Don't you just hate it when you miss out on a cool new series? You hear all the buzz, but you already missed the first few issues, so you just don't feel like you can catch up. It's even worse when you hear all about how cool a title is, but you have YEARS worth of missed issues scaring you away from the book. Lucky for you, those clever folks at Marvel have everything under control.

In this case the cool series you may have missed out on is Runaways, by Brian K. Vaughan and an assortment of excellent artists. This title has hidden on the fringes of the Marvel Universe. Despite excellent reviews, lots of people still haven't read it. Now you may have heard that hot-shot writer Joss Whedon (You know, the Buffy and Astonishing X-Men guy.) is going to be taking over the book. This would be a great time to try this book, but what about the first 42 issues? To you I say, "Runaways Saga #1!"

This special Runaways issue cleverly compacts the events of the entire series into one handy-dandy issue. Still on the run, the team picks up the journal of their youngest member, Molly. Reading the journal, they get to see the crazy events of their lives from Molly's sometimes naive viewpoint, starting with how they had to run from, and eventually defeat, their own villainous parents. If you've never picked up an issue of Runaways before, this book is a great introduction. If you are already a fan, you may still enjoy seeing the events of the series analyzed by Molly. As an added bonus, there are a few new story pages by Humberto Ramos to link everything together.

Now's your chance to hang out with the cool kids and make up for your shameful ignorance! Runaways Saga #1 has everything you ever wanted to know about the Runaways, but were afraid to ask. It's all in one convenient book at one thrifty price, so what do you have to lose? Nothing! Because this book is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week!

Kid Fair: Franklin Richards-Son of a Genuis: March Madness!

Need a break from all the doom and gloom in the world of comics? Had enough wars, shocks, dead super-heroes and black costumes? Or maybe you'd just like a comic your kids can read without needing therapy later in life? Either way, I've got the book for you! The hugely titled Fantastic Four Presents: Franklin Richards-Son of a Genius: March Madness!

The basic premise of Franklin Richards (by Chris Eliopoulos and Marc Sumerak) is pretty simple: Franklin, son of Reed "Mr. Fantastic" Richards deals with many of the problems kids face in their day-to-day life by using stuff found in his dad's lab. His robotic baby-sitter, H.E.R.B.I.E, tells him not to, but Franklin doesn't listen and chaos ensues. It's kind of like what would happen if Calvin and Hobbes' Calvin had a real transmogrifier or dimensional portal, instead of just a painted cardboard box. I'm pretty sure the creators must be fans of Bill Watterson's duo.

This book is a one-shot collection of several short Franklin Richards adventures. Franklin de-evolves his dad, rides the subatomic sled, has a bad hair day, and plays his first basketball game, all with predictably silly results. My personal favorite from this issue has to be when Franklin foolishly decides to give his hamster, Mr. Sniffles, super-expanded intelligence. Little did he know that he would be unleashing the villainy of Norbert Q. Sniffles, Hamster of Destruction upon an unprepared world! Oh, the horror!

This comic won't "change the universe forever!" But, it will provide a chuckle or two. (And, really, couldn't we all use a good chuckle?) If you're in the mood for some simple, cartoony, fun, you need to try out Franklin Richards. It IS Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. Besides, if you choose not to read it you may will incur the wrath of Norbert Q. Sniffles, Hamster of Destruction! I don't think anybody wants that.

Character Development: Robin #159

First dates are always awkward, difficult, terrifying situations. You have to figure out what to talk about, what not to say, and how to not make yourself look like a total idiot. In the most extreme and horrible situations, you have to keep your date away from your embarassing family, who you just KNOW will ruin everything and make you look like a dork. You might think that super heroes don't have to deal with such trivial trials, but Robin might beg to different.

Robin #159 sees Tim Drake (AKA Robin) on his first date with Zoanne, his adorable classmate and tutor. Things start out just the way you might expect: bad conversation, awkward silences, and lots of goo-goo eyes being made across the table. Unfortunately for Tim, right after they order he gets an unexpected appetizer-a heaping helping of Bat-Signal. What is a sidekick to do?

