Chimichanga: An all-ages romp from Eric "The Goon" Powell

Chimichanga! Not only is that a fun word to say, it is also a yummy treat. It's a well-known and widely accepted fact that bearded little girls like nothing better than a tasty chimichanga. Of course, the pursuit of tasty deliciousness is never easy, especially when you're an adorable litle tot who lives with the freak show in a traveling circus.

Chimichanga #1 is the demented, yet undeniably cute, brainchild of Eric "The Goon" Powell. If you don't already know Mr. Powell's work, you should feel a great sense of shame burning within you. Powell is a mad genius who has made the world a better place by writing and drawing brilliantly twisted tales of hillbillies, zombies, stink apes, and Peaches Valentine in The Goon. He has brought us tragic tales of a broken hero and inappropriate jokes involving greased pigs all in the same book. He's managed to win Eisner awards for the quality of his poop jokes! There's no denying it takes an uncommon mind at work to win an Eisner for poop jokes.

Chimichanga is what happens when such an amazingly disturbed mind decides to create a more kid-friendly, all-ages type book. The book stars a lovable little bearded girl who, as mentioned above, loves a good chimichanga. One day, on her pilgrimage to the chimichanga stand, she encounters a farty old witch who needs a lock of her luxurious beard hair for an unspeakable witchy potion. Our heroine agrees, but only in exchange for a weird egg vomited up by a vulture. (Yes, you read that right.)

On the way home her egg hatches, giving birth to a big, weird, hairy, ape-thing. Nothing too strange about that, right? In fact, our heroine's new friend becomes the new attraction that just might save the fading old circus: The Wild Chimichanga! Thank goodness, because the amazing two-eyed goat and Randy, the man with the strength of a slightly larger man, were just not drawing the crowds they once did!

Powell's work in this all-ages book is just as demented and off-beat as fans have come to expect from The Goon, but with a lot less violence and cussing. Chimichanga is a great way to warp the kids in your life, or just a great read for you, the discerning comic book reader. I bet you haven't read one single book all month that starred a bearded little girl, or a boy-faced fish, have you? Now Four Color Fantasies is giving you the perfect opportunity to correct that tragic oversight! Shake your chimichangas on over to the shop and try this comic while it is our guaranteed Book of the Week!

Two great tastes, Holmes and Zombies:

"You got zombies in my Sherlock Holmes!"
"No, you got Sherlock Holmes in my zombie comic!"
Experience a marvel of the ages as the world's first consulting detective faces down the fearful hordes of the undead!

Whichever way you look at it, these ARE two great tastes that taste great together. Obviously, zombies have had a huge pop-culture resurgence in recent years, and I find it hard to think of that as anything other than a good thing. I mean, what story or setting isn't improved by the inclusion of decaying, flesh-munching monstrosities out to slurp down some tasty brains? I think the answer is self-evident.

Arthur Conan Doyle's Victorian detective has also been getting some much-deserved renewed attention lately. There are comics and books telling new tales of the world's most famous investigator everywhere you look. Oh, and there's a little movie coming soon starring Robert Downey Stark Jr. that will give modern audiences a whole new perspective on Holmes. It was really only a matter of time before someone was clever enough to put these two great ideas together. Luckily for discerning comics readers, it was Ian Edginton and Davide Fabbri!

Wildstorm's Victorian Undead is the book where it all happens. When the people of London, 1854, see an astounding light show in the sky, most think it is just a miracle to marvel at. Of course, we know that nothing good ever comes of mysterious lights in the sky. Sure enough, it's not long before the dead start to rise, and they're feeling bite-y.

Fifty years later, the undead have been forgotten, but Holmes and Watson are called in to investigate a mysterious death. Made all the more mysterious by the fact that the dead man seems all-too lively. In fact, he has a positively disturbing hunger for human flesh. I say!

Edginton's Holmes stays true to Doyle's immortal character, but the writer does not hesitate to bring some new elements to Holmes' world. With mind-control devices, evil automatons, and, of course, the undead, this version of Holmes lives in a slightly more fantastic London than Doyle ever imagined. Though these liberties may offend some purists, no writer can compete with Holmes' creator when it comes to traditional Holmes stories, so it is no bad thing to bring something new and different to this world. Fabbri's art perfectly combines the gaslit, urchin-filled, streets of London with meteors, robots, and brain-hungry corpses.

Though this comic is filled with mysteries and weird-happenings, the greatest mystey is why you haven't read it yet. The game is afoot my faithful friends! Shamble on down to Four Color Fantasies, and we'll allow you to purchase a copy of this mysterious marvel at no personal risk to yourself or your wallet. Your enjoyment is guaranteed! You won't waste a shilling, and you may flaunt your tasty, tasty brains without fear of reprisals or excessive appetites. Read Victorian Undead #1 today!

Female Noir: Stumptown #1

Ever since Sherlock Holmes solved his first case, Private Investigators have taken center stage as the super-stars of crime fiction. They can do the jobs the cops can't touch. They can act on the fringes, or even well outside, of the law. As fictional PIs go, there tend to be two schools of thought: you've got your glamorous, smooth-talking action heroes with cool sports cars, or you've got your seedy, alcoholic, loner who just barely gets by and is only a step away from the darkness of the criminal underworld. The hero of Stumptown is much more on the seedy side.

Oni Press's Stumptown, by Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth, stars Dexedrine Callisto Parios, Dex to her friends, an investigator who clearly has her share of human frailties. Based in Portland, Oregon, Dex seems to be trying her best to take care of herself and her special-needs younger brother, but she drinks too much, smokes too much, and she definitely gambles too much. Not the best recipe for success, by anyone's standard. Unless you're trying to find yourself homeless or on life-support, I suppose.

In Stumptown #1, her gambling has gotten Dex into a lot more debt than she can handle. Luckily, Sue-Lynn, who runs the show at the Whispering Winds casino, offers Dex a way out. All she has to do is track down Sue-Lynn's missing teenage grand-child, Charlotte. Unluckily, this gets Dex involved with some very bad people from Portland's criminal underworld. The kind of people who take you out to the lake for a swim. At night. After they've shot you a couple of times.

Stumptown feels a lot like Brian Bendis's much-missed Alias, with all the fantasy, super-hero elements removed. Greg Rucka has already made a name for himself as a mystery/crime novelist, and he brings that pedigree to his work here. Dex feels like a real person, and the mystery pulls you in to her world right away. What seems like the simple case of a runaway teenager is quickly revealed as the tip of a much darker, more dangerous, iceberg. (If they had icebergs in Portland, Oregon, which I'm pretty sure they do not.) Matthew Southworth's art perfectly captures this dark world, and his meticulously researched images of Portland lend this a very authentic feel.

So if you're in the mood to investigate some dark deeds in the middle of the night, or just want to read about someone else doing so while you watch from a safe distance, you should track down some leads to find yourself a copy of Stumptown #1. Honestly, we've done most of the work for you. Just head over to Four Color Fantasies and carefully investigate the shelves. You'll be reading this Book of the Week before you know it! No gambling required: it's guaranteed!

Hunter's Fortune #1

Have you ever, in an idle moment, thought about how great it would be if some mysterious relative you never knew suddenly died and left you an enormous fortune? C'mon, you know you have. How about if we sweeten the deal by throwing in a gorgeous executor of the will, a femme fatale or two, and a mysterious archeological artifact? All that and more is up for the taking in Hunter's Fortune #1.

Boom Studio's Hunter's Fortune, by Andrew Crosby, Caleb Monroe, and artist Matt Cossin, tells the unlikely story of Hunter Prescott. Hunter is a typical young slacker. He's three months behind on his rent, his car has been towed, and if he moves in with his even more useless buddy Trip, they might be able to afford to get the electricity turned back on. Luckily for Hunter, just as he seems to be going through the worst day of his life, a mysterious, beautiful, and well-dressed woman shows up with a limo to whisk him away from all his troubles.

Of course, he soon finds himself with a whole NEW set of problems. Hunter's Uncle Max, who Hunter has never even heard of, has died and left Hunter everything. Everything, in this case, is an estate worth 650 million dollars. Good old Uncle Max! Hunter soon discovers that his wayward uncle was a treasure hunter of the highest order, and the only condition for keeping the vast esate left to him is that he has to carry on Max's work. By finding the one artifact that eluded him, King Arthur's sword, Excalibur. How hard could it be, right?

The elements of this story are nothing new: lost treasure, beautiful, but dangerous, women, coded journals, mysterious keys, an ancient arifact, and an everyman hero. However, these old tropes stick around for a reason. They're loads of fun! The story moves along very quickly, with the writers setting up everything we need to know about these characters as economically as possible. Max and his buddy Trip are instantly likable losers, and the cast of characters around them is put in place without a wasted line or panel. Cossin's character designs are unique and interesting, with just a hint of manga influence. Great art and a fun story make this book a must-read for fans of high adventure!

