Annihilation: Conquest #1

Marvel has had a ton of big crossover events lately, and most of the hype and excitement has been heaped on to the Earth-centric action. Civil War and World War Hulk have been great stories, with some pretty serious consequences for the characters involved. However; the real, big-time, action has been going on way out in deep space. The universe-shattering wars of Annihilation make the superheroes little Civil War seem like a whole bunch of fuss over nothing.

Seriously, in the first Annihilation series, whole planetary empires were destroyed; strings of planets got blown up, major characters died in droves. You just can't get sci-fi, space-opera action on such a huge scale anywhere else.Writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, along with penciller Tom Raney, sure aren't letting up on the action in the latest series, Annihilation: Conquest.

If you haven't tried out any of the Annihilation events yet, the first issue of Conquest quickly gets you up to speed. The Kree Empire has been crushed by the seemingly unstoppable Phalanx, and bunch of techno-organic alien conquerors who can corrupt your technology as quickly as they can your body. Kree citizens are being melted down for fuel while the Phalanx are building an army big enough to subjugate the entire universe. The only hope to stop the Phalanx comes from the small groups of rebels scattered around the galaxy and a newly reborn Adam Warlock. Of course, Adam doesn't remember who he is, and he may not feel like helping, so the future doesn't look too bright for the Kree. Or anyone else, for that matter.

With heaping helpings of cosmic action, gorgeous artwork, and an epic story, Annhilation: Conquest #1 is too good to pass up! Fight your way past the alien hordes to Four Color Fantasies this week so you can, with the added safety of a money-back guarantee, try out this space-tastic Book of the Week!

Crazier than the Punisher: Foolkiller #1

So, like many discerning readers, you like the Punisher. You like seeing the bad guys get what they deserve. When Frank Castle strings some guy's intestines around like Christmas tree lights, or runs over someone with a steamroller, you get a guilty (or not) thrill. But every once in a while you say to yourself, "The Punisher IS awesome, but he could be a little MORE crazy!" You, my friend, need to check out Foolkiller.

Foolkiller #1, by Gregg Hurwitz and Lan Medina, is a new take on this often forgotten character. The original was a flamboyant Steve Gerber creation who went around in buccaneer boots and a floppy hat, vaporizing stupid people. This new version, published under Marvel's mature readers Max imprint (Definitely NOT for the young or faint of heart!), is a whole different kettle of vigilante justice. This Foolkiller is a massively-muscled psychopath with a cane sword, a vicious dog, and an evil jester tattoo. He's traded in the goofy outfit for a wife-beater and a buzz cut.

Foolkiller #1 shows us more of the horribly creative results of his "work" than of the man himself. Seriously, the Punisher is a sentimental old softy compared to this guy. He dishes out "poetic justice" in ways that involve some seriously creative mutilations and slow, painful, deaths. His motivation is left unclear, but his targets range from petty criminals, to rapists, to white-collar, big business guys. No one is safe from the Foolkiller. You really don't want to attract this guy's attention.

Hurwitz introduces the character as a shadowy urban legend, who turns out to be very real. The Foolkiller is a menacing figure in the darkness, who leaves evil-doers with his calling card (a "Fool" from the Tarot deck) stapled to their stumps. The fact that we don't know who he is, or why he does this, makes him that much more intriguing. Lan Medina's dark, detailed, and often gruesome, art perfectly captures the hyper-real urban stalking grounds of this mysterious character. Scary stuff, kids!

As long as you've been keeping your nose clean, and you have a strong stomach, you should check out Foolkiller #1. If you've been tempted to do something naughty, this book just might change your mind. If you've already given in to the temptation, watch out when you walk down a dark alley, because the Foolkiller might be looking for you!

Believable characters peak interest: Necessary Evil #1

When you're a teenager, parents are always problematic. Sometimes you struggle to live up to their expectations, sometimes you are embarassed by their dorky oldness, and sometimes you can't stop arguing with them. So imagine the psychological trauma you have to deal with when you find out that your sweet, pie-baking mom was killed in action as one of the world's greatest super-villains! You might as well pack your bags and head to therapy. Or super-villain school. Whichever works for you.

That is pretty much the choice faced by twin brothers Jake and Miller in Desperado's Necessary Evil #1. 10 years after their mom's death (She was the villain known as "The Matriarch."), they get a mysterious invitation to a secret meeting place. On arrival, they discover the Necessary Evil Academy-a school for super-villain hopefuls. The purple-dreadlocked Mr. Anti, who was with their mother the night she died, welcomes the boys to a convocation that will change their lives forever.

Writer Joshua Williamson has created believable characters and thrust them into this somewhat unlikely scenario. Jake is a little unsure about the idea of becoming a villain. He would like to get revenge for his mother's death, but he isn't too gung-ho about killing or mass destruction. Miller, on the other hand, is all too eager to get down to the business of being evil, maybe too eager for his own good. The other students at the school will be pretty familiar to most readers. There's the tough guy who wants to bully everyone, there's the dorky dude who just wants a friend, and there's the rich, hot, snobby girl who has all these teen guys in the palm of her hand.

