Vicarious Villiany: Faces of Evil: Deathstroke

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

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

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

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

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

Live Vicariously: No Hero #3

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

Brubaker's Standard of Excellence: Incognito #1

If you think about it, most of us don't know much about the people around us. Sure, you may see the same people in your neighbor, at work, or at school every day, but what do you really know about them? We only see what's on the surface, the details others want us to see. The real stuff, good and bad, is kept under wraps. We're all going through life incognito.

Incognito #1, published under Marvel's creator owned Icon label, is the start of a new series from the creative team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. This is the same creative team behind the critically acclaimed series Criminal, so you know they work well together! This book has the same hard-edged, film noir qualities as Criminal, but with a heaping helping of pulp. Not the kind of pulp you might find floating around in your orange juice, but the kind that brought us the forefathers of modern super-heroes, characters like Doc Savage, the Shadow, and the Spider.

Series protagonist Zack Andersen used to be a science villain/terrorist known as Zack Overkill. Teamed up with his brother Xander Overkill, Zack was involved in hundreds of criminal escapades, resulting in loads of death, destruction, and property damage. When Xander died in action, the Overkill brothers' career came to an abrupt end, and Zack got off the hook by testifying against his boss, a powerful criminal mastermind charmingly known as The Black Death.

In the witness protection/rehabilitation program of Professor Zeppelin's Special Operations Service, Zack has spent three years being a "normal" person. He takes pills that inhibit his powers, he has to keep a boring office job, and live a boring normal life. Zack Overkill is forced to live Incognito. As unhappy and unsatisfied as Zack is, he tries to get used to his mundane existence. He does his job, takes his pills, and behaves himself. When it all starts to be more than he can take, he hits rock bottom and turns to drugs, figuring that if he just stays oblivious to the world around him, he can survive. What Zack hadn't counted on was that the drugs he ends up taking somehow allow his powers to return. Suddenly, it is a lot harder for Zack to keep pretending to be normal.

Brubaker's story lives up to the excellent standard fans have come to expect from the man behind Captain America, Daredevil, and Criminal. Realistic characters, complex plots, and a world that exists in shades of gray, rather than simple black and white, are all hallmarks of Brubaker's work that reappear in Incognito. Sean Phillips' art is a perfect complement to Brubaker's story, capturing the realism and the "noir-with-a hint-of-pulp" feel of Zack's world. There is always a hint of something lurking in the shadows.

Don't accept your fate as one of the boring masses! Be someone better, someone who reads awesome comics! Check out Incognito #1. This is a great start to a new series from a team with a stellar track record, and it comes with a money back guarantee all week at Four Color Fantasies. What more could you ask for than great art, an intriguing story, and a guy named Professor Zeppelin? Honestly, I can't think of anything.

A Heaping Helping of Story: Ythaq-Book 1: Terra Incognita

It is easy to forget, when we get all caught up in our Final Crisis/Secret Invasion crossover spectaculars, that there is a whole lot more to the world of comic book storytelling than DC or Marvel heroes. Not only is there a ton of awesome stuff from the many indie publishers out there, there is also a world of comics produced outside the US. Most readers are probably familiar with manga, and you may have encountered some UK comics, like Judge Dredd or Tank Girl, but there is a whole bunch of interesting stuff the rest of the world is reading that we never see. Marvel Comics, therefore, deserves a great deal of credit for trying to bring some different experiences to their readers through their partnership with the French publisher Soleil.

The latest offering from the Marvel/Soleil team is the awkwardly titled The Forsaken World: Ythaq-Book 1: Terra Incognita. (Let’s just call it Ythaq from this point on, eh? Not that I'm really sure how to pronounce Ythaq.) This book, by writer Christophe Arleston and artist Adrien Floch, is a rollicking space opera with a hint of epic fantasy, clearly setting out to tell a story on a grand scale. From the beginning, it is apparent that the creators have spent a lot of time and effort developing their world and its unique cast of characters.

Our buxom protagonist is the unfortunately named Granite Welgoat. Granite is a Lieutenant aboard the space cruiser Comet's Mist, a luxury liner that transports the rich and idle across the galaxy in style. Granite is clearly a bit scattered, and her dereliction of duty finds her banished to the ship's bar, where she serves drinks to the spoiled and pampered patrons of the ship. Luckily for her, when a mysterious force brings the ship crashing down to the planet below, her bar becomes a sealed pod, allowing Granite, maintenance man Narvarth, and wealthy diva Callisto, to land safely. Well, safely enough. They get eaten by a giant sea monster, pushed hurriedly through its digestive system, and then crash through a village full of big-tusked fans of legal procedure. But any landing you can walk away from, right?

Granite and her companions quickly make friends, and enemies, and find themselves pursued by the terrifying, yet beautiful, Divine Ophyde and her murderous mercenaries. The action never slows down, with our heroes quickly finding themselves in one mess after another. The art is gorgeous and detailed, and the story is populated by unique and unusual characters, and the world of Ythaq seems like one of nearly endless possibilities. This story is recommended for mature readers, so there is some occasional nudity or naughty language, but nothing that seems excessive or exploitative. This first issue also gives readers a heaping helping of story for their money, you won't rush through this in a quick 10 minute read.