If you like Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, or (like me) can't stop playing Uncharted 2, you are sure to love Hunter's Fortune! Fortunately, you don't have to climb up a Tibetan mountain, or discover an ancient civilization to enjoy this book. In fact, you don't have to take any risks at all, because Hunter's Fortune #1 is guaranteed all week at Four Color Fantasies! Just look out for the boulder strewn, flaming, Path of Doom we installed by the front door. It seemed like a good idea at the time...

Amazing Characters, Quotable Lines, Gorgeous Art - Overdose on Sugarshock Today

Sugarshock! No, it's not a delicious new breakfast cereal, OR the condition you might find yourself in after eating a box of Twinkies and washing them down with Mountain Dew. Sugarshock is the greatest, most rock-tacular, band on the planet, or even in the universe! (Second only to their arch-nemesis Sensitive Guy, anyway.) They make music that speaks to everyone, except for Vikings, and they will totally rock you, as soon as you work out the six or seven issues in subclause 72B that have to do with merchandising rights....

Sugarshock is also a comic from the amazing creative team of Joss Whedon and Fabio Moon. But not just any comic! Oh no! It's a hilarious, bizarre, amazing work of insane genius. And also the best thing Joss Whedon has ever written. And he's written a lot of great stuff, so, you know, Sugarshock is really, really, excellent. (Also, this comic would not be the pinnacle of graphic storytelling that it is without Fabio Moon's brilliant art!) This work for the ages was actually created to launch Dark Horse's online version of Dark Horse Presents, an anthology designed to show off the work of the best creators out there, giving them a chance to do unique and experimental work. Those of you who weren't paying attention may have missed this great story when it first appeared but, luckily for you, Dark Horse has collected the whole thing into one awesome One-Shot Wonder!

So, who is Sugarshock, you ask? The members of this amazing quartet are Dandelion, Wade, L'Lihdra, and Robot Phil. Dandelion is a punk rock girl who may or may not belong to a secret government agency that may or may not authorize her to use deadly force when necessary. She also has a theory about Lincoln that would truly shake the world's historians, and she really, REALLY, hates Vikings. Wade is an incredible drummer, an alien princess, and has a dangerous tendency to go through groupies at an alarming rate. L'Lihdra is Wade's mystically enhanced bodyguard, and a deadpan guitar goddess. And Robot Phil is a robot. Named Phil. He likes to ride shotgun, and doesn't think it is cool that Dandelion keeps threatening her friends with deadly force.

In this Sugarshock One-Shot, our heroes must face the musical threats of Sensitive Guy, AND the universe-wide Battle of the Bands! You can't miss this comic, because, if you do, you will never find out the fate of the Earth. Or the fate of Wade's groupies. Or the fate of Robot Phil's legs. Will Dandelion unleash deadly force? Or the titanic power of the Saddest Song in the World? What's up with Abraham Lincoln, and those dirty, dirty, Vikings? There's only one way to find out the answer to all these questions! Read Sugarshock!

So, don't be a Viking. Head on over to Four Color Fantasies today, and pick up a copy (or two!) of Sugarshock, while it is our guaranteed Book of the Week. If you like great comics, you will love this book. It has an amazing cast of characters, a load of hilariously quotable lines, and gorgeous art. If you don't love it, you might as well hang out with a bunch of soulless squirrels. Is that what you want? To hang out with squirrels? Stupid squirrels.

Fight for Freedom of Speech the Fun Way: Liberty Comics #2

One of the best things about living in America is that you have the freedom to read whatever you want. You get to make the decisions about what is worthwhile or entertaining for you. Nobody can tell you that a book is too political, too controversial, too blasphemous, too sexy, or too violent for you to read. You get to think for yourself. Hooray for freedom of speech and freedom of thought!

Unfortunately, we don't always get to keep freedoms without a fight. There is always some chowderhead who wants to think for you. Someone who decides that this or that book just isn't right, so you shouldn't be able to read it. Why, some books might give people funny ideas, and we don't want funny ideas, right? The list of great books that have been banned at one time or another in our free country is pretty staggering. (I won't even try to list them all here, but you can check out http://www.banned-books.com/ for more information.)

What you may not realize is that comics face a greater threat of censorship and lawsuits than books without pictures. It may be because pictures can evoke much stronger reactions than just words on the page, but I think it is more likely that ignorant people still make the ridiculous assumption that comic books are strictly a children's medium, so anything challenging or shocking in a comic or graphic novel MUST have been created to to harm children. There are many cases from the last few years alone in which publishers, creators, store owners, and readers have found themselves arrested and charged for creating, publishing, selling, or simply reading, a comic book that someone else found offensive. If you are a reader, a small shop owner, or a struggling creator, a charge like that can have devastating consequences. Fortunately, that is where the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund comes in.

The CBLDF raises money to support people in the comic book community who find themselves targeted by those who want to stifle our freedom. They hire lawyers for defendants who can't afford to defend themselves and provide publicity that brings much needed attention to censorship cases that might otherwise slide under the radar. They do good work that helps people who have been victimized by those who want to prevent free speech. If you want to know more, you should check out their website at http://www.cbldf.org/index.shtml Not only is there a lot more information there, you can also check out endorsements from famous CBLDF supporters like Neil Gaiman and Jeff Smith, so the site is well worth a little of your time.

At this point, you may be wondering what this all has to do with the Book of the Week. Wonder no more! There are many ways to support the CBLDF, but the most fun and easy way is to simply buy this week's guaranteed book: Liberty Comics #2. This anthology comic is loaded with great stories and art from creators like Jason Aaron, Ben Templesmith, Mike Allred, Paul Pope, Paul Grist, Neil Gaiman, Jim Lee, and many, many others. These stories are all in some way about freedom to read, write, or think what you want, and the book's sales help raise money for the CBLDF. You can help out AND read some great comics at the same time! That's a deal that you just can't pass up.

Celebrate the fact that you have the freedom to come out to Four Color Fantasies and buy Liberty Comics #2. You can choose between the awesome Tim Sale Free Speech cover or the amazing John Romita Jr. Kick-Ass cover, but either way you need to try this comic. There is also a can for CBLDF donations by the register, so you won't have to carry home any annoying, rattling, change. Man, we're good to you!

Get Hooked on Card: Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow

In history of human warfare, when things get really, truly, desperate, we start throwing children into combat. When things get to that level of desperation, when we are willing to sacrifice anything and anyone for a chance to stave off defeat, the final battle is already on the horizon. If this pattern holds true in the future of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game series, then the human race may well be fighting its last war.

The alien Formics have kicked humanity's butt twice, and now they are preparing for one massive, final, attack. The best hope now is to recruit the very best of Earth's children, and train them to be an unstoppable fighting force. Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is one of the best of the best. He excels at strategy and war games, and he quickly becomes one of the International Fleet's brightest stars. Of course, success in games does not mean Ender will be able to save the world when the time comes for the real thing. If he is going to succeed, he's going to need a lot of help.

Ender's Shadow is a companion series to the main Ender's Game books. This series shines a spotlight on some of the troops under Ender's command. This book not only gives these supporting characters a chance to shine, it also allows us to see how Ender influences those around him. His leadership does not offer love and kisses, but it does force the incredibly young soldiers of the International Fleet to become the best fighting force they can be.

The first issue focuses on the very young, very small, Bean. Bean may be tiny, but he has the fastest reflexes around. Rather than babying him, Ender forces him to live up to his reputation. Or to fail horribly in the attempt. This series does a great job making kids like Bean feel real and three dimensional. It is hard to imagine what it would take to turn pre-adolescent kids into a force that can defend the world against a terrifying alien opponent, but Ender's Shadow puts you right there with these kids.

If you have never read the Ender's Game novels, or even any of the comics, Ender's Shadow #1 is a good place to start. It has action, pathos, cool battle suits, and all the pre-teen drama you could ever ask for in a book about sweeping space battles. All you have to do to try it out is make your way safely to base (AKA Four Color Fantasies), and plunk down a few measly dollars. If you don't like it, we'll guarantee your money back! Though we make no guarantees about your ability to slip past enemy lines without being ambushed.

Hauntingly Good: Hector Plasm: De Mortuis

Well, somehow it's October again. The spookiest month of the year! As the wind grows colder and the days get shorter, tradition has it that the dead get restless. As the days hurtle toward All Hallows' Eve, there are bumps in the night and eyes peering from the shadows. If all this has you a little bit spooked, you need a little help from Hector Plasm!