The mix of familiar, real, characters in a larger-than-life setting is what makes this series worth checking out. The simple, yet effective, animated style art from Marcus L. Harris really brings these characters to life. (Though I'm still unconvinced as to the soundness of purple dreadlocks as a style choice. With a goatee and cape, no less!)

Let your dark side out for some air and check out Necessary Evil #1 this week at Four Color Fantasies! (If your parents will let you out of the house, that is.) It's guaranteed, and WAY cheaper than therapy.

Excellent One for the Kiddies: Teen Titans Go! #47

Hey kids, comics!

Most of us started reading comics at a tender young age. Luckily for us old-timers, the medium really grew up with us. The increasing range and sophistication of comics meant we never had to give them up. Hooray! But what about the new kids? Where are the comics for them? Unfortunately, there aren't many good books out there aimed at the younger audience. How will we hook a new generation of readers? DC has at least one answer: Teen Titans Go!

The comic book version of the popular Cartoon Network show, Teen Titans Go! offers up continuity-free stories with clean, animation-style art. Each issue stands alone and offers readers fun stories, without the violence and darker themes that might upset parents or the complicated histories that might confuse new fans.

Teen Titans Go! #47 offers up two stories about the lives of our young heroes. In the first tale, by J. Torres and Michael Chang, Robin has to deal with the anniversary of his parent's death with a little help from his friends and a mysterious, unseen observer. The second feature, by Torres and Christine Norrie, cleverly shows two different sides of the same morning seen from the opposing viewpoints of Starfire and Raven. Both stories are positive and fun with attractive, anime-styled art.

If you're looking for a comic that you can happily hand to a young reader, Teen Titans Go! is the book for you. On top of two great stories, you also get an (unintentionally?) hilarious story-tisement in which Superman fights crime with the awesome power of candy! (Remember those old Hostess Fruit Pies ads?) TTG is good, clean, fun for kids and adults alike. Check it out now, while it's guaranteed at Four Color Fantasies!

An Awesome Duo: Immortal Iron Fist #9/Annual

One thing I think we can all agree on: watching martial artists kick people in the face is excellent fun for the whole family. Obviously, it's not so great to be on the receiving end, but the guilty pleasure of watching is sheer joy. If you haven't been reading The Immortal Iron Fist, you've been missing out on heaping helpings of face-kicking action.

Of course, no comic can be built on face-kicking alone, so there is a lot of other great stuff happening in Immortal Iron Fist. The series is written by the deadly combo of Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker, with nerve-crushingly gorgeous art by David Aja. The story has just the right balance of gravitas and snarky fun. When dealing with the ancient and mystical land of K'un-Lun, these guys adopt an appropriately serious and thoughtful tone. This is a land steeped in mystery and ancient traditions, and they pay enough attention to detail to make it seem imposing and real. Danny Rand (AKA Iron Fist) is a rich guy steeped in being a bit of a smarty-pants, and the writers capture him believably.

In recent issues, Danny has discovered more about the past of K'un-Lun, and the previous bearers of the Iron Fist, than he ever knew before. He'll need all of that knowledge if he is going to have a chance to survive the Tournament of the Seven Capital Cities of Heaven. K'un-Lun and its six sister cities have come together for a short time, so, naturally, they have to kick each other in the face. Each city sends its champion out to fight for the honor of their sacred name, and the Iron Fist has to represent for K'un-Lun. Let the kicking begin!

This week you have a chance to try not one, but TWO awesome doses of iron-fisted, yellow-bootied action! Immortal Iron Fist #9 not only starts the tournament, it also leads directly into the Immortal Iron Fist Annual #1. The annual fills in even more of the excellent, pulpy, back-story of Danny's predecessor in the role of Iron Fist, Orson Randall. The annual has incredible art from legends like Howard Chaykin and Dan Brereton, and appearances by such incredible characters as The Bride of Nine Spiders, the Super Lightning Lord, and (seriously!) The Harem Harlots of Harlem. I think that is a level of excellence that speaks for itself!

Unless you want to find yourself on the receiving end of a yellow boot to the face, you better check out Immortal Iron Fist this week! Try issue #9, or the incredible annual, OR try them both because they're two great tastes that taste great together! Both issues are guaranteed comic book excellence loaded with great art, great characters, and your recommended daily allowance of face-kicking! Hyyyaaahhhh!

Ennis does Superheroes: JLA/Hitman #1

Garth Ennis is a genius. Honestly, I love pretty much everything he has ever written. Judge Dredd, Preacher, The Punisher, The Boys, War Stories: every one a winner and every one a heaping helping of comic book awesomeness. Ennis is best known for stories loaded with dark humor, stories loaded with over-the-top violence, or a combination of both. What he doesn't do very often, is traditional super-hero stuff. You can bet when Garth Ennis DOES do super-heroes, he's going to approach them from a different angle than most writers.