Like many a normal parent, Bruce Wayne shows up (in costume) to catch a glimpse of Tim and his date. Unlike normal parents, Bats suggests that maybe Tim could cut his date short to come punch some bad guys. Naturally, Tim refuses. Most parents might get the hint and go away, but Bruce ends up crashing through the window and onto Tim's table. And you thought your mom showing off baby pictures was bad!

Robin #159 is written by Adam Beechen with art by Freddie William II. The story is a very clever super-heroic twist on a romantic comedy staple. Tim and Zoanne's conversation rings very true, as does Tim's suspicion that maybe Batman's date crashing wasn't ENTIRELY unintentional. William's art is a nice, clean style that works well for the story's romantic comedy moments but also perfectly captures an action-packed Bat-tussle.

This is a self-contained story with a little love, a little action, and a lot of fun. What more could you ask for? You know you have to find out if Robin gets a goodnight kiss or not! Check out Robin #159 while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. Just remember, comic shops are probably not the best place to bring a first date. MAYBE a second date...

Intriguing story, cinematic art: Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night

Everybody loves a good monster. Monsters come in many varieties: good, bad, scary or silly. Some monsters are such universal classics that they become a part of our shared folklore. Even if you've never watched a horror flick or read an H.P. Lovecraft tale, you know these all-time great monsters. I'm talking about monsters like Dracula, the Mummy, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's monster.

These classic purveyors of nightmare have long been a part of Marvel's ecclectic universe. Lucky for all you monster fans, the House of Ideas is shining an eerie beam of moonlight on these sometimes forgotten fear-mongers in a series of one-shots under the title Legion of Monsters. The first book in this series features two heavy-hitters, the Werewolf by Night and the Monster of Frankenstein. The two stories do share a common theme-monsters coming to terms with what they are.

The Werewolf story is written by Mike Carey with art by Greg Land. A young woman named Rhona has lived her whole life with the curse of the wolf. Carey's story is a simple, but effective tale about a young woman dealing with the curse of the wolf and the prejudice of the yokels in her hometown. This tale would make a great opening scene in a Werewolf by Night movie. (C'mon, somebody make that movie!) The ultra-realistic art by Land really enhances the story's cinematic feel, and is mighty pretty to look at too.

The Monster of Frankenstein story by Skottie Young has an interesting take on (arguably) the most famous monster of them all. This story features a reformed monster, pushed to violence in a "good cause." Young takes a thoughtful look at what makes people, or monsters, good or bad. Is it who they are or how others treat them? This dark and introspective story is a great choice to accompany the more "fun" and action packed opening tale, with art that is much moodier than other work I've seen from Skottie Young.

With two great stories in one spooky book, you can't go wrong by trying out Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night. Just have your silverware and an unlit torch close at hand when you read it! This book even comes with Four Color Fantasies' money-back guarantee, so what are you afraid of?

A Unique Take: Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears #1

Johnny Blaze and the Spirit of Vengeance are burning across movie screens this week and, fingers crossed, the movie looks pretty promising. It only makes sense that Marvel is making sure there are some Ghost Rider comics on the shelves for new fans to check out. Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears is an unusual choice, but one that definitely deserves reader's attention.

It makes sense that the Spirit of Vengeance has been around a lot longer than Blaze or follow-up host Danny Ketch. Trail of Tears, by Garth Ennis and Clayton Crain, takes us way back to the Civil War (the real one, not the Marvel one) for a look at an earlier incarnation of the flaming-headed one. Protagonist Travis Parham is a Lieutenant in the Confederate Army. He starts out as a gung-ho soldier fighting for his cause, but one horrific battle leaves him injured, disillusioned, and out of the war. He is taken in by a former slave who worked to earn the freedom of his family. During his recovery, Travis learns a lot about himself and discovers a mysterious altar adorned with brightly burning skulls....

