A Twist on a Tried-and-True Concept: Morning Glories #1

Some of us may have to think harder than others to remember, but everyone who has ever attended school can surely think back to a scary first day. Whether it was elementary school, middle school, high school, or college, the concerns are basically the same. What if the other kids don't like me? What if the teachers are mean? What if the classes are too hard? What if the school is going to imprison me and kill my family if they refuse to forget me? Oh, wait. That last one only happens at the Morning Glory Academy.

Morning Glories #1, by Nick Spencer and Joe Eisma, is the start of a new Image that feels like it is destined for a successful future. The first issue introduces a large cast of characters, giving us plenty of opportunity to get to know them all before they end up packed off to the scariest boarding school ever. Each character has a very different and distinct background, making them an interesting and diverse group. They all seem to be highly intelligent, but some are selfish and vain, some are resourceful and ambitious, and a couple of them seem like they might just be outright evil.

It is unclear what thread connects these disparate individuals, but Spencer has made them all interesting enough that you will want to know what happens to them now that they find themselves thrown together at Morning Glory Academy. The school itself seems to be, on the surface, a prestigious boarding school for the best and the brightest. They boast that their unconventional techniques allow their students to reach the pinnacles of their potential, but there is some disturbing stuff just underneath the surface of life at the academy. One thing is for sure, they aren't kidding when they say you have to "cast off" your previous life to begin your journey at this school.

With well-developed characters, creepy teacher shenanigans, and loads of mysteries to explore, there is a lot to catch your attention in Morning Glories #1. The large cast is well-represented with gorgeous art that makes each one a distinct individual, and the teens are, in many ways, typical teens, without ever descending into becoming stereotypes. Throw in some very scary teachers and an occasional goat sacrifice, and this is a book that you don't want to miss.

Whether you are about to go back to school, or you're sending your own kids out the door this week, now is the perfect time to tag along to class with the latest group of students to attend the Morning Glory Academy. This book is 100% guaranteed all week at Four Color Fantasies, so you've got nothing to lose! If nothing else, your own school experience will seem a whole lot better!

A Wild Read: Welcome to Tranquility #2

I think we all know that, in accordance with the universal laws of irony, if you name a place Tranquility, it will be anything but tranquil. The equally universal laws of super-hero comics also state that if you put a whole bunch of super-powered individuals together in any one place, trouble will soon follow. Add these two facts together, and you can imagine that the super-hero retirement community of Tranquility, CA. is a place that attracts huge heaps of trouble. It is a great place to visit, but it might be inadvisable to live there.

Wildstorm's latest Welcome to Tranquility limited series, from creator Gail Simone and artist Horacio Domingues, drops both readers and characters right into the middle of all that trouble. Mayor of Tranquility, and former heroic adventurer, Alex Fury has been in a whole heap of hot water for a little matter of attempted murder. Fury, AKA Judge Fury, is like the crankiest old grampa you ever knew, if he could pick up a building and smash you in the face with it when you ticked him off. As a politician, Fury knows how to make a jury see things his way, and he quickly finds himself heading for home and a celebratory meatloaf. Of course, nothing in Tranquility really goes as planned. The meatloaf is put on hold when the sheriff's car delivering Mayor to his welcome home party is attacked by an incredibly powerful young man who looks not entirely unlike a young Alex Fury.

Simone adeptly weaves together a little humor, a lot of social satire, a few nifty twists on comic book conventions, and a diverse and interesting cast of characters in Welcome to Tranquility. With excellent and fun art from Domingues, this new series is really firing on all cylinders. If you have read any of the previous stories set in this unique universe, you really have to see what happens next. If you have never visited Tranquility before, you can fire your travel agent and start the tour right here.

With surprise resurrections, helpful relationship tips, amazing meatloaf, betrayals, serious bludgeonings about the head, and so much more, you need to schedule a visit to tranquility today. Luckily, your good friends at Four Color Fantasies are looking out for you. You don't need to book a flight or look for a hotel room, you just need to check in at your friendly neighborhood comic shop! Not only can you try out Welcome to Tranquility: One Foot in the Grave for a mere 3.99 per issue, we'll guarantee your trip! If you don't enjoy your stay, you can return the book and get your money back

Issue #2 is one the stands and #1 is still available, so act now to take advantage of this offer! Tranquility may not offer the most restful vacation you've ever had, but it sure will be interesting. Just don't go asking Mayor Fury for any of that icky old man butterscotch candy, he'll kick your butt for ya, ya smarty-pants kid.

A Double-dose of Gorilla-Man fun

There are some things that comics can do that no other medium can handle. One of the most amazing, incredible, awesome things that comics can truly bring to life is a talking gorilla who wears pants. Seriously, in any other medium, this is going to be a hard sell. Sure, you can have a lame guy in a gorilla suit, or a fancy, shiny, CG gorilla, or even a Muppet gorilla, but those never really work to convince an audience that the talking gorilla is real.

Think of all the great examples out there in comic-land: Gorilla Grodd, Angel and the Ape, Monkeyman and O'Brien, Tom Strong's King Solomon. Who doesn't love these characters? If Alan Moore was enough of a genius to know that his superhero universe wasn't complete without a well-dressed, chatty, gorilla, who are we to argue? Luckily, we can now add one more name to the gorilla honor roll-Ken Hale, the Gorilla-Man!

Marvel's Atlas family of books have been consistently well-written and great fun, but they have somehow gone unnoticed by many fans. It's too long a story to relate here but, in the excellent Agents of Atlas series, Jimmy Woo manages to resurrect his team of Golden Age Marvel/Atlas characters to sort out the problems of the present day Marvel Universe. This brilliant team of adventurers includes the robot M-11, Marvel Boy the Uranian, Namora, and Gorilla Man. Together, they go on action-packed adventures and fight the threats no other team is cool enough to handle. Each of the characters is a star all on their own, so it's great that there is a new mini-series that gives Gorilla-Man a chance to shine on his own.

Ken Hale actually became Gorilla-Man decades ago when he shot and killed a magical gorilla which gave him the gift of immortality, and the curse of being trapped in the body of the gorilla. The mini-series, by Jeff Parker and Giancarlo Caracuzzo, tells two titanic tales. The story of how Hale, adventurer and soldier of fortune, became the man he was before becoming Gorilla-Man, and a full-on action tale as Ken heads to Africa sort out an evil smuggler and his personal army. With great stories, excellent art, and a huge dose of fun, this is a series you don't want to miss.