IN JLA/Hitman #1, Ennis returns to one of his best known characters-Tommy Monaghan, AKA Hitman. In a universe full of people with amazing powers and heroic determination, Hitman is just your average contract killer who, thanks to some pesky alien parasites, got the power to look through stuff. (You know, like Wonder Woman's costume.) When the JLA find themselves facing the terrifying threat of MORE pesky alien parasites, they need someone who has tussled with them and survived, someone like Tommy Monaghan-the guy who once puked on Batman.

Because he has to work within the confines of what is appropriate in the DC Universe here, Ennis' potty-mouth and tendency towards blood-letting are absent from this story, but his subversive edge is still there. Each of the JLA's big guns has a different way of dealing with someone like Monaghan, and their reactions are very telling. Is Batman right to condemn him outright? Is Superman wrong to see some good in Monaghan? Does Wonder Woman realize that Tommy is looking through her costume? Why is the Flash such a jerk?

In the art department, frequent Ennis collaborator, and Hitman artist, John McCrea does great work here too. He seems equally at home drawing Tommy hanging out in the seediest of dives or drawing the JLA hanging out in their fancy-schmancy moon base. Unfortunately, he does NOT get to draw Wonder Woman from Tommy's point of view for us. Oh well, you can't have everything.

If you like your super-heroics with a little vein of dark humor running throughout, you won't want to miss JLA/Hitman #1. It's got action, laughs, horrible aliens, bathroom graffiti, and a girl with an elephant head. (You know you're curious now!) Give it a try now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week!

Dying to Know: Potter's Field #1

For most of us, the only thing worse than the thought of our own mortality would be if no one knew or cared that we were gone. According to Potter's Field #1, that happens to about 125 people per week in New York City. These people die, often under mysterious circumstances, and the bodies are never identified. They get buried anonymously with just a number on their stone marker. No one cares, except John Doe.

John Doe is a mysterious, shade-wearing, man of many talents who has made it his mission to track down the identity of as many of these nameless bodies as he possibly can. No one knows who he is or why he cares, not even the many people throughout the city that he has enlisted to his cause. He doesn't have a name, he doesn't leave fingerprints, and he doesn't mess around. John Doe gets the job done.

Potter's Field is a new limited series from BOOM! Studios, written by Mark Waid with art by Paul Azaceta. Waid's writing is as excellent as ever, and Azaceta's shadowy art fits the dark tone of this book perfectly. You don't learn too much about John Doe himself, but he is an intriguing character with a quick wit and an impressive array of investigative skills. Even though this is the first of three issues, there is a complete story in #1, with a few teases to lure you in to Doe's next case. There is enough set-up to tell readers what they need to know, but no time is wasted getting down to business.

If you like your crime comics gritty and real, without all those guys in tights around, you really shouldn't miss Potter's Field. With a cool new protagonist, great writing and art, and a complete case solved in the first issue, this would make a great Book of the Week. In fact, it IS the Book of the Week! You don't get many guarantees in life, so you'd be crazy not to take us up on this one.

Sticking it to the Man: Avengers Initiative #5

One of the many valuable lessons we've learned from comics is that you really can't trust the government. You especially can't trust comic-world governments when they go trying to get their hands on super-heroes. No good EVER comes of government meddling in the world of super-powers. No matter how good their intentions when they run around force-feeding people super-serums and irradiating things left and right, it always leads to tears.

Of course, that unstoppable train headed towards Trouble-Town is what makes Avengers: The Initiative such an interesting book. In the aftermath of the Civil War, head honcho Tony Stark instituted the "50 States Initiative," which requires every state to have its own government approved and trained team of registered heroes. That training has to happen somewhere, so a top-secret base was set up in Stamford to train wannabe heroes. The fact that the training staff includes Henry Peter Gyrich (I mean, when has he ever done anything shady or evil?) and a former Nazi scientist called Baron Von Blitzschlag (Seriously!) doesn't necessarily mean that things won't be handled with the best of intentions, right?

OK, things do start going out of control pretty quickly. Gyrich and friends spend a lot of time trying to hide, and clean up, their messes. In issue #5, things get really ugly because the mess involves the Hulk. A bunch of well-intentioned trainees, sick of being told to do nothing, decide to run off and help with the whole "World War Hulk" situation. Gyrich, who doesn't care if they get killed, but also doesn't want a bunch of dead trainees showing up on the news, puts together a "Black Ops" team of new heroes, reformed villains, and government lackeys in Iron-Spider suits to go and rescue them or recover the bodies.

Writer Dan Slott keeps this book interesting thanks to the huge cast of characters he has to work with. He has an almost limitless number of new heroes, old heroes, and government secrets to throw into the mix, so readers never know what's coming next. Artist Stefano Caselli has more than proven himself up to the task of drawing this huge cast and keeping every character unique and interesting to look at. With such a great writer/artist combo, you really can't go wrong!

Avengers: The Initiative #5 has the Hulk, Slapstick, Constrictor, and the mysterious Mutant Zero (who is apparently someone readers are very familiar with!) and a whole mess of action and intrigue. What more could anyone ask for? (Did I mention Slapstick? I love that guy!) With all this awesome stuff in one book, it just had to be Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! It's not like anyone is watching to see if you're reading the books you SHOULD be or anything. Really, the government is too busy experimenting on those little grey aliens to be watching you.