I'll reveal my bias up front: I've never met a Garth Ennis comic I didn't like. Of course, Ennis is most known for over-the-top crazy violence and the darkest of dark humor. Books like Preacher, the Punisher, and The Boys push the envelope for just what you can get away with in a comic before the peasants rise up and chase you off with pitchforks and torches. Ennis is the go-to guy for gritty, macho heroes-guys who would kick you in the knackers as soon as look at you. However, he is also a prolific writer of seriously researched and realistic war stories.

Trail of Tears is very much a product of this more serious side of Garth Ennis. Parham's war is politically complex and utterly horrific. Being on the battlefield leaves Travis a changed man, a man with a lot to think about. The complexity and horror of war is perfectly realized by Crain's amazing artwork. The opening scenes, detailed and grim, do not paint a glamorous picture of this often romanticized war. The few glimpses we get of the Spirit of Vengeance (Don't expect any full-on flaming skull action in this first issue!) have some serious super-natural weight. In the wrong hands, the whole flaming demon skull thing could come across as just silly fantasy, here it is seriously spooky stuff.

Just because there isn't a cool burning biker in this series, don't overlook Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears! This is a different, but exceptionally good, take on the character. Try it now while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week!

In space, no one can hear you chuckle: Outer Orbit #2

Science-fiction very often takes itself WAY too seriously. In an effort to be seen as serious, intellectual fare, sci-fi all too frequently gives us heaps of angst, dystopian futures, mysterious aliens, and heroes who never seem to smile. Don't get me wrong, I love sci-fi. It's just that, every now and then, someone needs to come along and poke some holes in its inflated sense of self-importance. Luckily, Outer Orbit #2 is here, and it brought its poking stick.

Dark Horse's Outer Orbit, by Zach Howard, Sean Murphy, and Reed Buccholz, takes a ton of standard sci-fi ingredients and mixes them up with a heaping helping of fun. The unlikely protagonists of Outer Orbit are the mismatched pair of Quinn and Krunk. Quinn is a goofy, blue, inter-galactic pizza delivery guy with a motor mouth and a tendency to lose his pants. (Don't worry, his undies are quite fetching, and very tight!) Krunk is a disgraced (thanks to Quinn) space cop, and all-around tough guy with a distinct lack of social skills.

Quinn and Krunk find themselves drawn into a plot of galactic intrigue and mayhem by Neoki, a super-hot chick with loads of guns, and a stolen idol that has the criminal underworld's baddest dudes hot on her tail. (Quinn's just hot FOR her tail, but that's just 'cause everyone can totally tell that they're a couple.) The second issue starts with Quinn and Neoki on the run, and the action keeps coming at a fast and furious pace. There are explosions, gunfire, fiery crashes, underwear, more explosions, and a viscious lunch box attack. The action only stops for potty breaks and poker, which seems reasonable to me.

All three creators contribute to the story, and their combined hilarity is awesome to behold. Every line of dialogue is packed with funny, and you'll find yourself quoting lines like you would from the Simpsons or a Kevin Smith flick. The art is equally great, as it perfectly captures the manic energy of the story. Quinn and Krunk's facial expressions alone are worth the price of admission.

I love Outer Orbit and, if you read it, you will too! This series isn't generating nearly as much buzz as it deserves. This book has it all: a hot space-babe, big guns, hilarious dialogue, a fun story, loveable heroes, space gangsters, and tons of action! What could you possibly be waiting for? Try Outer Orbit #2 while it is Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week! (Poking stick, unfortunately, not included.)

If you're lucky, there might even be copies of #1 still available. Act now!

How we'd really react: Irredeemable Ant-Man #4

You know, it's all well and good to say that "with great power comes great responsibility," but, in the less-than-ideal real world, most people would probably fall short in the great responsibility department. If Joe Average suddenly found himself with laser-vision, would he risk his life trying to make the world a better place or just mess around in the backyard zapping birds and empty cans? Is that laser fried pigeon I smell?

