • Nelson Daniel, Phil Noto (c)
Acclaimed novelist/Eisner-winning graphic novelist Joe Hill collaborated with his father, Stephen King, for the first time on a tale that paid tribute to Richard Matheson’s classic tale, Duel. Now, IDW is proud to present comic-book tellings of both stories in Road Rage. First up, is the Hill/King adventure tale, Throttle! Adapted by Chris Ryall alongside Hill & King and featuring art by Nelson Daniel (Joe Hill’s The Cape), Throttle tells the tale of a motorcycle gang pursued by an unseen assailant in a big rig!
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

THIEF OF THIEVES # 1
story ROBERT KIRKMAN & NICK SPENCER
art / cover SHAWN MARTINBROUGH
FEBRUARY 8
32 PAGES / FC/ T    $2.99
Conrad Paulson lives a secret double life as master thief Redmond. There is nothing he can’t steal, nothing he can’t have… except for the life he left behind.  Now, with a grown son he hardly knows, and an ex-wife he never stopped loving, Conrad must try to piece together what’s left of his life, before the FBI finally catch up to him… but it appears they are the least of his worries.

GLORY #23
story JOE KEATINGE
art & cover ROSS CAMPBELL
variant cover ROB LIEFELD
FEBRUARY 15
32 PAGES / FC / T+     $2.99
“ONCE AND FUTURE,” Part One
EXTREME’S ORIGINAL WARRIOR GODDESS RETURNS! After missing for almost a decade, Glory’s whereabouts are uncovered by a lone reporter, but the globe-spanning conspiracy keeping her hidden from humanity could make her return more dangerous than anyone ever anticipated! This first issue of an brand-new saga written by Eisner & Harvey-award winner JOE KEATINGE and illustrated by Wet Moon and Shadoweyes creator ROSS CAMPBELL sets up Glory’s future by expanding on her past in a way promising to shock long-time fans and excite all-new readers!

QUEEN CRAB HC
story JIMMY PALMIOTTI
art ARTIZ EIGUREN
cover SAS CHRISTIAN
FEBRUARY 1
64 PAGES / FC / M
STANDARD    $12.99
In the tradition of David Lynch and Stephen King comes the story of a young woman dealing with the insanity of the world around her. Meet Ginger, a twenty-something office girl that lives her life one boring day at a time until on her wedding night, her new husband tries to kill her…and it goes horribly wrong. This is a story of revenge, lust, violence and insanity brought to you by JIMMY PALMIOTTI (Jonah Hex, Painkiller Jane) and featuring the art of ARTIZ EIGUREN, as well as a cover by award winning illustrator SAS CHRISTIAN, and also featuring pin-ups by AMANDA CONNER and more!

ADVENTURE TIME #1
(W) Ryan North (A) Shelli Paroline, Braden Lamb (CA) Shelli Paroline & Various
It’s Adventure Time! Join Finn the Human, Jake the Dog, and Princess Bubblegum for all-new adventures through The Land of Ooo. The top-rated Cartoon Network show now has its own comic book! With the show exploding in the ratings, garnering rave online reviews, major cosplay at the San Diego Comic-Con, and huge displays dominating the New York Comic Con, it’s clear fandom is obsessed and 2012 is the Year of Adventure Time! Don’t miss out on this new phenomenon — this first issue is sure to get snapped up!
32pgs, FC    SRP: $3.99

JOURNALISM HC
(W/A/CA) Joe Sacco
Over the past decade, Joe Sacco has increasingly turned to short-form comics journalism to report from the sidelines of wars around the world. Collected here for the first time, Sacco’s darkly funny, revealing reportage confirms his standing as one of the foremost war correspondents working today. In “The Unwanted,” Sacco chronicles the detention of Saharan refugees who have washed up on the shores of Malta; “Chechen War, Chechen Women” documents the trial without end of widows in the Caucasus. Other pieces take Sacco to the smuggling tunnels of Gaza; the trial of Milan Kovacevic, Bosnian warlord, in The Hague; and the darkest chapter in recent American history, Abu Ghraib.
HC, 8×11, 176pgs, PC    SRP: $24.00

COURTNEY CRUMRIN VOLUME 1: THE NIGHT THINGS HC—SPECIAL EDITION
(W) Ted Naifeh (A/CA) Ted Naifeh, Warren Wucinich
Fan-favorite and critical darling Courtney Crurmin is back in a series of newly remastered, full color hardcover editions! Courtney’s parents have dragged her out to a high-to-do suburb to live with her creepy Great Uncle Aloysius in his spooky old house. She’s not only the new kid in school, but she also discovers strange things lurking under her bed.
HC, 6×9, 144pgs, B&W    $19.99

HARVEY PEKAR’S CLEVELAND HC
(W) Harvey Pekar (A/CA) Joseph Remnant
A lifelong Cleveland resident, Harvey Pekar (1939-2010) pioneered autobiographical comics, mining the mundane for magic since 1976 in his ongoing American Splendor series. Harvey Pekar’s Cleveland is sadly one of his last, but happily one of his most definitive graphic novels. It combines classic American Splendor-ous autobiographical anecdotes with key moments and characters in the city’s history as relayed to us by Our Man and meticulously researched and rendered by artist Joseph Remnant. With an introduction by Alan Moore to boot!
HC, 128pgs, B&W    SRP: $21.99

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Happy Nondenominationally Festive Weekend! Newsletter 6/23/11

By admin | Published: December 23, 2011

…and a very merry Winter Solstice!