Take a chance on something a bit different and pick up Ythaq #1 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! You don't want to miss out on the fun, or make Granite Welgoat angry. Ok, actually, she seems kind of cute when she's angry, but still...

What if...? Marvels' series allows creators to wonder

The "What If?" story has long been a tradition for Marvel Comics. In these stories, writers take a look at some turning point in the life of a character, or a key event for the Marvel Universe itself, and ask , "What if this went another way?" The best thing about these stories is that they allow creators to go crazy, without having to worry about breaking Marvel's toys. In a "What If?" story, they can kill off characters, destroy planets, alter reality, or let the bad guys win.

Recently the folks at Marvel comics have unleashed a wave of "What Ifs" on readers, and they make for some interesting possible twists to recent Marvel history. The first off the block What if? House of M. Now, I admit that the idea of doing an alternate take on a story that already takes place in an alternate timeline may seem a little crazy, but the result is pretty nifty. Instead of wishing away mutants, that naughty Scarlet Witch gets rid of all powers, leaving a Marvel Universe with no super-powered heroes. This leaves technology-powered Iron Man as pretty much the only game in town, too bad for him that the Red Skull takes advantage of this power vacuum to whip out that annoying cosmic cube and start wreaking havoc. This issue also has the first installment of the serialised What If the Runaways became the Young Avengers?, so fans of those two teams will want to check this out.

Another interesting offering is What If? Newer Fantastic Four. Some readers may remember the Art Adams classic FF story in which Spidey, The Hulk, Wolverine, and Ghost Rider took over for the mising FF. This story shows what would have happened if this replacement team became permanent. Once Thanos gets his big purple mitts on the Infinity Gauntlet, most of the Marvel heroes are disappeared as Thanos tries to impress Death, his dream girlfriend, with a mass extinction of life across the whole universe. The team replaces the vanished Ghost Rider with Iron Man, and sets off to save all reality. While this issue has a pretty interesting premise, the best part of the book is the Mini Marvels World War Hulk: Final Showdown. I don't want to spoil anything, but Mini Hulk comes loaded with haikus and beatdowns for all!

Of interest to Spidey fans is What If? Spider-Man Back in Black. As someone who did NOT like One More Day or Brand New Day, I enjoyed this story more than the ones we really got. If MJ had been shot by the Kingpin's sniper, instead of the all-too-frequently victimised Aunt May, what would Spidey do? The answer may upset Peter's sweet old aunty, but at least it doesn't involve Mephisto, or a mass destruction of the character's history. (Sorry, I think the reviewer's bias is showing here! I'll behave now.)

So, if you want to see what could happen when creators don't have to worry about what's going to be in the next issue, you should check out any or all of Marvel's recent crop of What If? one-shots. What if you missed the chance to check these out while they are guaranteed at Four Color Fantasies? You'd be sorry then! Personally, I'm still hoping for What if Wolverine Got a Manicure? or What If Daredevil Ate Too Much Pie?, but those are probably never going to happen.

A Real World View: Marvels - Eye of the Camera #1

In comic book terms, fifteen years seems like forever. In that amount of time, the readership changes, creators come and go, heroes are created, killed off, brought back to life, turned into villains, and turned back again. Some readers may not remember 15 years ago, when Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross made a huge splash with their work on Marvels.

The Marvels limited series did something that was almost unheard of at the time, it treated the amazing world of Marvel's super heroes as if it were a real place. Through the eyes of everyman photographer Phil Sheldon, readers were given a street-level view of a normal world that was suddenly populated by incredible heroes, villains, and unbelievable menaces. How would we really react to the Fantastic Four? What would it be like to have Galactus walking through our cities? It would be amazing, exhilarating, and pretty darn terrifying, is what it would be. With Busiek’s script and Ross's intensely realistic art, Marvels perfectly captured those feelings.

Now, just a decade and a half later, the follow-up to that ground-breaking series is here! Marvels: Eye of the Camera is still written by Busiek, but this time he is teamed up with artist Jay Anacleto. I can only imagine that, for an artist, following up iconic work by Alex Ross is a pretty terrifying prospect, but Anacleto rises to the challenge admirably. His work is equally detailed and "real," but he doesn't attempt to copy Ross' famous style. He brings his own approach to this world, but still convinces readers that a man can set himself on fire and fly around New York.

This first issue of Marvels: Eye of the Camera re-introduces us to Phil Sheldon, and the experiences he first had capturing the "Marvels" on film. Where the original series focused on events from the Lee/Kirby era of the 1960s Marvel Universe, this series will be moving forward to cover the events of the '70s. Don't worry if you didn't read the original Marvels all those years ago! This book tells you everything you need to know about Phil, his family, and his interaction with the Marvel heroes. If you have read the original, I probably don't have to do much to sell you on picking this up, other than to say that it seems like a worthy successor.