Eric O'Grady, the star of Marvel's Irredeemable Ant-Man #4, is one such average guy. Eric is a low-level S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who, through a mixture of incompetence and criminal mischief, ends up in possession of Hank Pym's latest Ant-Man suit. Does Eric bravely shoulder his responsibilities to become the next great hero of the Marvel U? Does he team up with his S.H.I.E.L.D. buddies to save the helicarrier when a brainwashed Wolverine attacks? Does he use the suit to thwart a Skrull invasion and deliver Aunt May's heart medicine?

Nah. Eric O'Grady takes the suit off of his dead friend's body and uses it to pick up chicks, sneak into women's locker rooms, and stage ant races. The comic itself does bill Eric as "The World's Most Unlikable Super Hero," and, in many ways, he is pretty awful. He steals the suit on a whim, betrays his commanding officer who is tasked with tracking the suit down, and lies to score with his dead best friend's girlfriend. O'Grady's not evil or villainous, he's just a selfish jerk who doesn't think about the consequences of his actions. He's a lot like one of those idiots on YouTube who sets three friends (and himself) on fire after uttering the immortal words, "Hey, guys, watch this!"

Written by the amazing Robert Kirkman, with art by the equally awesome Phil Hester, Irredeemable Ant-Man is a unique take on the world of super heroes. The story is often laugh-out-loud funny and offers a very different perspective on life in comic book land. You wouldn't catch Hank Pym using his shrinking powers to secretly live in a stranger's apartment or spy on a woman in the shower, would you? But I bet you can think of at least one friend who, if he found an Ant-Man suit, would do exactly the goofy stuff Eric O'Grady does. He's not heroic, noble, or very smart, but Ant-Man is a lot of fun. He's a guy that, unfortunately, many of us can probably relate to.

The beauty of a Kirkman book is that you never know what to expect. Irredeemable Ant-Man is nothing like Walking Dead, which is nothing like Invincible, or Marvel Zombies, or Battle Pope, or...you get the idea. I'm not sure where this book is going, and that makes it much more fun to go along for the ride. Plus, Hester's design for the new Ant-Suit is really nifty, and would make for a sweet action figure. A tiny, annoying action figure.

What are you waiting for? Get real small and scuttle over to Four Color Fantasies right away to pick up this guaranteed Book of the Week!

Worth it for Action & Characters: Exiles #89

Everyone knows that parallel universes are a pain in the butt. In a parallel universe, everything is kinda like our universe, but different in weird, annoying ways. Like the old Star Trek episode where Spock is a jerk and has a goatee. You never know who you can trust in a parallel universe because maybe you missed your best friend's birthday party when he was six, so he became a serial killer or a dentist or some other scary thing. Freaky!

For Marvel's Exiles, parallel worlds are much more than just annoying places with opposite facial hair. The Exiles are a team of mutants and heroes whose job it is to travel between all the thousands of different realities and make sure everything happens the way it is supposed to. Apparently, if all those pesky universes aren't properly maintained, they could all come crashing down into each other causing untold havoc and destruction.

The Exiles team is an interesting mix of characters. There are alternate versions of characters, like Sabretooth, T-Bird and Power Princess. There are future alternate reality heroes, like Spider-Man 2099. There are characters that are dead or missing in the regular Marvel U, like Morph and Blink. There are even characters that don't exist in regular reality at all, like Nightcrawler's daughter. Anyone that is under-used, or dead, in the Marvel U may well end up in Exiles. In many ways, Exiles is like a What If series where all the "what ifs" really happen.

Exiles #89, by Tony Bedard and Jim Calafiore, is a good issue to showcase what this series is all about. The Exiles find themselves facing an impending crash of realities and their weary team has very little time to fix a bajillion problems on many alternate Earths. They come up against an alternate Sinister Six, and alternate Serpent Society, and an alternate Hellfire Club. As more and more of their members are taken out of action, the dwindling team also has to cope with the fact that their greatest enemy is brainwashed into their ranks and could turn on them all at any moment.

