Humorous, Dark undercurrent: The Last Defenders #1

Let me just start by saying that "Defenders Defenestrate!" is the greatest battle cry in the history of super-team battle cries! If you don't know what defenestrate means, I strongly encourage you to grab the nearest dictionary and find out. I'll wait. (Insert soothing elevator music here.) See? I told you it was amazing! "Defenders Defenestrate!"

Shockingly, The Last Defenders #1 has even more to offer than an awe-inspiring battle cry! This limited series from Keith Giffen, Joe Casey, and Jim Muniz brings readers the return of Marvel's most dysfunctional super-team, the Defenders. If you are unfamiliar with the team, it is generally a group of heroes who have no business working together, or even being in the same room. Usually, circumstances have forced the team together, and, usually, they don't stay together for very long. Past line-ups include Namor, Doctor Strange, the Hulk, Nighthawk, Hellcat, and the Gargoyle. The Defenders are kind of like a family that can't stand each other, but still get together for holidays and weddings.

Now that the whole Super-Human Registration kerfuffle has settled down a bit, Kyle (Nighthawk) Richmond has talked Tony Stark into allowing the Defenders to reform. Typically, Stark decides to do this his way, and sticks Kyle with a team that is, in theory, better suited to the job than the old Defenders. That lineup includes Colossus, the seemingly unhinged Blazing Skull, and an unwilling She-Hulk. (Personally, I think She-Hulk should appear in every Marvel Comic. We need to keep raising awareness of She-Hulk's awesomeness.) At least Stark gives them the glamorous New Jersey beat to patrol. That Tony Stark is a swell guy. Someone should make a movie about him.

Casey and Giffen do a great job with the characters in The Last Defenders. When Keith Giffen is involved, readers can generally expect an irreverent edge to the story, with plenty of funny bits. That is certainly true of the first issue, but it would be a mistake to think of The Last Defenders as purely a humor comic. There are clearly darker things afoot that may have serious consequences for our heroes down the road. Jim Muniz's art, over Giffen's breakdowns, is perfect for this book. It is very clean and simple, but perfectly captures both the action and the more subtle bits of character interplay.

The Last Defenders #1 has great writing, great art, the greatest battle cry, and Quetzalcoatl! All in one issue! I don't really see what more you could ask for. Head over to Four Color Fantasies today and try out this issue, risk-free, while it is the guaranteed Book of the Week. If you don't, the Blazing Skull will track you down and defenestrate you, and nobody wants that.

Jeff Smith for Adults: RASL #1

Some of you might remember, way back in 1991, upstart self-publisher Jeff Smith started putting out a little all-ages fantasy book about some weird little guys with big noses. And some stupid, stupid, rat creatures. The result was a book you may just have heard about called Bone. To say Bone was successful is probably a massive understatement, as it went on to be a huge success with comics fans, mainstream readers, and kids everywhere. The series is still a big seller through Scholastic Books, and is probably available in every school library in the country.

When a creator achieves that kind of stardom with his or her work, the question most people ask is: what's next? (I'm looking at you JK Rowling!) It took a few years, but Jeff Smith fans finally have an answer! It's RASL! A book where huge men put on spandex and pin each other to the mat! OK, I'm lying, it's not that kind of wrasslin'. So just what is this mysteriously titled book, you ask? Good question!

RASL is, at the moment, the only name we have for our hard-bitten hero. He's a mysterious, no-name, kind of guy. He's also an art thief with a twist. He's apparently built a device that allows him to cross into other dimensions, via the Drift, to steal great works of art. RASL is the tag he leaves at the scene of the crime. Running back home, to another world, provides a pretty clean getaway. There does seem to be a downside to dimensional travel, though. It really, REALLY, hurts. It hurts a lot. In fact, it hurts so much that our hero needs several days of drinking, smoking, and debauchery to recuperate before he can do it again. Of course, in the first issue, a job doesn't go quite as planned. Action and punching ensue!