Furry Fantasy: Mice Templar

There are certain concepts, truly awesome concepts that only comics can pull off. I'm talking about stuff like super-genius, talking gorillas that wear pants, flying super-dogs, and radioactive animal bites that grant amazing powers. Right up there with all of those great ideas is a more recent trend: mice with swords! How great would it be if that field mouse in your garage was running around with a little sword and suit of armor? I think it would be pretty great.

Even though most of us don't want mice in our house, we love them as heroes. They're such natural underdogs (underrodents?) that you just can't help but root for the little guys against the cats, dogs, rats, and snakes that terrorize them in their anthropomorphic world. The amazing little mouse heroes of The Mice Templar are certainly no exception to that rule.

The Mice Templar are the furry little brain children of Mike (Red Sonja and Powers) Oeming and Brian J.L. Glass. According to the creators, the idea for this book has been around since 1998, but it took a while before they really decided the time was right to release the little guys into the "cat eat mouse" world of comics. Unfortunately, thanks to the timing, comparisons to the recent hit Mouse Guard are inevitable, but this book really does deserve to stand on it's own furry little paws.

Oeming and Glass clearly have an epic tale to be told. This first issue provides a big, satisfying chunk of story, but it is also obviously just the beginning. The mouse community of Cricket's Glen seems an idyllic and peaceful place. Whispered tales are told of the disgraced and fallen Templar, knights who once fought to protect the mice of the land. Karic is a young mouse who loves the old stories and idolizes the Templar, even though everyone tells him not to speak of them. When a raiding party of warrior rats attacks the Glen, Karic suddenly finds himself thrust into the dangerous world of the Templar. The fact that these characters are mice is almost incidental to the plot. The story is an epic fantasy in the Tolkien mold, the mice (as depicted by Oeming's gorgeous and stylized art) give the story a visual twist that makes it unique.

Don't hesitate! Scurry down to Four Color Fantasies now to try out Mice Templar #1, the guaranteed Book of the Week. You know you can't resist mice with swords!

Prepare to be entranced: Terror Inc.

The early '90s were a crazy time for comics. Most people thought comics were a license to print money, and the big companies seemed to publish almost anything, no matter how nutty the basic idea. Marvel Comics may have been the most susceptible to this madness. They churned out, like, a million books a month and there were more crossovers and crazy ideas than most fans could bear. Most of the characters and titles introduced during that time eventually faded away. Some were pretty bad (I'm looking at you Darkhawk and Warheads), but some were pure, crazy, gold that deserved to live on (Sleepwalker and Slapstick rule!).

One of the strangest, and coolest, characters to come out of that glut has finally returned in Terror Inc. In the '90s, Terror was a detective in a fedora hat, who was also dead. He was decaying away, but could take other people's body parts and stick them on to replace his rotting bits. The new Terror, from Marvel's mature readers Max label, is essentially that same guy, but he's "fleshed out" a little more. (Get it, fleshed out? Ha!) As this first issue begins, Terror fills us in on his long, weird history. It turns out, he has been around a while. He was one of the Vandals involved in the sacking of Rome. He was a warrior and hero, who got all the babes. Then he ran afoul of some black magic, and he ended up a rotting carcass that couldn't die in constant need of replacement parts. Bit of a comedown, really.

In Terror Inc. #1, by David Lapham and Patrick Zircher, Terror is working as a top-of-the-line hitman for hire. Lapham is known for writing gritty crime comics, so Terror Inc. is a perfect fit for his style. This Terror is grounded very much in the real world, with the main character being pretty much the only fantasy element. Lapham does a great job with dark machinations and tough guy dialogue. If you like Ennis' Punisher or Brubaker's Criminal, you will probably love Terror Inc. Though the action and violence are way over the top, there is also a vein of dark humor in this story that I loved. Zircher's art is equally excellent, with a level of realism and detail that I think make this his best work yet.

Terror Inc. is a great book that hasn't gotten the promotional hype it deserves. Don't let this one get away! Get all of your best body parts together and head to Four Color Fantasies where you can try out Terror Inc. #1 while it is the guaranteed Book of the Week. Now if only Marvel would give Slapstick his own Max title...

Annihilation: Conquest-Wraith

Everybody loves a mysterious hero. You know the guy I'm talking about: the mysterious loner with no name who rides into town, just trying to mind his own business. He's a man of few words, who goes out of his way to avoid trouble, but trouble always seems to come looking for him. Someone always pushes him one step too far, and gets a serious butt-whuppin for his trouble. That's the guy I'm talking about.

Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Kyle Hotz have brought the mysterious hero to Marvel's cosmic, sci-fi universe in Annihilation: Conquest-Wraith. (Henceforth referred to only as Wraith.) In the aftermath of the huge, galaxy-wide, throwdown that was the Annihilation War, the Phalanx (a bunch of Borg-like techo-organic aliens) move in on the wrecked Kree Empire. They put up an impenetrable barrier around the Kree worlds and start assimilating everything in sight.

