H.A.T.E. loves you! Try Nextwave #3.

H.A.T.E. loves you, so you should love H.A.T.E.! H.A.T.E. (Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort) loves you so much that they spend fortunes pumping General Dirk Anger full of special H.A.T.E. life-extending drugs, just so he can be out there saving your sorry rear-end day after endless day! Why does Anger do it? He does it for H.A.T.E., of course! What kind of stupid question is that? It sounds to me like you don't love H.A.T.E. nearly enough!

Nextwave, the Agents of H.A.T.E, don't actually love H.A.T.E anymore, either. The Nextwave team, a group of B-grade heroes put together by General Anger, found out that the Beyond Corp. (the parent company of H.A.T.E.) was actually a terrorist organization. You can probably see where they might feel a little conflicted about this. So the team absconded from the H.A.T.E. Aeromarine with the super-cool Shockwave Rider, and decided to take the fight to the terrorists in their own way: Healing America by beating people up!

Who are the H.A.T.E. haters who make up the Nextwave Squad? Great question! They are: Monica Rambeau (formerly Photon) who used to lead the Avengers, Aaron Stack (AKA Machine Man) who really hates most fleshy ones, Elsa Bloodstone who is a bigshot English monster-hunter, Tabitha Smith (AKA Boom Boom and Meltdown) who blows things up, and the Captain who, ummm, is really kind of a sucky hero. This unlikely band has taken it upon themselves to hunt down all of the Beyond Corporation's Unusual Weapons of Mass Destruction, such as the underpants wearing monster Fin Fang Foom, and destroy them before Beyond can make any nefarious use of them.

Personally, I love comics that aren't afraid to be a little different, and you can't get much more unique than Nextwave. This crazy, over-the-top series is the twisted brainchild of Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen. Mr. Ellis is already well-known for some brilliant and subversive writing, so it is great that Marvel has been brave enough to let him really run wild with some of their toys. As I'm writing this review, I can't stop rereading the issue and chuckling. Nextwave has witty dialogue, tons of explosions, heaps of satire, more explosions, and quite a bit of punching and kicking. Immonen's unique and stylish art perfectly complements the out-there tone of this book. This series has quickly made it to the top of my favorites list, and it could soon be topping yours too!

If you hate terrorism, and you love H.A.T.E., you must read Nextwave! Try out issue #3 ASAP, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! You really don't want to upset General Anger, he'll take a bite right outta ya!

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #201

In most situations, Bruce Wayne is a pretty reasonable guy. Sure, he may be a little on the hard-headed side. If you give him a real reason to, he may even have his Batty alter-ego kick your butt and leave you on the curb for police pick-up. But the one thing you really shouldn't do is mess with his parents. Bruce may just take that personally.

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #201 is the beginning of a new three-part story, "True Crime." Decades ago, when Bruce Wayne was just a little Bat-Toddler, Gotham was terrorised by a notorious serial-killer: The Robinson Park Ripper. The Ripper, much like the more infamous Jack, had a relatively small number of victims. His crimes attracted attention because of the sheer brutality exhibited by the killer. The victims, all women, had organs gruesomely extracted while they were still alive.

Public interest in such horrific crimes never really goes away. Despite the passage of so many years, true-crime writer Mark Prather takes on the Ripper case. He finds some interesting evidence. The only thing the victims had in common was a tie to the University Medical Center where Bruce's father, Dr. Thomas Wayne, sometimes saw patients. The organs were removed with surgical precision only a Doctor could manage. A Doctor such as, ohhh, Thomas Wayne? When Prather announces the impending publication of his findings, Bruce finds himself thrown into a case that he THOUGHT was long cold.

This story, by Christos N. Gage, is my favorite kind of Batman story. It is a realistic story, that could easily have been pulled from today's news. Batman's detective skills are at the forefront, rather than his Bat-buttkicking. (For fans of the fisticuffs, he does take time out to thrash Clayface and rough up some of the Penguin's hired goons.) Ron Wagner's pencils are perfect for this kind of gritty, down-to-earth storytelling. The cast of characters seems very real, which emphasizes Batman's dark, intimidating stature.

This is a great, self-contained, story, perfect for readers who don't want to be dragged kicking and screaming into any of the massive crossover stories currently coming out from both Marvel and DC. If you prefer to watch the World's Greatest Detective at work, rather than watching Bats hang out with his super-buddies, there is no mystery here: You should be reading "True Crime."

Pick it up this week at Four Color Fantasies, it's guaranteed! Just don't say anything nasty about Bruce's momma, that's when he gets really unpleasant!

A Stryk-ing Predicament: New X-men #24

When things go wrong for Marvel's mutants, they go REALLY wrong. In case you haven't been paying attention, the events of "House of M" did some serious damage to the mutant population of the Marvel Universe. Where there used to be millions of mutants, there are now only hundreds. This has put the remaining mutants, and many former mutants, in some pretty tough spots. And spots don't come much tougher than the one the New X-Men end up in.

Tragedy befalls the team of young X-Men in training in New X-Men #24, by Craig Kyle, Chris Yost, and Paco Medina. There have always been those who view mutants as a feared and hated minority. When there were millions of powerful mutants to look out for one another, there was safety in those numbers. Now that the mutant population has been drastically reduced, there are plenty of people who see this vulnerability as a prime opportunity to strike. The Reverend William Stryker, for example. (And really, anybody with the name "Stryker" just has to be up to no good.)

Stryker predicted the events of M-Day, and he's been preparing for quite some time. He has built up a virtual army of anti-mutant fanatics to join him in his second crusade to wipe out his hated enemies. As Emma Frost and the X-Men try to sneak a bus full of non-powered students away from the Xavier Institute, Stryker's forces attack. The bus is destroyed, and a whole bunch of dead students are left in the aftermath of the attack.

This emotional issue focusses on how the remaining New X-Men deal with their grief and loss. These are young people who have been through some incredibly tough times, and coping isn't going to be easy. Of course, as Emma Frost makes clear, Stryker is not going to wait around for the New X-men to feel better before he decides to attack again. This is just the beginning of a story that will clearly be pivotal in how the mutant community survives in the post-M world.

So strap on your black armband and stroll somberly over to Four Color Fantasies to pick up New X-Men #24. It's guaranteed, so you have nothing to lose, unlike the New X-Men.

A Lady to Admire: Ms. Marvel #1

Name a female super-hero. Sure, it's easy for you and me, we're comic book nerds! But ask any member of the general public that question, and their answers will be pretty limited. They'll know Wonder Woman, because she had a TV show. They may know Batgirl, also because of her TV appearances. Maybe a few people could name Sue Storm, since Jessica Alba played her. Unfortunately, I'm willing to bet that is about all most people could come up with. For some reason, it isn't easy for the ladies to earn the respect and notoriety of their male counterparts in the hero biz.

Well, Carol Danvers is out to change all that in Ms. Marvel #1. In her new ongoing series, Carol has decided that it is time to take control of her heroic career. She wants to be the best there is at what she does, and what she does IS actually pretty nice. Ms. Danvers is dead-set on living up to her potential, so losers like Stilt-Man know exactly who she is while getting their villainous butts kicked. In short, Carol wants to be the kind of hero that kids will imitate on the playground.

Of course, just like in real life, it isn't easy to stay in the public eye. To help out with her public image, Carol goes to one of the biggest names in the Public Relations biz. (Didn't know that Captain America, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men all have a publicist? You HAVE heard of them, haven't you? See how PR works?) Lucky for us, the first PR move for Carol is to forget about the unfortunate code-names Binary and Warbird, and get back to her original Ms. Marvel. Who wants to be saved by somebody named Warbird? Ick.

This new series is written by Brian Reed with pencils by Roberto De La Torre. Reed's writing makes this first issue really shine. His style combines the fun of a Dan Slott comic with the witty dialogue of a Brian Bendis book. What more could anybody ask for in one book? How about great art? Ms. Marvel has that too! De La Torre's pencils perfectly convey action, humor, the joy of flight, and Ms. Marvel's pulchritudinous sexiness. (And, if you're into that sort of thing, check out Frank Cho's sweet cover art!) Plus, the surprise villains at the end of the issue are as terrifying as Carol is sexy.

So c'mon people, let's work together to promote equality of the sexes in comics! Help Ms. Marvel become the big name hero that she deserves to be! Fly down to Four Color Fantasies today and try out the guaranteed Book of the Week: Ms. Marvel #1.

That's the American Way (#1)

If you can sell, you can accomplish almost anything. (Just ask Willy Loman!) If you can sell a refrigerator or a car, you can make some pretty good money. If you can sell people things they will never need, you can make even more money. If you can sell people beliefs and ideas, you can go WAY beyond just making money. What about selling super-heroes?

Selling heroes, and the heroic ideal, is the challenge facing Wesley Catham in Wildstorm's The American Way #1. This new series, by John Ridley and Georges Jeanty, takes place in the tumultuous America of 1961. The country is facing the communist threat of the Cold War. Racial strife divides the nation and, of course, there are all of those annoying alien invasions to deal with. OK, so this isn't quite the America of 1961 you'll find in the history books. It's close enough, there are just a lot more super-humans running around.

Wesley works for the marketing department of a failing automobile company. Wes is not just a salesman though. He wants to give people something to believe in, even if it's only a car. On the verge of his big break, Wesley's career takes a sudden nose-dive when an alien invasion interrupts the debut of the new 1961 Icon. Though his career may be ruined, Wes and his wife are saved by the awe-inspiring intervention of the Civil Defense Corps!

The CDC is the government sponsored super-team whose job it is to keep the nation safe for truth, justice, and the American Way! Like the rest of America, Wes is amazed and impressed by these patriotic and selfless heroes. So how could it possibly be a bad thing when he is offered the job of marketing these great heroes to the American public? Of course, when the government is involved, things are rarely what they seem...