Lucky for you, you don't have to miss it! Not only is Gorilla-Man Four Color Fantasies' Guaranteed Book of the Week, we have two simian-packed issues on the stands! Pick up the first issue, and we're pretty confident that you'll be back for the second. Or just go all-out and pick up both of them today! Gorilla-Man #1 & 2 will give you your recommended daily allowance of butt-kicking gorilla dispensing wise-cracks and wearing pants. What else could you possibly need? (Though if you DO need more, there are also some cool Golden Age reprints and a snarky @Ken_Hale twitter feed provided. So there!)

Seeing Red: Scarlet #1

You know, I think it's fair to say that almost everyone has a moment in their life, somewhere in the teen years, where they realize that a lot of crummy stuff goes on in the world for no discernable reason. It's a pretty painful moment, passing from the naive innocence of youth to the pessimistic negativity of adulthood. That moment is why most teens have a pretty grumpy, angsty, few years where they work out how they, personally, are going to deal with life. Some people just let life make them angry and unhappy, some people try to find positive ways to make the world a better place, some people try to ignore the problem and hope it goes away, and some people plan armed and violent revolution. Well, that last option brings us to Scarlet.

Scarlet is a new creator-owned book from the well-known duo of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev. If you've followed Bendis' work, you know there are really two versions of the fan-favorite writer. There is the Bendis who writes big, crazy superhero books like Avengers and Ultimate Spider-man, and there is the harder-edged Bendis who writes low-down and mean crime comics, like Jinx or Alias. (Not to forget Powers, which is kind of a mix of both.) I personally like both Bendis styles, though I know some tend to pick one or the other. Scarlet firmly falls in the latter category.

Scarlet is the story of a pretty average teenaged girl from Portland, with a pretty average life. At least until the day when the horrible unfairness of the world comes up and smacks her hard in the face. I won't give away what happens, but it turns her into the kind of girl who we see killing a cop in an alley on the first page of the book. She has her reasons, and she knows what she is doing is wrong, but she feels like she is doing what she has to do. Scarlet is certainly not the kind of person any of us would want to be, but she is an interestingly conflicted character.

Bendis tries out an interesting narrative technique for this book, with Scarlet breaking the fourth wall to speak directly to the reader. She doesn't just make an occasional quip or aside to the reader ala Deadpool or She-Hulk. Scarlet talks directly to the audience, telling us her story in a way that quickly gets the reader involved in her world. Maleev's amazing artwork is a perfect fit for this story. His photo-realistic style captures Scarlet's very real world, and the muted colors add to the somber tone of this book. These creators have worked together before to great acclaim, and Scarlet seems perfectly designed to let them show off what they do best.

So, unleash your inner angsty teen (or just keep your outer one in place) and try out Scarlet #1 while it is Four Color Fantasies' Book of the Week. It is 100% guaranteed! So, you see, the world isn't really such a bad place. Guaranteed comics make people happy!

The Main Man's in Town: Green Lantern #55

Who is the baddest dude in the whole DC Universe? A few hints: He's pasty and mean! He's got a sweet chopper and a huge meat hook! He has a serious attitude problem and he's not afraid to flaunt it!! He's the main man and the last Czarnian!! You know him and fear him!!! Lobo!

Yes Lobo, the roughest and toughest bounty hunter in all of space and time, is on the scene in Green Lantern #55, and you know that's gonna be bad news for someone. In this issue, the somewhat questionable Red Lantern Atrocitus (Did his alien parents really think it was a good idea to name their kid Atrocitus? That is never going to end well.) has had a price put on his head, and Lobo shows up to collect. Unfortunately, having Lobo and Atrocitus fighting it out in crowded city streets is probably not the best thing for health and safety of the citizenry. Luckily, a whole bunch of other, nicer, Lantern people show up to save the day and limit the damage.

Admittedly, I don't think I've ever actually read a whole issue of Green Lantern before, so I don't really know who most of these characters are, and this issue really is kind of in mid-story, so there were some elements that I didn't really get. But the beauty of this book is that, even if you don't know these characters, it's LOADS of fun to watch Lobo beat them up. And I'm pretty sure any Green Lantern fan is going to enjoy watching Hal Jordan steal Lobo's ride. Plus, Lobo's dog fights Atrocitus' awesome Red Lantern cat. I didn't know the Lanterns handed out rings to animals, but I can totally support the idea of more super-powered pets. I mean, what could possibly go wrong with that idea?

To sum up. If you are a Green Lantern fan, you need to see what happens when the Lanterns face the violent and angry threat of Lobo busting up their streets. If you aren't a fan, then you really don't want to miss the love child (Allegedly!) of Superman and Wolverine smashing their brightly colored, flying glow fairy faces in. It's a win-win!


So, hop on your space-hog and head on over to Four Color Fantasies where Green Lantern #55 is our guaranteed Book of the Week. Did I mention this book has Lobo in it? Well, it does. Lots of Lobo! So read it or else!

Overlooked Dynamic Duo in the spotlight: Hawkeye & Mockingbird #1

Three Dog Night once sang, "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever know." (Go ahead and give the song a listen and then come back here. I'll wait.) Truer words were never spoken, yet so many superheroes in comicdom feel the need to be all "lone wolf" and broody, waging a one hero war against the forces of evil. Sure there are the big hero teams out there, but those guys can't hold a candle to the teamwork of a good duo. Batman and Robin, the Lone Ranger and Tonto, the Doctor and the Tardis, they all prove that a good pair is the way to go.

For a long time the Marvel Universe's best pair was broken up, mostly due to both of them being dead. (At different times, but still...) Luckily, now that all that Dark Civil Siege business is over and naughty little Norman Osborne has been locked up, the Marvel U is a happier place. Many characters long thought dead, or lost in new identities, are back where they belong. Amongst those returnng to the fold are the dynamic duo of Hawkeye & Mockingbird! These two heroes are both lovers and fighters and, when they're not smooching, they love nothing better than teaming up to save the world from terrorists and evil-doers of all kinds.