Then a mysterious blue loner shows up, and things start going badly for the Phalanx. He has weapons and abilities beyond their abililty to understand. He's trying to mind his own business, looking for a man wearing a signet ring of a skull engulfed in flames, but the Phalanx do not like things they don't understand. They pursue this mysterious hero, and eventually give him a name: Wraith.

Even though this 4 issue limited series is part of the massive Annihilation: Conquest crossover, it can easily be read and enjoyed on its own. (I haven't read any of the other books in the series, and I had no problem jumping into this story.) The central mystery of the series makes it compelling reading and Kyle Hotz's stylish, detailed art is a joy to behold. This series also has awesome covers from 2000 AD's Clint Langley, so you really can't go wrong.

Don't be a loner! Head over to Four Color Fantasies and pick up Wraith #2 while it is the guaranteed Book of the Week. There are still copies of #1 in stock, so if you ask nicely, you can get them both! Just make sure you smile when you ask, stranger. Nobody trusts a stranger who doesn't smile.

Turning Villians into Heroes: Thunderbolts One-Shot

It's a great time to be a jerk in the Marvel Universe. I mean, they've been making some great comics over at the House of Ideas, but events have conspired to really allow the jerks to flourish. The Illuminati are all CLEARLY a bunch of self-righteous jerks, except for Namor, who's just unpleasant on his own. Tony Stark has become the big-shot king of the jerks, and I'm sure his upcoming movie won't settle him down any. With Stark in charge, S.H.I.E.L.D. has pretty much become a bunch of fascist little jerks in uniform. All the nice-guy heroes, like Spidey, are on the run or conscripted into the Initiative. (I'm thinking Slapstick here! That guy deserves his own book again. He could team-up with Squirrel Girl!)

All this jerkitude leads us to the point where a guy as evil and calculating as that Gwen Stacy-killing jerk Norman Osborn gets put in charge of the super-human dogcatchers known as the Thunderbolts. Not only is Osborn in charge, but he's got guys like Bullseye and Venom working for him! Sure, they're all supposedly kept under control by nanites in their blood, but does anyone really think it's a good idea to put these dudes together and give them deputy badges? When Moonstone is the most trustworthy person on your team, you've got problems.

In the one-shot Thunderbolts: Desperate Measures, by Paul Jenkins and Steve Lieber, Osborn truly allows his jerky side to show. He picks the team's next target mostly based on how amusing he thinks their attempts to capture said target will be. You know from his smirk that Osborn is up to no good when he sends Bullseye and Penance (the formerly upbeat Speedball) to take out a vigilante known as "Americop." Why does he pick this dynamic duo to take on Americop? I won't give it away here, but the results don't make Penance any cheerier than usual, that's for sure.

This new take on the Thunderbolts is definitely an unusual concept for a team book, and Jenkins seems to enjoy running with that oddness here. Nothing here is what readers would typically expect from a super-hero team. Giving readers the unexpected is what Thunderbolts is really all about these days, and this one-shot is no exception.

If you like your comics with a dose of dark humor, Thunderbolts: Desperate Measures should be just your cup of tea. The one thing that could have made this book better though, would be a return appearance of P-Cat, the Penitent Puss, but I suppose you can't have everything. Don't be a jerk! Pick this book up now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! (And before Squirrel Girl shows up to clean out this group of evil, evil people!)

Emo Spidey? Great starting point! Amazing Spider-Man #542

Hey comic book fans! This week's Book of the Week will be short and sweet. (Awww, sweet!) Mostly because I can't tell you much about the book without spoiling it. Plus, if you have ever picked up a comic in your life (and I assume you have, or you wouldn't be reading this), I don't need to explain anything about the basic concept of Spider-Man to you.

Recently, times have been tough for Spidey and his alter-ego. Peter went and outed himself as Spider-Man during Marvel's Civil War, and that hasn't really turned out to be a very good idea. Not only are Iron Man and the Super Human Registration Act crowd out to arrest him, but all the nefarious folks he has crossed in the past know who Spider-Man is. More importantly, they know who his family is. Consequently, Aunt May has taken a bullet and things look pretty bleak. Bleak enough that Spidey dug out his emo black costume again.

When Spidey finds out that tubby old Wilson Fisk, AKA the Kingpin of Crime, is the guy responsible for Aunt May's shooting, he's pretty upset. Upset enough, in fact, that he swears to kill Fisk. The Amazing Spider-Man #542 is the issue where Spidey finally catches up with the Kingpin, and we see how that confrontation plays out. I don't want to give anything away, but this scene takes several turns that regular Spider-Readers might not be expecting. As a long-time Spidey fan, I declare it awesome!

Not only is this issue great on it's own, it is a prelude to a lot of big stuff down the road for our hero. J. Michael Straczynski's excellent run on Amazing Spider-Man is coming to an end soon, and there will be some big events in the life of everyone's favorite Wall-Crawler coming with it. This is as good a place to start as any, so don't miss Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week, Amazing Spider-Man #542! Just keep your secret identity to yourself, we really can't be trusted with that information.