This series provides a great twist on the iconic super-team, and gives readers something to think about. How far should leaders go to manipulate the public? Is it bad to bend (or break) the truth if it makes people feel good? And just how much of what we see in the media should we really believe? Where does marketing end and lying begin? In our modern age of spin-doctoring, these are questions we should all be thinking about. See how reading comics can help you think? That is definitely The American Way!

So head over to Four Color Fantasies' today, and we will be happy to sell you this small slice of the American Dream. It's guaranteed, so you have nothing to lose. Unless you are a commie spy, you need to read The American Way! (You do look a little shifty, pal. You better read the comic, or we might get suspicious.)

Ride 'Em Cowboy: She-Hulk #5

Yeeeeeeee-Haaaa!! Reach for the sky, ya no-good varmints!!! The Two-Gun Kid is ridin' inta town in She-Hulk #5!!!!

Okay, no more rustic hollerin'. I'm gonna hurt myself with all those exclamation points, but cowboys are pretty prominent in the heirarchy of coolness. I think the official order is: Ninjas, Zombies, Monkeys, Pirates, COWBOYS. I'll have to check my sources and see if I can verify that. Anyway, Cowboys are pretty cool, so adding a cowboy to the already great cast of Marvel's She-Hulk just can't be a bad thing.

Jen "She-Hulk" Walters, fresh off of her trial by the Time Variance Authority, just barely managed to escape being erased from history. She does not, however; get off completely free for the heinous crime of attempting to alter the past. (Poor old Hawkeye!) The TVA agrees to send Jen back to her time, but she is given the additional responsibility of looking after Matt Hawk, AKA The Two-Gun Kid. The Kid has just seen too much of the future to be trusted back in 1876, so it's Shulkie's job to keep him out of trouble in the Marvel Universe of 2006. How hard could that be?

Two-Gun makes a great first impression on the folks back at Jen's law office: Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzburg and Holliway. Since the Kid was a lawyer in his own time, he quickly accepts the offer to be a law-slinger for the firm. Unfortunately, the legal world has moved on a bit since the 1800s. Of course, there are other possibilities for a man with a super-human quick draw. Especially if he's handy with a lasso....

If you haven't been reading She-Hulk, now is the time to get off your high-horse and give this book a try! Dan Slott is quickly building a rep as one of the best writers in comics today. His She-Hulk is a book that respects continuity without being tied down by it. (Hog-tied, that is!) Even more importantly, this comic is just plain fun! When over-hyped crossovers with "shocking" twists and revelations are all too common, She-Hulk's sweet, fun and funny adventures are just what the Doctor ordered. (Not Doctor Doom though, he has an anti-fun agenda. Latveria is NOT known for its party scene.) Plus, this is the last issue of Juan Bobilla's excellent art, so get it while you can!

So saddle-up, cowpokes! Put the spurs to old Thunder and do a little high plains driftin' over to Four Color Fantasies right away. Belly up to the counter and tell 'em ta lay a little She-Hulk action on ya. This here Book of the Week is guaranteed, so ya ain't got nothin' ta lose, ya yella-bellied sidewinder!

One-Shot to the Heart: Punisher, Bloody Valentine

Ahh, Valentine's Day. That special day when everyone's thoughts turn to love, romance, roses, candy, and ....the Punisher? Hey, Frank Castle has a pretty stressful life, doing all that punishing and killing day after day. Doesn't he deserve a little love and romance from time to time? (He did ask Electra out once, so Punisher has the moves!) Just don't expect him to hand out flowers or imported chocolates.

Frank meets his new sweetie in The Punisher: Bloody Valentine One-Shot from Marvel Comics. This heart-warming tale of vigilante love is written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, with pencils by Paul Gulacy. Palmiotti and Gray have had a few run-ins with Frank before, including 2004's Red X-Mas One-shot. In Red X-Mas, the Punisher found himself the target of assassin-for-hire (and all-around hot chick) Suspiria. Not one to take death threats lightly, Frank gave his would-be killer a smooch and then threw her off a roof to her apparent death. What a sweet first date!

One year of painful physical therapy later, Suspiria finds Mr. Castle crossing her path once again. He is on the trail of a weapons dealer providing high-end equipment to thugs on his turf. She is looking for a kidnapper and blackmailer who took a couple of the wrong kids. Lucky for them, they just happen to be after the same guy. Love is in the air!

Palmiotti and Gray both know a thing or two about tough guys. (If you don't believe me, check out their recent work on Jonah Hex for DC!) Even though this is a Valentine's Day special, they don't let Frank Castle get all sensitive and touchy-feely. The writers have actually found the perfect woman for the Punisher, because Suspiria is every bit as cold and merciless as he is when it comes to punishing the guilty. This book offers readers a great self-contained story, with loads of action, some dark humor and excellent art by Gulacy.

Put on your cleanest t-shirt, grab a dozen roses and a box of those nasty heart-candies, and celebrate Valentine's Day Punisher-style! If you are feelin' the love, stop by Four Color Fantasies and try out this guaranteed Book of the Week. Just don't try throwing that special someone off a roof, that move only works for little Frankie Castle.

100% more Fury: Peacemaker #1

You know, you can really tell quite a bit about someone by their name. This is true for both real people and fictional characters. If a guy is named Eugene Q. Tiddlywinks, he's probably not the most fearsome and intimidating dude on the block. (Kids, don't judge people with funny names. Don't take candy from them, either.) If, on the other hand, your name is something like Nick Fury, you MUST be a tough as nails, bad to the bone, anger management problem, kind of guy.

Fury: Peacemaker #1, by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, takes readers right to the source of Nick's permanent bad mood. If you've been paying attention to recent events in the Marvel Universe, you know that Fury has been in full-on spying and manipulation mode. He started a Secret War, mind-wiped a few heroes, got Spider-Woman in all kinds of trouble, and even shot the Hulk out into space. This new limited series goes way back to 1943 to take a look at Sgt. Nick Fury in simpler, but even more violent, days.

Young Sgt. Fury (with 50% fewer permanent scowl lines and a full complement of eyes) finds himself facing German troops in Tunisia, desperately trying to keep his men alive when an incompetent Lieutenant lets them down. Unfortunately for Nick and his inexperienced squad, they are out-gunned, out-manned, and out-of-luck. This story very cleverly contrasts the way war is supposed to work on paper with the unpredictable reality of combat. Of course, even when the chips are down, you know a guy named Fury ain't about to give up....

Admittedly, I don't know squat about being in combat, but Ennis sure seems to know a thing or two. He's written War Stories, 303, and a tank-load of other stories about war, combat, and weaponry. He knows his stuff, and it shows in this book. This is no lightweight, fantasy war story. Fury: Peacemaker is a grim and gritty look at the awful reality of war. Nobody knows gritty better than Garth Ennis, the guy who brought us Preacher and some of the best Punisher stories ever to see print! Ennis' story is ably accompanied by Darick Robertson's dark and detailed pencils. You can literally see the blood, sweat and tears of Fury and his men. Robertson also draws some mighty ferocious scowls for our man Nick!

Grab yourself a heapin' handful of testosterone and read Fury: Peacemaker #1. It's guaranteed now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' Book of the Week! You got nothin' to lose, and, if you don't try it, Ma Fury's little boy may just have to come around and kick the livin' daylights out of ya!

A Godly Find: Ares #1

War! Good God! What is it good for? Well, for one thing, it is very useful when it comes to crushing your enemies, driving them before you, and hearing the lamentations of their women. If you're into that sort of thing. When the gods of Olympus needed some serious crushing and driving done, Ares, the God of War, was their go-to guy.

Unfortunately for Ares, ruthlessly and mercilessly slaughtering people by the thousands doesn't really make you a popular party guest. In fact, Zeus and his fellow Olympians don't do much to hide their distaste and outright disgust for Ares. Even when he saves their bacon from the marauding hordes of Hades, the gods want nothing to do with him.

What does an unloved god of war do? In Ares #1, he packs his bags and tells the gods to kiss his mighty butt, that's what! Ares leaves Olympus and his fellow gods, gives up his violent ways, and tries to live as a mortal with the rest of us here on Earth. He works construction jobs, raises a son, and even attends parent/teacher meetings. Despite being substantially more enormous than most folks, he manages to blend in pretty well. Everything seems to be going pretty smoothly until Hermes shows up to recruit the unwilling ex-god for another war....

Ares #1 is written by Mike Oeming. He is the multi-talented guy who draws Powers for Brian Bendis, while writing Red Sonja, Thor, and now Ares. Oeming has already proven to have a great handle on the whole fantasy/mythology genre, and his work on this series more than lives up to that reputation. Not every writer can effectively put words into the mouths of gods, but Oeming gives these characters the power and dignity they deserve. The art by Travel Foreman effectively conveys both the nobility of Ares, and the dangerous edges of his violent nature.

Try out Ares #1 while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! It's not like you have to climb Mount Olympus or risk the depths of Hades. Find out just what War is good for, read Ares #1 today!

X-Statix Presents: Deadgirl #1

It ain't easy being Strange! Doctor Stephen Strange, that is. Doc has a lot of responsibility, what with being the Sorcerer Supreme and all. I mean, he has to protect a whole plane of existence all by himself! Sure, he's got Wong hanging around, but Wong really just does the laundry and keeps the good Doctor fed. And what does a manly guy like Strange eat to give him the strength to shoulder his awesome duties? Apparently, green tea and dry cookies. EXTRA-dry cookies. Yum!

In X-Statix Presents: Deadgirl #1, Doctor Strange finds himself in a bit of a rut. He is pretty depressed about the lonely life he lives and the burdens he has to bear. His hemorrhoids are acting up, he has suddenly realised that he uses the word "suffice" far too much, and he is living on a diet of dry cookies. So, when he first notices that something funny is going on in the depths of Hell, his reaction is a resounding "whatever."