This issue offers a lot of character development, despite also having rapid-fire action. Calafiore's art is dynamic, even when he has to draw a ton of characters on each page. I actually found his art style very reminiscent of the nineties Marvel style, which is very appropriate for this book. Many of these characters first appeared in that much maligned decade, and got pushed out of the spotlight too soon.

Call a truce with your evil twin from Earth #3799, and take time to give Exiles #89 a try. What have you got to lose? It IS Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week. (Except on Earth #4907, where the BoW is Archie: Civil War. The Jughead Registration Act is a disaster!)

An Intriguing Chess Game: Civil War: War Crimes

You don't get to be the Kingpin of Crime in the Marvel Universe without some serious smarts. The only way Wilson Fisk has managed to stay at the top of the heap for so long is by staying several moves ahead of the heroes and villains who would love to take him down. Some folks may have the idea that Fisk is just a big, fat, thug, but those who make that mistake usually end up six feet under.

For any ordinary criminal, getting locked up would put a serious crimp in their plans, but not Wilson Fisk. Despite the fact that he is doing time at Riker's Island, Fisk is still clearly the Kingpin. He sits at the head of the mess hall, has a legion of bodyguards and enforcers (including THE Enforcers) and is approached by appointment only. Of course, Wilson's power does NOT stop at the prison's gates, as both Hammerhead and Iron Man will soon learn...

In Civil War: War Crimes, by Frank Tieri and Staz Johnson, Fisk and Tony "Iron Man" Stark play a literal, and figurative, chess game. The Kingpin has information about Captain America's resistance movement that Tony would love to get his hands on. Stark knows that such information isn't going to come without a price, but is it a price he is prepared to pay? Of course, Iron Man is no dummy either, so both players think they are winning this game. Who is making the smarter moves? And who is sacrificing one piece too many?

If you have been following Marvel's Civil War blockbuster, this one-shot is essential reading. Readers will discover what's been going on behind the scenes, and may be shocked to find out just who is making deals with the devil to win this war. If you haven't been reading Civil War, this is still a great self-contained story that explores the character of both Wilson Fisk and Tony Stark.

Don't be a mere pawn in the game. Make your move, and head to Four Color Fantasies to try out this 100% guaranteed Book of the Week! With a little help from Wilson Fisk, you could become a Kingpin too!

Worth joining him: Lone Ranger #3

For a long time, the once-popular western genre had all but vanished from the comic racks. Luckily for all fans of gruff, stubbly, men on horseback, comic book westerns have made quite a comeback. Marvel's westerns and DC's Jonah Hex and Loveless have all been great, but now Dynamite Entertainment has brought back the most well-known cowboy of them all: The Lone Ranger.

The Lone Ranger has appeared in just about every entertainment medium there is. He's been on radio and TV, in movies, books, viewmaster reels, and, naturally, comics. Dynamite has published some really great comics based on licensed properties like Red Sonja, Battlestar Galactica, Army of Darkness, and many others. They have already proven that they know how to find the right talent to revive an old property with the love and respect fans expect. I'm not really an old-school Lone Ranger fan myself, but I think those hardcore fans will like what they see in this book. Of course, Dynamite wouldn't put out a book that was only for nostalgia buffs, so they give us a great new take on the Ranger that will appeal to any readers who like a great story with beautiful art.

The Lone Ranger is written by Brett Matthews with art by Sergio Cariello (and art direction from John "Astonishing X-Men" Cassady). In Lone Ranger #3, they continue their version of the Ranger's origin. John Reid, masked and loaded for action, heads off to get revenge on the last of the men responsible for the deaths of his fellow rangers, including his father and brother. With villains and conspiracies all around him, John's going to need all the help he can get just to survive. Lucky for him, there's a guy named Tonto who seems willing to watch his back. Now, he'll just need to find a good horse...