RASL has the quality art and writing you expect from a star creator like Jeff Smith. What you may not expect is that he is bringing readers something very different from Bone. This sci-fi, noir-ish, tale is clearly aimed at more mature readers. Our hero is a hard-edged, shades of gray kind of guy, about as far removed from the sweet and naive Bones as you can get. As much as I loved Bone, I was excited to see that this is something different and that Smith is not a one-trick writer. Hooray for diversity!

If you enjoy great comics, you don't want to miss Jeff Smith's RASL. As an added bonus, it's the guaranteed Book of the Week! There's no need to plan an elaborate heist to steal a copy, you can buy one completely risk-free, no dimensional travel required.

A Great Package: Locke & Key #1

It may be a cliché, but you really should be careful what you wish for. Probably every teenager ever has wished for a more exciting life, or wished their crazy parents would go away and leave them alone. Of course, they only wish for such things because they don't consider what would happen if those idle wishes came true. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happens to Tyler Locke.

In Locke & Key #1, by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez, Tyler's whole world changes when his family is attacked by a pair of inbred delinquents on a killing spree. Tyler's father is killed, so the rest of the family goes to live in Uncle Duncan's mysterious home, Keyhouse. Keyhouse, located in charming Lovecraft, Massachusetts, is the one place Locke believed his family would always be safe, but it's a pretty weird place, nonetheless. Isolated, on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean, with architecture like a mix of a medieval castle and the house from Psycho, Keyhouse seems like a strange choice to comfort a grieving family. On top of all that, there is something really weird going on with some of the doors in this place...

Locke & Key is the brainchild of Joe Hill. Horror/Fantasy fans may, or may not, know that Hill is the son of Stephen King, an obscure genre writer you may have heard about once or twice. OK, we ALL know who Stephen King is, but Joe Hill has gone out of his way to earn success based on his work, not on his father's famous name. Based on this first issue, he certainly seems to have the talent to go far on his own. The characters in Locke & Key are immediately likeable and well-rounded. The story has unexpected twists and some very unique ideas. Rodriguez's awesome artwork perfectly complements the story. The art is very detailed, but is also very clean and stylish, with a cinematic approach that would translate perfectly to the big screen. (And, yes, Locke & Key has been optioned as a movie already!)

If what you've really been wishing for is a great new book to read, you're in luck! Locke & Key #1 is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! Don't worry; the doors of the store are perfectly normal. Nothing weird will happen as you pass through. Nope, definitely nothing weird. Nothing to worry about at all. Really.

Better than Therapy: Green Arrow & Black Canary #5

Every kid in history, at least for a brief moment, has probably believed that he or she has the worst parents ever. Your parents don't pay enough attention to you, or they pay TOO much attention to you. The rules are unfair. Your allowance is too small. All your friends were allowed to go hang gliding over an active volcano. As valid as these complaints may seem, count yourself lucky. At least your dad wasn't Green Arrow!

On the surface, a super-hero dad sounds pretty darn cool, but, let's face facts here, most of them are a disaster. Sure, your super-dad may be able to take you on vacation to the Negative Zone, or teach you how to fight off a horde of invading aliens, but he's also going to get you kidnapped, threatened, mutated, lost in time, or get your brain wiped in an assassination attempt. At least, that's what happens to Connor, the son of Oliver "Green Arrow" Queen.

In Green Arrow and Black Canary #5 by Judd Winick and Andre Coelho, Connor is bed-ridden with a mind that is a completely blank slate. On the occasion of Connor's birthday, dear old dad looks back on what a rotten parent he's been, and he's been a pretty rotten parent. As a young scoundrel, he had no interest at all in his son or the boy's mother. Later, as a budding super-hero, he had no time for his son and other priorities came first, like shooting arrows at bad guys. Not surprisingly, Connor had a pretty troubled childhood. Now that he's an older and wiser man, Ollie wants to make things right, but it may be too late...