Of course, ignoring funny business in Hell is usually not a good idea. Strange soon finds himself entering into negotiations with a bunch of dead super-villains, along with a dead hero or two, who have decided that being dead pretty much stinks. They manage to get themselves a day pass back to the land of the living where they can enjoy some ribs, and maybe chase a man down and watch him choke to death on his own vomit. Ah, the fun villains have.

Admittedly, Deadgirl #1 doesn't actually have much to do with Deadgirl, but she seems to be on the way next issue. She's busy hanging in the afterlife with Gwen Stacy and Mockingbird. This limited series, by Peter Milligan, Nick Dragotta and Mike Allred, clearly has it's tongue firmly in cheek. It offers a great perspective on what it means to be a villain in the Marvel Universe (Lots of painful beatings!), and shows that even someone as cool as Doctor Strange gets depressed about life sometimes.

If these dead folks can drag themselves up from the depths of Hell for this story, the least you can do is drag yourself over to Four Color Fantasies to buy this guaranteed Book of the Week. Why not go nuts and spoil yourself with some extra-weak tea, some really dry cookies and a fun new comic to read? A little indulgence can be a good thing!

No Bugs in this Work: The Exterminators #1

If there is one thing about Mother Nature that most people can't stand, it's all the creepy crawlies. Mice, rats, worms, slugs, bugs and, worst of all, roaches. Nobody likes roaches, especially those big hissing cockroaches that science teachers use to traumatize kids. Ick. What do you do when faced with the creepiest critters nature has to offer? Call the Exterminators, of course.

The Exterminators #1 is the start of a new monthly series from DC's Vertigo imprint. Vertigo is a "mature readers" line of books, and this comic is definitely NOT for the young or faint of heart. Henry James, the ex-con star of our story, not the dead literary giant, is fresh out of the pen and in need of a job. Lucky for Henry, his mom recently married the owner of the "Bug-Bee-Gone" extermination company. Not so lucky for Henry, he finds himself training with a loathsome creep named AJ.

The rat-like AJ is an awful human being, but he is a pretty darn good exterminator. He also has some strangely overblown ideas about the primal struggle between man and beast that is exterminating. AJ may seem a little, or more than a little, crazy, but the rest of the crew at Bug-Bee-Gone aren't exactly the most normal people either. Despite having some serious issues of his own, Henry is clearly the least messed up guy in the Bug Bin.

The story by Simon Oliver is well-written and clearly going somewhere. There may be a roach revolution on the horizon, and if Henry, AJ, and Bug-Bee-Gone are our only defense, the human race is in big trouble. The art by Tony Moore (Walking Dead and Fear Agent) is excellent. He truly brings out the repellent nature of both vermin and exterminators. The gruesome details are, well, really gruesome. You won't soon forget how Henry deals with a rabid raccoon....

So get out a can of roach spray and head over to Four Color Fantasies to try out our guaranteed Book of the Week, The Exterminators #1. Just don't stop to pet that raccoon with the nice, foamy milk moustache. You'll be really sorry if you do.

Noir Heaven: Fallen Angel #1

"AAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! SPLAT!" What's that sound? Why, it's the sound a Fallen Angel makes, of course! Wait, wait! Don't stop reading. I know that was silly and inappropriate on so many levels! If you stick around and read about this week's Book of the Week, I promise it won't happen again. Sorry.

In today's comics market, publishing a creator-owned character can be a tricky business. Even a well-known and respected writer like Peter David has no guarantees when it comes to finding an audience. Fallen Angel was first published by DC Comics. The book was highly regarded and critically praised, but just couldn't find a big enough readership to meet DC's expectations. Lucky for us, a book this good couldn't be allowed to just fade away. Thanks to IDW Publishing, readers have a chance to find Fallen Angel all over again, in the all-new Fallen Angel #1.

Fallen Angel is a "film noir" story that takes place, appropriately enough, in the mysterious city of Bete Noire. Our hero, Lee, lives a double life there as a middle-aged girls phys. ed. instructor and as the seemingly youthful Miss Angel. Miss Angel is an incredibly powerful being. Her role in Bete Noire is not so much as a protector of the city, but as someone who stands between the city and its victims. The first issue of the series picks up at what seems to be a turning point for Bete Noire. Power is changing hands, and the city seems poised to plunge into chaos. Will Miss Angel prevent the plunge, or give the city a kick over the edge?

As always, Peter David's writing is both thoughtful and clever. Even if you missed Fallen Angel the first time around, this issue totally stands on its own. New readers quickly discover everything they need to know about Bete Noire to enjoy the story and to be caught up in the mysteries surrounding Lee. David's story is accompanied by gorgeous painted artwork from J.K. Woodward that is lush, dark, and pretty to look at. You'll have to read this book a second time, just to gaze into the panels and catch all the detail you missed the first time through.

Polish off your halo and walk, fly, or plummet to Four Color Fantasies now to try out our guaranteed Book of the Week, Fallen Angel #1! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh....oh, sorry. I promised not to do that again, didn't I? Never mind. Just read the book!

The Thing #2: Experience Ben Grimm's Other Life

Sweet Aunt Petunia! For most folks, getting zapped by cosmic rays and mutating into a big, rocky, orange "thing" would just be too much to handle. Lucky for us, Ben Grimm is not most folks. He took the hand fate (and maybe Reed Richards) dealt him, and became the "Ever Lovin' Blue-Eyed Thing", member of the Fantastic Four, and idol of millions. Now, Ben gets a chance to take center stage in his own book, The Thing.

The Thing, by Dan Slott and Andrea DiVito, is one of those comics that is just plain FUN to read. (Something Slott is quickly becoming known for. There is a new issue of his excellent She-Hulk series out this week too!) This series is very much in the same vein as Ben's previous starring vehicle, Marvel Two-In-One. Readers get a chance to see what the Thing gets up to when he isn't hanging with his "Fantastic" buddies. Of course, no matter how much Ben wishes otherwise, things tend to go a little haywire whenever he's around...

Even though this is the second issue of the series, Slott does a great job making sure you have everything you need to know to jump right on and enjoy the ride. In this particular case, a ride to the death since Arcade (one of the coolest Marvel villains ever!) is on the scene! Ben accompanies his new girlfriend, and big time movie star, Carlotta LaRosa to a fancy-shmancy high society party in his honor. Unfortunately, Arcade crashes the party and Ben finds himself, along with all the wealthy guests, hijacked and trapped on the latest version of Murderland. Guaranteed to be fun, right up until the minute you die horribly!

Lucky for Ben, he isn't the only one there to help protect the hapless wealthy. He is joined by a few other upper-crust super-folks: Nighthawk, a reformed Constrictor, and Tony Stark (without his handy-dandy Iron Man suit). The Thing and his colleagues find themselves struggling to protect the civilians from the deadly fun of Arcade's "Abusement Park." All of which doesn't seem so bad, until Arcade unleashes the mind-numbing horror of "It's a Small War After All" on his unwilling guests. The horror...

Don't let Aunt Petunia's favorite nephew down! Ya owe it to your Uncle Benjy to try out this comic today! The Thing #2 is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. If you don't try it, you just KNOW it's gonna be CLOBBERIN' TIME!

Great Lakes Avengers: GLX-mas Special

Ahhhh, the holiday season. That festive and joyful time of year when the TV networks rerun all those lovely, heart-warming specials filled with peace, joy, and love. The season when everyone watches "Sound of Music" or "It's a Wonderful Life," just to see that adorable angel get his wings one more time. And the time of year when comic book publishers bring out those cute holiday specials and Spider-Man wears a Santa hat.

Following in that grand tradition, this year Marvel has brought us an extra-special issue of the Great Lakes Avengers. Umm, I mean Great Lakes X-Men. Anyway, since it is that wonderful time of the year, you just know that the Great Lakes Avengers: GLX-Mas Special is gonna have feel-good, heart-warming family fun... Wait! What did you say Squirrel Girl? This comic has violence, suicide, and an inappropriate use of the word FLOCK? Good grief!!

In case you haven't guessed already, The GLX-Mas Special by Dan Slott and an assortment of artists, is a hilariously dark antidote to all that treacly sweet holiday stuff out there. This one-shot issue is really a collection of short stories featuring the Great Lakers as they prepare for their big Christmas party. Some of the stories are just outright silly fun, while others are a little more thoughtful. The adorable Squirrel Girl and her new best squirrel buddy, Tippy-Toe (We miss ya, Monkey Joe!), lead the way through this four color sleigh-ride of fun!

I don't want to spoil any of the stories for you, but highlights of this issue include: Squirrel Girl VS Modok! A horrible candy-cane related death for Mr. Immortal! Squirrel Girl VS Thanos! The sensational NEW Grasshopper! Squirrel Girl VS Terrax! AND an incredible Flatman Marvel Legends Action Figure, featuring infinite points of articulation! If that isn't a comic book compendium that anyone would want to find in their stocking on Christmas morning, I don't know what is!

So hop on your Squirrel-A-Gig and fly down to Four Color Fantasies now to pick up a copy of the Great Lakes Avengers: GLX-Mas Special! It's guaranteed, so you should buy one for yourself and one for each of your friends. Don't let Squirrel Girl and Tippy-Toe down!

X-cellent Comic: X-Factor #1

An X-cellent, X-ceptional and X-citing comic that will X-ceed your wildest X-pectations! Mutant mayhem to the X-treme! The X-istence of this new book will X-hilarate you so much that you will never want to X-ile it from your X-isting collection. What on Earth am I babbling about? Marvel Comic's X-Factor, of course.

This new series from Peter David and Ryan Sook spins out of both the events of House of M/Decimation and David's recent (and really cool) MadroX limited series. Comic book readers who have been around long enough to remember "back in the day" of the early ninties may also recall a time when Mr. David took over the reins of the first incarnation of X-Factor. Back then, Marvel gave David a bunch of mutant characters that no one else wanted and he turned them into the best, most original, mutant team on the block. Mutant losers like Madrox, Rahne (AKA Wolfsbane), and Guido (AKA Strong Guy) were suddenly interesting and involving characters! Unfortunately, the ninties hit comics like a runaway super-villain and X-Factor was a casualty of the times.