Don't miss out! Would you even know what to do if you found your world invaded by heroes, villains, and conquering aliens? Probably not, so you can learn from Phil Sheldon, and bring back some of the sense of wonder to your jaded fan heart, with Marvels: Eye of the Camera #1. Try it now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week!

Sir Apropos of Nothing gives you every reason to read!

Heroes are usually strong, honorable sorts, but how much more interesting is the man that blunders into trouble, manages to succeed by pure luck, and is crowned a hero?
Peter David's eponymous star Sir Apropos of Nothing is just this sort of reluctant hero and we in the audience can revel in the cringe-worthy moments, because we know Sir Apropos will turn it around...eventually.
Before I go any further, I must confess to being a Peter David fan. His name above the title -- be it comics or novels -- will ensure that I'll pick it up and give it a try. The Sir Apropos of Nothing novels are one of David's success stories. The story provided the perfect venue for David's off-beat sense of humor and gave him a playground for his skillful wordplay. When the publishers said they didn't want another Apropos tale, despite keeping the first three titles in print, David decided to take his hero into a new medium. Sir Apropos of Nothing is finding new life in comics and while these are new stories starting after the book series, comics readers can pick up right where David drops them -- in a desert where Apropos is riding a horse with no name. A horse he stole while the original rider's pants were down. Apropos says the horse probably has a name "but since it didn't ask me mine, I saw no reason to inquire after its." Apropos successfully escapes defeat twice in this issue alone, but there's a certain man in black who is not going to be happy with Apropos's treatment of his dark tower.
Seeing Apropos for the first time through the art of Robin Riggs is a real treat. Riggs' art realistically brings Apropos and his world to life, which provides an excellent foil for the sometimes ridiculous circumstances Apropos finds himself in. The first issue is colored in pastel pinks and blues, a washed out landscape fitting for the desert setting. Apropos is an attractive bloke, whose good looks are tempered by his crippled leg. He starts the issue with his trusty staff with a secret in its tip (double entendre intended), a sword on his back, and a treasure map, which is all Apropos needs to have an adventure.
Fans of the novels will celebrate to have more tales of their hapless hero while the comic should draw in a new fan base. Why not give Apropos a try while the first issue is Four Color Fantasies Book of the Week? (Plus, if you like it, issue 2 also is on the stands.)

The Sandman: The Dream Hunters #1

Ten years ago, Neil Gaiman and Yoshitaka Amano teamed up to create the illustrated novella The Dream Hunters. At the time, this book served as a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Gaiman's Sandman. Oddly enough, 10 years later, Sandman: The Dream Hunters is being adapted, as a comic, by P. Craig Russell, just in time for the 20th anniversary.

According to the afterword in the first issue, this isn't being done simply because Gaiman is out of new ideas, but because Russell has been pining away for a chance to adapt this story for the entire last decade. Based on Russell's stellar reputation as an artist, you know a book he cares about this much is going to be something special. Fans of Gaiman or Russell will certainly not be disappointed!

The best thing about this book is that it stands completely on its own, even if you've never picked up a Sandman comic in your life. Long-time fans will enjoy the subtle connections to the universe Gaiman created all those years ago, but the uninitiated will find a complete, charming, story rooted in Japanese folk tales. It is an authentic enough story that you may be tempted to look up Gaiman's sources. Unfortunately, you can't. Gaiman, with a little input from Amano, created the Dream Hunters on his own, and then made up a literary pedigree and back-story for it. He is a naughty writer!

The story itself revolves around a simple, rural, monk living on an isolated mountain in Japan. A fox and a badger decide to trick him out of his simple home, as it is much nicer than a fox's den or a badger's set. These diabolically clever critters take turns using their shape-shifting powers to fool the monk into leaving his home. Of course, the monk turns out to be far cleverer than they give him credit for, and he outfoxes them both. Even the fox. Despite the duplicitous start to their relationship, the fox actually finds herself falling in love with the monk. When she discovers that other forces are plotting against him, she realizes that she is willing to risk anything to save the monk's life.

Russell's art is, as always, absolutely gorgeous. This story, with its timeless and classic feel, is perfectly suited to his style. It reads, and looks, like a brilliant children's story, aimed at adults. The art is loaded with lush detail, and will call you back to examine it more closely, even after mutliple readings. With a chain of creators like Gaiman, Amano, and Russell all involved in the story, you know The Sandman: The Dream Hunters #1 is a special event. The fact that it is also Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week is just an added bonus.

Kicking Tail Puritan Style: Solomon Kane The Castle of the Devil

Most people, when they think of Puritans, think either of deluded idiots burning "witches" left and right, or boring, overly pious, dudes in black, wearing funny hats, and serving turkey on Thanksgiving. Lucky for us, pulp genius Robert E. Howard was not "most people." REH thought Puritan and created a grim, butt-kicking, fighter, who beat down evil for the Lord. Howard was a man wise in the ways of awesome pulp fiction!