If you are expecting the somewhat campy, sanitized version of the Lone Ranger from the old TV shows, you will be surprised by the extremely dark and gritty tone of this book. This story is told much more in the vein of Clint Eastwood than Roy Rogers. The Ranger's world is violent and the villains he will be coming up against are cruel and sadistic. If you are a fan of the new Jonah Hex, you definitely don't want to miss what Dynamite is doing with The Lone Ranger.

Go to Guy Gardner: Collateral Damage #1

Every office or organization has one and, somehow, they never go away, no matter how much everyone wishes they would. You know the person I'm talking about-the big jerk who does everything wrong, but always gets away with it. They make stupid, inappropriate jokes, steal office supplies, eat your carefully labelled lunch, and mouth off to everyone and anyone. Every school, business, store, or team has one (or two) of these idiots. For the Green Lantern Corps, that jerk who drives everyone crazy and nobody wants to deal with is Guy Gardner.

Amongst all of the noble and self-sacrificing heroes of the Corps, Guy stands out as a selfish bigmouth who just happens to be great with a power ring. The only reason for the Corps to keep a guy like Guy around is to have someone to do the dirty, unpleasant, nasty jobs that all those heroic and noble types don't want to touch. When you need a Green Lantern who isn't afraid to break some bones and kick someone when they're down, you need Guy Gardner. Guy always speaks his mind, regardless of how others might feel about what he has to say. Of course, you wouldn't want him anywhere near sensitive diplomatic situations of any kind. Right?

Well, maybe just this once. The Rann-Thanagar War in the DC Universe has gotten ugly, and there are some parties who would like to put an end to the killing and destruction. Earth has no involvement in the war, so it seems like maybe an Earthling would make a good neutral arbiter. Maybe an Earthling who has some degree of experience with other space-faring races, or even one who owns, say, a bar, where talks could be held. Of course, you need an arbiter who doesn't have a stake in the outcome and who won't be swayed by feelings and stuff. Someone, like Guy Gardner, who just doesn't really care very much.

Guy Gardner: Collateral Damage #1 (of 2) is a great meeting of character and creator. The legendary Howard Chaykin writes and draws this book, and he's great at writing guys who aren't the nicest dudes around. Guy's jerky dialogue is perfect, and kinda fun to read aloud. (Somewhere deep down, we all have an inner jerk just dying to get out, don't we?) Chaykin's art is clean, yet detailed, and loaded with style. He perfectly captures the little details, like Guy's sneer, and the big stuff, like marauding alien hordes.

Don't be a jerk! Give Guy Gardner: Collateral Damage a chance. Is that so much to ask? Or does Guy have to kick your worthless rear end? He'll do it, ya know.

Launching a better NewUniversal #1

Back in the dark depths of the '80s, the folks at Marvel had a pretty good idea. Why not start a whole new universe, where we can tell stories that don't fit into the regular, hero-filled Marvel Universe? The New Universe was a parallel reality, closer to our real world than the Marvel U, a whole new universe where anything could happen. The possibilities were endless! And then they came out with books starring a guy with a super-powered tool box and a bunch of other mediocre, goofy characters. The New Universe soon vanished, never to be heard from again. Until today...

Marvel is taking another shot at making the New Universe cool, and this time they have talented guys like Warren Ellis and Salvador Larroca at the helm. In NewUniversal #1, Ellis takes the basic concept of a realistic, parallel world where people gain powers, and runs off wildly in his own direction with it. The first issue introduces a bunch of interesting characters, but doesn't give away too much about where they are all headed. They are just living their normal lives, good and bad, when something weird happens. There is a white flash in the night sky, an ancient temple is uncovered, weird symbols pop up everywhere, some people die and some people seem to develop paranormal abilities.

Being a Warren Ellis book, NewUniversal is full of great characters, big sci-fi concepts, and a few angry Brits. What more could anyone ask for in a comic? (Besides a monkey pirate fighting a zombie ninja. They seem to have left that out of this issue.) Salvador Larocca's art is also a real treat. He excels at small character moments and facial expressions, but he also pulls off giant, cosmic, space stuff. His work here is a little more down to Earth than his recent X-Men art, which emphasizes that the strange goings-on are happening to "real" people. A strange flash in the sky would be the least weird thing to happen in the craziness filled Marvel Universe, but here it seems unique and ominous.