We are open our regular store hours every day of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays — except Christmas Day (we’re closed).

We hope that everybody receives their comic, game, or toy of choice. And to make sure that happens, we hope you friends and loved ones are on the way to the Emerald City! And if you’re not sure what that item is, we’ve very thoughtfully prepared gift certificates for you (for them)!

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

Featured Comic Books:


BATMAN INCORPORATED: LEVIATHAN STRIKES
by Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart & Chris Burnham

In this sensational, giant-sized one-shot spinning out of BATMAN INCORPORATED, Batman realizes to his horror that he’s been outwitted as the true identity of Leviathan continues to elude him. Is his deadly adversary an old foe with a grudge to settle, a new face of evil…or something completely different? Only one thing is certain: You won’t soon forget the shocking ending!


UNCANNY X-FORCE #19
The aftermath of The Dark Angel Saga! A member lost! New members gained! An Avenger discovers the secret of X-Force! Fantomex and Ultimaton must allow the world’s most powerful weapon to leave their care. Elizabeth Braddock must say goodbye to the man she loves. New friends must stand and make a suicide march. Next generation superstar artist Robbi Rodriguez joins Rick Remender to break your heart.


MEMORIAL #1
New York Times best-selling author and Eisner-nominated creator of iZombie, Chris Roberson, delivers a magical ongoing new series. Memorial is the story of Em, a young woman who arrives at a hospital in Portland, Oregon, with no memory of her past. A year later, she has rebuilt her life, only to find her existence thrown into turmoil after she inherits a magical shop. The kind that appears in an alley one instance and disappears the next. Em is drawn into a supernatural conflict between beings that not only represent, but are, fundamental elements of the universe itself. All of existence is at stake, so there’s only a little pressure on Em, the magical shop, and a talking cat. With art by the fantastical Rich Ellis, and covers by the legendary Michael WM Kaluta.


DAREDEVIL #7
The Mark Waid / Paolo Rivera greatness continues this issue, with a stand-alone story! Daredevil and a bus full of blind children are trapped in the snow! It’s like the best after-school special you’ll read this year!

Featured Graphic Novels:


THE INFINITE VOLUME 1
Freedom fighter, Bowen has lost everything in the war against The Infinite. His only hope, travel back in time to prevent their world domination before it starts! Bowen can’t do this alone, he must turn to the only ally he knows he can trust: HIMSELF. Now a man in his 40s, damaged by the horrors of war, must team-up with his younger, reckless and optimistic 20 year-old self in order to SAVE THE WORLD!


DOCTOR WHO II VOLUME 2: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE
Join the Doctor and his companions, Amy and Rory, as they travel to the far reaches of space – a vacation planet built on a rift where multiple alternate adventures overlay each other – and the distant past – where our heroes must face Vikings to save their friend and the future of Britain! This book collects issues #5-8 of the ongoing series, written by Tony Lee with art by Mark Buckingham (Fables) and Matthew Dow Smith, and cover by Tommy Lee Edwards(Turf).

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Games
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DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS
This roleplaying game product is intended for Dungeon Masters looking to broaden their campaigns to include dark subject matter and truly evil threats. It features a detailed look at the nature of evil and the complex challenge of confronting the many dilemmas found within the deepest shadows.


DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: DUNGEON TILES: THE SHADOWGHAST MANOR
This roleplaying game accessory gives Dungeon Masters an easy and inexpensive way to include great-looking terrain in their games. This set provides ready-to-use, configurable tiles with which to build exciting encounter locations. This particular set emphasizes haunted houses and crypts as an extension to the Dungeon Tiles Master Sets.

This accessory contains six double-sided sheets of illustrated, die-cut terrain tiles printed on heavy cardstock.


PATHFINDER ROLEPLAYING GAME: BESTIARY 3
Test your courage against the most infamous foes of myth and legend! Bestiary 3 presents hundreds of monsters for use in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Within this book you’ll find demiliches and demodands, grave knights and goblin snakes, norns and nephilim, imperial dragons and unfettered eidolons, and so much more! Yet not every creature needs to be an enemy, as winged garudas, crafty tanukis, and leonine lammasus all wait to join your party and answer the call of glory.

The Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 3 is the third indispensable volume of monsters for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and serves as a companion to the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook and Pathfinder RPG Bestiary. 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 bestselling set of fantasy rules into the new millennium.