Hawkeye & Mockingbird #1, by Jim McCann and David Lopez, puts this titanic twosome front and center. Sometimes it's easy for these lesser-powered types to get lost in the huge casts of Avengers teams, so having their own book really gives them a chance to shine. The book starts with a great action sequence that really shows off how much fun these two have fighting evil, even when things don't quite go according to plan. Mockingbird, not really comfortable hanging with Hawkeye's Avenger buddies, has gathered up a bunch of former S.H.I.E.L.D. types to form the World Counterterrorism Agency. The WCA does the behind the scenes work of figuring out who needs a good kicking, and then Hawkeye and Mockingbird deliver.

Of course, a monthly comic needs conflict, so all is now sweetness and light with our heroes. Coming back from the dead leaves you with a few issues, and Bobbi (AKA Mockingbird) seems to be struggling with those complications a little more than Clint "Hawkeye" Barton. Like a good boyfriend, Clint tries to figure out how he can help, but his efforts just make things weirder. There are also a few members of the WCA team who may not be all that they seem, and it probably doesn't help matters that the couple has guys like Crossfire shooting at them...

This is a fun book with great art and a daring duo who deserve your attention. (On a side note, Mockingbird's redesigned costume is excellent. Definitely one of the best superhero looks out there.) Don't be a loner! Try Hawkeye & Mockingbird #1 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week!

No need to be wary, Serenity: Float Out! lives up to licensed property

Licensed comics based on TV shows and movies can be a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes they provide a great way for beloved characters to live on in another medium, giving fans a chance to experience further adventures of their favorites. Unfortunately, sometimes fans must be wary because tie-in comics can be a ridiculous, lame excuse to part fans from their cash while despoiling the likenesses of once great characters. Luckily, for Joss Whedon fans, Mr. Whedon seems to keep a pretty close eye on what is done with his creations in comics. Some excellent books have been created featuring Buffy, Doctor Horrible, and Firefly/Serenity. Serenity: Float Out is one such book!

Serenity: Float Out deals with the aftermath of the death of pilot Hoban "Wash" Washburne in the movie Serenity. (I'm not worried about spoilers at this point. If you haven't seen the 5 year old movie by now, you probably aren't going to!) Three of his former comrades are christening a new ship, the Jetwash, in his honor. Each tells a tale of Wash's amazing prowess as a pilot, and his unusual quirks as a friend. As it does deal with the death of an important character, this is a somber book, but it does also have some moments of humor and hope.

This Dark Horse book is written by actor/comedian/comics fan Patton Oswalt with art from Patric Reynolds. Oswalt does a great job with the script, capturing the feel and voice of the characters and telling us the kind of story that would be hard to make work in a movie or TV episode. Reynolds art does a nice job of capturing likenesses without making it look like he just traced publicity shots of the actors. I've seen enough licensed comics where that happens to be glad it isn't the case here!

If you are a fan of Firefly/Serenity, you know you can't miss this book! If you aren't a fan and just want a nifty sci-fi tale about ships flying around and shooting at each other (and there seriously aren't enough of those nowadays!), then you should give this one a chance. Either way, Serenity: Float Out is guaranteed all week at Four Color Fantasies, so you've got nothing to lose by zipping through the old asteroid field and buying this comic. (Bottle of christening champaigne not inlcuded.)

It's MAGIC - great art and writing come together in Zatanna #1

"Hey, Batman, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!"

"Again? Clark, this trick never works."

"This time for sure. Nothing up my sleeve....And Presto!"

(Horrific, fanged, Kryptonian beast emerges from the hat and begins frantically chewing on Superman's indestructible head. Batman smirks.)

"Hmmm, maybe I need to get another hat..."

This exchange, with apologies to the great Bullwinkle J Moose, does have a point. If there is one thing the Big Boys of the DC Universe don't really know how to handle, it's magic. Batman and Superman are all about logic and science, even if some of that science sometimes seems pretty close to magic. So when a bad guy shows up who is all about the Hocus Pocus, and the rules of the universe suddenly no longer apply, they need an expert who can wave a helping wand. Lucky for them, that expert just happens to be a gorgeous lady in fishnet stockings and thigh-high boots: Zatanna!

Zatanna #1 gives DC's first lady of magic a chance to shine in her own ongoing series by fan-favorite writer Paul Dini and penciller Stephane Roux. Zatanna is a stage magician by trade, but she's genuine super-heroic spell-caster when the unexplained and weird hits the good folks of the DCU. When Detective Dale Colton shows up backstage, it isn't because he wants to catch the secrets of Zee's act. He has a club full of dead crime bosses who died in some seriously disturbing ways. As in "completely impossible according to the laws of Physics" kinds of ways.

The investigation leads Zee to a skeevy necromancer called Brother Night and his merry band of supernatural horrors: Romalthi the transmogrifier, Ember the unborn dragon, and a little freak, with a box of bugs, named Teddy. Don't get me started on Teddy. He's an icky little sucker. Though Brother Night and his cronies don't seem to be much of a match for Zatanna, he has made a deal with some very powerful entities that just might threaten our heroine more than she suspects...

Dini's love of this character really comes through in the writing, and Roux's artwork makes Zatanna look gorgeous and the foes she faces look truly disturbing. Plus, how many super-heroes can pull off the trick of fighting evil in a sexy tuxedo and top hat? I'd like to see the Hulk or Aquaman try that. Even Doctor Strange can't get away with a top hat.

So, what do we have up our sleeve this week? Only a great deal on an excellent new book! Zatanna #1 is our guaranteed Book of the Week! If you don't like it, you can return it for a full refund. Taa-Daa! It's MAGIC! (Insert mystical hand waving and puff of obscuring smoke here.)

Realistic art, serious storyline - not your typical "celebrity" comic: Turf #1

If you have BBC America in your cable/satellite package, you've probably come across Jonathan Ross at one time or another. Ross is one of the UK's best known talk show hosts. He's interviewed just about every celebrity on the planet, he is a respected movie critic, he has a proven track record in both radio and television, he's a generally well-loved, respected, and entertaining, if occasionally controversial, guy. What you may not know is that Jonathan Ross is also a big ol' comic book fan. Thanks to his resources and connections, Ross has a collection that would make most of us tremble at its magnitude. But he's not just a rich guy who throws money at collectibles, he has a genuine love of comics, art, and awesome storytelling, just like you and me.