Dark Horse comics has already experienced great success with their adaptation of Howard's most renowned character, the boisterous, honorable, and mighty-thewed barbarian, Conan. They are clearly bringing the same level of care and attention to the comic book version of Howard's fighting Puritan, Solomon Kane. This project has amazingly lush and detailed art, with a wood print-like quality, from artist Mario Guevara, and a script by Dark Horse horror editor Scott Allie. Add in character designs by Guy Davis and a story by REH, and this book has all the ingredients for excellence.

Solomon Kane himself couldn't be more different than REH's famous barbarian. Sure, both men are likely to leave their enemies bleeding on the ground, but the similarities end there. Where Conan is raucous and enjoys drinking, wenching, and brawling, Kane is a grim, rigid, joyless man, who lives only to serve God. Conan travels his world mostly to line his own pockets with gold, but Kane roams the land merely seeking to fulfill whatever purpose his Lord intends.

In The Castle of the Devil, Solomon Kane finds himself in the Black Forest of Germany. It is not a welcoming place, but when he finds a seemingly innocent young boy hanging from a gibbet, he feels moved to visit the dreaded castle of the local Baron. And by "moved" I mean that he feels he will probably have to walk in to the Baron's own stronghold and "ease him of his evil life." Of course, Kane, and his fellow traveler John Silent, soon discovers that all may not be as it seems in the Baron's home...

Solomon Kane #2 is this week's guaranteed Book of the Week but, thanks be to providence, there are copies of #1 still to be had! Don't waver from the course of right, for weak men soon fall into the hands of evil. It will do your soul naught but good to read the adventures of the purest man ever to cut the devil down to size: Solomon Kane! Besides, you wouldn't want to give him any reason to suspect that you are not on the side of right, now would you?

Puny humans buy Monster-Size Hulk #1

Raaaarrrgh! Hulk smash stupid monsters!! Monsters think it is scary season, so monsters can hurt Hulk. Stupid monsters learn no one can hurt Hulk, not even monsters. You don't believe Hulk? Read Monster-Size Hulk #1 comic and see for yourself, puny reader! Hulk tell you how great comic is!

Many stories in this book! In first story, stupid Banner meets pretty Frankenstein lady. Pretty lady tricks stupid Banner, so Banner meets angry monster! Frankenstein monster is even uglier than Hulk. Lady tries to hurt Hulk, so Hulk and monster smash each other. Then Hulk and monster smash puny army guys. Then some other stuff gets smashed. Lots of smashing, but Hulk is never scared! Puny comic writer Jeff Parker can't scare Hulk, and neither can Frankenstein Monster.

Puny Banner is stupid. Banner always tries to help bad people, and they hurt Banner. Hulk would laugh at Banner, but when bad people hurt Banner, they hurt Hulk too! In next story, Banner helps dogman Jack Russell. (Ha ha! Funny name for stupid dogman!) Puny writer Steve Niles tells how Hulk smashes smelly dogman. Story has pretty pictures, but still makes Hulk angry.

In Hulk's favorite story, funny-name monster Goom tells scary bedtime story to little monster about Hulk. In bedtime story, Hulk is scariest monster there is! Smart monsters don't want to bother Hulk, because they know Hulk will smash! Smart puny humans must read story so they don't try to hurt Hulk. Hulk makes scary monsters cry! Take that monsters!

Last story in Hulk's Monster-Size Hulk book has many words, not many pictures. Words make Hulk's head hurt, but story is still good. Puny human Peter David tells story about how Hulk meets stupid Count with pointy teeth and cape. Stupid pointy-teeth Count wants to keep Hulk in his smelly old castle, but Hulk not want to stay. Hulk smashes lots of things and Count learns pointy teeth are no match for Hulk.

Puny humans call Hulk monster, but Hulk is no monster. Hulk smashes monsters! Smashes them all! Hulk not tell you again, read Hulk's Monster-Size Hulk comic, and see smashing for yourself. Puny reader will see monsters are not scary, only angry Hulk is scary. Don't make Hulk angry! Read Hulk's comic, or Hulk smash you too!!! If you don't like Hulk's comic, Hulk give money back. And then smash you.

The Game's a Foot: Ender's Game: Battle School #1

It's not easy being a kid. Under normal circumstances, kids have to cope with pressure from school, society, and even their own family. Worst of all, they have to deal with the cruelty of other kids. Imagine how much worse it would be for any kid with the added complication of being the artificially-bred last hope for the human race! And you thought it was tough handling that lumbering mouth-breather who wanted to take your milk money!

Continuing the recent trend of big-time literary adaptations, Marvel gives you the chance to experience all the fun of childhood trauma and isolation in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game: Battle School #1. This book, by writer Christopher Yost and artist Pasqual Ferry, is the first link in a chain of limited series that will ultimately adapt the entirety of Card's much-loved novel. This first issue certainly gets things off to a promisng start.

Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is the third child of the Wiggin clan to be eyed for a position in Battle School. His brother, Peter, was promising, but proved to be a little too unstable. His sister, Valentine, was far too kind and sensitive to be of use. Ender, however, seems like he may be just right. His first test is surviving without the monitor that has tracked him all his life. With the monitor gone, Ender is at the mercy of both cruel bullies and his own siblings. How he survives on his own, if he survives on his own, will be his final test. Does Ender have what it takes to save humanity from the terrifying alien Formics?