David (with some help from Sook's great artwork) seems to be working the same magic with the all-new X-Factor. This time around Jamie Madrox (Multiple Man) is heading up the newly revamped X-Factor Investigations detective agency with a little help from his buddies Strong Guy, Rahne, Siryn, Monet, and (maybe) a de-powered Rictor. One of the things Peter David does best is to find new and different ways to look at old characters and concepts. In X-Factor, he has created a very different kind of mutant team book. This book has a very film-noir feel. These are not characters who are going to pull on spandex and go fight Magneto. They have smaller, and consequently, more involving, stories.

David also finds some great new twists to Madrox's power. On the surface, being able to make instant copies of yourself seems pretty cool. Don't want to go to work or school? Make a copy! Need to move some heavy furniture? Make ten copies! Got two hot dates for the same night just like on a cheesy sit-com? You get the idea. Too bad for Jamie, there are some unexpected dark sides to being your own best friend. Ever have a mental squabble with yourself over a tough decision? What if you actually got in your own face and gave yourself a bunch of lip over making the wrong choice? You would probably get on your own nerves pretty darn fast.

X-Factor #1 has all the X-citement you can handle! Buy a copy today while it is covered by Four Color Fantasies' X-cellent money back guarantee! X-plicate your desire to read this book of unX-pected (I stole that one from the cover) delights. Just don't X-pectorate on the sidewalk. It's X-tra rude.

Undead Fun: Marvel Zombies #1

Zombies, those loveable, shambling, undead rascals, have been experiencing a bit of a renaissance lately. For a long, dark, sad time, the walking dead stumbled out of the public eye. Fortunately, due to a recent upswing in the number of quality undead movies and comics, zombies are finally getting the respect they deserve! Or at least as much respect as anyone can have for a rotting, mindless fiend whose only desire is to eat you and your tasty brains. Mmmm, brains....

Marvel Zombies #1 is NOT about a bunch of crazed fans who only read Marvel comics, but is instead Marvel's turn at jumping on the undead bandwagon. (Not a wagon you want to be downwind of, by the way.) The events of Marvel Zombies spin out of a recent storyline in Ultimate Fantastic Four, but you don't need to read UFF to enjoy the undead fun of this comic. In a parallel dimension (not the regular or Ultimate Marvel universes), Earth's heroes become victims of a zombie plague. They retain much of their original personality, powers, and memories but they are still undead, decaying, flesh-eating ghouls. Unable to think much beyond their next meal, the undead heroes go on an eating spree, until almost all of their food supply (the citizens they once protected) is wiped out. They squabble over the last remaining tidbits on the buffet, until a new, tasty morsel shows up. A "delivery" from off planet on a silver surfboard....

Marvel Zombies writer Robert Kirkman knows a thing or two about writing both super-heroes and the undead. Not only does he write the greatly under-rated Marvel Team-Up, he is the writer/creator of The Walking Dead, published by Image. (If you aren't reading Walking Dead, you should try out the trades. You'll quickly find yourself hooked on this great series.) Kirkman's zombie expertise really shines in this comic. There is a lot of dark undead humor here, such as zombie Spidey breaking his leg "like, in half," but there is also some quite horrific and disturbing stuff to freak out the faint of heart. The creep-out factor is greatly enhanced by Sean Phillips dark, scary, and rather squishy, art.

Marvel Zombies is certainly unlike anything Marvel has ever tried before. Where else are you gonna see an undead Captain America carrying around a handful of his own brains, or a bunch of zombie Avengers arguing over how much of Magneto they get to eat? Nowhere, that's for sure! So shamble on down to Four Color Fantasies and moan incoherently until someone hands you a guaranteed copy of Marvel Zombies #1! Just don't try to eat your copy. You wanna save that room for some tasty brains when you get home

Changing Mutant Reality: Generation M #1

Mutants! Everybody loves mutants! I don't mean the radioactive horrors of '50s monster movies, but Marvel Universe Meta-Human, costume-wearing mutants. Marvel mutants have long been portrayed as a mistrusted minority, hated and feared by the world for being born "different." In recent years, things had been on a bit of an upswing for Marvel's gene-freaks. Mutants were popping out of the woodwork. There were so many mutants around that they were being accepted by the public as a fact of everyday life. Some mutants were even respected celebrities.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, or (even worse) just not reading enough comics, you know that Marvel's recent House of M series/event/crossover changed all that. When Wacky Wanda (AKA Scarlet Witch) got ticked off at her dear old pop, Magneto, she altered reality to wipe out 90% of all mutants. In an instant, thousands (or even millions?) of mutants just didn't have powers anymore.

Some mutants are relieved to suddenly find themselves "normal." Other mutants are really annoyed to lose their super-cool powers. And some mutants just happened to be flying hundreds of feet above ground. Ouch. Generation M #1, by Paul Jenkins and Ramon Bachs, is the first issue of a five-part series that takes a hard look at the consequences of the "Decimation."

What makes Generation M particularly interesting is that we get to see the repercussions from a very ordinary point-of-view. Sally Floyd is a reporter who has experienced some really tough breaks. She is just beginning to get her life back together when M-Day hits the Marvel U. Amidst the booming anti-mutant backlash, Sally realizes that thousands of Ex-mutants are hurting. Someone has to bring their tragic stories to the public. Someone has to give them a voice. Sally is just the person for the job, but you know it won't be that easy.

If you are even a casual reader of Marvel's merry mutants, you shouldn't pass up Generation M #1. If you aren't an X-Men fan, you should try this out and see what all the fuss is about. This book is right at the heart of a major, universe-changing, Marvel event. Don't miss out! Run to Four Color Fantasies and try this comic now, while it is the guaranteed Book of the Week!

A Villainous History: Books of Doom #1

Everybody loves a great villain. Self-sacrificing heroes are all well and good, but we are simultaneously attracted and repelled by the lure of the Dark Side. Would anybody really care about Luke Skywalker if he didn't have Darth Vader to throw down with? I seriously doubt it. They say you can judge a hero by the caliber of his enemies. How did the Fantastic Four get to be "The World's Greatest Comics Magazine?" They had the world's greatest villain! The ruler of Latveria. The man in the iron mask. The one and only, Dr. Victor Von Doom! And I am NOT talking about that lame yuppy Doom from the FF movie.

Books of Doom #1, by Ed Brubaker and Pablo Raimondi, is the first issue of a six book series devoted to chronicling the life story of the Marvel Universe's greatest villain. The story is narrated by Doom himself, and he truly begins at the beginning with memories that start in his mother's womb. (Victor was clearly a precocious young fella.) We learn about Victor's earliest days, about the dark path travelled by his mother, and about the events that set him down that same path.

Doom has always been such a compelling character because of the two very different sides of his personality. On one side, he is a noble and honorable man who fiercely defends his people, and who risked the depths of Hell to save his mother's soul. On the other side, he is an arrogant tyrant capable of absolutely heartless and despicable acts of cruelty. A man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Brubaker's story in Books of Doom does an excellent job of delving into Doom's character and showing readers his development from all sides. The traumas of Victor's youth clearly and logically shape him into the villainous Dr.Doom who would grow up to terrorize the heroes of the Marvel Universe. Raimondi's beautiful, yet somber, art perfectly captures the harsh Latverian countryside of Victor's youth.

Tempt not the wrath of Doom, feeble readers! With all haste, rush to Four Color Fantasies where you may purchase the stirring tale of Doom's earliest days! It is guaranteed, so you risk nothing. If you choose to ignore the dictates of Doom, and leave this book on the shelf, you risk everything! Do not follow in the footsteps of the accursed Richards and his blasted foursome! Doom does not forget his enemies. (Curse you, Richards.)

Bringing the Old West to Us: Jonah Hex #1

Ahhh, the legendary American Old West. It was a time and a place where, if popular fiction is to be believed, men were REAL men. Tough. Violent. Stubbly. These were men who didn't speak unless they had something important to say. They drank. They smoked. They did a whole lot of killin'. I'm not sure what the women did. I think they mostly wore corsets and served drinks to those tough, ornery men.

Enter Jonah Hex. Hex is one of the meanest and orneriest of this mean and ornery breed. He is a man scarred by life, literally and metaphorically. He knows God must hate him, but he's on a mission to send as many sinners on their way to Hell as he can. And the Old West had a whole mess of sinners, so Hex stays plenty busy.

Jonah Hex is a character who has been around for a long time but, even if you've never read a single one of his stories, don't hesitate to try out this new series. There's nothing you need to know that isn't made perfectly clear in this first issue. Hex finds himself tracking down a kidnapped boy, and when he finds the perpetrators you KNOW it ain't gonna be pretty.

This new series is written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti. These guys have worked together on quite a few high-profile projects, including some Punisher one-shots. That experience writing tough-as-nails vigilantes has clearly paid off. They perfectly convey Hex's character, and his rather dubious moral code, without overdoing the exposition. If you like watching Frank Castle hand out his brand of creative justice, you'll get a similar kick from Jonah Hex. The art by Luke Ross perfectly illustrates the violent and dirty world Jonah inhabits.

There aren't many western-themed comics out there nowadays, and Jonah Hex is a darn good one. So strap on your spurs and saddle up, ya varmints! Hit the trail to Four Color Fantasies, so you can try out a guaranteed copy of the brand-spankin' new Jonah Hex #1. Just leave your six-shooter at home, cause we don't want no trouble.

The Book of Lost Souls

Everybody loves a mystery. From Sherlock Holmes to the X-Files to Wolverine's real name, mysterious and unknowable goings-on keep people interested and on the edge of their seats. We love to hunt for clues and put together the pieces, working out the real story one bit of evidence at a time.