YU-GI-OH! HIDDEN ARSENAL 5: STEELSWARM INVASION
After the devastation brought by Hidden Arsenal 4’s Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, new monsters have emerged to grab their chance for world conquest! In Hidden Arsenal 5: Steelswarm Invasion, 6 new groups of monsters have arisen – adapted to withstand the harshest Dueling environments!

Steelswarm Roach from Generation Force demonstrated the power and tenacity of Steelswarm monsters, and now their full army is invading! Over the last year you’ve gotten a glimpse of the power of the Steelswarm, Vylon, Gishki, Gusto, Laval, and Gem-Knight Decks, but now they’re here for real.

This 60-card all-foil booster set gives you full command of all these monster groups. And for the first time since the original Hidden Arsenal booster set, Hidden Arsenal 5 includes Spell and Trap Cards to go with them! No matter how you like to Duel, there’s a new family of monsters here that’s right for you!

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Toys / Collectables
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DOCTOR WHO PERSONALIZE YOUR SONIC SCREWDRIVER SET
Combine the sections from each of the three Sonic Screwdrivers in different ways and create your own version. With over 80 possible combinations each with light and multiple sound effects, this really is the ultimate Sonic Screwdriver set.


CREATE YOUR OWN ZOMBIE 1/9 SCALE ACTION FIGURE CUSTOMIZING KIT
This kit allows the collector/hobbyist to create three zombies with a variety of interchangeable and fully-poseable parts. This ‘Best of Toy Fair 2011′ kit combines classic model-kit building with the new hobby of action figure customization.


STARCRAFT PREMIUM: SERIES 1
StarCraft fans gather ’round! Two figures within the first Premium Series. Deluxe Jim Raynor Action Figure stands approximately 7 1/2-inches tall and comes to you from Blizzard Entertainment’s sci-fi video game StarCraft. Featuring the law enforcement officer from Mar Sara that gamers are sure to recognize, Jim Raynor is perfect for your office desk, game room, or collection shelf!
Also in the series is the deluxe Zeratul Action Figure stands approximately 10-inches tall and comes to you from Blizzard Entertainment’s sci-fi video game StarCraft. Featuring the Dark Templar member that gamers are sure to recognize, Zeratul is perfect for your office desk, game room, or collection shelf!

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My God, It’s Full of Stars! Newsletter 12/16/11

By admin | Published: December 16, 2011

This week is so full of great new stuff to tell you about, that we didn’t even MENTION the new issue of Mouse Guard or Walking Dead volume 15!

…except right there, I guess, where we DID just mention them….
(well, we’re not gonna write anything more about them, ’cause you already know how fantastic they are, and you’re already on the way to get them!)

What we ARE gonna write all about below, though, are great new releases such as the new Arkham City figures, the new Fables trade paperback, and the beginning of the beginning of Marvel’s epic event of epicness — Avengers Versus The X-Men — in Avengers: X-Sanction!

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

Featured Comic Books:


AVENGERS: X-SANCTION #1
CABLE IS BACK! AND HE’S GOT JUST 24 HOURS TO WIPE THE AVENGERS FROM THE PAGES OF HISTORY!

by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness

How has Cable been reborn? Where has he been since “Second Coming”? And what dark event has driven him to destroy the Avengers? The answers are just the tip of an iceberg that threatens to smash the Marvel Universe to smithereens!


THE RAY #1
Get ready for a brand new Ray! Lucien Gates’s life is changed forever when he is struck by a mysterious beam of energy that turns him into a glowing gladiator – and being a human ray of light comes in handy when his city is suddenly under attack from giant, building-sized monsters. Unfortunately, light powers are less than handy in keeping his girlfriend happy.


THE STRAIN #1

From director Guillermo del Toro and novelist Chuck Hogan (Prince of Thieves)!

Adapted for comics by Eisner Award-winning writer David Lapham!

When a Boeing 777 lands at JFK International Airport and goes dark on the runway, the Center for Disease Control, fearing a terrorist attack, calls in Dr. Ephraim Goodweather and his team of expert biological-threat first responders. Only an elderly pawnbroker from Spanish Harlem suspects a darker purpose behind the event-an ancient threat intent on covering mankind in darkness.


STAR WARS: AGENT OF THE EMPIRE #1
The name’s Cross. Jahan Cross. Move over, James Bond; there’s a new secret agent in the galaxy, and he has the weight of the Empire behind him!

Cross’s mission takes him and his assistant IN-GA 44 to the affluent Corporate Sector. There, on the trail of stolen droid technology, they will rub elbows with diplomats and desperadoes, captains of industry and sergeants of the local police–and rub most of them the wrong way!

Featured Graphic Novels:


FABLES VOL. 16: SUPER TEAM
Now why would we saddle a FABLES book with a title like “Super Team”? And why does snotty little Pinocchio think he needs to design tight-fitting costumes for a carefully selected group of Fables? Find out in these stories from FABLES #101-107, including a special story illustrated by Terry Moore (Echo, Strangers in Paradise).