Christopher Yost's adaptation of Card's book is excellent. Readers are quickly pulled into the story, and Ender's travails are relatable to almost anyone. Pasqual Ferry also does an excellent job portraying both the human drama and the futuristic look of Ender's world. Creating a credible sci-fi universe in a comic is not an easy task, but these creators have pulled it off in a way that makes it seem like an alien cake-walk. (Mmmm, alien cake...)

If Ender can fight to save the human race from the Formics, the least you can do is read this book! Don't let the bullies scare you away from doing the right thing! Stop by Four Color Fantasies this week and try out the guaranteed Book of the Week: Ender's Game: Battle School #1. Besides, when Ender gets angry, he does have a tendency to start kicking people in the groin, repeatedly. Don't make Ender angry.

A Don't Miss Crime Drama: Top 10 #1

Police dramas have been around for quite a while. It seems like almost every possible permutation of this genre has been done somewhere, in books, TV, or movies. Leave it to Alan Moore to come up with a new twist on the "cop show," one that perfectly combines the best elements of the classic police procedural with the best elements of super-hero comics.

Top Ten, originally created by Alan Moore and Gene Ha, launched a while back as part of Moore's America's Best Comics line. Top Ten exists in a universe of countless parallel dimensions, where the Omniversal HQ oversees a multi-dimenional police force. Each dimension has its own way of doing things, but that hasn't worked out too well for the officers of Parallel 10. Theirs is a world in which almost everyone has a super-power, and a heroic (or villainous) identity. That makes keeping Parallel 10 safe pretty difficult, especially when the former commissioner went a little megalomaniacal.

As Top Ten: Season Two begins, the men and women of Parallel 10 have to get used to a new boss. The new commissioner, operating remotely from boring Parallel 61, has some big changes in mind. The worst of which, for a world full of colorfully dressed super-folks, includes getting rid of the officer's unique costumes and exotic weapons. In order to help the new boss keep an eye on things, he installs the straight-laced (but awesomely named) Slipstream Phoenix to work with the folks at Parallel 10.

Unfortunately, that isn't the worst of Top Ten's troubles. On top of having to deal with a new boss and a new guy on the team, a very unpleasant mystery turns up in the fountain right outside HQ. In the apparent blink of an eye, 12 strangled teenage girls appear floating in the tranquil pool. Amazingly, all the bystanders happened to be looking the other way when the bodies appeared. And all the surveillance cameras glitched at the key moment. This is not the kind of mystery any police department wants on its doorstep.

Writer Zander Cannon and returning artist Gene Ha, bring action, mystery, and character, to the fine folks policing Parallel 10. If you loved the first series, you definitely don't want to miss Season Two. If you have never met the officers of Top Ten before, this is a great place to join in the action. In fact, it would be a real crime to miss this guaranteed Book of the Week. (Police-related pun fans, you're welcome.)

The Next Big Comics Thing: Stephen King's The Stand Captain Trips

The end of summer can be a tough time. There's a nip in the air, kids have gone back to school, leaves are starting to turn brown and fall from the trees. Oh, and, worst of all, you get one of those darn September/October colds that you can't quite get rid of. You get the sniffles and a scratchy throat. You're not really sick enough to stay in bed, just sick enough to feel miserable. At least, you THINK it's a cold. What else could it be? Maybe it's just the end of the world...

In the wake of Marvel's successful team-up with Stephen King on the Dark Tower series, we have another, even more ambitious, project from the House of Ideas and the best selling author. The Stand: Captain Trips #1 is the beginning of Marvel's adaptation of Stephen King's longest, and most beloved, novel. If you ask any Stephen King fan, I'd lay fair odds that they'll rank The Stand as King's best. It was once recommended to me as the book that you'll love, even if you don't like anything else by Stephen King. Considering the epic length of this book, Marvel seems to have made a wise move by adapting it as a series of mini-series, rather than one massive run. It should keep things manageable for both readers and creators.

Captain Trips introduces us to a virus that destroys civilization as we know it. Things starts out innocently enough when Charlie Campion rushes home in the middle of the night to collect his wife and baby. There's been an accident at the military base. Everyone there is dead, but Charlie got out in time. He's taking his family far away. Luckily, the wind seems to be blowing away from them, so everything is going to be alright. Though Charlie does seem to have a nagging cough...

Of course, it isn't long before the disease is spreading, people are dying, and no one can safely assume that a cold is just a simple cold. The script by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa sticks closely to King's book, while doing a great job of making the story work as a comic. This is a story that takes place in a very real world, filled with very real people, and the art from Mike Perkins perfectly captures that realistic vibe. You could easily see the same guys hanging out at your local filling station as the guys who pull the dying Campion from his car. The fact that this could all believably be happening to you, to your friends and neighbors, is what makes the horror so effective.