The Book of Lost Souls, by J. Michael Straczynski and Colleen Doran, has more than enough mystery to go around. The story revolves around a Byronic, sensitive, and outcast fellow named Jonathan. At a not quite specified time in the past, Jonathan was having a pretty crummy life. He didn't quite fit in with polite society. He didn't have the money or the connections to get a university education. He couldn't get a job. Worst of all, he was rejected by the woman he loved more than life itself.

So, when Jonathan finds himself standing on a nice, high bridge one night, it comes as no real surprise that he decides to jump off. What is a little unusual though, is the old man who wanders up just before he jumps and offers Jonathan a nice heavy book to help weigh him down. No sense jumping if you aren't going to sink, right? The book turns out to be the key to Jonathan's new "life after death." He is torn between the powers of dark and light. He has a job to do, but the job description is pretty unclear. Who is the Dark Man? What is Jonathan actually supposed to do with the book? And what does the talking cat named Mystery have to do with anything?

This book is published through Marvel's creator-owned Icon imprint, so JMS really has the freedom to take this story wherever he wants it to go. Fans of his comics work, as well as Babylon 5 and other TV shows, know JMS is a master planner when it comes to building story arcs. I'm sure he knows where this is all headed. The fun for the readers will be putting together the pieces of the mystery before we get there. Colleen Doran's art fits the sombre tone of this story perfectly. Plus, that sexy hunk of beefcake Jonathan looks like he just walked off the cover of a bodice-ripping romance novel.

This book will appeal to all lovers of the mysterious and fans of supernatural fiction. If you like your comics to be about more than guys in tights punching each other, you will like The Book of Lost Souls. Head out to Four Color Fantasies today, and try this comic without fear. It's guaranteed! It's the Book of the Week! Just don't try to use it as ballast for jumping off of anything! Comics aren't really very heavy, ya know.

Alien Zapping Fun: Fear Agent #1

How do you prefer your sci-fi? Do you like the boring and tedious SF where people go on and on about physics and gravity and, you know, actual science stuff? The kind of SF where WAY too much time is spent explaining how plausible intergalactic travel is and what it would be like to set up tariff rates for alien civilizations. OR do you prefer stories that just get on with the business of zapping aliens with ray guns and blowing stuff up?

If you prefer the latter, then Fear Agent #1 is just the rocket-ride to interplanetary action you've been waiting for! Fear Agent chronicles the adventures of alien exterminator Heath Huston. Huston is a slightly seedy, somewhat alcoholic, Mark Twain quoting, gun-for-hire whose jobs often seem to land him on the wrong side of the law. Fortunately for him, his motto is "If the law didn't see me, I didn't do it," and that seems to be working for him so far.

The first issue is really an action-packed teaser for what is to come. We follow Heath on what must be a "typical" day on the job for him. Luckily for readers, a typical day involves fighting off hordes of under-evolved ape men, dealing with brain-sucking jelly monsters, literally cliff hanging, and blowing up lots of stuff. It's enough to make a down on his luck alien exterminator really need a drink. Too bad for Heath he left his flask at home...

Fear Agent is written by Rick Remender with pencils by Tony Moore. The afterword in this issue makes it clear that these guys want Fear Agent to recapture the glory days of '50s comic book sci-fi as it was done by guys like Wally Wood. This is going to be a book loaded with action. Heath Huston is a rough and tumble adventurer who will find himself saving the galaxy from killer robots and hideous, tentacled horrors with a variety of zap guns and good, old fashioned ingenuity. The creators have big plans for this book, and I think it's gonna be an exciting ride.

Strap on your jet pack and don't let the Zagulon Hordes stand in your way! Do whatever it takes to get to Four Color Fantasies and try out this week's guaranteed Book of the Week, Fear Agent #1. If you don't read this book, the other space heroes will think you're a big scaredy cat. You're not gonna let them get away with that are you? Show 'em what you're made of, hero!

A Relaunch Not to Miss: She-Hulk #1

Some super-heroes never get the respect they truly deserve. I mean, honestly, what makes Spider-Man or Green Lantern any better than Speedball or Sleepwalker? Their powers aren't any more believable, and Spidey has had just as many bad stories as any other character. Spidey has even fought losers like Kangaroo and the Gibbon, yet he holds on to the respect of his fans while the Speedballs of the hero community are dismissed as unimportant. Some truly great characters have been unjustifiably ignored by fans, and it is time we put a stop to this cavalier treatment of those heroes who don't have the name recognition they deserve!

Start the movement today by heading straight to Four Color to buy She-Hulk #1! She-Hulk has been underappreciated for far too long. Maybe her origin as a girly Hulk spin-off wasn't one of comics most original moments, but look how far she has come since those early days! She's been in the Fantastic Four, she's been an Avenger, she's racked up almost one hundred issues in several series of her own, she's even saved the world on multiple occasions! What more does a lady need to do to prove herself?

Jennifer Walters (AKA She-Hulk) is no mere flavor of the month, eye candy heroine in a leotard. Sure, she's a gorgeous, green villain-smacking machine, but she's also got brains! Jen is a lawyer, and a darn good one. And Ms. Walters hasn't screwed her life up like some other super-hero lawyers, with a string of dead girlfriends and questionable legal ethics, that I COULD mention. On top of everything else, Shulkie has a great sense of humor. She can quip as fast as Spidey at his best, and look sexy doing it.

In case you missed it, Marvel published She-Hulk "Season One" last year. Written by Dan Slott (Marvel's go-to guy for stories that bring some much needed humor to the genre) with art by Juan Bobillo and Paul Pelletier, She-Hulk was a huge hit with critics and with any fans who actually read the book. Unfortunately, not enough people were reading these great stories, so the series was rested and relaunched (with the same creators) to hopefully attract more readers. The relaunch is upon us! Don't miss out this time!

She-Hulk has some of the most clever writing in comics today. The stories are witty, and include loads of subtle (and some not so subtle) references to the world of comics that will reward attentive fans. The very first issue has guest appearances by several New Avengers, and the Young Avengers, AND the Vision, AND Hawkeye (Not a hoax or an imaginary story!) She-Hulk WILL entertain you, so give Jen the respect she so richly deserves. Buy this book today, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. If you miss out this time, all the cool kids will laugh at you.

Not a Cheap Trick: Spellgame #1

It's maaagic! With the occasional Harry Potter-esque exception, most magic is pretty cheesy. Magic is the stuff of Vegas stage shows and lame TV specials where guys with ponytails wear puffy, silk shirts and dance around while pretending to saw a Victoria's Secret model in half. On the lower end of the magical spectrum, there are the sleazy con-men with big belt buckles and unbuttoned shirts who use card tricks to impress women and scam cash from the gullible.

Spellgame #1, from Speakeasy Comics, is about one of those sleazy con-men. John Dodge and his partner Harry make a living as "street performers," scamming the rubes with a combination of sleight of hand and confidence tricks. Of course, since this is a comic book, things aren't really that simple. Strange forces seem to be gathering around John, and his "tricks" suddenly take on a life of their own.

Being a skeptic and a cynic through and through, John doesn't believe in "real" magic. No matter how bizarre the circumstances around him, no matter how hard it is to deny the evidence in front of him, John refuses to believe that magic really exists. Dodge isn't going to be swayed by goblins, other-dimensional beings in bondage gear, or even walking, talking playing cards. Not even messages delivered by the re-animated body of his dead friend....well, maybe THAT will work.

Spellgame #1 is written by Dan Mishkin with artwork by Ramon Perez, and a cover by Darwyn Cooke. Mishkin's story is intriguing, and leaves a whole lot of unanswered questions to tempt readers back for more. The art by Perez has a simple, and slightly cartoony style that really shows off the magical weirdness that goes down around John Dodge.

If you want something a little different, and you enjoy stories that leave you just a little mystified, try out Spellgame #1. It is Four Color Fantasies' Guaranteed Book of the Week, so buy one today. Before it disappears, like, you know, um, magic. Poof!

Monster Mayhem All Month: Devil Dinosaur

Hey, it's October already, and you know what that means! No, not Oktoberfest, ya lushes! October means cooler weather, crummy plastic costumes, WAY too much cheap candy (just stay away from that mean old lady who gives kids those nasty Circus Peanuts and Candy Corn), horror movies, and, best of all, MONSTER COMICS!

Lucky for you, your good friends at Marvel Comics are lookin' out for ya this October with a whole month of cool monster comics! Under the banner of the Marvel Monsters Group, they're releasing a monster-themed comic every single week in October. Each book features monsters from the days of yore, before super-heroes ruled the comic book landscape. Each book also features a mighty fancy cover by monster artist supreme, Eric Powell. (And if you ain't readin' Powell's own book, The Goon, you better have a darn solid reason. Trust me, it's good comics.) Marvel wisely kicks off their monster-iffic celebrations with the return of one of Jack Kirby's weirdest creations, Devil Dinosaur.

Just in case you haven't been exposed to the wonders of Devil Dinosaur before, I'll fill you in on everything you need to know. Devil is a big, red, leathery tyranosaurus with a monkey-man named Moon Boy riding on his back. What a great concept! The only way Devil D could possibly be any cooler would be if Moon Boy was also a pirate, but that might just be too much of a good thing. Kirby was wise in his restraint.

Devil Dinosaur is written by Tom Sniegoski and Eric Powell, with sweet, sweet art also by Powell. (I'm tellin' ya, Eric Powell is a comics genius!) Are these great men content to give us page after page of Devil eating cave men? No sirree! This book also features Kirby's Celestials lurking around behind the scenes. In any other comic, that would be excitement enough. But Devil Dinosaur also has a titanic smack-down between the red one and the always incredible Hulk! Wait, there's more! This issue also has a reprint from Tales to Astonish featuring Kirby monster Xemnu-the ORIGINAL Hulk!

This comic is pure entertainment and Marvel Monster Mayhem. It is more fun than gorging on popcorn balls and cheap chocolate. It is ALSO Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. With a money-back guarantee, you can't lose! So, if you don't give this great comic a try, I'm gonna save up all my Circus Peanuts and leave 'em in a flaming bag on your doorstep. That'll learn ya!