ROCKETEER ADVENTURES HC
Mike Allred, John Arcudi, Kurt Busiek, John Cassady, Darwyn Cooke, Lowell Francis, Dave Gibbons, Joe R. Lansdale, Joe Pruett, Jonathan Ross, Ryan Sook and Mark Waid (w)

Mike Allred, John Cassady, Darwyn Cooke, Tommy Lee Edwards, Gene Ha, Scott Hampton, Tony Harris, Michael Kaluta, Brendan McCarthy, Ryan Sook, Bruce Timm and Chris Weston (a)

Alex Ross (c)

Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer was an instant hit the moment it hit the spinner racks in the early 1980s. After the untimely passing of Stevens several years ago, many thought there would never be another Rocketeer story. But, with the full cooperation of the Stevens family, IDW has produced an anthology book that utilizes the talents of many of comics’ top creators, a veritable Who’s Who of writers and artists, and each one a labor of love to Dave and his greatest creation!

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Games
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WAR OF THE RING 2ND EDITION
The War of the Ring has begun!

The War of the Ring is a grand strategy board game that allows its players to immerse themselves in the world of J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and experience its epic action, dramatic conflict, and memorable characters.

As the Free Peoples player you command the proud hosts of the most important kingdoms of the Third Age. From the horse-lords of Rohan to the soldiers of Gondor and the Elven lords of Rivendell, you lead the defense of the last free realms of Middle-earth.

Face the evil minions of Sauron on the field of battle in a desperate attempt to delay their onslaught, while you lead the Fellowship of the Ring in the Quest for Mount Doom.

As the Shadow player you lead the hordes of the Dark Lord and his most powerful minions as they try to bring darkness to Middle-earth. Legions of Orcs, Trolls, Wolfriders, and the dreadful Ringwraiths await your command. Hunt the Ring-bearer and bring the precious Ring to his Master, or crush your enemies with your unstoppable armies.

This is your chance to forge the destiny of an age!


A GAME OF THRONES: ON DANGEROUS GROUND
The melee went on for three hours. Near forty men took part, freeriders and hedge knights and new-made squires in search of a reputation. They fought with blunted weapons in a chaos of mud and blood, small troops fighting together and then turning on each other as alliances formed and fractured, until only one man was left standing.
–George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

The Grand Melee is the second monthly installment of 60 fixed cards–3 copies each of 20 different cards–for the A Tale of Champions expansion to A Game of Thrones: The Card Game. The never-before-seen cards in this expansion are designed to augment existing decks and add variety to the A Game of Thrones experience.

Featuring new versions of favorite characters like Robert Baratheon, Varys, and Thoros of Myr, developed especially for the new environment of A Tale of Champions, as well as introducing brand-new cards like The Smalljon, Captain of the Iron Fleet, and In the Name of the King, The Grand Melee has plenty to interest A Game of Thrones players, both new and veteran.


INCREDIBLE HULK HEROCLIX
Hulk Smashes his way into this 51 figure set that includes the sub-theme realms of Planet Hulk, World War Hulks, Fall of the Hulks, and the New Fantastic Four! The set features the Enhanced Alter Ego mechanics, which includes the new Reverse Alter-Ego and the continuation of the In Pack, Buy it By the Brick Figure (A.I.Marine Red Hulk)!

Marvel HeroClix: Incredible Hulk features an all new, IN PACK, BUY IT BY THE BRICK Figure of A.I.Marine Hulk!

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Toys / Collectables
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BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY: SERIES 1
Welcome to Arkham City, the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters, and insane criminal masterminds.

Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, it’s filled with the most murderous villains from DC Comics’ Batman universe. But Batman is ready to tackle it with all-new gadgets and his greatest—and most dangerous—allies. Which is good, because he’ll need all the help he can get for his journey into the darkest corners of Gotham.

Based on the upcoming blockbuster video game published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, developed by Rocksteady Studios, and licensed by DC Entertainment.

Includes an unmasked Batman, the updated Harley Quinn and the game’s Tim Drake as Robin.


GREEN LANTERN: SERIES 5
The Universe is a big place …
And there are enough Lanterns in the Corps to police it all!

All four figures feature multiple points of articulation and include display bases. Character-appropriate accessories are also included.

Includes Blue Lantern Brother Warth, and Green Lanterns Soranik Natu, Guy Gardner, and Sinestro

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Awesome! Recommended Reading in January

By admin | Published: December 14, 2011

Here’s a list of the awesome people making comics in January:

Grant Morrison
J. H. Williams
James Robinson
Darwyn Cooke
Scott Snyder
Bill Willingham
Adam Hughes
Gene Ha
Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Wood
Adam Kubert
Ed Brubaker
Steve McNiven
Mark Waid
Paolo Rivera
Marcos Martin
Brandon Graham
Kazu Kibuishi
Jeff Smith
Moebius

I know, right?! Well, read on below to find out about what awesome comics these awesome people are making!