What does this have to do with you? You might well wonder. Well, after years of being a comics fan, collector, and historian, Ross has taken the plunge to become a creator. And not like those lame "celebrity" comics where some star who has never read a comic gives a writer some vague notion he once thought might make a good movie and other people turn it into a second rate comic.

Turf #1 has been lovingly created by Ross with respected artist Tommy Lee Edwards. These guys aren't messing around either. Turf is a serious read, not something you can glance at on the shelf and know the whole story. And what a story! It has gangsters, vampires, sex, violence, plucky girl reporters, prohibition era speakeasies, and a crashing alien spaceship! What more could anyone ask for?

Turf is, essentially, about all these different factions in 1929 New York City fighting over, well, Turf. There is money, blood, and power to be had in the big city, and everyone wants a piece of it. The gangs have worked out an uneasy balance of power, but the introduction of the Romanian Dragonmir family, a family of old-world vampires, radically alters that balance. When the Dragonmirs start killing the mob bosses, the remaining kingpins want to take the fight to the bloodsuckers. Even the Dragonmirs are fighting amongst themselves, and things aren't going to be made any simpler by the alien fugitive crashing near Coney Island.

All of these somewhat unlikely elements are made totally credible by Edward's realistic, down-to-earth art. The grit and grime of New York's mean streets is captured just as well as the creepiness of the vampires, and the alien ship doesn't seem at all out of place. The writing is dense and meaty. You'll want to make yourself comfortable before settling in to read this book.

If you know Jonathan Ross as a renowned media celebrity, then you totally need to check out his first work as a comic book writer. If you've never heard of Ross, then Turf #1 is a great comic by a couple of amazingly talented creators. What could be better than that? Maybe if the local comic shop could guarantee this great book? Well, it's your lucky day! Turf #1 is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! Twy it for Wossy.

A dollar can buy you a cute zombie, a swingin' ghost, and some amazing art: iZombie #1

So, with the economy what it is and prices for everything going through the roof, there just isn't much you can buy with a dollar nowadays. Maybe some artery-clogging monstrosity from a fast food joint's bargain menu or twenty minutes worth of parking time, but that's about it. Well, bargain shopper, today is your lucky day! If you have a dollar, and want to be entertained, Four Color Fantasies has just the thing! Does an awesome comic, with great art, for just one crisp (or soggy, if you must) dollar sound too good to be true? Believe it, oh sceptical reader, believe it.

iZombie #1 is the first issue of the latest mature readers series from Vertigo. You already know that the fine folks at Vertigo are renowned for bringing readers the world over heaping helpings of literary greatness on a regular basis, and this series seems set to uphold this fine tradition. Writer Chris Roberson is clearly bent on bringing a refreshing new take to the supernatural beasties of myth and lore. The series star is the adorable Gwen Dylan. She's a gravedigger by day, and a mystery-solving zombie by night. Gwen is cute as a button and a very lively lass, but to stave off the effects of, you know, being dead, she has to eat a human brain once a month. Working around graves and dead folks makes brains fairly easy to come by, but they still taste like the worst thing you can imagine eating. Oh, and eating brains inflicts the memories of the dead on Gwen, leaving her to deal with their unfinished business.

Gwen is joined by a nifty cast of other supernatural folks, including a Swinging Sixties ghost girl named Ellie, a were-terrier with a crush on her named Spot (though he prefers Scott), and some sexy vampire chicks who work at the local paintball course. Of course, there are also some mysterious dudes in town who seem to be out to do away with the undead, so the future may not be smooth sailing for Gwen and her friends.

Is all this worth the price of a mere dollar? You bet it is. But wait! There's more! This comic also features the awesome art of Michael Allred. You may remember his unique pop-art take on comics from such books as Madman and X-Statics. Allred's work always combines great story-telling with a quirky, spunky style. The world envisioned by Allred is a spectacularly groovy place, and you would be crazy not to want to visit it!

Seriously, for just one puny dollar you can have a cute zombie, a swingin' ghost, a were-terrier, and some amazing art! How could you pass up this deal? Did I mention that this book is guaranteed? That's right! If you don't love this comic, we'll give you your dollar back and you can waste it on a pack of gum or a greasy burger. Act now, because supplies are limited! Rush over to Four Color Fantasies and buy iZombie today!!

Overlooked Super-hero kicks off with fan-favorite Kevin Smith: The Green Hornet #3

The Green Hornet is a lot like Batman. Only much cooler. Now, I am well aware that this statement has instantly earned me the wrathful disdain of many Bat-Fans, but hear me out. (And put those movie-replica Batarangs away, please!)



Both characters were born during the same pulp era. I'm honestly not sure which came first, but that's irrelevant. There were a ton of similar costumed crime-fighters who came along during the Thirties and Forties, so none of them can really claim to be terribly original or unique. Both are rich white guys who put on costumes to fight crime and protect their home city. Both have cool gadgets, awesome cars, and a costumed sidekick. So what gives me the unmitigated temerity to claim that Green Hornet, an admittedly lesser-known character, is superior?



First of all, the costume. Yeah, Batman is spooky and brooding and all, but he's still a crazy guy dressed as flying vermin. And then there's the cape. Though I haven't done much crimefighting myself, I tend to think a massive, flowing cape would get in the way and be something of a liability. Green Hornet, on the other hand, is a very sharp dresser with a spiffy suit, a natty tie, and a cool fedora. Plus, trenchcoat beats cape any day for an intimidating, yet snazzy, crime fighting accessory. Who would you rather talk to at a party, the guy in a well-tailored suit, or the guy crouching in the corner in his pointy-eared Bat-head?



Next up, choice of sidekick. I know there have been many Robin variants over the years, but the standard model is a teenage boy in tights and a bright orange shirt. What in the name of Wertham is up with that? Aside from all the snide and unsavory remarks that one could make about the whole situation, the child endangerment angle is simply unforgivable. Green Hornet, on the other hand, has Kato. An amazing and accomplished martial artist, who is every bit the equal (or better) of the hero. Just compare the actors who portrayed the characters in their Sixties TV shows: Robin=Burt Ward, Kato=Bruce Lee. Bruce Freakin' Lee! In that match-up, Robin would hit the turf faster than he could say "Holy boot upside my head, Batman!"