Hector Plasm: De Mortuis is a collection of short stories, by Benito Cereno and Nate Bellegarde, featuring the eponymous ghost hunter, demon slayer, and all-around undead handler. Hector was special from the moment he was born with a caul over his head. This fateful birth put him immediately on the path to become a Benandante, one who communicates with the dead.

Of course, not all of the dead are bad news. Helpful spirits train young Hector in the ways of the Benandante, and prepare him for the difficult life of a wandering ghost hunter. As an adult, Hector wanders the world, accompanied by Sinner and Saint (A couple of largely useless spirits!), helping both people and ghosts, wherever and whenever he can. It is not an easy life, but it IS action-packed and occasionally hilarious!

Hector's world really has everything! Insightful storytelling, scary haints, intense action, and laugh-out-loud moments. These tales will certainly appeal to fans of Mike Mignola and Guy Davis, but they have a unique charm all their own. Each story stands on its own, and each one is amazing in its own way. The stories are excellent, the art is stylish and spooky, and the dead are awfully darn creepy. The creators are clearly hoping to bring readers more from Hector in the future, and I sure hope they get the chance.

If you're feeling all Halloween-y, and want to revel in some supernatural comic book fun, you better gather up your good-luck charms and head over to Four Color Fantasies to snag a copy of this scary Book of the Week. Not only are you guaranteed your money back if you don't like it, we'll throw in the additional guarantee that none of our copies are actually haunted or accompanied by supernatural manifestations of any kind. Hector Plasm: De Mortuis: it will NOT age you ten years in 20 seconds, and that's a promise!

Not in the Doghouse: Beasts of Burden #1 Delivers

Who is the last line of defense against the Lovecraftian horrors that go "squish" in the dark? Who will save us from the unspeakable powers of darkness and despair? Who will be there to put a stop to the Witch Cats and Cannibal Frogs? It isn't the Ghostbusters. It isn't even Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. The defense of the human race is all up to Rex, Ace, and Orphan! Don't worry, we're in good paws.

That's right, the Eisner Award-winning team of Evan (Milk and Cheese) Dorkin and Jill (Scary Godmother) Thompson are back with the squad of heroic neighborhood pets they introduced in the Dark Horse Book of (Insert scary noun here.) anthology series. Dark Horse has wisely seen fit to give this amazing duo and their adorable, yet ferocious, animal monster-hunters their own series: Beasts of Burden. It's about time these touching, funny, exciting tales got the spotlight all to themselves!

Beasts of Burden #1: The Gathering Storm takes place in the picturesque town of Burden Hill. A seemingly quaint and lovely town, Burden Hill's green fields and white picket fences harbor some terrifying secrets. It seems like there is always something weird lurking in the shadows, so the neighborhood dogs and cats have formed a team of paranormal investigators to put the bite on evil when it rears its ugly head. Craziness can strike at any moment, as it does on a clear summer morning when the Beasts suddenly find themselves pelted by a rain of frogs. Even worse, these cannibal frogs quickly start scarfing each other down and growing at an alarming rate. It isn't long before frogs are not enough to feed the aggregate horror lurking in the woods....

Though Dorkin is best known for biting, satirical, humor, he gives these noble pets humanity that tugs at the heart, while always leaving room for a laugh or two. Thompson's beautiful painted art is a joy to behold, and makes every critter in the book a distinctive and loveable (furry) star. If you have any kind of a soft spot for animals, there is no way you won't immediately feel attached to these four-pawed protagonists. But don't make the mistake of dismissing Beasts of Burden as a cutesy animal comic for kids. These are intense and involving tales that will capture the attention of any reader, especially fans of supernatural scares. The big bad in this first issue, and the gruesome way it is dispatched, would give even tough guys like Hellboy and Constantine reason to pause.

Though these characters have appeared before, the first issue gives you eveything you need to jump in and enjoy. (Even better, Dark Horse has made all of the original stories available, for free, on their website!) The first issue offers an amazing, complete, story, but leaves a few dark hints that will leave readers anxious for the next issue. We're so sure that you will love Beasts of Burden #1, that it comes with a money back guarantee all week at Four Color Fantasies. Keep an eye out for suspicious frogs, and be sure to wipe your paws before you come into the store!

Cute, Undead: Lenore #1

Y'know, most people don't generally like to play with dead things. I mean, there are SOME people who do, but they usually need therapy, or end up in prison, so this behavior isn't generally encouraged. However, I think we can forgive a little weirdness when the dead thing in question is an adorable cute little dead girl. If you're wondering how such a terrible thing could ever be cute, then you obviously haven't met Roman Dirge's Lenore!

Lenore has been around for a while but, thanks to Titan Books, she is bursting onto the scene anew, and she's bringing the shocking secret of her terrifying origin with her! Lenore is, as I said, a cute little girl who happens to be dead. Or maybe undead. I mean, she does walk around and talk and stuff, which dead people don't normally tend to do. She hangs out with her creepy little friends, and stuff happens. Maybe they breakdance, or throw horseshoes, or fill their pockets with evil hatchets and stuff. Y'know, like you do.

In the all-new, all-color, Lenore #1, the idyllic existence of Lenore and company is threatened when a dark visitor from the past shows up to exact vengeance on our heroine. Lenore's origin is also revealed for the first time! I won't give too much away here, but it involves embalming fluid, an empty belly pooch, and noodle arms. Now you must discover the truth for yourself!

Honestly, Lenore isn't really about the plot anyway, but about crazy, random, weird stuff happening. You never know what to expect in the dark, absurd world of Lenore. The sight gags, word-play, and macabre punchlines fly fast and furiously at the reader. And they have sharp edges, so beware! The art and story combine perfectly to give a wonderful glimpse into Roman Dirge's messed-up head. (It's a great place to visit, but...) This issue also features some other Dirge creations, such as the tragic Parasol Princess and the awesome Samurai Sloth, so you may enter his world via the portal of your choice.

If you like the weird works of Tim Burton, or the Addams Family, or Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, then you will find yourself quickly falling in love with this cute little dead girl. Try out Lenore #1 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! if you're really lucky, we might even throw in a sweet Balloon Cobra. (OK, we won't, but you can always dream.)

Old-fashioned, new-wave chills: Creepy

Hey kids! You like to be scared, don't you? So naturally, you'd like a comic that brings you tales of the horrible, the supernatural, and the just plain weird, right? I mean, who can pass up the comic book equivalent of sitting on the lap of a scary old man, who smells a bit, and hearing stories that plumb the depths of human awfulness? If you said, "Not me!" then you are the perfect audience for Dark Horse's revival of an old favorite: Creepy!


The original Creepy, from Warren Publishing, ran from 1964-1983. This horror anthology, hosted by the gruesome Uncle Creepy, brought readers a variety of stories calculated to creep them out and keep them from sleeping soundly. To bypass the restrictions of the Comics Code, Creepy was published as a magazine, rather than a comic. The impressive run of the original featured work by many of the greats, guys like Frank Frazetta, Al Williamson, and Alex Toth.

Dark Horse's new Creepy is set to carry on the unsettling tradition of the original in grand, if disturbing, style. Uncle Creepy is back in fine form as he takes the reins once again to lead us through the darkest corridors of the human mind. This first issue has five new tales of unsettling horror, and one classic reprint from the Creepy vaults. If I say too much about the stories, I may rob you of the chill you will feel when you unearth them for yourself, but I can tell you that these fetid fictions are brought to you by the likes of Joe Harris, Dan Braun, Jason Shawn Alexander, Angelo Torres, Hilary Barta, and many others too terrifying to list. There's even a piece in here by the nightmarish Bernie Wrightson! To throw a final shovelful of dirt on the grave, the whole disturbing package is wrapped in a wonderfully awful portrait of the entire Creepy clan by the amazing Eric Powell.

If you like scary tales that chill the cockles of your heart, and maybe offer up some heaping helpings of righteous retribution to some deserving victims, you'll find something to love in the return of this classic horror anthology. If, however, you were hoping Uncle Creepy would reveal his famous recipe for Cat Brain Soup, you will be a little disapointed. Maybe next issue...



Anyway, don't miss out! Lurch over to Four Color Fantasies today and hand over a few moldy bills to try out Creepy #1. It is our guaranteed Book of the Week, so you have nothing to lose but your sanity. (And really, you weren't using that anyway.) Of course, if you don't try it, Uncle Creepy may have to send around a few of his more "unsettling" family members to persuade you, and I really don't think you want that.