This issue takes a break from crazy super-action to give readers some nice character-building moments. Not only will you feel Ollie's pain, you'll better appreciate your parents, or your own parenting skills. This comic is a way better bargain than all that expensive therapy! Plus, if you felt slightly ripped off by the Green Arrow/Black Canary "wedding," you'll definitely want to check this issue out. Pick up Green Arrow and Black Canary #5 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week!

Top Notch Package: ClanDestine #1

Writers are always warning us that the dream of immortality wouldn't be nearly as great as we think it would be, but, you know, I'd kind of like to test that theory out for myself. It seems to me that life's disappointments would be easier to live with if you had a couple of centuries to get over them. I mean, if time heals all wounds, and you've got unlimited time, things should work out pretty well in the end.

I bring up immortality because, though you may not have noticed, there is an immortal clan lurking around the edges of the Marvel Universe. The Destine family are all the offspring of 800 year old Adam Destine. This powerful, immortal, extended family mostly hangs out at the Ravenscroft Estate, trying not to draw too much attention to themselves. Of course, it is a little difficult to remain unnoticed when the youngest members of the clan insist on going super-heroing in their spare time.

Young twins Rory and Pandora (AKA Crimson Crusader and Imp) have powers that only work when they are together. Rory has grand dreams of being a hero, but when the twins start fooling around with the forces of badness, they draw unwanted attention to their unusual family. Father Adam senses that bad news is on the way, but it may be too late to do anything to stop it...

New work from Alan Davis, the creator, writer, and artist of ClanDestine, is all too infrequent. He's had some celebrated runs with the X-Men and Excalibur, but he doesn't seem to get the attention his work deserves. ClanDestine is a concept created by Davis a few years back, loved by those who read it, but the short-lived series flew under most reader's comic book radar. (Comdar?) Davis is in top form with this return to the world of ClanDestine. His art is detailed, dynamic, classic Marvel-style stuff. Combine awesome visuals with an intriguing story and interesting characters and you've got a book that really shouldn't be missed.

Look, you probably won't live forever, so you really can't afford to miss this book. Time is running out! Besides, you don't want a vast, powerful, immortal family to be annoyed with you. Read ClanDestine #1 right now, while it is the guaranteed Book of the Week!

Ready for the movies? The Stranded #1

I'm sure you've probably noticed that, of late, many movie and TV producer types have discovered the joys of comic books. They came a little late to the discovery that fans already knew: there are some awesome storeis being told in the sequential art medium. With all the comics being optioned for film nowadays, it's interesting to see a TV network actually helping to produce comics that could, someday, be filmed. The Stranded #1 is the first book to come from Virgin Comics in collaboration with the Sci Fi Channel. Written by Mike Carey with art by Siddharth Kotian, this book is a pretty darn good first effort.

The Stranded is about a group of mysterious aliens, forced to flee from their home planet. They ended up on Earth decades ago, and disguised themselves to blend in with human society. Most don't know that they aren't just as human as they appear to be, but there are a few caretakers out there, keeping an eye out for their charges. It's good to have sombody looking out for you, especially when they've got alien technology, superior knowledge, and loads of big guns. Gotta have big guns.

Tamree is one such caretaker, and she has to break out the big guns when her "sleepers" start to turn up dead. She quickly realizes that the enemy they have been hiding from all this time has found them. With her base of operations destroyed and her super-smart rat dead, Tamree has to get to her people before it is too late. Of course, discovering that they are really an endangered alien race may be disconcerting for some of them. (I think we should all have genius rats around. I'd give mine tiny little glasses and a fez!)

The art and the story in The Stranded are both very well done. This series could be easily translated to TV, so this could be the beginning of Sci Fi's next big thing, and you wouldn't want to miss getting in on the ground floor of that, would you? So, if you are who you claim to be, head out to Four Color Fantasies and try out this guaranteed Book of the Week. Just leave your rat at home. Unless he's wearing a fez!