———-  DC COMICS  ———-

ACTION COMICS #5
(W) Joshua Hale Fialkov, Grant Morrison (A) Matt Camp (CA) Rags Morales
As the assault from an alien threat takes a turn for the worse for Metropolis, keys facts about Superman’s past are brought to light for the first time! And how can certain elements from The Man of Steel’s future help to prevent the theft of the millennium? Don’t miss this awesome issue from series writer Grant Morrison and the guest art team of Andy Kubert and Jesse Delperdang!

BATMAN AND ROBIN #5
(W) Peter J. Tomasi (A) Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray (CA) Mick Gray, Patrick Gleason
There’s a devil on Robin’s shoulder – and his name is Nobody! Batman and Robin’s relationship gets pushed to the breaking point as Nobody insinuates himself into Damian’s life and tries to make him see that Bruce’s plan to battle crime is hopeless – and only by teaming up and tapping into Damian’s killer instinct can they ever hope to rid Gotham City of its evil roots.

BATWOMAN #5
(W) J. H. Williams, Haden Blackman (A/CA) J. H. Williams
‘Hydrology,’ the first arc of the critically acclaimed new BATWOMAN series, reaches its powerful conclusion! After the horrors Batwoman has faced, she has a final showdown with The Weeping Woman – a specter with the power to dredge up Kate’s deepest pain. Can she finally forgive herself so she can dispel this evil? And how will she respond when Chase and the DEO tighten their grip, forcing Kate to make an impossible decision?

SHADE #4 (OF 12)
(W) James Robinson (A) Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone (CA) Tony Harris
In the tradition of the ‘Times Past’ issues of STARMAN comes a story of revenge, murder and betrayal set in the 1940s! The Shade is just beginning his long criminal career, but when an industrialist who is helping with the war effort is targeted for assassination, the Shade surprisingly seeks to help save the man! Who is this man, and who is the strange woman on this issue’s cover? Find out more about the Shade’s true origin in this story illustrated by the amazing team of Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone!

BATMAN GATES OF GOTHAM TP
(W) Scott Snyder & Various (A) Trevor McCarthy & Various (CA) Trevor McCarthy
Collecting the acclaimed 5-issue miniseries from writers Scott Snyder (AMERICAN VAMPIRE) and Kyle Higgins (NIGHTWING)! When a mystery as old as Gotham City itself surfaces, Batman assembles a team of his greatest detectives – including Red Robin, Owlman, I-Ching and others – to investigate this startling new enigma. As clues are discovered and the mystery deepens, Batman’s team soon finds itself on a journey that explores different eras in Gotham’s history and touches upon notable Gotham families including the Waynes, Kanes, and Elliotts. This miniseries spins out of recent events in the Batman titles and sets the stage for several exciting storylines in 2011. This volume also includes BATMAN ANNUAL #28 and DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #12

XOMBI TP
(W) John Rozum (A) Frazer Irving, Scott Hampton (CA) Frazer Irving
As an undying Xombi, David Kim watches the world burn while humanity grows increasingly isolated. What would a Xombi do just to feel change again? And where will he ever be able to find a kindred soul? Find out in this title collecting XOMBI #1-6 and BRAVE AND THE BOLD #26, featuring a team-up with The Spectre.

FABLES #113 (MR)
(W) Bill Willingham (A) Guest art by Adam Hughes, Gene Ha, and Karl Kerschl (CA) Joao Ruas
This very special stand-alone issue stars fan-favorite Fables characters in idyllic other times and places!

———-  MARVEL COMICS  ———-

(sorry, Marvel’s listings were in all-caps shouty text this month)

AVENGERS ANNUAL #1
(W) Brian Michael Bendis (A/CA) Gabriele Dell Otto
SIMON WILLIAMS AND HIS REVENGERS BELIEVE THE AVENGERS’ TIME IS UP AND THEY’VE TAKEN THE FIGHT RIGHT TO THE AVENGERS’ FRONT DOOR! FROM THE CREATIVE TEAM BEHIND SECRET WAR.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #677
(W) Dan Slott (A/CA) Humberto Ramos
SPIDER-MAN AND DAREDEVIL TEAM UP – PART ONE! • WHEN BLACK CAT IS ARRESTED, MATT MURDOCK IS THE ONLY LAWYER WHO WILL TOUCH HER (HER CASE… WE MEAN).  • THE NEXT GREAT LOVE TRIANGLE OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE BEGINS!

WOLVERINE AND X-MEN ALPHA AND OMEGA #1 (OF 5)
(W) Brian Wood (A) Max Brooks, Roland Boschi (CA) Mark Brooks
DEBUT ISSUE BY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR BRIAN WOOD (DMZ, DEMO, DV8, NORTHLANDERS) • IT’S WOLVERINE VERSUS KID OMEGA FOR DOMINANCE OF THE JEAN GREY SCHOOL. • WOLVERINE WILL DISCOVER THAT THE HARDEST PRISON TO ESCAPE CAN BE HIS OWN MIND.