So, The Green Hornet is awesome and deserves more attention than he gets. You have a chance to see for yourself this week. Dynamite has a whole lot of Green Hornet comics in the works, and their revival of the character kicks off with a series written by fan-favorite Kevin Smith, with art by Jonathan Lau. This series is based on Smith's unproduced movie script, and makes it seem like a real shame that we aren't ever going to see this given the blockbuster treatment it deserves. The story respectfully updates the Green Hornet mythos, and tells new readers everything they need to know about the character, without weighing things down with unnecessary exposition.



Green Hornet #3 is this week's Guaranteed Book of the Week, and you can jump right in with this issue and enjoy the ride. Britt Reid makes Bruce Wayne look like the creepy weirdo no one wants to sit with on the bus! Cooler costume, cooler sidekick, cooler theme song. (I'm sure you can check it out on YouTube.) Do the right thing, and take a ride with The Green Hornet!

A Cracking Start to a new Spirit series: Will Eisner's The Spirit #1

When you think of the great icons of American comics, a small handful of brilliant, influential, geniuses comes to mind: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Jim Steranko, Bob Kane, and a few others. But one name stands above them all. One creator who gave us amazing stories and characters, as well as influencing the way comics are made and read, the way all the stories that came after his are told. The most prestigious award in graphic storytelling is named in his honor. Hopefully, by now you know I'm talking about Will Eisner!

If you know anything about Will Eisner, you probably know his most famous character is the man in the domino mask known as The Spirit. (If you only know the Spirit from the ill-conceived Frank Miller film, please wipe it from your mind immediately.) The Spirit, aka Denny Colt, is one of the founding heroes of comicdom, so it is only appropriate that DC is giving him another chance to shine in their new First Wave imprint. Many creators have been inspired to give readers their take on this iconic hero, with varying levels of success, but the version found in Will Eisner's The Spirit #1 seems set to be one of the best.

Writer Mark Shultz and artist Moritat do a great jump of jumping in running with the Spirit and his world. If you already know the character, you will find a lot of familiar faces and places in this book. Even though the old gang is all in place, Denny and his friends and foes have all been given some subtle updates to make them just a little bit more contemporary. There is an excellent mix of old and new in this version of Central City. Even if you have never picked up a Spirit comic before, this issue gives you everything you need to get started, while wasting no time with reimagined origins or any similar nonsense.

Denny is a former cop, now thought deceased, who does his best to help the people of his city and prevent the nefarious schemes of the Octopus and his eight crime families. When the families decide that they have had enough of the Spirit meddling in their affairs, they call in a big-shot assassin from Europe-a mysterious killer known only as Angel Smerti. The Spirit catches wind of this plot, but isn't too worried about anything this Angel character can throw his way. Unfortunately, Angel Smerti might be a much more dangerous threat than Denny can imagine...

This book is a cracking start to a new Spirit series. The story is intriguing and fast-paced. The art perfectly captures that feeling of classic Eisner storytelling, but isn't afraid to be new and modern at the same time. If you are a Spirit fan, you don't want to miss this book, but if you have never read a Spirit story before, this is a great place to start.

Try this heaping helping of classic adventure now, while Will Eisner's The Spirit #1 is Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week. You wouldn't want to miss out on one of the great icons of comic book storytelling, would you? I think not.

The Breast...I mean, Best Cameo in comics: PVP #45

Nerds are awesome. Lets just get that out in the open first thing. If you're reading this, there is a fair to middling chance that you are some sort of nerd or geek. I know I am. We come in many varieties, but all are equally awesome. So, unless you're reading this as some sort of spy sent to infiltrate our community (Admittedly, this seems unlikely.), you are probably right in the heart of the audience who will love PVP #45.

PVP chronicles the lives and adventures of the nerds, geeks, and anthropomorphic animals who work on the fictional magazine Player vs. Player. Any reader can jump right in to these comic strip-style adventures, without needing any familiarity with the characters. Like the best newspaper strips, you can just jump right in and giggle away. Writer/artist Scott Kurtz gives you everything you need from the very first panel.

This issue actually includes several stories featuring the terror of the giant panda invasion, the WWF vs the WWE, the yuletide horror of Kringus ("Born of the Tears of Children."), and the relationship travails of love, marriage, and bromance. All of these stories are funny, but I'll be honest with you here: if you've never read PVP before, the breast, umm, I mean BEST, reason to pick up this comic is a certain unexpected cameo. Allow me to explain.

When Brent goes searching for a missing co-worker, he ends up at the Liberty Meadows Animal Sanctuary and finds himself face to rack with none other than Frank Cho's Brandy. Blinded and bewildered by Brandy's generous "assets," Brent finds himself unable to get through a single sentence without slipping up and dropping in some breast-related spoonerism. I'd share more of them with you here, but that would spoil the fun. I'll just say that for any dedicated Cho fan, this is a guest appearance you won't want to miss.

Nerds, Comedy, booby puns, giant panda violence, killer Christmas trees, and even an explosion--what more could anyone ask for in a single issue? OK, maybe a ninja would have been nice, but you can't have everything. What you can have is a chance to try out PVP #45 for yourself, with the security of Four Color Fantasies' money back guarantee. Don't wait another minute, because this comic will really "enhance" your huge "rack." Your rack of comics, I mean. I assume it's huge, right? (OK, I couldn't resist one more. I promise it won't happen again.)

X-Men Origins: Nightcrawler

Though his code-name doesn't necessarily inspire the sort of awesome heroic qualities that most superheroes go for, Nightcrawler has long been one of the coolest, most interestingly conflicted, X-Men. (I mean, is he supposed to have giant earthworm powers? Is he the perfect mutant to take along on fishing trips?) Name issues aside, Kurt Wagner's true history has been portioned out to readers over time, with some facts only coming to light 20 years or more after Nightcrawler first joined the X-Men. Luckily, the good folks at Marvel have put all the bits and pieces together in X-Men Origins: Nightcrawler.

This completely self-contained one-shot issue tells the tale of young Kurt's abandonment by his true mother, the mutant shape-shifter and trouble-maker Mystique, and his adoption by the kind Margali Szardos. Unfortunately, adopting this blue, demonic-looking baby makes Margali an outcast. Even more unfortunately, she and Kurt (along with Margali's own children) are taken in by Herr Getmann, so Kurt can appear in his freak show and perform in his circus.