High Fantasy: The Hedge Knight II: The Sworn Sword #2

If you're like me, the first things that come to mind when you read the title "The Hedge Knight" do not necessarily inspire confidence. I picture a guy dressed up in bushy, green, armor, wielding a big, electric hedge trimmer. Or maybe some sort of anthropomorphic hedgehog warrior, like Mrs. Tiggywinkle gone Medieval. Of course, both of those ideas are very silly, and wouldn't make very good comics. (Or would they? Drop me a line Marvel, I already have an idea for a Hedgehog Knight/Rocket Raccoon book!)

The Hedge Knight II: The Sworn Sword is an adaptation of (creatively initialed) George R.R. Martin's novel, by Ben Avery and Mike Miller. It is published, through Marvel, by the Dabel Brothers, who have quickly built an impressive reputation when it comes to turning popular novels into popular comics. That tradition of quality is definitely being continued with this series.

I'm still not sure exactly what a Hedge Knight is, but the hero of this story is a young knight named Dunk, or Ser Duncan the Tall, as he prefers to be known. Ser Duncan and his squire, Egg, are in the service of the aged and impoverished Lord, Ser Eustace. A crippling drought is ravaging their fiefdom, so it is serious business when the neighbors dam the only stream providing water to the few people who still live on Ser Eustace's lands. Duncan, Egg, and the filthy, unpleasant, old, knight Ser Bennis find themselves trying to turn a handful of peasants (most of whom are named Wat) into a fighting force. The battle to take back their water is not off to a promising start...

Obviously, the story and characters by Martin are solid here. Avery does an excellent job adapting the novel into comics form, and Miller's pretty artwork lends the whole story a bit of a fairy tale atmosphere. If you are a fan of Martin's novels, this is a must-read. If you've never even heard of George R.R. Martin, but you enjoy Tolkein-esque high fantasy, this is also a can't miss. However, if you are looking for a hedgehog dressed in armor, kicking the Mouse Guard's butts, you will be very disappointed.

Brave the burning sun and soldier out to Four Color Fantasies now to try out The Hedge Knight II: The Sworn Sword #2 (There are copies of #1 left, so act now!) while it is the guaranteed Book of the Week. And maybe someday, if we all think positive thoughts and send lots of annoying e-mails, we can read the Hedgehog Knight and Rocket Raccoon Meet Gorilla Grod Crossover Spectacular!

Squirrel Girl, Merc with the Mostest, It must be: Dead-Pool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular

Hey kids! Are you ready for the awesome-est, most fun-tastic, squirrel-tacular fun of the summer? OK, that's a trick question. Of course you are! Brace yourself for more fun and excitement than you can shake a doorknob at because here comes the Dead-Pool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular! Wowwee!

A whole host of incredible creators, like that Slott guy, Fabian Whatsisname, and a bunch of poeple that can draw pretty pictures, all got together to bring you the latest adventures of the (now government funded) Great Lakes Initiative and tales of their titanic team-up with the Merc with the Mostest-Dead-Pool! OK, he's actually more like an unwanted houseguest who never leaves rather than a real team-up partner, but Dead-Pool is still 100% awesome.

This comic is packed to the edges with great stuff, like Dead-Pool's date with Big Bertha, Dead-Pool killing Mr. Immortal, Dead-Pool playing in the tub with Flatman, and Dead-Pool eating pork rinds while watching Bea Arthur on TV. But wait! There's more! You'll get to see the GLI's new state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line, super-secret, fully-hyphenated headquarters! You'll thrill to exciting vehicles like the Flat-a-maran and Big Bertha's Bumper Buggy! You'll get sage advice from Tippy-Toe, the world's most amazing squirrel, and, best of all, you'll experience the deepness of Penance and P-Cat, the Penitent Puss! If that doesn't make you run to the comic shop, I don't know what will.

The only thing wrong with this comic is that there's only one issue! Seriously, why the folks at Marvel haven't responded to my many e-mails demanding an ongoing Squirrel Girl series, I can't imagine. The fact that Marvel's most adorable, smartest, most powerful and effective (she beat Doom and Thanos, afterall), female hero doesn't have her own book is a crying shame. C'mon, at least give us a Marvel Legends Squirrel Girl action figure, with Tippy-Toe and plenty of nutsacks!

Anyway, it's got Dead-Pool, it's got Squirrel Girl, and it's a whole heap of wacky summer fun, so what could you possibly be waiting for? An invitation? Consider it done! You're hereby invited to Four Color Fantasies to buy the Dead-Pool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular! It's guaranteed. All we ask in return is that you don't wipe your pork rind smeared fingers on the comics! I say that's a bargain! Wowwee!

A Godlike Return: Thor #1

He's back, baby! You just can't keep a good god down! We all knew that, Ragnarok or no Ragnarok, Thor would be returning to the Marvel Universe someday. It was just a question of when and how. Marvel faked us out during Civil War, but this is no crummy clone/cyborg Thor (AKA Clor), this is the real Asgardian deal. Get thee behind me, Clor!