WOLVERINE #300
(W) Jason Aaron (A/CA) Adam Kubert
EXTRA-SIZED 300TH ISSUE EVENT! • AN ALL-NEW, SOON-TO-BE-CLASSIC WOLVERINE STORY STARTS HERE! • WOLVERINE TRAVELS TO TOKYO TO CONFRONT HIS MOST DANGEROUS ENEMY YET. • AND A NEW SILVER SAMURAI RISES TO TAKE HIS PLACE…ALONG WITH WOLVERINE’S DAUGHTER!

CAPTAIN AMERICA BY ED BRUBAKER PREM HC 01
(W) Ed Brubaker (A/CA) Steve McNiven
BESTSELLING CAP WRITER ED BRUBAKER AND SUPERSTAR ARTIST STEVE MCNIVEN BRING YOU THE NEXT CHAPTER IN STEVE ROGERS’ LIFE, AND IT’S A PERFECT JUMPING-ON POINT FOR FANS OF THE MOVIE! A FUNERAL FOR A FALLEN FRIEND TURNS INTO A RACE AGAINST TIME AS THE ORIGINAL CAPTAIN AMERICA MAKES HIS EXPLOSIVE RETURN! LEARN THE SECRETS OF THE MISSION THAT WENT WRONG IN WWII, AND WHY OLD FRIENDS ARE NOW OLD ENEMIES! IT’S ALL-OUT CAP ACTION AND HISTORY THE WAY YOU LIKE IT, IN A CAGE MATCH FOR YOUR COMIC-READING PLEASURE! COLLECTING CAPTAIN AMERICA (2011) #1-5.

DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID PREM HC 01
(W) Mark Waid (A) Paolo Rivera, Marcos Martin (CA) Paolo Rivera
THE DEVIL IS REBORN. RENEWED. RESURRECTED. WITH NEW ENEMIES, NEW FRIENDS AND THAT SAME OLD ‘GRINNIN’ IN THE FACE OF HELL’ ATTITUDE, THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR IS BACK IN ACTION AND LEADING WITH HIS FACE! MARK WAID (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, IRREDEEMABLE, RUSE) JOINS NEO-LEGENDARY ARTISTS PAOLO RIVERA AND MARCOS MARTIN FOR A NEW SPIN ON DAREDEVIL THAT WILL LEAVE YOU GASPING FOR AIR. HAVING TURNED HIS WORLD UPSIDE DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, MATT MURDOCK REALIZES JUSTICE MAY NOT BE BLIND TO HIS PAST AND VILLAINS MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONES LOOKING FOR ANSWERS. BRING IT ON! IF MATT MURDOCK COULD SEE WHAT HE WAS DOING, HE’D BE TERRIFIED. COLLECTING DAREDEVIL (2011) #1-6.

———-  OTHER PUBLISHERS  ———-

BPRD PLAGUE OF FROGS TP 01
Mike Mignola (W/Cover), Christopher Golden (W), Geoff Johns (W), Michael Avon Oeming (W/A), Guy Davis (A), Ryan Sook (A), Dave Stewart (C), and others
The successful B.P.R.D.: Plague of Frogs hardcover-the first of four epic volumes collecting the entire Plague of Frogs saga-returns as an affordable paperback! With over 400 pages for $24.99, there’s never been a better time to delve into the haunting world of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense.  Hellboy creator Mike Mignola teams with cowriters Christopher Golden (Baltimore), Geoff Johns (Blackest Night), and others, for occult adventure drawn by Ryan Sook (X-Factor), Cameron Stewart (Batman and Robin), Scott Kolins (The Flash), and longtime, award-winning B.P.R.D. artist Guy Davis!

WOMANTHOLOGY HEROIC HC
(W) Ann Nocenti & Various (A) Ming Doyle & Various (CA)  TBD
Annie Nocenti, Anya Martin, Barbara Kesel, Kimberly Komatsu, Gail Simone, Trina Robbins, Samantha Newark, and many more (w) o Camille d’Errico, Renae DeLiz, Ming Doyle, Colleen Doran, Fiona Staples, Stephanie Buscema, and more (a) various (c)
Womanthology is a large-scale anthology showcasing the works of women in comics. It is created entirely by over 140 women of all experience levels, from young girls who love to create comics all the way up to top industry professionals. All of the short stories will center around our theme for this volume; Heroic. There will also be features, such as Professional How-Tos, a Kids/Teens section showcasing their works and giving tips, as well as a section dedicated to some Iconic female comic creators of the past, such as Nell Brinkley, and much more. Profits of this book will go towards the Charities of GlobalGiving.org.