So hypochondriacs beware! If the faintest sniffle, ache, or pain sends you into a panic, you may not have a strong enough constitution for The Stand! For everyone else, this first issue is your chance to get in on what could well be the next big thing in comics. What more could readers hope for than some of Marvel's best creators adapting the most popular work of one of the most successful writers of all time? That's a load of superlatives! So grab a tissue, take some vitamin C, and pick up a copy of this guaranteed Book of the Week. Just make sure your hands are clean before you come in the store...

A Groundbreaking Series: X-Men: Magneto Testament #1

Comics are a great storytelling medium, because they can do so many different things extremely well. Whether you like epic space adventure, quiet personal drama, violent tales of terror, or super-heroes kicking each other's teeth out, a good comic can deliver. Some comics can even teach you something about history, in an emotional and moving way, while streamlining the origin story of a mutant leader in a purple helmet. Now that's an achievement!

X-Men: Magneto Testament #1, by Greg Pak and Carmine Di Giandomenico, is the first issue in a five issue limited series that streamlines all the diverse bits and pieces about Magneto's early years that various writers have given us over the years. This is no easy task. Any comic book character that has been around for over 40 years,and been in the hands of countless creators, is bound to have an incredibly convoluted back story. Magneto is certainly no exception to that rule.

Luckily for readers, the creators of this series have clearly done their research. Not only have they spent years reading up on the character, they've delved into their history textbooks too. The most compelling aspect of this character is his childhood as a Jewish boy living in Germany during the rise of the Nazis. Just because this is a super-hero comic, don't assume this terrible and tragic period of history will be treated lightly. The creators have clearly tried to portray this era in a realistic, truthful, way. Readers will almost certainly find themselves emotionally involved and angry as they read this tale.

The first issue introduces us to Magneto as young Max Eisenhardt (The first time Magneto's actual birth name has been revealed.), as a typical young boy. The nine year old son of a Jewish craftsman living in Germany, Max is just discovering his own skills, and just discovering an interest in girls. His eye is particularly caught by a young cleaning girl called Magda, and he has been crafting jewelry for her from remnants found in his father's workshop. Tragically, Max's young life goes horribly wrong as he and his family fall victim to the racial hatred of the Nazis....

If you are a fan of Magneto, or Marvel's mutants in general, you certainly don't want to miss this groundbreaking series. If you have never picked up an X-Book, but you like comics that emotionally involve you, and give you some serious substance to think about, you also don't want to miss this one. Great art, great story, and the definitive early years of one of Marvel's greatest characters! What more could you possibly want in a comic? Check out X-Men: Magneto Testament #1 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week.

An Epic Beat-down: Superman #679

It's a fair bet that, if you read a lot of comics, you probably like stories in which incredibly powerful beings punch the living daylights out of each other. I know I do. Subtle plotting, brilliant dialogue, and complex stories are also great, but you can't go wrong with an occasional epic beat-down. Superman #679 gives readers an epic tussle in more ways than one.

I admit that I'm not a regular reader of the Big Blue One's adventures, but I think it is pretty rare for him to come up against an enemy that, pound for pound and punch for punch, is more than a match for him. Superman's battle in this issue is epic in scale, because he's up against an actual epic figure: Atlas the Titan. Somehow, Atlas has been pulled from the distant past and set on conquering Metropolis. Naturally, Superman ends up in his way, but Atlas is unimpressed by Earth's mightiest champion.

Not only does the Titan seem to be more than a physical match for Supes, he has some mysterious allies lurking in the background. When Supergirl arrives on the scene to help, some shadowy military types, with some serious resources at their disposal, act to take her out of the equation. Of course, Superman has some allies of his own. Jimmy and Lois begin to notice that someone is manipulating events behind the scenes, and a few other heroes arrive as backup. Atlas dispatches all comers without breaking a sweat, but the last page reveals one awesome Super-ally who is not to be trifled with. You might even say he's Superman's best friend...

Despite the fact that Superman #679 is part three of this story, writer James Robinson and penciller Renato Guedes offer up everything you need to jump right in and enjoy the action. Offering up a true clash of titans, this issue's epic brouhaha is one you won't want to miss. It has high stakes, intense action, tragic consequences, and a final page that will really make you want the next issue. All that, plus a snazzy (If somewhat spoilerific) painted cover!

Check out Superman #679 while you can! Unlike Superman, you have nothing to lose. It's Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! You'll believe a man can fly, and then get the steaming bejeezus kicked out of him.

Clever story, outstanding art: The Brave and the Bold #16

Everybody loves a wacky team-up! Whether you're talking Felix and Oscar, Daffy and Bugs, Chan and Tucker, or Spidey and the Torch, putting together two characters who really shouldn't ever be in the same room is always pure comedy gold. And, honestly, you'd be hard pessed to find two characters more unlikely to team-up than the stars of The Brave and the Bold #16: Superman and Catwoman. (Though I'd love to see a Foolkiller/Aunt May team-up someday!)

