James Robinson’s STARMAN is back! (one issue only) Newsletter 1/22/10

…well, actually it’s mostly the Shade. Starman is SORTA back — but he’s a Black Lantern (and don’t forget, those Black Lanterns will eat your FACE!). Either way, this is a great return to Opal City for those who remember the greatness of James Robinson’s Starman.

And, hey! Grant Morrison’s new DC Vertigo title, Joe the Barbarian, is in too! Morrison is wonderfully insane, and the art is beautiful to boot! And and AND — it’s only A DOLLAR!

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

Featured Comic Books:

STARMAN #81
James Robinson revives his beloved STARMAN series for one more issue as a Black Lantern Starman haunts Opal City. Which Starman has returned and who can stop him from wreaking havoc on the city? Well, the Shade would rather just continue his date with Hope O’Dare, but if no one else can be bothered, what choice does he have but to investigate? Just don’t dare call him a Super Hero.

As the rest of the DC Universe is learning, defeating Black Lanterns isn’t easy – is this the final curtain call for the immortal Shade? Find out in another of this month’s one-issue revivals of classic DC Universe titles!

JOE THE BARBARIAN #1
White-hot writer Grant Morrison follows up his phenomenal BATMAN AND ROBIN with an epic adventure that’s Home Alone by way of Lord of the Rings accompanied with to-die-for Art by future superstar Sean Murphy (YEAR ONE: BATMAN/SCARECROW, HELLBLAZER).

Having an overactive imagination can get a kid through a lot, but it doesn’t change the facts: Joe’s still the kid in school that can’t fit in. He’s the victim of bullies. His dad died overseas in the Iraq war. And then there’s the Type 1 diabetes he has to live with.

So is it insulin-deprived delirium or something much, much bigger that transports Joe to a land inhabited by all his toys – from ninja commandos to action robots to magical knights to star fleet captains? Is Joe really the savior of this wild fantasyland that’s been held under siege by dark magic and evil forces? With the help of a samurai rodent, is he ready to take back besieged castles and win the freedom of an oppressed people? Or is he just an over imaginative boy who could die if he doesn’t take his meds?

AVENGERS VS. ATLAS #1
Spacetime is being selectively eroded by an unknown force. To stop the effect, the Agents of Atlas seek the help of the Avengers- and find a much earlier version of the team than they expected: Captain America, Iron Man, Wasp, Giant-Man and Thor are together again, with the atomic wildcard THE HULK!

SOLOMON KANE: DEATH’S BLACK RIDERS #1
Taking place after the events in Solomon Kane: The Castle of the Devil — but written to stand on its own — this new series delves deep into the horrors scattered throughout Germany’s Black Forest. When Kane comes across gypsies being terrorized by roving bandits, he’s not sure what’s worse — the bandits who wish to rob and rape innocent travelers or the evils that spew forth from the forest, intent on killing every man and woman around! With creature designs by Eisner Award-winning artist Guy Davis, this series uses Robert E. Howard’s “Death’s Black Riders” fragment and the “Rattle of Bones” short story as springboards to launch into a suspenseful and terrifying new excursion with Howard’s troubled Puritan hero.

Featured Graphic Novels:

HULK: FALL OF THE HULKS PRELUDE TPB
Get caught up on the latest happenings in the Hulk family before it all comes together in FALL OF THE HULKS! See Red Hulk do battle with Iron Man. Revisit the violent origin of Skaar, the savage Son of Hulk, and watch what happens when he finally visits Earth. And learn all about the All-New Savage She-Hulk and the role she may or may not play in the upcoming apocalypse. Plus, Thundra versus Hulk! The countdown to the biggest Hulk event ever begins here! Collecting HULK #2, SKAAR: SON OF HULK #1, HULK: RAGING THUNDER, PLANET SKAAR PROLOGUE, ALL-NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #4 and HULK #16. Also includes material from AMAZING FANTASY (2004) #15, HULK #9 and INCREDIBLE HULK #600-601.

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Games
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DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: UNDERDARK
No realm in the D&D world stirs the imagination like the Underdark. This vast subterranean domain holds thousands of adventure possibilities and myriad threats, including drow, mind flayers, dragons, and worse! Entire campaigns can unfold in its depths, and its rewards are boundless.

Underdark contains everything a Dungeon Master needs to run adventures or campaigns set in the vast underworld of his or her D&D campaign, including new monsters and hazards, ready-to-play encounters, monster lairs, and detailed information on various dark-dwelling “movers and shakers.”

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: PLAYER’S HANDBOOK RACES: DRAGONBORN
New options and character hooks for dragonborn characters. If you want to play the ultimate dragonborn hero, this book is for you!

This expansion of the Player’s Handbook core rulebook explores the mysteries of the dragonborn. It presents D&D players with exciting new options for their dragonborn characters, including unique racial feats, powers, paragon paths, and epic destinies. This book also includes ways to flesh out your dragonborn character’s background and personality.

STAR WARS: GALAXY OF INTRIGUE
NEW from Star Wars Roleplaying Games – Galaxy of Intrigue! Delve into the mysteries and secrets of the Star Wars saga like never before. This book serves as a reference for campaigns involving the secret politics and maneuvering throughout the galaxy, from assassination and sabotage to blackmail and bribery.

Gamemasters will learn how to bring an element of mystery to their campaigns, crafting adventures that reveal layers within layers of intrigue and danger as their heroes delve into them.

Players will find a wealth of new information on how to make the most of heroes who specialize in secret activity or unraveling mysteries, making this book a must-have for anyone playing in or running a campaign full of secrets.

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Toys / Collectables
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MARVEL SELECT BEST OF: BLACK CAT ACTION FIGURE
A Diamond Select Release! Toy Biz and Diamond Select present the Black Cat (sculpted by Steve Kewis), the latest release in their continuing line of deluxe action figures! Recently resurrected to comics in a hot new limited series by writer Kevin Smith and artist Terry Dodson, the Black Cat is pictured in all her feline finery, along with a detailed diorama base complete with opening safe (filled with loot), and a full-sized (removable, non-articulated) Spider-Man figure clinging to the wall! This is sure to be one of the most popular releases in the line, so don’t miss it! Not available in mass-market outlets and packaged in deluxe blister card package – Prrrfect!

MARVEL SELECT BEST OF: DOCTOR DOOM ACTION FIGURE
A Diamond Select Release! From the pages of Fantastic Four comes one of the Marvel Universe’s most notorious villains: Doctor Victor Von Doom! Figure stands 7″ tall and includes a detailed throne display base and variant hand. Deluxe blister card package.

MARVEL SELECT BEST OF: THANOS ACTION FIGURE
A Diamond Select Release! 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. Blister card packaging.