FATALE #1 (MR)
story ED BRUBAKER art & cover SEAN PHILLIPS colors DAVE STEWART  GUNS! SEX! SECRET CULTS! AND MONSTERS!   Nothing the BEST-SELLING and AWARD-WINNING creators of SLEEPER, CRIMINAL and INCOGNITO have done so far will prepare you for the explosive debut of FATALE!    A reporter in 2012 stumbles on a secret that leads him down the darkest path imaginable… to a seductive woman who’s been on the run since 1935, a mobster who may be an immortal demon monster, and the stories of all the doomed men who’ve been caught in their decades-long struggle.   FATALE blends noir and horror to tell a riveting epic unlike anything you’ve seen before.   Issue #1 ships with ‘Beauty’ and ‘Beast’ variant covers.

PROPHET #21
story BRANDON GRAHAM  art SIMON ROY cover MARIAN CHURCHLAND
The distant future Earth is inhabited by alien settlers that feed off of the ape-men mankind has devolved into. John Prophet awakes from cryosleep on a mission to restart the human empire.

MONDO #1 (OF 3) (MR)
story, art & cover TED McKEEVER
Catfish’s daily grind of ‘enhancing’ poultry comes to a halt when he is accidentally tripped up by a loose chicken, causing him to fall victim to his own process. What proportions of his that were once human are now beyond anything normal. Add villainous corporate and military big wigs, a roller-skating weapon-toting chick named Kitten Kaboodle, a gang of tattooed babies, and there’s still that enormous beach monster…  And what you have is MONDO, in all its raging glory!

EXPLORER THE MYSTERY BOXES SC
(W/A) Kazu Kibuishi & Various (CA) Kazu Kibuishi
Explorer is an exciting anthology of short graphic works by established artists and innovative newcomers in the comics and animation fields, who have each created a unique story on a central theme: a mysterious box and the marvels – or mayhem – inside. Collected and edited by the New York Times bestselling comics creator, Kazu Kibuishi, these well-written, beautifully-illustrated stories reflect a range of styles from the humorous to the fantastic. Available in Hardcover and Softcover editions.

PEANUTS #1 (OF 4)
(W) Charles M. Schulz & Various (A) Vicki Scott & Various (CA) Charles M. Schulz
Happiness is a monthly comic book series, Charlie Brown! Peanuts came to KABOOM! last spring in their first graphic novel Happiness Is A Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown. Now Snoopy and the gang are back in monthly comic books with an all new #1 issue! The series kicks off with new original stories seen here for the first time along with some of your favorite classic Peanuts Sundays strips. Featuring a cover by Charles Schulz himself! Don’t miss Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of Charles Schulz’s timeless characters every month at KABOOM!

BONE QUEST FOR SPARK SC NOVEL 02
(W) Tom Sniegoski (A/CA) Jeff Smith
The Nacht, the evil dragon that threatens to destroy both the Dreaming and the Waking World, is growing stronger, and 12-year-old Tom Elm is the champion the Dreaming has chosen to defeat it. Along with Roderick the raccoon, Percival Bone and his nephew and niece, Randolf, Lorimar, and the two stupid Rat Creatures, Tom must race to find the missing pieces of the Spark. This leg of the journey introduces him to a trio of scheming bears and takes him into the depths of a dangerous beehive. And, on top of everything else, a traitor might be among them!

MADWOMAN OF THE SACRED HEART GN (MR
(W) Alejandro Jodorowsky (A/CA)  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, and presented in its original colors in paperback.

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“A non-team of individualistic outsiders.” Newsletter 12/9/11

By admin | Published: December 9, 2011

That’s what Wikipedia has to say about The Defenders, which launched again with an all-new #1 this week. Specifically, they say:

The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a “non-team” of individualistic “outsiders,” each known for following their own agendas. The team usually battled mystic and supernatural threats.

Yeah, that about covers it. Except this time, it’s by Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson, so . . . awesome!

Also this week: our favorite annual art book: Spectrum, The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art Volume 18. It’s got the best artwork for the year in the categories of advertising, book, comics, concept art, dimensional, editorial, institutional, and unpublished art. Pretty….

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

Featured Comic Books:


DEFENDERS #1
Spinning out of the stunning end of FEAR ITSELF! The final Worthy on a global rampage!
Matt Fraction (FEAR ITSELF, THE MIGHTY THOR, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN) re-teams with TERRY DODSON (UNCANNY X-MEN, SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN)!
Everyone’s favorite Marvel characters banding together to solve a mysterious conspiracy deep at the heart of the Marvel Universe!
The last line of defense against the forces of the unknown!


ACTION COMICS #4
Is your mind prepared for an encounter with the deadly Terminauts? What awful master do they serve? What horrible fate awaits Superman and the city of Metropolis? The true scope of Grant Morrison and Rags Morales’ ACTION COMICS run begins to come into view, so get those sunglasses ready, ’cause it is gonna be blinding!

And in a backup story that spins out of ACTION COMICS #2, John Henry Irons takes his first steps toward becoming the hero known as Steel!


TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MICRO-SERIES #1: RAPHAEL
Following in the tradition of the original TMNT microseries comes the first of four stand-alone tales centering on each Turtle. Raphael’s place in the world is uncertain and he can’t shake the feeling that he’ll always be an outsider. That changes when he finds another mutant, the arctic fox Alopex, who may have a new clue pertaining to the Turtles origin. Unfortunately she’s too busy being hunted alive to share the info! Will Raphael and his new friend survive the night? The Angel: After the Fall team of Brian Lynch and Franco Urru reveal all! Well, some, anyway!