In this issue, Batman is mysteriously "out of town" (Is he just hanging out at the beach? Can he do that?) so he asks his big, blue, boyscout buddy to keep an eye on Gotham for him while he's away. It's bad enough when your friends ask you to feed their cat, I don't know where Bats gets off asking someone to take care of a whole city for him. Anyway, Superman dutifully shows up when Commissioner Gordon signals and, like the polite young fella he is, offers to help out with the massive underworld auction taking place in Gotham. (It seems to me that the "World's Greatest Detective" knew this gig would be a hassle and decided to let someone else deal with it, while he kicked back in his little Bat Swim Trunks. Probably wasn't enough grim lurking in it for him. I'm just sayin'.)

Anyway, Supes is on the case and quickly bumps into the lovely Ms. Selina "Catwoman" Kyle, who has also taken an interest in this auction. She also quickly takes an interest in Superman's huge pecs and his buns of steel. In no time at all, Catwoman has Superman wrapped around her dainty, feminine wiles, and has him playing dress-up as they infiltrate the auction. They're hoping to bid on a map to a mysterious cave in the area, a map that seems to have Batman's enemies worked into quite a lather...

This stand-alone, done-in-one, issue, by Mark Waid and Scott Kolins, has a clever story, outstanding art, and plenty of grin-worthy moments. If you're looking for a break from all the grim n' gritty event comics out there this summer, you definitely don't want to miss The Brave and the Bold #16 starring Superman and Catwoman. It's fun, it's guaranteed, and it's the best team-up you'll see until we get that She-Hulk/Tigra book I keep dreaming about.

Intriguing story, Noir-ish art make NewUniversal 1959 a must read

Back in "ye olden days" of the 1980s, when Marvel first tried to launch its New Universe, there was a huge wave of hype, all new ongoing series were launched, and everybody was terribly excited. Then the books actually came out, most of them were pretty goofy and, to be honest, not very good. (No offense if you have fond memories of Kickers, Inc.) The hype died down, the books went away, and that was the end of that. The New Universe became the old, forgotten, universe.

This time around, the folks at Marvel have a different approach. The new NewUniversal books have kind of slipped under the radar. They kicked off with an under-hyped limited series from Warren Ellis, and have continued wth a string of interesting short series and one-shots from various creators. These books aren't getting much attention, but they're actually pretty good.

The latest entry is a one-shot: NewUniversal 1959, taking a look at what happened the first time a mysterious white flash appeared in the sky. Not only were the fancy new computers of America, circa 1953, all fried, but some people started showing signs of weird new abilities. In a very film noir, Cold War era USA, ordinary citizens with super-powers are not viewed as a good thing. The brand new National Security Agency starts keeping track of these superhumans, and they don't like what they see.

The three cases who first pop up on their radar are: Lester Robbins, who can appear and disappear anywhere around the world seemingly at random; Veronica Kelly, who can chop people up with her mind; and a young fella named Tony Stark, who can build impossible things. (The inclusion of this ill-fated Stark does seem to confirm that this is a universe that runs parallel to the "real" Marvel U.) The N.S.A. is determined to prevent these people from threatening humanity, so they put cold-blooded scientist Phillip Voight on the case. Phillip and his "men in black" will go to almost any lengths to stop what they see as the "superhuman menace."

With an intriguing, self-contained, story by Kieron Gillen, and atmospheric, noir-ish, art by Greg Scott, this one-shot is a great story on its own, and an essential piece of new New Universe history. Plus, Iron Man fans seriously do not want to miss what becomes of this world's Tony Stark. (He totally doesn't get to be played by Robert Downey Jr. in a blockbuster movie!) Try out NewUniversal 1959 this week at Four Color Fantasies, while it is the guaranteed Book of the Week. You wouldn't want the government looking in to your un-American book buying practices, would you?

Real, Gritty Mutant Comic: NYX: No Way Home #1

Despite the fact that they complain a lot, most of Marvel's mutants have a pretty cushy gig. Sure, they're hated and feared by a world they're sworn to protect, but they have cool costumes, super-human powers, live in mansions, and fly around in stealth jets. Oh, the poor babies. Now that there are only about 200 mutants left in the world, you'd think they would all hitch on to the X-Men bandwagon, but a few still fall through the cracks. I'm not really sure which is worse, living a life of abject poverty and desolation, or having Mr. Sinister keep showing up to kick you in the face.

NYX: No Way Home #1 seems to suggest that poverty might be worse. This series stars a group of mutant city kids, who are without homes or families. Kiden, Tatiana, Bobby, and Bobby's Lil' Bro have, thanks to dumpster diving and odd jobs, managed to scrounge together a life for themselves. They even have at least one benefactor, former teacher Cameron Palmer, who feeds them from time to time, while pushing them to better themselves. The kids feel like their lives, while hard, aren't really that bad. Unfortunately, someone seems to have an eye on these kids. Someone who wants to make their lives a whole lot worse...

NYX is written by Marjorie Liu, and she does a great job pulling readers into the story with glimpses of the future horror the kids have to look forward to. Liu also does a great job making the cast a believable group of characters who, for the most part, sound like real kids. The art by Kalman Andrasofszky is also excellent. The characters are all very distinctive, and they act and emote in ways which really pull readers into the reality of the story. Andrasofszky includes loads of small, convincing detail in every panel. The first issue also includes a very nice sketchbook from Andrasofszky, and a nifty interview between the two creators.