Getmann is a cruel man, who wields his power over Margali's family with threats and physical violence. Kurt is kept drugged and locked in a cage like an animal, not daring to even try to escape for fear of the consequences for his mother. When Kurt is finally given no choice but to flee, he finds sanctuary in the church and a father in the priest who takes him in. Of course, Kurt's life is never easy and it isn't long before the terrors of his past catch up with him...

If you are new to the world of the X-Men, this tale, by writers Adam Freeman and Marc Bernardin, sums up everything you might want to know about this dashing mutant hero. If you're an old hand and remember Kurt's first appearance in Giant-Size X-Men #1, this updated version of Kurt's origin adds some new wrinkles to the familiar tale. There is also a handy reprint of that first appearance included here for your perusal, so you're really getting two origins for the price of one!

So, bamf on over to Four Color Fantasies today and try X-Men Origins: Nightcrawler while it is our guaranteed Book of the Week. It is a great read with some nifty art, and you get a complete story with no crossovers or further reading required. Plus, if you're feeling adventurous, you can roll it up, stick it in your pocket, and take it fishing with you. It may not help, but you never know.

Felicia Day sells The Guild

Ever wonder how The Guild of Felica Day’s eponymous web series became the cooperative role-playing team they are? (What you haven't seen The Guild? I insist you pick up the DVDs, or check it out online at http://www.watchtheguild.com/ , right now. Well, after you read this awesome prequel series...) Maybe you're looking for a comic to get your closest gal pal hooked or you're looking for a way to rationalize your own M.M.O.R.G.G. addiction.

Any of these reasons are valid reasons to pick up the Dark Horse limited series The Guild. Felicia Day is responsible for the scripts so the voice of her main character Cyd is spot on and the story tropes, like the opening sequence of her telling us the story through her web cam, are all there. The art by Jim Rugg is believably life-like from Cyds slouched posture to the uncomfortable physical interaction with her boyfriend Trevor. The scenes from The Game are water-color fantasy pretty.

In this first issue, Cyd meets two future members of The Guild -- Bladezz and Vork. The introductions are suitably understated, but fans of the web series will enjoy the subtle selfish behavior of Bladezz and the overt heroic behavior from Vork. Although current fans will love this background story, there's no need to be familiar with the source. As an introductory tale, we are told the story from a fresh perspective. Most readers will connect with Cyd as they watch her work through her awkward social relationships, struggle with finding her identity, and finally escape into a fantasy game world.

As you look for your own escape, check out The Guild. After all, you can't go wrong when it's Four Color Fantasies' Guaranteed Book of the Week.

A Reason to Love the Undead: American Vampire

The popularity of the vampire comes and goes in pop culture, but those blood-sucking creatures of the night are always lurking around somewhere. The idea of the vampire is as immortal as the creatures themselves. Just when audiences get tired of them, somebody finds a way to re-invent the vamps and they come back more powerful than ever. If, like me, you aren't a big fan of the current wave of angsty, pretty, sparkly, vampire lover-boys, then American Vampire may be just what you need to make you love the undead all over again.

Vertigo's newest series, American Vampire is brought to you by a team consisting of Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerue and, a promising writer you may have heard of, Stephen King. The series asks the question, what if vampires change and evolve over time? As new people in new places are "turned," they may well bring something new to the table. If the stereotypical "Old World" vampires infected the landscape of rough and tumble early America, what would be the result?

The first arc of this series tells the story of two particular American vampires. First up is Pearl Jones, a tough young lady trying to make something of herself in 1920s Hollywood. She works hard to survive in this town that tends to chew up and spit out the weak, and she succeeds. That is, she succeeds until she runs into some blood-sucking producers who are actually blood-suckers. Of course, Pearl's story only begins with that fateful encounter...

Next up is the tale of 1880s Western outlaw Skinner Sweet. He's a bad, bad, man, but Skinner is smart enough and mean enough to thrive in the lawless world of the Old West. Little does Skinner suspect that the bloodless banker he's been robbing is something even worse than the outlaw himself. It is clear from the start that Pearl and Skinner's stories are interconnected, and they are just the beginning of generations of American vampires. (I suspect Skinner Sweet is on the fast-track to comic book icon status. You read it here first!)

American Vampire was created by Scott Snyder, but King was so impressed and excited by the pitch he read for the series that he asked if he could contribute. This is not one of those comics adapted from King's work, or based on a story idea he gave someone, this is an actual, scripted comic written by King himself. For the opening arc of this series, he is writing Skinner's introductory tale while Snyder handles Pearl's story. With these two great writers on board, Albuquerque's amazing art seals the deal. He does the art for both stories, but brings a different style to each time period, perfectly capturing the "feel" of both eras.

So, with a viscious outlaw vampire, a '20s Hollywood starlet, intense characters, and great art, there is no possible excuse for you to miss out on this new series. Especially now that American Vampire is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. If you're ready for some blood-sucking fiends with no sparkle whatsoever, you need to sink your fangs into this comic!

Mysteries will keep you reading: Sparta: U.S.A. #1

Ahhh, the American Dream. You know what that is right? Hard work, patriotism, white picket fences, football, brutally killing your neighbors to get their stuff, and maybe winning a baby on Stork Day. What, doesn't that sound right to you? Well, it may not be the Dream where you live, but it sure is in Sparta: U.S.A.

Wildstorm's Sparta: U.S.A., by writer David Lapham and artist Johnny Timmons, is a new series set in a very strange reality. In many ways, Sparta is the ultimate vision of what 1950s America was supposed to be. It's a place where people work hard to support their families, take pride in their homes and their town, go to church every Sunday, and play football. In fact, EVERYONE there plays football. In a town with under 10,000 citizens, there are literally hundreds of football teams. Of course, none of those teams are as great as the Mighty Spartans, a team so awesome that they never, ever, lose. The Mighty Spartans are the town's true heroes, beloved and respected by all. Especially the legendary Godfrey McLaine, the greatest player in Spartan history.