G.I. JOE: #8
After months of COBRA CIVIL WAR, the kills have been tallied and it’s time to name the all-new COBRA COMMANDER. Marking this once-in-a-lifetime event, G.I. JOE: #8 will feature a special scratch-off lottery cover, revealing the identity of the new COBRA COMMANDER!

Featured Graphic Novels:


SPECTRUM 18: THE BEST IN CONTEMPORARY FANTASTIC ART
Challenging, controversial, educational, and irreverent, 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. The best artists from the United States, Europe, China, Australia, South America and beyond have gathered into the only annual devoted exclusively to works of fantasy, horror, science fiction, and the surreal, making Spectrum one of the year’s highly most anticipated books.

Featured in SPECTRUM 18 are 300 diverse visionaries, many of them world-renowned, including Michael Whelan, Sam Weber, Donato Giancola, Leo & Diane Dillon, Kinuko Craft, James Gurney, Peter de Sève. With art from books, graphic novels, video games, films, galleries, and advertising, Spectrum is both an electrifying art book for fans and an invaluable resource for clients looking for bright new talent. The entire field is discussed in an invaluable, found-nowhere-else Year In Review. Contact information for each artist is included in a handy index.

Often imitated, never equaled, SPECTRUM 18 continues the freshness and excellence that was established seventeen years ago.


JACK KIRBY’S FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS VOL. 1
At last, the first title in the acclaimed FOURTH WORLD series is in trade paperback, collecting SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #133-139, FOREVER PEOPLE #1-3, NEW GODS #1-3 and MISTER MIRACLE #1-3! Featuring the debuts of Orion, Darkseid, Mister Miracle and more!

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Games
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ANGRY BIRDS CARD GAME
Angry Birds Card Game: From the makers of UNO. Based on the on the best-selling phone app game, Angry Birds. The survival of the Angry Birds is at stake. Be the first person to strategically topple the structure cards by rolling the right bird on the die. Then knock out the pigs with the flick of a die to win in this quick-play game based on the super popular phone app. Includes Angry Birds playing cards and Dice. For 2 to 5 players.


CATAN SCENARIOS: OIL SPRINGS
Eureka! Oil has been discovered on the island of Catan. The great engineers of Catan have learned ways to improve production using this valuable new resource, both by converting it into other materials and enabling the upgrade of cities into metropolises. But oil is scarce and its use does not come without cost. Using oil produces pollution, as well as climate changing emissions, which bring with them the threat of coastal flooding—and absolute disaster. With the discovery of oil on Catan, the Settlers face a new challenge: deciding whether the common good is worth limiting oil usage or whether the pursuit of victory is worth the risk of ruin.

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Toys / Collectables
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G.I. JOE COMMANDER: HAWK
Compared to his G.I.JOE teammates, Brigadier General Clayton Abernathy grew up in a rather normal existence. He came from a wealthy family and attended West Point, graduating at the top of his class. Prior to the creation of G.I.JOE, Abernathy gained a reputation of sticking his neck out for his troops even in defiance of his superiors. When a special counter-terrorist group was being formed, Abernathy became the team’s first field commander under the code name HAWK.

After leading the G.I.JOE team on several successful missions, HAWK received his first general star. For most generals, this new found responsibility would require them to stay well protected away from battle so as to properly command their teams. HAWK chose not to follow this path. He earns his experience on the battlefield like the rest of his team, and he makes absolutely certain that he doesn’t dole out orders and assign missions that he wouldn’t be willing to carry out himself. It’s that kind of attitude that inspires his troops, knowing that the one in charge is still one of them. YO JOE!


BOBA FETT BUST BANK
Measuring approximately 8” tall, the Boba Fett Bust Bank features a likeness based upon digital files from the Lucas archives. Conceived during the Clone Wars in the mysterious cloning facility on Kamino, Boba inherited from his “father”, the legendary Jango Fett, his blaster-deflecting, lightsaber-resistant Mandalorian armor and distinctive helmet with forbidding T-shaped visor and HUD function. Boba Fett was among the bounty hunters summoned by Darth Vader for the task of tracking the Millennium Falcon. Having fulfilled this mission, tracking the Falcon to Cloud City, Fett was given custody of the carbonite-frozen Han Solo, enabling the bounty hunter to collect the lofty bounty placed on the smuggler by Jabba the Hutt. Subsequently, in the course of Jabba’s failed attempt to feed Solo and Luke Skywalker to the Sarlacc, Fett was sabotaged by his malfunctioning jet pack and was sent careening into the Pit of Carcoon. Although his armor somewhat preserved him against the Sarlacc’s digestive fluids, enabling the resourceful bounty hunter, though considerably worse for the wear, to escape his presumed death.

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