If you like your mutant comics with a little more reality, and a little less glamour, NYX: No Way Home is the book for you! Action, humor, teen angst, and violent torture all in one book! What more could you need? It may not have Wolverine in it, but this comic is guaranteed all week at Four Color Fantasies, so you'd be making a huge mistake if you don't give it a try. You don't want let these kids down, do you?

Marvel's unique angle: True Believers #1

In the modern Marvel Universe, vigilante heroes who operate without express permission from Tony Stark are very much frowned upon. The whole idea of taking the law into your own hands, as most heroes of yore did, is enough to get you whisked away to an "undisclosed location" in the Negative Zone. But can S.H.I.E.L.D., the government, or "the Man" really be trusted to do what needs to be done? Can they be trusted to hold all the cards, keeping the public safe and informed?

Probably not. That's where the True Believers come in! This mini-series, by Cary Bates and Paul Gulacy, introduces a team who are not only about protecting the public, but also keeping them informed. The True Believers round up the bad guys, and keep the people informed with an untraceable, unhackable website. They expose corrupt government and corporate figures, they even expose the secrets of Super Heroes gone wrong. No secret is safe from the True Believers. As their motto, a quote from George Orwell, says, "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes an act of rebellion." (See what you can learn from the classics? When you finish your comics, go read 1984.)

In the first issue, the team infiltrates an underground hooker fight club, where the kidnapped ladies are fired up with Mutant Growth Hormone and LSD and forced to bash away at each other for the amusement of a bunch of rich, old guys. Rich, old guys dressed up as Super Heroes, that is. Once the True Believers put a stop to their fun, they post the story, with loads of video evidence, to their website and the media takes things from there. They expose corruption and lies wherever they find them, and the authorities have no idea how to find them or stop them. They operate under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s nose, and they don't hesitate to go after big targets. Including a very high-profile, much loved, hero...

Cary Bates story is filled with unexpected twists and turns. The central idea, of rebelling to get the truth to the people, obviously has some connections to real world current events, while also looking at Marvel's heroes from a slighty different angle. Gulacy's art does a great job of capturing the "espionage thriller" feel of the story, and making the super hero elements seem real and believable. Plus, he draws a naked lady, covered in swirly energy stuff, kicking a wrinkled, old, senator, dressed in a Hulk suit, in the face. That's something you don't see every day.

If you want to know the truth, you need to read True Believers! The first issue is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week, so what are you waiting for? Someone to hack into your computer and reveal your most shocking secrets to the world? If you don't want that to happen, and I don't think you do, then you better read this book.

Support the Art We Love, Buy CBLDF Liberty Comics

As Americans, one of the greatest freedoms we have is the freedom to write, draw, or read anything we want. Unfortunately, this is also one of the freedoms people are always trying to take away from us. There are way too many people out there who want to cover your eyes and ears "for your own good." Personally, I believe I am capable of making my own decisions about what is good or bad for me, and I think you are capable too. Freedom of speech and expression is an incredibly valuable gift we often seem to take for granted. If you don't like censorship, if you don't want people telling you what you can read, then you love liberty, and Liberty Comics should be on your reading list.

The CBLDF (Comic Book Legal Defense Fund) Presents: Liberty Comics-Big First Amendment Issue is an awesome opportunity for you to support a great cause while enjoying yourself at the same time! The CBLDF provides money for the legal defense of comic book retailers and creators who fall afoul of the dark forces of censorship. People in the comic book business make great targets for attack by these dark forces, because they don't have the bankroll to mount huge legal battles, and they often have to accept defeat, even when they are in the right. Bullies do love to pick on those who can't defend themselves, you know. Thanks to the CBLDF, there is someone to step in and protect those who can't protect themselves. By the simple act of buying and reading a brilliant comic, you can be part of the team that helps save the day!

So what is actually in this book? An amazing cavalcade of top-notch creators making great comics, is all! To start things off, there are two great covers, a nifty Hell...I mean, HECKboy, cover by Mike Mignola or a sexy Danger Girl cover by J. Scott Campbell. Inside the book, there is a hilariously wrong tale of fund-raising gone wild featuring The Boys, by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. There is also a fun, educational, series of Tales of Comic Book Censorship by Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragones. Not sold yet? How about contributions from Darwyn Cooke, Mark Millar, J. Bone, Ed Brubaker, and Richard Starkings? If that doesn't convince you, how about a gorgeous two-page spread featuring the first new Monkeyman and O'Brien work in years by the amazing Arthur Adams? If none of that stuff interests you, you must not like comics. (And I know that's not true!) Great stories and beautiful art packs these pages!

Liberty Comics gives you the chance to support an excellent, important cause, while treating yourself to a blast of tip-top comics! I think that's the kind of charitable giving we can all get behind. So do the right thing. Try out Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week, support the CBLDF, and bask in your freedom to do so! I mean, you DO love liberty don't you? You don't want "the man" to come and take away your favorite comics, do you? I think we all know the answers, so buy this book!