The Spartan version of the American Dream does have a few weird lapses, though. (Aside from all the football, that is.) In Sparta, what you do behind closed doors is 100% your own business, even if that means slaughtering your neighbors to advance your own family. In fact, the mysteriously blue Maestro encourages such noble ambition, unless you mess up and let your actions be seen by the public. It is the responsibilty of every citizen to keep up the facade of life in Sparta. Another odd thing: children aren't born in Sparta, they are handed out on Stork Day, great gifts from the unseen President of the U.S.A. Oh, and then there are the yeti up in the hills. They eat people who go up there, so no one ever leaves Sparta. No one except Godfrey McLaine, that is.

Life in Sparta is seriously shaken up when Godfrey returns home. After he disappeared into the hills, he was assumed dead by the citizens of Sparta. But, three years later, he comes back, bright red and with a message to the people of Sparta that they are living a lie. His plan to take down the Maestro means that nothing in Sparta will ever be the same...

Sparta: U.S.A. is a lot like the darkest Twilight Zone episode ever. Its skewed vision of an ideal America is disturbing, and there are plenty of mysteries to keep readers guessing as to just what is going on in this "perfect" American town. Luckily, you have an amazing opportunity to try this new series out with no personal risk to your life or family. Strap on your football helmet and rush over to Four Color Fantasies today where you can pick up this guaranteed Book of the Week with no fear of reprisals or yeti attack!

A Compelling Start to an Overlooked Crossover: Doomwar #1

He's the baddest dude in the whole Marvel Universe. He's the man with many a plan, the man in the iron mask, the dictator from Latveria. He's the Fantastic Four's greatest enemy, and the one guy NO ONE really wants to cross. He'll wipe you from the face of the Earth before you even know what happened. That's right, you all know who I'm talkin' about. It's DOOM, baby! Victor Von Doom, that is. And he's planning to take over the world.

There are an awful lot of thoroughly hyped event comics crossovers going on in the big two's superhero universes right now. Arguably, a few too many. In between all the Black Lanterns, Sieges, and Hulk Wars, many readers seem to have missed another, less hyped but equally Earth-shattering event: Doomwar.

Of course, Doctor Doom is always scheming up new ways to conquer the world and put a stop to that accursed Reed Richards and his heroic shenanigans, but this time he seems to be onto a real winner. He's teamed up with some shadowy insurgents to wrest control of the Black Panther's country, Wakanda, from its rightful rulers. Taking over one country is pretty small potatoes for Doom, but Wakanda also happens to be the world's only source of the miracle metal Vibranium. In the hands of the right craftsman, Vibranium can make some amazing gadgets, like Captain America's shield, for example. But it can also amplify mystical energy, and Doom has a whole bunch of mystical energy at his fingertips. With ten thousand tons of Vibranium at his command, Doom could easily become the most powerful force ever to walk the Earth. And considering some of the folks who have walked the Marvel U's Earth, we're talking about some serious power.

To conquer Wakanda, Doom had to get King T'Challa, AKA the Black Panther, out of the way. That also means dealing with Queen Ororo, AKA the X-Men's Storm. As you can imagine, the X-Men aren't very happy to see Storm arrested and sentenced to execution for "treason." When an angry T'Challa shows up looking for some help to take back his country, he finds some more-than-willing mutants ready to go kick butt and chew bubblegum. Need I even mention that they're all out of bubblegum?

With the X-Men, the Black Panther, and Doctor Doom already invilved, you can bet it won't be long before even more of the Marvel Universe is pulled into the Doomwar. Writer Jonathan Maberry has gotten this story off to a compelling start. The characters are well-written, the stakes are high, and the drama will quickly pull you in. (And the last scene of the first issue is a definite "Whoa!" moment.) Scot Eaton's art is an excellent complement to the story, with loads of detail that lends the characters and events of this tale some serious dramatic heft. Best of all, this "event" is confined to one limited series, so you don't have to worry about a bazillion crossovers or spin-offs.

So, to reiterate: DOOM, baby, DOCTOR DOOM! (He's got a PHD in kicking your butt!) You know you love him, but if you don't give this guaranteed Book of the Week a try, you just might find yourself on his "naughty" list. Believe me, you DON'T want to be on Doom's naughty list. Pick up Doomwar #1 today, or you'll be sorry you didn't. Why? Because DOOM, that's why.

A Can't Miss Twist on Super-heroics: Incorruptible #3

So, when the world's greatest hero goes bad, really, extremely, blowing-up-whole-cities bad, what are the bad guys supposed to do? I mean, it really takes the fun out of holding the hero's girlfriend hostage if he's just going to turn up and kill her himself. When the villainous Max Damage sees just how bad a hero gone wrong can be, he takes it upon himself to do something to make things right. If the hero has become Irredeemable, the villain has to become Incorruptible.

Irredeemable, from BOOM! Studios, is Mark Waid's first take on superheroic role-reversal. In that series, the Superman-like Plutonian gets fed up with people's ingratitude, complaints, and quibbles. He reaches a point where he truly snaps, and suddenly his god-like power is unleashed on the world. For no particular reason, he destroys whole cities and leaves a trail of destruction across the planet. For many citizens, the Plutonian's rampage seems to herald the end of the world.

Incorruptible is a sister series to Irredeemable, and gives readers another character whose world-view has totally shifted. When the Plutonian goes bad, Max Damage, the only bad guy ever able to stand up against the Plutonian, sees the true horror of what the world's greatest hero has done, he knows he has to change his ways. He has to do what's right and try to save the world. He has to become Incorruptible.

Max (who, by the way, has the greatest super-villain name EVER) turns in his henchmen, burns millions of dollars worth of ill-gotten gains, and even abandons his secret evil lair. He and his teenage side-kick, Jailbait, team up with police Lieutenant Louis Armadale to find a way to take on the Plutonian, or at least to defend themselves and others from his wrath. In Incorruptible #3, their search leads them to mad-scientist Dr. Origin, the man resposible for Max's powers. Their reunion in NOT a happy one...

Incorruptible is written by the always-excellent Mark Waid, with excellent art by Jean Diaz. If you have been reading Irredeemable, you cannot miss Incorruptible. If you haven't read Irredeemable, this book works just fine on its own. For a great twist on the traditional way things work in superhero comics, you can't do better than this. There are no moral absolutes, but there are many ambiguous gray areas to explore.

When you can't trust your heroes, who can you trust? You can trust Four Color Fantasies, of course! Try Incorruptible #3 this week, and you have our incorruptible money-back guarantee. Don't get Max Damage-d, read this book!