Join this Secret Society: Stronghold #1

If comics are to be believed (and they should be!), the world around us is just teeming with cool, mysterious, incredibly powerful, ultra-secret societies. These groups carry on campaigns to take over the world, conceal alien invasions, run the government, and protect us from the forces of evil. Most of them seem to offer pretty sweet employee benefits, too.

DDP's Stronghold #1 gives readers a glimpse into one such secret society. The Stronghold's job is to watch over and shelter a seemingly average guy named Michael. To them, Michael is also an amazingly powerful, god-like being known as The Primacy. His power is enough to accomplish a great deal of good in the world, but Michael doesn't know a thing about it. Instead of saving lives and becoming a hero, Michael drags through day after meaningless day in a dreary, lonely, unrewarding life.

The Stronghold believe that if Michael ever realizes his power, the world will be plunged into chaos and destruction. They believe that a truce has been called in the eternal battle of good versus evil, but that if The Primacy ever reclaims his title the truce is off. The forces of darkness will launch an all-out war on the forces of good. Result: the end of the world. To keep the rest of the world alive, Michael's life has to stay as dull and unfullfilling as possible. Makes being a god seem like a pretty raw deal, huh?

This book, by writer Phil Hester and artist Tyler Walpole, makes a great change of pace from all the super-heroics on the shelves. The characters are engaging, and there are enough mysteries in the world of The Stronghold to make readers anxious to know more. Best of all, I really have no idea where the plot is going after the first issue, and THAT is all too rare. Walpole's detailed black and white art is very realistic, which makes the fantasy elements of the story really stand apart from the mundane.

So, Stronghold #1 is a unique book with great art and an intriguing story. It is also Four Color Fantasies' Book of the Week. You have no reason not to try this book today. Of course, if you DON'T try it, The Stronghold may wonder just what you have against them. They may even have to start keeping you under close observation. I really don't think you want that, so try out Stronghold #1 now!

X-Men: Colossus: Bloodline

Before we even get started, I think it is only fair to warn you that this week's Book of the Week IS an X-Men spin-off limited series. I think we all know that those tend to be a little on the stinky side, but this one is actually pretty good! It was also relatively unhyped, and has gotten kinda lost in all the House of M/Infinite Crisis excitement of the summer.

Unfortunately, the title is an awkward mouthful, X-Men: Colossus: Bloodline. (I say no title should have more than 2 words, unless those words form a sentence, or at least a coherent thought.) As you may know, Colossus has only recently returned to the land of the living over in the rather excellent Astonishing X-Men. Having spent quite a while being thought dead, being tortured, and being experimented on, it is understandable that Piotr Rasputin (AKA Colossus) is having some "issues." He is plagued by nightmares, and a huge, armored Russian's nightmares can end up causing some serious property damage.

Pete tries to cope with the help of a little art therapy, but he is clearly still having some serious anger-management problems. The situation doesn't improve when Petey gets a mysterious message from the homeland. It seems that a killer with supernatural powers is working his way through the Rasputin family tree. Not only that, but the murders may have something to do with the most notorious Rasputin of all time...

Bloodline is written by David Hine with art by Jorge Lucas. It is nice that Hine's story is delving into Piotr's Russian heritage, since this aspect of the character has been mostly overlooked during his decades of X-Men membership. Lucas's art is very dark and moody, just the ticket for this creepy and edgy tale.

So, Colossus is back, the art is good, and the story is a unique direction for this character. Why wouldn't you give this a try? Don't let the generic and wordy title scare you away! Give X-Men: Colossus: Bloodline a read now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! Pete has enough troubles, don't make him feel unloved!

Super-Baby? The Pulse #11

For quite a few very sound reasons, not many super-heroes have kids. The kid could turn out to be some sort of meta-human mutant with the power to destroy all of reality. Maybe the kid will get repeatedly kidnapped by villains and used as a hostage. Maybe heroes don't have time to change diapers and go to teacher/parent meetings. Maybe the baby will get infected with some sort of techno-organic virus and be sent to the future, only to return as a grizzled old freedom fighter out to change the history of his world. OK, that last one is a little far-fetched. Never happen.

Anyway, super-hero babies do come with a lot of problems, so it makes sense that Marvel's most neurotic ex-heroine, Jessica Jones, is a little freaked out over the impending birth of her child. Not only is she a super-powered mom but the father, Luke Cage, is now an official Avenger. If you live in the Marvel U, Susan Storm (AKA Invisible Woman) is by far the most successful heroic mom around. It makes perfect sense then, that Jessica turns to Sue for some parental advice.

That advice is the main focus of The Pulse #11, part 1 of a story called "Fear." Other questions are raised in this issue, such as what's up with the reappearance of D-Man, a lame former Avenger with Daredevil's old yellow costume and a Wolverine hat-thing? And can designer Janet Van Dyne (AKA The Wasp) come up with a look for Luke Cage, formerly known as Power Man, that is any less lame than his old yellow silk shirt and chains look?

The Pulse #11 is written by Marvel's number one writing guy, Brian Michael Bendis, so you know the story and characters are excellent. This issue will be extra-special to fans of Jessica's first series, Alias, since it marks the return of Miss Jones' first artist, Michael Gaydos. Despite many other artist's worthy attempts, Gaydos still draws the definitive Jessica Jones.

The impending arrival of a super-baby on the scene, the reunion of Bendis and Gaydos, and a terrifically funny cover (check out Wolverine!), all make The Pulse #11 a book not to be missed. Try it now while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week, or you'll be on diaper duty next issue!

Nothing Wackier: Cable and Deadpool #19

+So, you are a super-powered, pseudo-messiah who has saved the world but been artificially reverted to infancy. As you rapidly accelerate through puberty and adolescence, you need a place to go to wildly and hedonistically celebrate your return to manhood. With the whole world to choose from, where do you go? Intercourse, Pennsylvania, right?

Well, maybe not. As Wade (Deadpool) Wilson and Nathan (Cable) Askani'son discover in Cable and Deadpool #19, Intercourse does not really provide the lurid thrills that the name suggests. In fact, it is such a dismal disappointment that Wade and his young sidekick Nate have nothing better to do than sit in a dingy bar and grill drinking their troubles away. At least, Cable would be drinking if he was old enough. Which he is. Except he isn't. Yet. But he will be soon. Cable must be a very confusing guy to hang out with. No wonder the Avengers never ask him to join.

While these guys sit and drink (or not), they talk. Admittedly, a couple of guys chatting at a bar in Intercourse, PA does not sound like a very exciting comic. Fortunately, Cable and Deadpool have led much more interesting lives than the average man on the street. Their discussion reveals a lot about the difficult path these guys have traveled to become the world-saving mutant hero and psychotic merc-with-a-mouth odd couple we all know and love. Plus, no one makes running off at the mouth more entertaining than Deadpool! He's a talker, that one.

Cable and Deadpool, the wackiest team-up in the Marvel Universe, is brought to you by writer Fabian Nicieza and penciller Patrick Zircher. Nicieza helped bring both of these characters to fame back in the '90s, so he knows his way around the characters. His stories embrace continuity rather than avoiding it, even the crazy, twisty warped continuity behind Cable. He also does good work with Deadpool's incessant, reference laden chatter. (Though no one can touch Joe Kelly's run on Deadpool, but we won't hold that against Fabian.)

If you haven't been reading Cable and Deadpool, shame on you! Issue #19 gives you a great place to start. You'll learn everything you need to know about our intrepid heroes to join them in all their future hijinks and goings-on. Try it now while it is guaranteed as Four Color Fantasies' Book of the Week. If you don't, Deadpool will book your next birthday party in Intercourse, PA.

Reality Comics: Powers #12

You know, if we really lived in a world where it was a common thing for people to get super-powers, it would probably get pretty ugly. People tend to do really awful things to each other on a regular basis, so if folks had super-strength or melt-your-head vision, there would be a lot of melted heads lying around. Most super-hero comics tend to shy away from extreme violence of the melted head variety. MOST shy away, but not Powers, baby!

If you haven't been reading Powers, by Brian Bendis and Mike Oeming, I'd like to know why not. This comic consistently hits the high marks for all-around excellence. Everybody knows Bendis is currently the biggest shot on the comics writing block, and in the creator-owned Powers, he has the freedom to really cut loose and tell the kinds of stories that would never be allowed in the Marvel and DC universes.

In the simplest terms, the series is a police procedural. Homicide detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim investigate murder cases involving the super-powered community. Sometimes the Powers are the killers and sometimes they are the victims, but Walker and Pilgrim almost always get their perp. Of course, Bendis is known for creating deep and involving characters and putting them through some amazingly twisty-turny plots, so there is a lot more to Powers than can be summed up in a few sentences. Oeming's art is deceptively simple and cartoony, yet dark and gritty enough for this frequently very dark book.

If you haven't been reading this great comic, now is the perfect time to start! This issue (#12 under Marvel's Icon imprint but the 49th issue overall) marks the anniversary of the 2nd series. As an anniversary treat, a huge interview with Bendis and Oeming is included in this issue along with the always informative, and very long, letter column. With all this bonus material, Powers #12 is not a book you will flip through in just 5 minutes.

So if you like your super-heroics with a big dose of real world ultra-violence, if you like police procedurals, if you like gripping drama, if you like great art, you will love Powers. Give it a try now, while Four Color Fantasies guarantees your reading pleasure! If you don't want Detective Walker knocking on your door to ask a few questions, try out this Book of the Week now. You have the right to be entertained....

Buy without Fear: Daredevil #76

You don't get to be called the "Kingpin of Crime" by being a nice guy. In fact, Marvel's Wilson Fisk, AKA the Kingpin, is one large, scary, intimidating, cold-hearted dude. If he invited you to visit him in his top-secret, super-duper high security prison cel, you would probably not want to go have a "friendly-chat." Especially if you were Ben Urich and had once been stabbed by one of the Kingpin's high-priced assassins. Yet, that is exactly what Ben finds himself doing in Daredevil #76.