Hilarious Hilarity: Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1

Greetings and salutations, gentle readers! This is Wade Wilson, AKA Deadpool, here to talk comics with you cool cats. What? You're claiming to be Deadpool now? That's just lame. Who do you think you're kidding? I am too Deadpool! Stop embarassing me in front of the readers. You're embarassing yourself, bucko. It's nothing to do with me. Well, cut it out. Why do you always do this? I just want to talk about this week's Book of the Week, so leave me alone. Fine, but you are no Wade Wilson. That's all I'm saying.

So anyway, most of you probably already know that Deadpool, the Merc with a Mouth, is Marvel's all-time greatest character. He's the best there is at what he does, and what he does is be awesome. He's a suave cat who's a hit with the ladies. He's the greatest fighter the world has ever known. He's the guy who can get any job done, no matter how tough. He can heal from any injury, no matter how horrific and painful. He once kicked Captain America in his joy department. Oh, and he loves a good chimichanga, so he's a cheap date ladies! Dude, get to the point already!

OK, OK, the point. The fine folks at Marvel Comics have finally come to appreciate just how intensely amazing ol' Wade is, so, with absolutely no coercion at all, they've decided to launch a second ongoing Deadpool title appropriately named Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth. NO coercion? What are we calling that whole hostage-taking, police standoff on Tuesday then? Shut up! Never speak of that again. Anyway, this incredible new book is written by talented writing guy Victor Gischler, with pretty pictures from excellent drawing guy, and awesome name afficionado, Bong Dazo. The best part is the sexy, yet sensitive, way he draws me- Deadpool! I thought we settled this! You're NOT Deapool. Other great things drawn in this issue include dinosaurs, cave men, Johnny Weismuller, and AIM scientist Dr. Betty. Man, that Dr. Betty is a hottie. She's got a whole naughty librarian thing going on that... Hey! Back to the point "Wade."

Anyway, in this first issue I..er..Deadpool, has to solve a problem no one else can handle. Like being shot from orbit into the savage land without the benefit of a parachute, or airbrakes, or any other sort of slowing down the rapidly burning up pod equipment, to get his mitts on a top secret bio-weapon that those bad boys from AIM and Hydra are both after. If he succeeds, AIM has promised Wade 2 million big ones AND a jar of their best premium honey. Mmmm, honey. Man, that stuff goes on anything. Moving on!

So if you like manly action, hilarious hilarity, extreme violence, and guys in beekeeper suits, you will LOVE Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #1. Let me just jump in here to point out that these guys do an awesome job presenting Deadpool's schizophrenic world view. The voices in his head and his "Deadpool Vision" come across as a natural part of the narrative. Believe me, it is much funnier than this idiot's attempt at duplicating the same idea. Not only is this first issue 100% cool beans, but your 4 bucks also gets you a complete classic Deadpool reprint, by Joe Kelly and Ed McGuiness, in which our hero totally kicks the Hulk's big, green, rear end. All that, AND your satisfaction is guaranteed! Now get down to Four Color Fantasies and buy this book, before someone (and I'm kind of implying that it will be you) gets hurt. Sorry about this folks, he thinks he's funny. Sigh.

The Rebirth of a Classic Hero: Buck Rogers #1

In the 24th1/2 century, Duck Dodgers must track down the last element of Illudium Phosdex, the shaving cream atom, and then...oh, wait a minute. Dynamite's new comic is actually a new take on Buck Rogers. Apparently Daffy Duck isn't in it at all. Well, that's embarrassing. I'll start again.

There has been a trend lately in movies, TV, and comics to take awesome old properties and ideas and slather on a coat of 21st century gloss to bring these properties to a new audience. Some of these new takes have been excellent, like the new Star Trek film, and some have been egregiously horrible ruinations of the original property. I'm looking at you Land of the Lost and Transformers. Dynamite has decided to join in on the fun with their latest effort: Buck Rogers, by Scott Beatty and Carlos Rafael.

If you're a fan of any of the previous versions of Buck Rogers, you will recognize many of the elements of this book. Captain Anthony "Buck" Rogers is a daredevil test pilot, who has devoted his life to developing a new form of Gravity Drive that will revolutionize space flight. Something goes wrong on a test flight and Buck ends up crash-landing in the far future. He's pulled from the wreck by an "angel" in a black flight suit named Colonel Wilma Deering, and immediately forced to cope with being thrown into a world that is not his own. If you never heard of Buck Rogers until today, you still know everything you need to know to enjoy this book.

The story is fast moving, with plenty of action, but readers still get to know Buck as a full-fledged character. The art is excellent, with dynamically designed characters. Though if you still aren't sure about whether or not you should pick up this book, just let me say this: in the first issue, Buck and Wilma have to face off against an enormous, talking, cyborg grizzly bear armed with a huge blaster. Oh, and he's got an eye patch. If that doesn't seal the deal, I'm not sure what's wrong with you. Maybe you don't like comics.

So, despite the lack of Daffy Duck's dashing space hero (though Dynamite couldn't really go wrong with a Duck Dodgers comic), Buck Rogers #1 is a great book. This is your chance to be in on the rebirth of a classic hero, at no personal risk. Buck Rogers #1 is guaranteed all week as Four Color Fantasies' Book of the Week. And let me reiterate: CYBORG GRIZZLY BEAR!

Everyone loves a mystery, right? Of course, not just any old mystery will do the trick. "The Puzzling Disappearance of the Missing Sock" would probably not grab most people's attention. (Except obsessive hosiery fanatics. Those people have issues.) There are hundreds, if not thousands, of fictional detecting, mystery-solving types out there, but the greatest, most iconic detective of all time has to be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Thanks to the good people at Dynamite Entertainment, the great detective is back on the case!

Even if you've never read Conan Doyle's brilliant stories, you probably know something about Holmes. He lives in Victorian London, at 221B Baker Street. He plays the violin. He solves crimes with the aid of his worthy partner Doctor Watson. He is an eccentric, obsessive, man, whose attention to minute details often leads him to discover the most bizarre, insoluble, secrets of his world. Of course, if you haven't read any of the Holmes stories, you should get yourself to a bookstore ASAP. (AFTER you come by Four Color Fantasies and pick up this comic, obviously.)

Dynamite's Sherlock Holmes, written by Leah Moore and John Reppion, with art by Aaron Campbell, gives readers an all-new tale of Holmes and Watson. The story will intrigue readers unaware of the intricacies of Holmes' canon, but will be an even greater treat for those who are already familiar with literature's most famous detective. A bombing in London's East End shocks the city, but becomes even more worrying when a letter sent to Sir Samuel Henry suggests that there will be more bombs, including one in his home. Sir Henry, very sensibly, summons Sherlock Holmes to assist the police in their investigations.

Unfortunately, when Holmes arrives on the scene, events do not proceed according to plan. The house and grounds are swarming with Inspector Lestrade's men. Holmes and Watson arrive shortly before the bomb threat's zero hour. After observing the scene, Holmes heads to the ailing Sir Henry's room to assure him of his safety. However; when a shot rings out, and Holmes is found standing over Sir Henry's body, with a smoking gun in his hand, things take a turn towards the unexpected.

This authors of this tale clearly have a great deal of respect for Conan Doyle's work, and their story could fit right in with any of the original tales. At the same time, putting Holmes on the wrong side of the law gives this story a unique twist. Campbell's art perfectly captures the gaslit, foggy, streets of Victorian London, which are as much a part of Holmes' appeal as the man himself.

With a new movie on the way (Starring Iron Man, no less!), and this new comic on the stands, now is the perfect time to become a Sherlock Holmes fan. It doesn't take a deductive genius to see that you should pick up Sherlock Holmes #1 & 2 this week at Four Color Fantasies. Don't wait for a mysterious invitation, written in code, with invisible ink, to drop through your door. Try this book now, while it is guaranteed!

The Story Behind One of Marvel's Most Powerful Super-Villians: Dark Reign: The Hood #1

Back when Parker Robbins first appeared in his own series, he was just a small-time thug. Parker wasn't really evil, he just grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, and didn't really know what to do with his life. He tried to take care of his family the only way he knew how-by stealing stuff! He was a complete nobody until the day that one of his criminal escapades landed him with the hooded cape that would give him supernatural powers and a new name: The Hood!

If you've been reading any of Marvel's Avengers titles, you already know that The Hood has come a long way since his humble beginnings. He's built the largest, most successful super-human criminal cartel the Marvel U has ever seen! Usually, any group of super-villains falls apart as soon as their massive egos collide, but The Hood has been able to show them another way. By working together, these super-baddies get equipment, support, and intelligence that they could never maintain on their own. If they get caught, they are quickly busted out. Evidence of their crimes is cleaned up by experts. Best of all, when some nosy super-hero tries to ruin their fun, The Hood's people have a whole lot of muscle backing them up!