Unexpected storytelling, powerful art: Demo #1

Everybody dreams. Sometimes we dream about things we want. Sometimes we dream about things that scare us. Sometimes, we dream about weird stuff that doesn't seem like it should be lurking in our head. Whatever your dreams are like, I think we can agree that dreams are made of some powerful stuff. Sometimes, that power can be pretty terrifying.

In Demo #1, The Waking Life of Angels, young Joan has had a bad dream. In her dream, she sees someone falling from the top of a massive cathedral. There is a man there who may be helping, or who may have pushed the victim to her death. Joan sees this dream playing over and over again every time she closes her eyes. The dream itself doesn't get a chance to come back because Joan can't sleep anymore. Every time she tries, that dream starts playing in her mind, and she stays wide awake. After nine days without sleep, the dream is becoming a serious issue...
Vertigo's Demo #1 is actually the return of this critically acclaimed series written by Brian Wood and drawn by Becky Cloonan. This series is unique because each issue tells a stand-alone story, with no recurring characters or ongoing plotlines to follow. The central idea is about young people with unusual powers, but these are not teens who discover that "with great power comes great responsibility" and suit up to fight crime. These are short but powerful tales about how the gifts affect the lives of everyday people, proving that special abilities may not always be a good thing.

Wood's stories are intriguing and unexpected, and Cloonan's black and white art is gorgeous and powerful. Together these two creators are doing something very different from the standard superhero story. That's not something you want to miss out on, right?

It's not a dream (or a hoax, or an imaginary story) that you can try out Demo #1 all week at absolutely no risk to yourself or your wallet! This awesome comic is guaranteed all week long at Four Color Fantasies. Stop dreaming and start reading!

Marvel Boy: The Uranian #1

Uranus: the mysterious 7th planet in the solar system, also universally acknowledged as the planet with the funniest name EVER. I mean, we all know nothing good ever comes from Uranus. Uranus is dark and scary. Oh, and gassy. Uranus is definitely gassy. Aliens from Uranus? I certainly can't imagine anything worse. So, I think we can all agree that it would be best if we just avoid the topic of Uranus entirely. Unfortunately for the hero known as Marvel Boy (AKA The Uranian), it is impossible to discuss his origins without occasionally mentioning Uranus. Let's just hope we can all be mature enough to get through this.

Marvel Boy: The Uranian #1 is actually a pretty excellent spin-off from the amazing, and under-rated, Agents of Atlas. Written by Jeff Parker, with art by Felix Ruiz, this series takes a look at how the Golden Age hero Marvel Boy first came to our world. Bob Grayson was a human boy whose super-genius father, desperate to escape Earth after witnessing the atrocities of Nazi Germany, built a rocket that allowed them to escape to the 7th planet. The Uranians there were humans colonists who, for thousands of years, had taken a different path. They developed a very different society, and amazing technology that allowed them to achieve miraculous feats.

Bob has returned to Earth to know more about his people, and to try to set an example of a better way for them to live. He wants to be a hero, but finds out that humans aren't quite ready to accept his help. Going around telling people that he's from Uranus certainly doesn't help. Luckily, Bob Grayson meets a comic book creator looking for a new hero, a man who can give Bob some help in becoming the hero he wants to be. First order of business? A catchy name that people can remember! In short order The Uranian becomes Marvel Boy, and a hero is born!

Of course, things are more complicated than they seem. The Uranian Council may have goals in mind beyond simply helping the human race. His isolated upbringing on Uranus has made Bob awfully naive and open to manipulation from those who would use him for their own purposes...

The first issue of this series is loaded with extra value, too! Not only do you get the all-new story of Marvel Boy's first adventures on Earth, you also get two nifty Golden Age reprints of Marvel Boy stories from the early 1950s with art from Russ Heath and Bill Everett. So, no more juvenile Uranus jokes from me. Just head over to Four Color Fantasies and try out our guaranteed Book of the Week-Marvel Boy: The Uranian #1. It's a great book, and you'll develop a new respect for the oft-maligned 7th planet!

Good story, hilarious art: House of Mystery #21

I don't know if you are in the market for real estate in this tough economy, but today I am hoping to interest you in a house. Not just any house mind you, this House is special. Not a House of Cards. Not even a House of Pancakes. I'm talking about a House.....of MYSTERY. (Insert appropriately spooky musical sting here. I mean, if you want to.)

Vertigo's House of Mystery #21, by Sturges, Rossi, and Aragones, is both the starting point for a new story arc and a self-contained, done-in-one story. How is such a thing possible? Well, it's like this: the House of Mystery is one of those legendary places that can be accesed from many places and times. Currently, it is located in the equally magical Stormfort Goblin Market. Of course, for some people, once you actually get to the House of Mystery, leaving becomes much more difficult than arriving.

One thing that isn't difficult, however; is paying your tab. All you have to do to keep the drinks coming is to tell stories. The folks at the House are pretty starved for entertainment. If you can keep the stories flowing, you can drink all day. What a deal! I'd like to see you pull up to the drive-thru at Sonic and offer to pay for your lunch with the story about how you fell off the roof that one time. It may be a great story, but it's not gonna buy you a sammitch. Only at the House of Mystery!

So, this issue not only introduces readers to the regular residents of the House, and all their troubles, it also gives you the terrifying tale of a new patron. Wilfred Brimley lookalike, and old-timey cowboy, Blind Buck pays for his 100% beaver eyeball free sarsparilla with the story of how he and his outlaw partner Dandy Dirk Prescott faced off against a true "abomination." Featuring a creature that is best decribed as "Satan's pet grizzly sicking up a jellyfish," and hilarious art from the always amazing Sergio Aragones, this story is worth the price of admission all on its own. But, rest assured, the rest of the book is actually pretty darn good too.

So, if you're lucky enough to find the fabled entrance to Four Color Fantasies (of Mystery?), you should definitely belly-up to the bar and ask for a copy of House of Mystery #21. (We're not really in the real estate business. Sorry if the intro was misleading.) Not only is it a great comic, largely eyeball-free, but it is also guaranteed all week! Unfortunately, you have to buy it with real money, not a story. Though, if you have a great story, like the time you journeyed to the underworld and fought Cerberus for a jelly doughnut, you're welcome to share!