Thor #1, by J. Michael Straczinski and Oliver Coipel, finds Thor hanging out in the void, just sort of "not being." He is paid a visit by his old alter-ego, Dr. Donald Blake, who has used his time in the void to find out the answers to a lot of important questions. His advice to the God of Thunder is, essentially, to cut out his selfish non-existence and get back to the land of the living. The mortal world needs a guardian, or imminent disaster awaits. (Plus, I think somebody needs to give Tony Stark a beat down. After the Hulk is done with him, that is. Clone Thor, indeed!)

JMS is a writer who plans ahead, so this first issue is just the start of Thor's latest journey. For old school Thor fans, JMS is bringing back everything you love about the character. We've got Donald Blake, Mjolnir (You can't keep a good hammer down, either), and Thor as protector of Midgard. It is pretty clear that Asgard and it's entire cast of characters will follow. Not that this series is just going to be a rehash of the past, Blake seems set to play a much more active role and Thor is bringing Asgard down to Earth, literally. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the Marvel U, post Civil War, reacts to a god in their midst. I have a feeling Thor will not be lining up to register with S.H.I.E.L.D.

Coipel's art is gorgeous and dynamic, with Thor looking very godly and imposing. The addition of a chain mail body suit sort of thing to Thor's wardrobe has been somewhat controversial, but I like the look. It takes the character back to his medieval roots, without changing him too drastically from the classic Kirby design. It does look like it would chafe, though. ("The son of Odin requires baby powder! And lots of it!")

So, little mortal, hie thee to Four Color Fantasies and exchange thy meaningless "dollars" for Thor #1. Then wilt thou revel in the new exploits of the immortal God of Thunder! Shalt thou disrespect Thor by refusing to read his great chronicles? I SAY THEE NAY! If thou be not deeply moved, thy money shall be returned. If thou fearest to even try, there is a lightning bolt with thy name on it.

Hey, Kids, Zombies! Black Panther #28

These kids today and their crazy fads: skateboards, hula-hoops, i-phones, and ZOMBIES. Yeah, kids just can't seem to get enough zombies nowadays, and who can blame them? There's just something about the walking dead, dragging their decomposing carcasses around in search of fresh brains that appeals to young and old alike. Zombies can be the ultimate, skin-crawling, horror, or hilarious B-movie comedians, or even a bit of both.

If you have been paying any kind of attention lately, you know that Marvel Comics (of all people!) has been having quite a bit of success in the zombie department recently. Playing off the old nickname for rabid fans who ONLY read Marvel books, Robert Kirkman (like Reeses) got some zombie in his superhero and created an alternate Marvel Universe reality where a zombie plague infected the heroes, who quickly zombified each other. Then they proceeded to eat the enitire civilian population of the planet.

The Marvel Zombies are unique in that, despite being dead, they retain most of their personalities and powers. Of course, even the best of them turn a bit evil, what with their insatiable desire for fresh human flesh to nibble on. In the first Marvel Zombies series, the last remaining hero zombies managed to kill and eat Galactus (now that's a hearty meal!) and absorb his cosmic power. Being out of food, they headed for space. Which brings us to Black Panther #28, by Reggie Hudlin and Francis Portela.

In his new role as leader of the Fantastic Four, T'Challa (AKA Black Panther) has led his quartet all over the universe. His chosen method of transportation, King Solomon's magic, golden frogs (no, I'm not kidding!), has proven pretty unreliable. Unexpectedly, the frogs have dropped the Four onto the Skrull homeworld of an alternate universe. A universe in which a bunch of Galactus-powered, decaying, zombie heroes have just dropped in for a tasty Skrull snack!! Mmmmm, fresh Skrull....

Black Panther #28 is a can't miss hit! Many readers may not know that the high-profile, original Marvel Zombies series is essentially being continued here. This issue (and those to follow) even comes with one of those amazingly popular Arthur Suydam zombie covers. So be sure to catch the next wave of undead fun and shamble to Four Color Fantasies today, where you can buy this guaranteed Book of the Week! (But please, if you drop any body parts in the store, show a little courtesy and clean up after yourself. Ick!)

No Flash in the Pan: #13 ends one chapter

Sometimes big events in the world of comics get leaked and spoiled by the various comics news outlets. On a slow news day, they sometimes even break into mainstream news. (Like the recent Captain America hoo-haa.) But, every once in a while, the companies manage to keep the big surprises to themselves. They let it sneak up and kick readers in the pants when they least expect it. Even though a metaphorical kick in the pants can be fun, it stinks if you miss a key issue because you didn't know it WAS a key issue.

Such is the case with The Flash #13 by Marc Guggenheim and penciller Tony Daniel. It's not easy to surprise readers nowadays, what with the new-fangled internets, text messages, and cellular whatnots the kids are all using today. Information spreads fast (in a flash, you might say), so DC had to put some real effort into hiding the fact that this is the last issue of the current Flash series. They had phony solicits for future issues and writer Marc Guggenheim went around discussing plans for the book that he knew he wasn't actually writing. Oh, those cheeky monkeys!