A Look at the Avengers Legacy: Young Avengers Presents: Patriot

Back when Marvel first started promoting the Young Avengers series, I thought it sounded pretty lame. I pictured some sort of goofy "Jim Henson's Iron Man Babies" kind of thing. Boy, was I wrong! The series turned out to be an intriguing look at the lives of several teens who were, in one way or another, affected by the legacy of the Avengers. Some were angry, some wanted to be heroes, and some were trying to live up to an impossible standard set by Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The book turned out to be pretty awesome, so many readers were disappointed when the creators decided to end the series after a relatively short run.

Thankfully, Marvel is giving these characters another chance in the spotlight with the new limited series Young Avengers Presents. Each issue of this series is set to focus on one of the YA gang, letting creators have some quality time with each member of the group. We're certainly off to a strong start with Ed Brubaker and Paco Medina's look at Eli Bradley, AKA Patriot.

Eli, a young African-American man, has a lot of baggage. His grandfather is Isaiah Bradley, technically the first Captain America. Before the army was ready to try out their Super-Soldier Serum on the likes of young Steve Rogers, they ran early tests on Isaiah and other African-American soldiers. Isaiah was the only one to survive. When Isaiah disobeyed orders to do what he thought was right, he was locked away as part of the Army cover up.

His grandfather's experience, and all the other injustices in American history, have made it pretty difficult for Eli to proudly bear the name of Patriot. With a little help from Bucky Barnes, Eli examines his feelings about what it really means to be an American and a patriot. Plus, they bust up a bunch of A.I.M. drones, so there is plenty of head-bootin' action too!

If you miss the Young Avengers, or if you don't know what you're missing, you should check out Young Avengers Presents: Patriot. Brubaker has been on a roll lately, and Medina's art is excellent. Most important, though, is the fact that this is a comic that might just make you think a little. Seriously, the world needs more thinking. Try this out while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week!

Gravel #0: Hardboiled mayhem

Ah, Gravel. Seriously, who doesn't love Gravel? Without it, where would our driveways and aquariums be? Nothing grits a path like a little Gravel. Gravel is----Okay, I'll stop now. I'm not really trying to convince you to go out and purchase landscaping supplies. I'm talking about Gravel #0 from Avatar Press. I just couldn't resist the bad pun. I swear it won't happen again.

Gravel #0 is the precursor to a new, ongoing, monthly series from Warren Ellis, Mike Wolfer and Raul Caceres. SAS operative Sergeant Major William Gravel has appeared previously in a few limited series, but this is his first chance to headline a regular series of his own. Gravel is a "Combat Magician," but don't go picturing some sort of cute, Harry Potter-esque fantasy-land of magic. We're talking ugly, painful, magic. Gravel is one tough, mean, SOB. He makes Wolverine look like a girly cry-baby, who likes unicorns and ponies. If you've ever been pelted with driveway gravel, you know it's hard stuff. But not as hard as Bill Gravel.

This zero issue introduces you to the main character, stuck out in the Middle East, on a typically violent and unpleasant mission. When he returns home to London, he finds that things have changed in ways that make him unhappy. You definitely wouldn't like Bill Gravel when he's unhappy. He does a little investigation and lands himself a quest that should keep him occupied while he's on holiday, and gives readers a pretty good idea where the first issue of his new series will be going. It won't be pretty, but it will be bloody.

As with most stories from the warped (in a brilliant way!) mind of Warren Ellis, Gravel isn't for everyone. If you are too young, or too tender, for heaping helpings of over-the-top violence and swearing, then you might want to steer clear of Sergeant Major Gravel. But if you like hard-edged storytelling, tough-guy characters, and wonderfully inventive swearing, then you'll love Gravel. However; if you need to resurface the driveway, you'll want to try Home Depot. (Sorry!)

Gravel #0 is only $1.99, it includes a preview of issue #1, AND it is guaranteed this week as Four Color Fantasies' Book of the Week. What more could you ask for?