The Kingpin hasn't really been on the scene since Daredevil (AKA Matt Murdock, big-shot attorney) last trounced him and took his place as the Kingpin of Hell's Kitchen. No matter how many times they square off, Murdock just can't seem to get Fisk out of his life for good. DD has had his share of troubles recently. He's had his identity revealed to the public, worked long and hard to convince the world that he ISN'T Daredevil, had his new wife leave him, and had his fellow heroes question his whole "I am the new Kingpin" approach to crime-fighting. He really should have known that, just as things started looking up, Fisk would show up to throw a big fat wrench into the works of Matt's life.

Daredevil #76 begins the last DD storyline by Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev. You might have heard of this Bendis guy. He has been known to write a few bestselling comics for Marvel, like Ultimate Spider-Man, House of M, New Avengers, and almost everything else they publish. Marvel may have one or two books by other writers, I'll have to look that up. Anyway, Bendis and Maleev have had a long, critically acclaimed run on Daredevil, so you know they are going to go out with a bang. Bendis's writing is consistently excellent, and his crime-noir Daredevil stories are a perfect match for Maleev's gritty, realistic art.

This book has great creators, it has the return of the Kingpin, and it has a whole dump truck load of complications for Murdock's already crazy life. It is a good thing Daredevil is known as "The Man Without Fear," cause it seems like his life is set to get mighty scary.

Now you can be the "Comic Book Reader Without Fear!" Buy Daredevil #76 today! It is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. You don't have to be afraid to rush out and get this book now, but you should look carefully for trucks carrying radioactive waste when you cross the road. No need to be reckless.

A Super Babysitter: Supergirl #1

Babysitting can be a mighty scary experience. You might find yourself responsible for the sweetest little darling imaginable, but you might also find yourself held hostage by a holy terror that makes Bart Simpson look like a dream-child. Of course, you MIGHT get to the house and find that the little tyke you are expecting is not only a fully-grown adult, but also the greatest and most powerful hero the world has ever known.

OK, that last one is unlikely, but it is sort of what happens to Kara Zor-El in Supergirl #1. Kara arrived on Earth in suspended animation, expecting to be right behind the spaceship carrying her infant cousin, Kal-El (AKA Superman). As you can probably guess, she arrived just a little late. Kal is a pretty big boy, and doesn't really need any supervision from his 15-year-old cousin. Add to that the fact that the ship carrying Kara's parents apparently ISN'T going to show up, and you are dealing with a very confused and uncertain teen in search of her identity.

As you may know, Supergirls haven't been all that hard to come by in the DC Universe. There have been quite a few previous holders of the title. Some have been retconned out of existence and some haven't, but you don't need to know anything about the previous Supergirls to join in on the adventures of the latest model. The fact that she is not the first Supergirl just adds to Kara's confusion about her new life. Even more perplexing, she isn't even the only person on Earth who claims to be Superman's cousin. (Yes, this issue DOES feature a serious girl-fight between Kara and Power Girl. Not that any of you are interested in that kind of thing.)

Supergirl #1 is written by the much-loved Jeph Loeb, with art by Ian Churchill. No one can deny that Loeb is a great writer, and his talent shows in this book. The characters are interesting, the dialogue revealing, and the mystery intriguing. Churchill's art is a great fit for this book, as he does a great job drawing big powerful, scary villains (like Solomon Grundy) and cute/sexy females (like the title character).

Don't miss out on the first issue of this new series! It's got Loeb, it's got Churchill, it's got Kara, it's got teen angst, it's got punching, AND it's got Power Girl's huge, ummmm, heroic ambitions. (Get your mind out of the gutter!) All that, PLUS Supergirl #1 is Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week! Bribe the babysitter if you have to, but get out of the house and check this comic out now!

Just a Bad Dream: Justice #1

Ever had a bad dream? Or even a nightmare? Everyone has them sometimes. Maybe you've had the one where something is chasing you and you can't seem to move. Or maybe you've had the one where you show up for work or school and suddenly realize that you've forgotten your pants. Or maybe...umm, on second thought, I won't mention THAT one. The point is, we all have bad dreams, but you wake up, get a glass of water, go back to bed and forget all about it.

In Justice #1, the villains of the DC Universe are sharing the same bad dream. This isn't the kind of dream you just go back to sleep and forget about, though. Sharing dreams is disturbing enough, but this is one whopper of a bad dream. This is an apocalyptic, end-of-everything bad dream. Even stranger, the villains all see the heroes of the Justice League completely failing to save ANYONE in this dream of theirs. Since even the bad guys don't want the whole world to be destroyed, they are going to have to work together to make sure this dream never comes true.

Justice is a collaborative effort with a story by Alex Ross and Jim Krueger, and gorgeous painted art by Ross and Doug Braithwaite. Everybody knows Alex Ross, and you get just what people expect from him in this book: incredibly detailed paintings that make the heroes and villains of the DC Universe seem real enough to step right off of the pages. The backgrounds are amazingly lush, and Ross really shines depicting both apocalyptic explosions and amazing views of Aquaman's Atlantis.

The creators of Justice are not thinking small. The story is just as big and bold as the art. From beginning to end, this book is about huge, momentous, Earth-shattering events, with the promise of more to follow. There is no slow build-up to the action while characters sit around and chat here. For readers not as familiar with the DC Universe (like me!), there are some very helpful files from the Batcomputer included to fill you in on the major characters. No more will you be mocked because you don't know Black Manta's backstory!

Really, this book is worth 3 bucks for the art alone. Add in a great story, and you just can't go wrong. Try Justice #1 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! We can't promise you won't have any more bad dreams, but next time you have one you can roll over, read your copy of Justice, and realize that your dreams could be worse!

Incredible Hulk: Destruction #1

The Hulk is definitely NOT your average super-hero, if you even want to call him a hero. He doesn't wear a costume (torn purple pants don't count), he doesn't go out on crime patrol, and his identity is far from secret. Mostly, what Hulk DOES do is smash stuff, shout a lot, and cause panic wherever he goes. Not your typical hero.

True to form, Hulk doesn't really have a typical Rogue's Gallery of enemies either. Maybe that's because most people who run into the Hulk want to make sure it never happens again and, sensibly, try to stay as far away from him as possible. The closest thing the Hulk has to an arch-enemy is the Abomination. He is one of the few villains in the Marvel U who can go toe to toe with the Hulk and still chew his own food the next day. The history between the two characters is pretty ugly too, so it makes sense that Marvel has put together a limited series that shines a spotlight on the Abomination, AKA Emil Blonsky.

Incredible Hulk: Destruction #1 by Peter David and Jim Muniz promises to reveal the never seen before facts about good old Emil. Fans of Peter David's "incredible" run of Hulk stories will be glad to know that a ton of great Hulk supporting cast members are back in this series. General "Thunderbolt" Ross, Doc Sampson, Hulk, and, of course, the Abomination are all here in fine form. David's definitive take on these characters alone makes this book worth the cover price. Muniz's art is a great complement, giving readers all the huge, vein-covered, sinewy muscles you could possibly expect in 22 pages.

The story itself starts when some government official gets the "brilliant" idea of using the Abomination as a sort of one-man Army, to be sent in to depose the occasional dictator or whatever you might normally use an army for. Sending in one huge gamma-powered dude instead of thousands of troops seems like a great idea, right? It will save time, money AND lives. Seriously, what could possibly go wrong? How could someone called "the Abomination" be unsafe to work with? Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

Really, you just can't do much better than Peter David writing a classic Hulk story, featuring THE Hulk villain. The story is great, the art is great, and if you don't buy Incredible Hulk: Destruction #1 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week, you might make Emil angry. And, you know, you really wouldn't like him when he's angry.

An unwilling team will amuse you: Defenders #1

By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth!! All you foolish and vain mortals must immediately rush forth and purchase the first installment of the all-new, all-astounding adventures of the dynamic Defenders! If you do not heed this call, you may endanger the very reality in which you live, blissfully ignorant of the dire supernatural threats surrounding you-even at this exact moment in time! So says Doctor Strange, and so it shall be!

OK, hopefully that got your attention. You really should read Marvel's new Defenders #1, by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Macguire. The Defenders have always been an odd bunch. They are a team of heroes who don't like each other, don't particularly want to help each other, and don't want to be called a team. The big four of the Defenders have always been Doctor Strange, the Hulk, Namor, and the Silver Surfer. These are not really characters known for their social skills or teamwork. They ARE all known for having huge egos and difficult personalities. As you can imagine, they are as likely to fight with each other as they are to fight the threats they face. They also all love to hear themselves talk, especially by making convoluted and melodramatic speeches. (See above paragraph.)

The Defenders are perfect characters to be handed over to Giffen, DeMatteis, and Macguire. Each of these guys has created great comics working solo, but when they get together they are notorious for writing offbeat, satirical, and just plain funny, super-hero team books. They are responsible for quite a few very silly versions of the Justice League, and for making Guy Gardner the most obnoxious Green Lantern ever.

Defenders #1 will not disappoint readers who are looking for something a little different. In a summer season filled with deadly serious, universe-shattering crossovers, Defenders is a great change of pace. Thanks to a deadly serious, universe-shattering threat ( OK, maybe it isn't all that different) from the Dread Dormammu and his sister Umar the Unholy, Doctor Strange is forced to recruit his old Defenders allies to help him save the day. Needless to say, they are not happy, or cooperative, campers and Strange has his work cut out for him.

If you like your super-heroics with a bit of humor then, by the Rings of Raggador and the All-Seeing Eye of Agamotto, you must make haste to Four Color Fantasies! If you do not truly appreciate this mighty tome, then your hard-earned gold shall be returned! But if you do not at least try, you are truly a craven coward and you may pay dearly for your insolence! And don't even think about making fun of Namor's cute little ankle wings, either.