Dark Reign: The Hood #1,by Jeff Parker and Kyle Hotz, offers another look at the man under the hood. In front of his men, Parker presents himself as calm, assured, and always in control. Whenever he shows up to thwart the Avengers, he seems to be a terrifying and unstoppable force. In this limited series, we see that the powerful crime boss is not that far removed from the hesitant, conflicted, thug he used to be. Has he become too cavalier about killing? Is he really in control of the demonic forces that give him his powers?

The Hood occupies a precarious position in the "We love Norman Osborn" Marvel Universe. The true heroes, many of whom have been driven underground by Osborn, oppose him in his bid for power. Osborn, with his Dark Avengers and H.A.M.M.E.R., is certainly not happy about some "freelance" villain building a power base without his permission. Not only is Parker stuck between these two powerful enemies, he also has to worry about keeping the demonic powers of the underworld, like his "buddy" Dormammu, happy.

If you want to know the story behind one of Marvel's most powerful super-villains, check out Dark Reign: The Hood #1! It's a steal at $3.99, but you can try it risk free all week because it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! If we all work together, everybody benefits. I think The Hood is onto something here.

Is this real life or just a fantasy? The Unwritten shoots for an answer

It's an age-old question: What if the characters beloved by millions stepped from their fictional pages to roam the earth? What if their fictional blood-feuds became part of reality? How would the fans react? How would the characters themselves react? Would the real world be a match for their fictional magic come true?

The Unwritten asks these questions through the character of Tommy, excuse me, Tom Taylor whose father Wilson Taylor mysteriously disappeared after penning the adventures of Tommy Taylor (who Tom admits bears strikingly resemblance to a certain Harry Potter). Tom wants to separate himself from the fictional character his father based on him (again, admittedly much like A.A. Milne's Christopher Robin). However, Tom is obligated to continue his father's legacy through marketing the movies based on his books and appearing at book signings and readings. Tom seems angry that his father left him, not believing that he just disappeared, and Tom is clearly searching for his own identity. But, his troubles really begin in Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity, when a fan appears at a panel discussion and questions whether Wilson Taylor ever had a son. Suddenly, everything about Tom Taylor seems manufactured and rumors are immediately printed that he is indeed a fake. Of course, fans demand the imposter's blood and seem about to get it when Count Ambrosio, who is either a nut-job fan or Tommy Taylor's fictional nemesis come to life, kidnaps Tom.

The cover by Sandman: Dream Hunters artist Yuko Shimizu is one of the most intriguing I've seen as Tom Taylor is held in a maelstrom of words spilling into (or is it out of?) a book. The internal art by Peter Gross evokes an old-fashioned style that helps add to the mystical feel and the story by Mike Carey immediately grabs the reader. Carey's alliterative names, Tommy Taylor and pal, Sue Sparrow, are evocative of a simpler comic’s era, but the mature readers label indicates that these stories will tread beyond the innocent. The team behind the multiple Eisner-nominated Lucifer cast a spell on me with their creative panel design and subtle dialogue.

Don't wait for Count Ambrosio to cast a spell on you! Take your magic carpet, I mean, drive your Toyota hybrid to Four Color Fantasies today where The Unwritten #1 is this week's guaranteed Book of the Week.

A Unique Story by Waid and Oosterveer: The Unknown

Everybody loves a mystery. Of course, some mysteries are more mysterious than others. Who was Jack the Ripper? Where do the socks that vanish in the dryer go? Why do people watch reality TV? All vexing questions, but none as mysterious as The Unknown! (Cue ominous organ music and maniacal laughter.)

Alright, The Unknown is actually Mark Waid's new 4 issue series from Boom! Studios, but it is pretty mysterious in its own right. The series stars Catherine "Cat" Allingham (Possibly named after mystery writer Margery Allingham?), America's Greatest Detective. Cat has a brain that always moves at full tilt, casually solving the mysteries that thwart the lesser minds of the police departments of the world. She doesn't have much patience for the slow pace the rest of us meander along at, so she can be a little abrasive at times. Oh, she also has 6 months to live, and seems to have a creepy spectre of death watching over her. Like you do.

After quickly solving another tedious case that is really beneath her notice, Cat runs into newly unemployed bouncer, and fan of her work, James Doyle (Named for Arthur Conan Doyle? Mr. Waid has been reading some mysteries, hasn't he?). Doyle is a hulking mass of muscle, but he also has a knack for reading people and an eye for details. The perfect sidekick for the detective on the go!

Cat and Doyle hop on a jet to Europe, where we get to the real puzzle, one that even Cat may not be able to solve. The Faderbauer brothers are super-genius physicists, and may be the victims of the world's first Quantum Crime. They built a box that is beyond priceless, meant to be the most accurate scale ever conceived. This scale could measure a trillionth of a trillionth of a gram. Of course, the experiment does not go as expected, havok is wreaked, and the box vanishes, possibly teleported away by some nefarious quantum thief. Of course, the real question is: just what exactly was in this box? What were the Faderbauers measuring? Cat has some unnerving suspicions...

If you read comics, you probably know Mark Waid's work. He can always be relied on to deliver an excellent story, and The Unknown is no exception. With amazing art from Minck Oosterveer, and a unique story to be told, The Unknown is all set to be a hit! The only real mystery is why you haven't bought a copy of the first issue yet. Maybe it's because you didn't know that this comic is Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week! Now that you know, investigate the quickest way to get to the shop, and give The Unknown #1 a try. Case closed! (Though I still don't understand why people watch reality TV.)

Over-the-top violence drives The Destroyer

Keene Marlow is a pretty typical old man. Sure, he may come across as a little gruff and grumpy at times, but he's a loving husband, a great father, and he's very sweet with his grandkids. Oh, and he can rock a pair of suspenders like nobody's business. Unfortunately, like many men his age, Grandpa Marlow has heart trouble. He has to watch his sodium and cholesterol, and he has to be pretty careful when he's out jumping off exploding buildings and tearing bad guys heads off as the incredibly violent hero The Destroyer!

Destroyer is a limited series from Marvel's MAX imprint, written by Robert "Walking Dead" Kirkman with art from Cory Walker. These guys have collaborated before, to awesome results, and their work here won't disappoint their fans. The Destroyer is a mostly forgotten (Sorry Destroyer fans! I'd never heard of him.) Golden Age character from Stan Lee. Kirkman approached this project as if the character has been active, appearing in his own monthly series, ever since the '40s. By showing us the aged, cantankerous hero he has become, Kirkman and Walker have made Destroyer work for a new audience, without having to "re-imagine" him.

Of course, the MAX imprint allows them to make Destroyer over-the-top in a way that Stan could never have gotten away with durring the Golden Age. When Keene takes on the villainous hired goons of HORDE, he literally punches through a guy's head and leaves the rest of the HORDE minions in similarly mangled, very dead, states. He's also got an awesome repertoire of cranky old man banter, most of which can't be shared here. He's a salty one, that Grandpa Marlow.

When our hero finds out his own heart is going to be the villain that finally takes him down, he decides that he has to put some things in order before he dies. For most grandpas, that might involve making some adjustments to the will or deciding which grandkid gets your watch, for Keen Marlow it means tracking down and killing (with violence!) any bad guys who might cause trouble once he's not around to stop them. And he starts things off with a visit to his imprisoned older brother, Dicky....

If you like your comics with a heaping helping of ridiculous violence (I know I do!), then you will love Destroyer! Kirkman and Walker are on top form here, and they made me love this character I'd never heard of within the first two pages. Luckily, you can try it out with absolutely no risk of serious head trauma, because Destroyer #1 is this week's guaranteed Book of the Week at Four Color Fantasies. And, if you're really good, maybe we'll throw in a half-melted butterscotch candy with some pocket lint on it.

Looking to start your young one's comics addiction? The Incredibles is a great start

I'm going to make an assumption here: if you are reading this, you like comics. If you're like me, your love of comics started when you were just a wee nipper. Most of us started with the kiddie stuff before we moved up to the serious business of super-hero comics. I read comics from Harvey, Disney, and Archie. The choices for kid's comics in those days were endless, though Donald Duck, Mighty Mouse, and Richie Rich were my favorites.

I still love comics, but most of the books I read today wouldn't really be appropriate, or even intelligible, for kids. Marvel and DC, understanding that we need to introduce today's kids to the fun of comics and reading, have made some admirable attempts at creating all-ages friendly comics. Unfortunately, they are still just giving kids another version of their Marvel and DC properties. If you want to introduce the younger readers in your life to comics, you still don't have a whole lot to choose from. Luckily, help is on the way thanks to Boom! Kids.