Avengers: The Initiative #8-now with even more hot Pym Particle on Pym Particle action! If that doesn't get your attention, I don't know what will! Maybe the cover of this comic, featuring two giant-sized heroes beating the living daylights out of each other while their hapless, normal-sized, peers run for cover? That should do it!

Seriously, if you haven't been reading The Initiative, by writers Dan Slott and Christos N. Gage and artist Stefano Caselli, you really should start now. As the smoke cleared from Marvel's Civil War, the big brains (Hank Pym, Tony Stark, and Reed Richards) who run the Marvel U got the bright idea to put a team of sanctioned heroes in every state. To make sure those heroes all knew their stuff, and could operate in perfect safety, they set up a training camp at the site of the Stamford disaster. Unfortunately, these guys aren't as smart as they think they are and things at Camp Hammond haven't been going very smoothly. The locals aren't really happy about having super-folks all over the place. The young, powerful heroes at the camp tend to disobey orders willy-nilly. And the guys at top have made some questionable staffing choices, such as a former Nazi scientist (awesomely named Baron Von Blitzschlag) and the super-villainous Taskmaster. Plus, anything with Henry Gyrich involved turns out badly.

Issue #8 starts a new story arc in which many of these bad choices come back to bite the Initiative in the butt. When the latest recruits show up, a fight breaks out between the Irredeemable Ant-Man (If you didn't read his recently canceled series, shame on you!), Cassie Lang (daughter of the recently deceased other Ant-Man), and Hank Pym, which is where the Pym on Pym action comes in. If a story where three giant heroes hit each other with busses doesn't pull you in, there's very little hope for you. That's only the tip of the iceberg though. The real trouble starts when the clones the Baron made of MVP (a young hero accidentally killed in the program) start acting up. When will these brainy guys ever learn not to mess with clones?

Avengers: The Initiative has amazing stories, with loads of action and plenty of character development. It has gorgeous art. It has a massive and involving cast of characters. It is pivotal to what is going on all over the Marvel Universe This is really a series no comics fan should miss. On top of all that, the first issue of this new story arc is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. All that excellence available with no risk! What more do you need? Did I mention Taskmaster is in here too? I love that guy!

Arse-kicking comic: Northlanders #1

Of all the arse-kicking tough guys to roam the earth in “ye olden days,” the Norsemen (AKA Vikings) were by far the most interesting. These huge, hairy, burly, bearded, manly-men lived in places so cold that frostbite was a summertime treat. It would have been totally understandable if they just huddled around the fire and cried, occasionally breaking off the tear icicles forming in their beards. But no! The Norsemen wildly embraced life (and death) by setting out to sea in tiny, rickety, wooden boats so they could plunder, loot, and kill their way across the world, discovering new places and people, and killing as many of them as they could! (With liberal helpings of wenches and booze to help pass the time.)

Writer Brian Wood and artist Davide Gianfelice take us for a visit to this violent Norse world in their new series Northlanders. In this first issue, an angry young Norseman names Sven learns that his father has died, and his unpleasant Uncle Gorm has taken over Sven’s rightful inheritance. Sven seems not so interested in the land or the people his father ruled, but he would like the cash that should be his. Sven heads for home, a desolate place appropriately called Grimness, to collect. Perhaps to no one’s surprise, horrible old Uncle Gorm doesn’t really plan to part with any of his wealth.

Northlanders has a story that feels authentic, and the historical vibe makes it all seem significant, while still being entertaining. Gianfelice’s art is appropriately grim, dirty, and bloody. It also certainly seems well researched, the character’s appearance, clothes, and squalid living conditions all come across as very authentic. But don’t worry; this is no dry history lesson. There is more than enough sword hacking and face punching to entertain even the most jaded reader. And, man, could those Norsemen swear! All our best rude words came from them!

So if you like fighting, history, or swearing, (and who doesn’t?) you don’t want to miss Northlanders #1. No pillaging necessary! Just stop by Four Color Fantasies and try this guaranteed Book of the Week. Just remember to plait your beard before you leave the house. Vikings were all about beard maintenance.