Living up to its adjectives: Ultimate Fantastic Four #21

A book called "Ultimate Fantastic Four" has a lot of adjectives to live up to. For most comics, being just Ultimate OR Fantastic would be enough, but not for this title. This book boldly claims to be BOTH. Fortunately, the Four do a pretty good job of living up to their billing.

If you have followed any of Marvel's Ultimate titles, you have a pretty good idea what to expect. The book gives readers a somewhat updated and streamlined version of the classic Fantastic Four. The stories and characters are not held back by 30+ years of continuity, allowing for a fresh take on some of Marvel's greatest icons. For example, Ultimate Reed Richards is much younger and inexperienced compared to his Marvel Universe original, and Ultimate Sue is a whole lot less mom-like. Up until now, the characters from the Ultimate Marvel Universe have remained completely separate from the characters in any other Marvel Universe.

It makes sense that the Fantastic Four (Ultimate or otherwise) would be the first to "Crossover," as this story arc is titled. The FF are always exploring the universe and all of its related dimensions and alternate realities. In Ultimate Fantastic Four #21, young Reed, while exploring the N-Zone, discovers a way to communicate with an alternate reality version of himself, who will seem very familiar to fans of the original Fantastic Four. While this may sound like a typical Marvel cross-reality team-up in the making, things don't quite go the way Reed, or the readers, expect. The cliffhanger ending will leave you checking your calendar to get the next issue.

Ultimate Fantastic Four #21 is written by Mark Millar, hot off his very succesful work on Marvel Knights Spider-Man and Wolverine. Millar is clearly having a great time playing with some of Marvel's best toys. Even more impressive is the beautiful artwork by Greg Land. Land is well-known for his gorgeously realistic, and often sexy, cover art and his recent work on Phoenix: Endsong. His art here will not disappoint fans, the realism and detail are amazing. Plus, the Torch's flame looks like it could singe your fingers, and Land's Sue Storm is not at all hard on the eyes. (Not that any of us are that shallow. Especially me.)

Anyway, with the fun Fantastic Four movie out, and an exciting new creative team on this book, you really shouldn't pass up Ultimate Fantastic Four #21. UFF is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week, so run out and try it now! If you don't like it, you can get your money back. That is an ultimate, fantastic, and just plain cool, deal.

R.A. Salvatore-Forgotten Realms, Homeland: The Legend of Drizzt: Book I

When most people think of Elves, they think of those adorable little pink-cheeked scamps from the North Pole. You know, Elves that are two feet tall, have little button noses and delight in making toys for children. How delightfully cute! If that adorable and sweet image is what pops into your head when you think of Elves, you may be in for a shock when you read this week's Book of the Week.

The awkwardly titled R.A. Salvatore-Forgotten Realms, Homeland: The Legend of Drizzt: Book I (henceforth known as Homeland #1) will reveal to you the truth about Elves. Not just any Elves, mind you, but Dark Elves. The Dark Elves are a race of viscious warriors who live deep beneath the surface of the planet in the cavernous city of Menzoberranzan. Menzoberranzan is absolutely nowhere near the North Pole, by the way. These Dark Elves are a cold-hearted, back-stabbing bunch, driven solely by ambition and the desire for power. They do not make toys and wear little green booties. What the Dark Elves DO make are plans to destroy one another and all the weapons they could possibly need to make their schemes happen.

The protagonist of Homeland #1 is Drizzt, the son of a powerful clan Matron. Drizzt was fated to die at birth, but circumstances conspire to save his life. It soon becomes apparent that Drizzt is a bit different from the rest of his people. He is not, by nature, nearly as cruel or heartless as others. He actually smiles once in a while and seems to have thoughts beyond pure ambition. As Drizzt is trained in the ways of combat, it becomes clear that he has the skill to be a great warrior. He may not, however, have what it takes to survive in the loveless world of his birth.

Homeland #1 is based on a novel by fantasy author R.A. Salvatore. For fans of high fantasy and adventure, Salvatore is considered one of the greatest, and most prolific, writers in the field. The adaptation of the novel by Andrew Dabb is very well done, he is clearly treating Salvatore's story with the respect it deserves. The art by Tim Seeley is also excellent. Seeley really captures the dark world of Menzoberranzan and its people.

Once again, the Book of the Week is a comic that both entertains and educates! Never again will you suffer from misconceptions about the cuteness of Elves. This book could save your life, or the life of a loved one, by helping you to remember NOT to invite any Elves into your home next holiday season. These Elves won't settle down just because you offer them milk and cookies. Don't take any chances, pick up Homeland #1 now! It's guaranteed!

Sleep Tight It's the Dream Police

This is Wednesday. New comics day. A lot of comics come out every Wednesday. Some good. Some bad. Some kind of in the middle. Not every comic has what it takes to be a Book of the Week. It takes a special breed of comic. Not just a good comic. It takes a DARN good comic.

OK, I'll give you a break on the phoney "Dragnet" narration for a while, but I can't promise it won't happen again. This week's Book of the Week is Dream Police by J. Michael Straczynski and Mike Deodato. These guys recently worked together on the controversial "Sins Past" story arc over in Amazing Spider-Man, but this book comes from Marvel's creator-owned Icon imprint. What that means is, we are getting something here unlike anything these creators have done before.

Dream Police is the story of a pair of cops, Joe Thursday and Frank Stanford, who patrol the Dreamscape beat. The Dreamscape is the place where all of our dreams actually happen. It's a huge city filled with dinosaurs, paranoia, orgies, naked people in meetings, frustration, symbolism, phobias and monsters in the closet. All these dreams, and the people who make them, have to play nice so they can co-exist. When things go wrong, it is time to call the Dream Police.

JMS goes all out to put together a story that is both fun and funny. Some of the humor comes from the silly circumstances faced by our completely serious heroes, and some of it comes from the craziness of the dreams themselves. Deodato's very subtle and realistic art helps ground the crazy proceedings by making everything feel down-to-earth and plausible, even when it isn't. Not only is this a great story from a pair of great creators, it is a completely self-contained, one-shot story. How often does that happen nowadays?

What we know so far: This week's Book of the Week-Dream Police. It's a comic. It's funny. Great art. Great story. Guaranteed. Buy it. Read it. Sleep tight.

Astro City: The Dark Age #1

A world full of super-heroes would truly be a cool and amazing place full of action, excitement and really wild things! If you were one of the super-folks. If, like everyone reading this, you were a regular, everyday person-no cosmic rays, no super-armor, no exposure to radioactive animal bites of any kind-things might not be so peachy.

That is the premise behind Astro City: The Dark Age #1. For the people of Astro City, their daily life is constantly being disrupted and endangered by alien invasions, super-people knocking buildings down and throwing cars at each other, giant spiders, and trolls coming out of the sewer. The constant turmoil in their lives really takes the edge off the "awe and wonder" of living in a world full of super-heroes.

The Dark Age specifically focusses on the lives of two brothers, Royal and Charles Williams. Royal is a petty criminal who is just about to dive even further into a life of crime. He takes advantage of the chaos in Astro City to prey on others and look out for himself. Charles has the unenviable job of being a police officer in Astro City. He tries to keep the chaos at bay, and tries to protect the normal citizens in this crazy world. Clearly, these brothers have a few issues between them.

The Dark Age is written by prolific fan-favorite scribe Kurt Busiek. Busiek does a great job here of combining everyday human drama with larger than life super-heroics. The art is by the equally respected Brent E. Anderson, and his slightly rough style truly captures the real-world feel of this series. Top that package off with covers by everyone's favorite super-hero painter Alex Ross, and you've got a trio of A-list comic book talents putting together a book that can't miss.

If you like your super-heroes with a little bit more real world appeal, or if you just enjoy reading a great, dramatic story, you can't go wrong with Astro City: The Dark Age #1. This promises to be the start of one of Busiek's most ambitious projects yet. You don't want to miss it, and you have no excuse not to try it out now while it is Four Color Fantasies' Guaranteed Book of the Week. Just remember, super-heroes may be cool but it wouldn't be so great if the Hulk leveled your house or Superman got knocked through your office building!

There aren't enough comics out there for kids to read! There are way too many super-hero comics! We want more diverse material featuring other genres! Excuse my exclamation points, but those are just a few examples of complaints from fans about the current state of the comics biz. Sure, the big publishers bring us a lot of great stuff, but many people feel that there is just too much of the same old thing out there.

Unfortunately, when something new and different comes out, especially in the family friendly category, it is all too common for those books to sit unnoticed on the shelf. Maybe it is because people don't immediately recognize the title or maybe they don't want to risk money on an unknown quantity. That is why you should pay attention to this week's Book of the Week, The Stardust Kid.

This new title, published under Image's Desperado imprint, is brought to you by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Ploog, the creators of the critically acclaimed Abadazad. Both creators are known for quality work, and Stardust Kid certainly lives up to their reputations. DeMatteis's story is both clever and insightful, full of fantastic concepts and believable characters. Ploog's art is lushly detailed, perfect for this story's otherworldly elements.

The first issue introduces reader's to Cody DiMarco, a 12 year old boy with a very unusual best friend. Cody's mother isn't quite sure what it is that bothers her about Paul Brightfield, but she knows she would rather her son didn't spend so much time with him. Cody's former best friend Alana also feels that there is something not quite "right" about Paul. Neither of them has any idea just how odd Paul really is. Not only is Paul not normal, he is not even human. Paul is really a shape-shifting magical entity, one of the last magical beings left on the Earth. He is also at the center of events that may completely destroy the world as Cody knows it...

The Stardust Kid #1 is the start of an epic fantasy adventure, appropriate for younger readers but substantial enough to interest even the most jaded comic book fan. Share it with your kids or treat your own inner child, but try out Stardust Kid now while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week!!! Obey the exclamation points!!