The Incredibles #1, by Mark Waid and Marcio Takara, is a great example of quality comics for kids. Any kid with even the faintest interest in super-heroes has seen the popular Pixar film in which the incredible Parr family deal with the typical ordeals of family life while also beating the stuffing out of evil-doers of all shapes and sizes. Boom!'s new limited series perfectly captures the feel of the movie, while taking the Parrs on an all-new adventure, with great writing and awesome art!

The story begins when the Parr family is enjoying a peaceful family outing to the zoo. As expected, the day takes a turn towards super-villain punching when the robotic Futurian shows up to destroy humanity by devolving the zoo animals into a crazy army of mixed-up dinosaurs. Of course, stopping rampaging dinosaurs is only the beginning of a typical day for the Incredibles. Missing devolution bombs, new neighbors, and Mr. Incredible's missing powers all add up to a packed day for this super-family.

If you're looking to share your love of comics with the young uns (or if you are just young at heart!), The Incredibles #1 is a great place to start! With comics based on The Muppet Show and a whole host of other Pixar properties on the way, there will be a whole lot of great books to choose from. It's great to see engaging, intelligent, quality material that just might make kids pick up a comic and read, so try The Incredibles now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week.

Ellis puts it in gear with Ignition City #1

What if all the high-flying, sci-fi, space heroes of the '40s and '50s were real? And what if those real heroes lived in a real world where politics and international conflict took all the fun out of being a space hero? Where do the space heroes go to die? Why, they go to Ignition City where all these questions (and more!) are answered!

Avatar's Ignition City #1, by Warren Ellis and Gianluca Pagliarani, drops us into a 1956 where the great age of space exploration is rapidly dying. All those brave rocket men and women shooting off into space brought nothing but trouble for the Earth, so the world's governments have shut them down. Space launches are prohibited almost everywhere and, where they are allowed, they are strictly under government control and supervision. Ignition City, an artificial island covered with launch gantries and landing pads, is the last place on the planet where spacecraft can still launch, but it is a sad remnant of it's former self. It really is the place where the washed up space heroes go to drink themselves to death, wallowing in memories of their former glory.

When young adventuress and frustrated space explorer Mary Raven finds out her beloved father (former space hero Arthur "Rock" Raven) has died there, she knows she has to do whatever it takes to get into Ignition City and find whatever scraps of her father's life he left behind. It is a sad place, filled with washed-up heroes, drunken failures, and petty bureaucrats. It quickly becomes very obvious to Mary that she isn't going to like anything she finds on this bleak, hopeless island.

Most of you have probably heard of this Ellis fellow by now, so you know that nobody does dark humor quite like he does. (Well, maybe Garth Ennis.) This is not for the faint of heart! Ellis puts his hilariously foul-mouthed characters through their paces, giving readers the scoop on what happens to your poop when you live off of futuristic food pills, how to deal with alien lizard diarrhea, and what would really happen to a heroic space pilot who finds himself 500 years in his own past. Plus, the ridiculously violent bar bouncer Vanderkirk demonstrates the intestine-steaming effects of a space ray-gun on the human body. All this in just the first issue! Could you possibly expect more entertainment than that for four measly space dollars? I think not!

Fuel up the old rocket pack and junior bird-man your way on over to Four Color Fantasies, space cadet! You can try out life on Ignition City for yourself all week, with no risk to life and limb and no need for alcohol poisoning. Just watch out for the puddles of space lizard poop. That stuff NEVER comes off of your shoes.

A Dark Psychoanalysis: Irredeemable #1

What happens when a super-hero goes bad? And I don't mean any old run of the mill hero, but a Superman level hero. Someone with the power to destroy anyone and anything in his path. Someone who is mind-numbingly powerful, and pretty much invulnerable, too. And I don't mean "dark vigilante" bad, but "killing cute children and fuzzy puppies for fun" bad. What happens then? Tough questions, but I'm here to tell you that the answers can be found in Boom!'s Irredeemable #1 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause!

The Plutonian is the world's greatest hero. He is beloved all over the world, idolized by millions, and respected by evey other hero in the world. Of course, living up to an image like that puts a guy under a lot of pressure. There are always voices of doubt, people who want to put you down, people who don't appreciate your efforts. In this first issue, we get a few hints that these negative voices were what wore the hero down. Whatever pushed him over the edge, the Plutonian is in full-on villain mode when we first see him in action. Yep, heat vision sure can skeletonize a baby in nothing flat.

The other heroes find themselves desperately scrambling to find a way to defend themselves from the Plutonian's onslaught, but there seems to be very little hope of success. No one knows who he is, where he comes from, or how to stop him. They don't even know if he is really from Earth. The only one who might know something is his teen sidekick Samsara, but Sam was one of the Plutonian's first victims, and he isn't going to be telling anybody anything.

Mark Waid, who has been, perhaps unfairly, categorized as the go-to guy for squeaky-clean heroics, is taking a deep look at the dark side of super-heroes with this book. What makes someone a villain? What makes a good person go bad? How does a flawed hero deal with the constant disappointments and losses any hero is bound to face? Waid, though not evil, as the marketing campaign for this book suggests, has enough experience as a super-hero writer extraordinaire to delve in to all of these questions. He is ably assisted in this examination by Peter Krause, whose pencils are perfect for both the silver age style flashbacks of The Plutonian in happier days and the dark happenings in the present.

Check out this Book of the Week now at Four Color Fantasies! Irredeemable #1 is guaranteed good reading all week. Mark Waid seems like a nice guy, but if you disappoint him by failing to try his new book, he might be upset. He might be REALLY upset. It could even push him over the edge. Unless you want Mark Waid to track you down and give you a sternly worded lecture, you better go ahead and try this book now, before it is too late!

Dark Reign: Elektra #1

Ninjas are somewhat ubiquitous in the land of comics. Because ninjas are everywhere, often used as faceless cannon fodder for the major league bad guys, they are sometimes cast as feeble thugs, easily bested by pirates, zombies, or other comic book staples. Personally, I think that is all part of their greater ninja plan to lull us into a false sense of security before unleashing their ninja wrath on us all. You'll know I'm right when you wake up (or not) with a throwing star lodged in your brain case.

Regardless of the greater ninja threat, one ninja no one wants to mess with is Elektra Natchios. Daredevil's formerly dead girlfriend is one lean, mean, killing machine. She is a cold-hearted engine of mass destruction who will take out any opponent without a second thought. If you mess with Elektra, you're likely to be dead before you know what happened. Even unarmed, she can find a way to take you down with her left pinky toe. Because of her uber-deadliness, it seems pretty crazy that the Skrulls (Those darn, dirty, Skrulls!) chose her as one of the first abductees in their Secret Invasion plan. Stupid Skrulls.

As you may know, thanks to the Elektra Skrull being no where near as deadly as the real thing, her death and return to her true skrully form, gave the heroes of the Marvel Universe the first hint that something green and nasty was afoot. Dark Reign: Elektra finally reveals what happens to the real deal when she returns to Earth. Unfortunately, with Norman Osborn running things around the Marvel Universe, Elektra's return home is pretty darn unwelcoming.

In Dark Reign: Elektra #1, by Zeb Wells and Clay Mann, our ninja heroine finds herself a guest of Osborn's H.A.M.M.E.R., and they are not good hosts. She is poked, prodded, tortured, and studied. Of course, Elektra takes it all stoically, as only an unbelievably disciplined martial artist can, but her eyes make it clear that her tormentors are in for one serious load of ninja whamma-jamma if she ever gets loose. Do I even need to mention that she does, in fact, get loose? She does.

If you need definitive proof that a ninja is WAY more dangerous than any peg-legged, parrot-fancying pirate, you can start by reading Dark Reign: Elektra #1. It's the guaranteed Book of the Week all week at Four Color Fantasies, so you can read it at no risk to your wallet! Of course, if you don't read this book, you may incur a serious risk of throwing star to the brain case. I don't think anybody wants that.

Thought-provoking, superb art: The Life and Times of Savior 28 #1

Almost every super-hero comic ever written is, in some way, a reflection of Stan Lee's famous line, "With great power must come great responsibility." What isn't always addressed is whether or not great power really gives a person the wherewithal to handle all that responsibility. How many of us have what it takes to make life or death decisions every day? How many of us could cope with people dying because we have a bad day? Not me, I can tell you!

Sure, sometimes Spider-man or Iron Man have their moments of doubt. They may wallow in indecision for an issue or two, but the nature of serialized, escapist adventure means they'll get over it pretty darn quick. In IDW's The Life and Times of Savior 28, J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Cavallaro take a tougher look at the consequences of a life of super-heroics. In their world, which looks a lot like our world, decade after decade of great responsibility takes a serious toll on even the most powerful of heroes.