So what actually happens in Flash #13? I won't be such a stinker as to give it away! I will tell you that it is an appropriately fast-paced finale to the current series. Guggenheim's story wastes no time getting down to business, and Tony Daniel's art is up to the occasion. He does a great job moving the action along apace, and in dealing with the more emotional moments of this tale. Of course, there will be a new Flash title soon, but it will clearly be very different from the current incarnation of the series.

So, if you care about The Flash at all, you need to read this book. If you like to have key, turning point issues in your collection, you need to read this book. If you enjoy a good, cathartic cry from time to time, you need to read this book! Pull on your running shoes and dash to Four Color Fantasies now, while The Flash #13 is the guaranteed Book of the Week! (No pouting if you miss it, you've been warned!)

Not to be trifled with: Sub-Mariner #1

Imperious Rex! You know, people think of Wolverine or the Punisher as the Marvel Universe's ultimate bad dudes, but, seriously, no one can hold a candle to Namor the Sub-Mariner. He fought with Captain America in WWII, he's the ruler of Atlantis, the protector of the entire undersea realm, takes no crap from surface-dwellers or sea monsters, and he has the best abs in the Marvel U. By comparison, Aquaman is a whiny little girl.

It's been a while since Namor had his own series, so this new limited series is really long overdue. Sub-Mariner #1, written by Matt Cherniss and Peter Johnson, makes Namor especially relevant by tying him to recent events in the Marvel Universe AND making some serious connections to real-world politics. This series is clearly high-stakes too, in the first pages we see Atlantis laid waste and an American town leveled. No messing around here!

In the aftermath of the Civil War, Namor has cut most of his ties to the surface world. Unfortunately, many Atlanteans feel that isn't enough. They want to see the surface-dwellers punished and wouldn't mind a full-fledged war between Atlantis and the human world. As Namor is quick to point out, his realm is NOT a democracy. He expects his people to do what he says, simply because he says so. He does not expect to be questioned, and he certainly doesn't expect to be defied. Too bad some of his subjects have ideas of their own.

A small sect of Atlanteans, without Namor's knowledge, begins launching terrorist attacks on the surface world. As you can imagine, Tony Stark, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the U.S. government, are all less than happy to see 900 American citizens killed in an Atlantean attack. This politically charged story is a serious page-turner, and Namor's regal character has been captured spot-on by Cherniss and Johnson. Artist Phil Briones also creates a dynamic Atlantis that seems more "real" than any version I can remember. This is no Little Mermaid fantasy land!

Do not disappoint the scion of Atlantis! Pull on your swim trunks (no Speedos, please) and your water wings, and head to Four Color Fantasies this week to pick up your guaranteed copy of Sub-Mariner #1. (Also guaranteed completely dolphin safe!)

A Movie-quality launch to the (new) New Warriors

Everybody loves a rebel. C'mon, you know it's true! We love folks who go their own way, do their own thing, and don't care how much they get hassled by "the man." It doesn't even matter what they're rebelling against. Conformity, censorship, unfair laws, burdensome taxes, expensive tater-tots, whatever ya got (to paraphrase James Dean)!

Marvel's latest super-group, however; HAS a cause. They're rebelling against fascist, jerk-face Tony Stark and his conformist Superhuman Registration Act. If you think about it, people who put on costumes and go fight crime are always likely to be an independent lot. Just because Stark and his government lackeys have all happily signed up to be good, government-supporting hero boys and girls, doesn't mean everyone is going to go along for the ride. There are bound to be those that operate outside the new law, doing good on their own terms and making rude gestures towards authority.

That's where the (new) New Warriors come in, in the first issue of their ongoing series. Of course, the original New Warriors were the team that inadvertently caused the Stamford disaster and brought about the whole SRA mess in the first place. In the Marvel Universe, the Warriors have become reviled. Their name is synonymous with death, destruction, and irresponsible heroics. Unfortunately, the team has been largely unable to defend themselves and their actions, what with most of them being dead and all.

In this first issue, we discover a new team, whose members are still a mystery, that has taken on the New Warriors name. These Warriors are operating from the shadows, snubbing their nose at Stark's Registration Act, and spreading the word through actions and, in proud rebel tradition, graffitti. Stickin' it to the man and fighting crime! It's the perfect combination!

New Warriors #1 is written by Kevin Grevioux with pencils by Paco Medina. Grevioux is primarily known for his film work (he was a writer on the Underworld movies), and that background shows here. The character's dialogue has a very snappy, movie-like quality and scenes move with a brisk pace. Medina's clean artwork also has a very "filmic" look, and his style really captures the "disaffected youth" vibe that runs through the book.

Don't bow down to authority! Stand up and be heard! Read New Warriors #1 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. (And fans of the old, dead New Warriors won't want to miss the issue's cliffhanger ending. Someone may not be as dead as you think...)