Clever answers: House of M Avengers #1

If there is one thing comic book fans like, it's a good alternate reality. Whether it's What If? or Elseworlds, the Age of Apocalypse or the Spock-with-a-beard Mirror Universe, we like seeing our favorite characters from a slightly different angle. How would things have been different if Uncle Ben was a gang boss, or if Aunt May never made wheatcakes? We must know!

In Marvel's most recent universe-shattering, reality warping event, House of M, readers were given only the briefest of glimpses into the world where Magneto's dreams all came true. Mutants ruled and sapiens drooled, but with all of the frantic punching and Scarlet Witch bashing, most of the backstory for this alternate world was left to the reader's imagination. At last you can give your weary imagination a rest, because Christos N. Gage and Mike Perkins are here with some answers in House of M: Avengers #1!

Lucky for us, those answers are mostly about Luke Cage! And I'm not talking about modern day Luke Cage, cool though he may be. I'm talking about the silk shirt, chain belt, and metal headband Luke Cage. He's kicking butts and invoking our most popular winter holiday as a swear. Christmas! That's the Luke Cage I'm talking about! He's one tough sapien.

The first issue of House of M: Avengers gives us Luke's origin, his rise as a gangland boss, and his eventual turn to defending helpless humans everywhere by gathering together his team of Avengers. And what a team it is! You would be pretty hard-pressed to find a tougher group of non-mutants lurking around the corners of this alternate Marvel U. In just the first issue he brings Hawkeye, Iron Fist, Moon Knight and Tigra (MMMmmm, Tigra-just the kind of furry, striped girl you'd like to bring home to mama.) into the fold. There's a lot going on in this issue, and Gage's tough-guy story is well-served by Perkin's dark and realistic art.

This issue has it all! Except maybe Aunt May and her wheatcakes. They had to save something for later! If you miss the House of M, or just like a good alternate reality, OR if you love some old-school Luke Cage action, you don't want to pass this one by. It is guaranteed, so what are you waiting for? Christmas!?

Mythological Goodness: Thor #4

One of the best, and possibly craziest, ideas Stan Lee ever had was the notion to bring characters from mythology into the Marvel Universe. How awesome is it to have guys like Hercules and Odin running around with super-humans and mutants, delivering mighty, god-like, boots to the head of evil-doers? Verily, 'tis awesome in the extreme!

Of course, it is all too easy for these characters to be taken for granted. If writers treat a god of myth and legend like any other strong guy (No offense to Strong Guy!) in a cape, they can lose their godly grandeur. If Zeus just flies around busting bank robbers and muggers, you diminish the character AND you have a lame comic. Which brings us to our Book of the Week, Thor #4.

Thor has been absent from the Marvel Universe for a while, what with Ragnarok happening and Asgard vanishing into the mists of time and all. Fans knew the Thunder God would be back (Being immortal does tend to render Death a minor nuisance.), it was always a question of how and when. Lucky for readers, J. Michael Straczynski gets Thor. He brought the Son of Odin back with a bang, and with the awe-inspiring gravitas that is due a god who walks amongst men. This is the real deal, not some stupid clone/cyborg loser. (I'm looking at you, Stark!) Aided by the gorgeous artwork of Oliver Coipel, JMS makes Thor and Asgard as majestic and powerful as they should be.

In issue #4, Doctor Donald Blake (Thor's mortal alter-ego) and the Thuder God both strive to determine their place in this new world. Thor has brought back Asgard, but it is an empty kingdom. In this issue, Blake's medical skills find him helping a Doctors without Borders team in Africa. The people there are mired in a genocidal tribal war. It seems that no one from outside can help but, surely, there is something a god can do? And who are the three eerily familiar mercenaries who protect Blake's team?

If you are already a Thor fan, you'd be crazy to miss this new series! If you have never picked up a Thor comic, this issue is a great place to start! Either way, you need to try out Thor #4 now, while it is the guaranteed Book of the Week. This book is chock-full of mythological, butt-kicking goodness!