In 1939, a WWI veteran known as James Smith had become disillusioned with the life. The war had been hard on him, and the years after hadn't been much better. James spent much of his time drunk and listening to tales of idealized heroism on the radio. Somehow, whether it was the result of a secret government program, an alien scientist, or Uncle Sam and his magic flag, James Smith had a chunk of The Master Stone embedded in his chest and he became the ageless and powerful hero known as Savior 28.

For decades, Savior 28 fought the good fight. Smith loved being the embodiment of all his radio heroes. He represented the American Ideal, and was a role model for millions. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and the pressure begins to eat away at Savior 28. When the deaths and tragedy become too much, Savior 28 finally buckles under that pressure, with devastating consequences for both himself and the world.

DeMatteis does an excellent job blending comic book heroics with real world politics and events. He connects the failure of the heroic ideal with the failures of the nation's ideals in a way which, whether or not you agree with him, will give you something to think about. Cavallaro's art is perfect for this project. His style is very reminiscent of classic golden and silver age art brought into the modern world. If all the recent hubbub over Watchmen has you wanting more comics that look at super-heroes from a slightly different angle, you can't go wrong with Savior 28.

Not only is The Life and Times of Savior 28 #1 thought-provoking and well-drawn, it is guaranteed all week at Four Color Fantasies. You can try the first issue with no onerous burden of responsibility! Just don't let your arch-nemesis get there first, or you'll look like a real loser.

Office politics never seemed so fun: Executive Assistant Iris #0

When most people think of an Executive Assistant, we think of someone who makes copies, takes phone calls, and maybe fetches tea from time to time. All reasonable expectations for the gig. While it would be great to have an Executive Assistant in real life, their adventures would hardly seem to be the stuff of action-packed comics. Luckily for readers, when the guys at Aspen think of an Executive Assistant, they have something ENTIRELY different in mind. The truth is revealed in Executive Assistant Iris #0!

Sure, Iris does fetch tea and hover quietly in the background while her boss, Mr. Ching, meets with his business partners. However, when his meetings take a negative turn, Iris has a much more demanding job to do! Iris is clearly trained in a lot more than how to use the fax machine. When her true talents are needed, she becomes a highly efficient, black-clad, killing machine.

This 0 issue gives readers a taste of Iris in action when Mr. Ching's deal with a shady Russian businessman named Nikolai Krilov falls apart. It seems Mr. Krilov does not mind stabbing a partner in the back when a more lucrative offer comes his way. What he doesn't realize is that two days later, when Iris infiltrates his fortified Russian estate, there will be some more literal stabbing. And shooting. Oh, and some arm breaking and head kicking, too! Man, I would LOVE to have a handy assistant to make appointments and give people an occasional kick to the head.

Executive Assistant Iris is one of the last characters worked on by Aspen founder Michael Turner. Series writer David Wohl and artist Eduardo Francisco are clearly striving to make sure Iris lives up to her full potential, to become a new star on the comics scene. This 0 issue does a great job of introducing readers to Iris and her world with a complete story that offers just a taste of what they have planned down the road. Francisco's art gorgeous and detailed, and perfectly captures the visceral nature of the action when Iris has to throw down with Krilov's ex-KGB thugs. As a bonus, this issue also includes some very nice pre-production art, including character designs for Iris from Michael Turner and Joe Benitez.

If you dream of having an assistant who looks amazing in her sharp business attire, makes a killer cup of tea, and can kill a compound full of underworld muscle, you can't afford to miss Executive Assistant Iris #0. (I'm not the only one who has that dream, right?) This is a perfect chance to be in at the start of a great new book! This issue will get you started, and the first issue of the ongoing series will be hitting the stands in June. Not only are you getting a great story for just $2.50, Four Color Fantasies will guarantee your money back if you don't enjoy this Book of the Week! Besides, you wouldn't want to wake up to find an annoyed Executive Assistant about to ninja you into next week, would you? I don't think so.

Cheesecake Art with Serious Narrative: Grimm Fairy Tales #34 and #35

So, if you are trying to repackage classic stories for a modern audience, what ingredients do you add? How do you make great stories from the past irresistible to today's readers? The folks at Zenescope clearly know the best possible answer to this question: boobies! If you've ever caught a glimpse of the covers to Zenescope's Grimm Fairy Tales series, you know they can deliver beautiful women and great cheesecake art, what you may not know is that there is some pretty nifty storytelling going on underneath those eye-catching covers.

Grimm Fairy Tales # 34 and 35, written by Dan Wickline with art from Marcio Abreu and Axel Machain, have a ton of clever plotting packed between the covers. These issues each tell two complete stories, while also working together to create a larger epic. In an era where many comics no longer provide a satisfying chunk of story in one issue, this dense narrative makes a nice change, and gives you a little more bang for your comic-buying buck.

Issue #34 brings some new twists to the tale of Puss in Boots, as the kitty of the title becomes an ancient Egyptian statue. Of course, this mysterious, booted, piece of pottery is no mere artistic relic. It is an evil, powerful, totem that offers its owners wealth, youth, and power, but at a terrible cost. As the story begins, adorable young Stephanie is unexpectedly asked to hold on to Auntie Claire's creepy old statue for a few days. A mysterious, red-haired stranger tells Stephanie about the statue's value, and its dark past. It isn't long before Steph starts getting some dangerous ideas about what to do with this evil knick-knack, but Aunt Claire may be more than she seems...

This issue does tell a complete story, but #35 offers up a sequel in which we discover the ultimate fate of Claire and her devilish statue, while also giving us an intriguing update of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. Whether or not Wilde's classic novel counts as a fairy tale is possibly in question, but the story fits perfectly into the Grimm world Zenescope has created with this series. When a rock super-star starts to realize that his friends are aging while he stays eternally 25, he begins to wonder what is up with his wife's creepy statue, and the painting she has proudly hanging in their home. And why is that painting starting to resemble a much older man?

The cheesecake may be what catches your eye, but Grimm Fairy Tales # 34 and #35 may surprise you if you look past the covers and check out the stories within. Try these books out now, while they are guaranteed Books of the Week at Four Color Fantasies! You'll enjoy some great comics while also helping to support the lovely ladies of Zenescope. Let's face it, they must have some terrible chiropractic bills to pay.

An unusual look at the world of heroics: The Mighty #1

Being a super-hero is certainly a stressful and challenging job. The hours are terrible, you are pummeled, zapped, and blown up on a daily basis, and there's always an alien invasion just around the corner. The only thing that could possibly be more dangerous than being a hero is working for one. At least heroes have super-powers, their employees just have targets on their backs.

DC Comics' The Mighty #1, by Peter Tomasi, Keith Champagne, and Peter Snejberg, introduces the world to Superman-like hero Alpha One. According to the newsreels, atomic testing in 1952 accidentally turned an unnamed sailor into the world's first real super-powered hero. Alpha One has spent decades saving the world, but this book isn't really about Alpha One. It's about the people who clean up after him.

Heroically saving a runaway train is great, but someone has to deal with the mess, talk to the press, and make sure all the victims are accounted for. Since the guy in tights doesn't generally stick around for the paperwork, Alpha One has Section Omega. Paid for by Alpha's massive merchandising profits, the people who work for Section Omega are there to handle the bureaucracy of saving the world. It is not an easy job.

When the current leader of Section Omega, Captain Michael Shaw, turns up mysteriously dead, his replacement is faced with some pretty tough decisions. Almost every leader of Section Omega has ended up similarly dead, with the exception of one who went completely crazy under the strain. It is not surprising, then, that the wife of young Lieutenant Gabriel Cole is not totally thrilled when he is offered the promotion. Gabriel, however, has worked his whole life for this opportunity, and he's not about to pass it up now. Besides, what could possibly go wrong...

Excellent writing and great art make this unusual look at the world of super-heroics well worth a spot in your reading stack. With the mysterious Alpha One kept in the background, it is unclear exactly who can be trusted in Section Omega. Who killed Captain Shaw? Is Gabriel's promotion really such a good thing? And just what is Alpha One's role in this whole business? If you want to find out the answers to any of these questions, you'll have to start reading The Mighty. Lucky for you, the first issue is guaranteed all week as Four Color Fantasies' Book of the Week! (Of course, it might just have been the diet of salted Milk Duds that killed Shaw. Ick.)

Need a little mystery? Check out Mysterius the Unfathomable

Do you enjoy a little mystery in your life? Are you bored with everything making sense all the time, and being so, um, fathomable? I'm going to go ahead and assume you're saying yes to both questions. So today is your lucky day! There is a new book on the stands that has the answer, or maybe I mean the lack of answers, to your dilemma. It's mysterious, it can't be fathomed, it's Mysterius the Unfathomable!

Mysterius the Unfathomable #1 comes from the brilliantly warped mind of Jeff Parker, who may be best known for the excellent Agents of Atlas from Marvel Comics, with art from the equally amazing Tom Fowler. This creative team is a perfect fit for this unusual book, which blends a modern setting with a retro vibe, pulp storytelling, and a heaping helping of 1920s style mysticism. Parker's characters have strong "voices" right from the start, and Fowler's unique, almost caricature-style art gives them a distinctive appearance to match. This book immediately seems different from most comics on the shelf.

To start things off, our snarky, young, heroine, Ella, attends a trendy seance at the home of trendy socialite Vic Chesnea. Vic has hired Mysterius the Magnificent to conduct a seance. Vic either wants to contact his dead mother, or make his little party the talk of the town, whichever one will get him more attention. Once they get Mysterius out of the closet with Vic's buxom personal assistant, the seance begins. I won't give too much away here, but let's just say things don't go as planned.

One thing leads to another, and Ella finds herself pulled in to Mysterius's wacky world. The mystic clearly has amazing powers, but he sure isn't your typical square-jawed, handsome, exotic and heroic magician type. He's kind of a dumpy guy, in a suit that may well have been made in the 1940s. He's a bit of a jerk, his personal hygiene seems a little suspect, and he doesn't treat his employees very well. His powers seem to be used for his own personal benefit, rather than for any particularly noble ends. Despite all these failings, Ella finds herself working for him as the latest in a long line of assistants named Delfi. Weirdness and, umm, "unfathomableness" ensues!

Don't take my word for it! Experience the uncanny and amazing world of Mysterius the Unfathomable for yourself. The first issue is guaranteed all week at Four Color Fantasies, so I can't fathom why anyone wouldn't give it a try.

Give this under-rated hero a try: Black Lightning Year One #1

Most of the time, Metropolis seems like the crown jewel of the DC Universe. I mean, it IS Superman's home base, so it makes sense that it would be an awesome place to live. Citizens might have to deal with an occasional alien invasion or a giant robot stomping up the place, but the streets are clean and the people seem nice. Unfortunately, even Metropolis has its dark corners.

The Southside of Metropolis is one such corner. The viscious mix of poverty, crime, gangs, and corrupt politicians have turned Southside into a place residents call "Suicide." Jefferson Pierce grew up in Southside, but when his father, a man who tried to make a difference, was killed by the parasites who profitted from the people's misfortune, he left town for good. Jefferson became an Olympic athlete and an educator, and did his best to help people in places like Southside. After devoting his time and energy to fixing the rest of the world, Jefferson and his family decide that it is time to come back to "Suicide" and do something for the people he left behind.

Of course, Jefferson Pierce is not only an amazing teacher and athlete, he has some "special" gifts he has tried to keep under wraps. When he first arrives back home, he wants to help in more traditional ways. He takes over the high school, which has been claimed by the local gang the 100, and tries to get the kids back on track. The brutality and crime he discovers there leads him to believe he has to use his more unique gifts, like the ability to generate and control electricity, to become a more proactive force for justice in his home town. Afterall, Superman doesn't seem to be doing much for the people of Southside. Shouldn't every city have their own vigilante hero?

Black Lightning: Year One seems to be the first step in revamping this classic DC character. This limited series goes back to Jefferson Pierce's beginnings as the hero Black Lightning, and shows us why he had to fight to bring justice to his hometown. This 6 issue limited series is written by Jen Van Meter, with art by Cully Hamner. Even if you've never heard of Black Lightning, this origin story tells you everything you need to know about the character. The art is dark and forboding at times, but also presents Jefferson and his cause in an upbeat and hopeful light, perfectly capturing both aspects of Black Lightning's story.

This series gives readers a perfect chance to jump in at the beginning of one of DC's most under-rated characters, so don't miss the chance to try out Black Lightning: Year One now while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed book of the week! Issues 1 and 2 are still in stock, so get them while you still can. Oh, and some nosy reporter named Clark Kent shows up in issue 2, and Superman usually turns up when he's around. People seem to like that guy.

Vicarious Villiany: Faces of Evil: Deathstroke

Whatever it may suggest about the inner workings of the human mind, it is pretty hard to deny that most of us really love a good villain. We may be appalled by their actions, stunned by the atrocities they commit, but some part of us finds their villainy fascinating. Maybe it's because we just want to see our heroes come up against truly challenging opponents. Or maybe it's because, deep-down, we envy the villains freedom to just do whatever they please, whenever they feel like it, unencumbered by morals or compassion. Whatever the reasons may be, we find evil pretty darn fascinating.

It makes sense, then, that DC Comics has decided to feed readers appetite for naughtiness with a series of stand-alone one-shots under the banner Faces of Evil. (I was gonna put that in a scary font, but maybe it is even scarier when the font seems normal...) Each Faces of Evil issue gets readers up close and personal with one of the DC Universe's baddest folks. It's kind of like a Behind the Music...of Evil! (Are you scared yet? You should be!)

Our spotlight this week falls on Faces of Evil: Deathstroke, by David Hine and Georges Jeanty. A wounded Deathstroke finds himself comatose, captured, and locked up in the completely escape-proof Belle Reve Prison for Metahuman Offenders. His incarceration gives Deathstroke a chance to reflect on the horrific consequences of his violent life, and leads him to re-think his choices. He's been such a bad boy that it seems he is ready to give it all up. He wills his body to stop healing, so he can end the cycle of violence once and for all. All he asks for, as a dying man, is to wear his costume and to visit with his beloved daughter before he kicks the bucket. There is no possible way that these harmless requests could lead to him killing loads of people and escaping from the escape proof prison, right? Right?

Hine does a great job taking readers, at least partially, into the mind of a psychopathic killing machine. You might even feel a little sympathy for Deathstroke, and gain some understanding of why he does the things he does. Jeanty's art works well in this story, both in the surreal glimpses inside Deathstroke's mind, and in the action-packed second half of the story.

Faces of Evil: Deathstroke gives you a chance to experience the thrill of villainy vicariously, without actually getting any blood on yourself. As much as we all love our heroes, you can't deny the appeal of badness. You can revel in the dark side by trying out this guaranteed Book of the Week, all week long at Four Color Fantasies! Missing out would be downright wrong!

Live Vicariously: No Hero #3

For most people, there is a certain appeal to the idea of being a hero. Super hero comics and films are so popular because people have always, going right back to the earliest myths and shared tales, loved tales of larger-than-life heroes. Not only are heroic tales exciting, they provide a certain degree of vicarious wish fulfillment. Who wouldn't love to be the hero? Who wouldn't like to fly around the world, saving the day and being generally awesome?? I bet I'm not the only one who tied a towel around my neck and pretended to fly around the yard as a kid. Being a hero just seems like a dream come true.
The idea behind Warren Ellis' latest series, No Hero, is to explore just how much you might want to be a hero. What would you do to have powers and become more than human? What price would you be willing to pay for that power? Would you kill for it? Would you die for it? Would you risk becoming something less than human? Just how far would you go?
You'll begin to get a feel for the price of power in No Hero, by Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp, from Avatar Press. In 1966, counter-culture chemist Carrick Masterson creates a drug called FX7 that makes ordinary people into "new humans," men and women with the power to keep the world safe. They call themselves the Levellers, and they promptly set out to right all the wrongs of the world, weighing in on riots and racial injustice. In 1977, they re-brand themselves as The Front Line, positioning themselves as the "front line against hate."
In the present day, with decades of super-heroing behind them, it is no surprise that Masterson's heroes have pissed off a lot of people. They have enemies all over the world, and one (or more) of those enemies has decided to bring the fight to them. Though Masterson's heroes are tough, they can be killed. One way to take them out is with a horrible goo called Disgel. It can literally melt the flesh off of a human body in seconds, even a super-human body. Unfortunately, someone has gotten their hands on some Disgel, and has a pretty good idea how to use it. No Hero #3 also demonstrates, with help from Ryp's insanely detailed and freaky art, just how bad a trip FX7 can be. I think I would totally stick to wearing a homemade cape and pretending to be a super hero.
The question for you is: how much do you want this comic? Luckily, you don't have to take a horribly dangerous drug that may or may not kill you, or leave you with serious mental damage. You don't have to risk mind and body in a terrible gamble. All you have to do is come to Four Color Fantasies this week and buy No Hero #3. You don't even have to risk your money, because this comic is guaranteed! Enjoy it risk free, and get your super-human thrills vicariously!