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...)

Essential Reading: Black Panther #27

Ah, Spring is here at last! Unfortunately, we have to take the good with the bad. Along with warm, sunny days and gorgeous greenery comes Mother Nature's biggest nuisance: bugs! For most of us, that means spraying some insecticide and getting out the flyswatter, but super heroes do everything bigger, especially the Fantastic Four. Instead of crawling in through a window, their bugs get in from the Negative Zone.

In the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War, the husband and wife team of Black Panther and Storm find themselves standing in for Reed and Sue in the FF. Though these two may be able to mange the entire kingdom of Wakanda, they are quickly learning that running the Fantastic Four is no walk in the park. In Black Panther #27, the team returns from deep space, where they had to deal with the Silver Surfer and Galactus, hoping for just a little bit of down time. Instead, a giant, armored, seemingly unstoppable, bug scurries through the Baxter Building's Negative Zone portal and starts munching on the furniture. What a revoltin' development!

Black Panther #27 is written by Reginald Hudlin, with pencils from Francis Portela. Hudlin does a great job characterizing not only his lead characters, but also their new FF teammates. The story has just the right balance of serious super-hero action, character interaction and FF-style humor. Portela's art is up to all of the challenges Hudlin throws his way, including bug-monsters, frog-powered dimensional travel, and alien planets. (All in one issue!)

In Marvel's post-Civil War landscape, Black Panther has become a pretty essential read. Now that T'Challa is standing in for Reed Richards, he is right at the heart of Marvel's super-community. He has to deal with heroes from both sides of the conflict, and work with S.H.I.E.L.D. to keep Reed's super-prison under control. Not only should fans of the FF or Civil War be reading Black Panther nowadays, but anyone who is into the enormously popular Marvel Zombies books will not want to miss this issue...

Nowhere else can you find this much stuff packed into one slim comic! You definitely need to try out Black Panther #27 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! You don't want to find yourself being shipped off to prison in the Negative Zone, do you? (Hey, that's not a threat. I'm just sayin'...)

A Fresh Approach: Unique 1 & 2

"Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean everyone ISN'T out to get me!" OK, that's an old joke but it does pose a serious question. If the world seems to be going crazy around you, if you think everyone is out to get you, how do you know if it's all true? You don't think you're crazy, but a crazy person wouldn't think that, would they? It's enough to give you a serious brain-ache.

That conundrum is just a small part of the troubles faced by accountant Jon Geoffries in Platinum Studio's Unique. Jon is troubled by strange dreams, paranoia, and bouts of sleep-walking. His shrink has put him on a wide variety of meds, but all to no avail. There is, though, an experimental new treatment that could solve all of Jon's problems. Or make them much, much, worse.

Not only does Jon discover that everyone really is out to get him, he learns that he is being hunted down by people from multiple universes. You know you're in trouble when parallel worlds are out to get you! Jon Geoffries problem is that he is a Unique. That means that in all of the parallel universes, there is no parallel Jon. That unique status also means that Jon is one of the very few people who can, under the right circumstances, travel back and forth between the parallel worlds. Unluckily for Jon, there are nefarious, powerful, people who would like to put his abilities to use for their own personal gain. Or maybe none of this is true, and Jon really is just crazy...

Unique is written by Dean Motter, with art by Dennis Calero. Motter's story is full of twists, turns, conspiracies and the unexpected. Dialogue is used sparingly but effectively. The characters are all very real, and Jon seems like a regular guy who finds himself drawn into this bizarre situation. Readers are definitely kept on their toes, wanting to see what happens next. Calero's art is perfect for this story. It is dark and just a bit surreal, which gives Jon's mind-trip a very dream-like quality.

You're probably not crazy, but can you be sure? Are you really even reading this, or do you just think you are? Does your parallel self have some weird facial hair variant, like Mirror Universe Spock? Find out the answers to all this and more by reading Unique! You aren't imagining that it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. (Plus, there are two issues already in stock. Try 'em both!)