I'm not really sure what might happen next in NewUniversal, and that is a good thing. There is a whole new world of possibilities opened up here and, with Ellis and Larocca in charge, it will be fun finding out what happens next. As long as they keep those Kickers, Inc guys far away from this guaranteed Book of the Week. They were sooo lame.

No Conspiracy Engima Cipher #1

If you believe the conspiracy theorists of the world, you probably think the government is watching you at this very moment. Not the government guys we all see fooling around on CNN, wasting taxpayer money on whatever it is they do all day, but the dark-suited guys behind the scenes. The guys who have Hitler's brain in a jar, keep all the crashed UFOs to themselves, and could have anyone "rubbed out" with one cryptic command. The guys who have the REAL power. Of course, such secret government agencies are pure fantasy, right? Or maybe that's just what they want us to think...

Enigma Cipher #1, from Boom! Studios, drops readers right into the deep end of this mysterious world. A college professor stumbles across a coded Nazi message from World War II. He reports it to the state department, and then shares his discovery with a class. Decoding a message like this should be no big deal, right? It's surely just some dusty old piece of history, a curiousity for students to play around with. There's no way it could lead to a whole lot of people dying, or put a star student on the run from a monolithic organization out to silence her for good. Right? Or maybe that's just what I want you to think...

Written by Andrew Cosby and Michael Alan Nelson, Enigma Cipher could easily be the next blockbuster thriller in the "Bourne Identity" vein. It has a strong and believable cast of characters, even the ones who quickly find themselves victims of the sweeping conspiracy. The story is loaded with twists and turns that keep readers just as unsure about what's happening, or who can be trusted, as Casey (the computer genius heroine who tries to break the enigmatic code).

Greg Scott's art is perfect for this story. His use of heavy shadows and dark tones keeps events shrouded in mystery. There could be, and often are, enemies lurking behind every corner.

This review may leave you with many questions, but there's only one way to find the answers. You DO want to know the answers, don't you? I'm sure it's perfectly safe for you to read Enigma Cipher #1. There's no way you could learn too much by reading this guaranteed Book of the Week. Or maybe that's just what I want you to think...

Giving girls a reason to read comics: White Tiger #1

Who can resist a shapely woman who can kick your butt without breaking a sweat? Apparently, too many people. No one can dispute the dearth of women in comics. Not enough women are working in the industry, not enough women star in the books, and not enough women are reading the material. Now's our chance to celebrate all three with the butt-kicking launch of Marvel's White Tiger.

Scripted by the married team of Tamora Pierce and Timothy Liebe, White Tiger captures the audience with an intriguing story: the mythical organization, the Chaeyi, might be real, the is-he-or-isn't-he Daredevil pops in, and our hero isn't sure if she wants all this. Angela Del Toro, the niece of the original '70s kung fu hero White Tiger, received Hector Ayala's amulets just before being fired from her FBI position investigating Matt Murdock as Daredevil. Leave it to Brian Michael Bendis to introduce a character so compelling she deserves her own limited series, but Del Toro really comes to life in the able hands of Pierce, best known for her strong female leads in a series of young adult fantasy novels.

Despite the history behind White Tiger, the authors quickly fill in her backstory without being bogged down in exposition. And together we stumble through Angela's personal dilemma about using the amulets and whether or not that means she has to wear a costume. In the first of six issues, the Black Widow shows up to mentor Angela and her first stop is helping choose the costume. Fanboys might be disappointed by the decided lack of flesh showing, but the skintight outfit draws the eye to every sinuous muscle.

The artwork by Phil Briones with inks by Don Hillsman and colors by Chris Sotomayor is realistic with gritty, dark New York nights and sunny, yet grimy streets during the day. The world of Angela Del Toro is captivating through the eyes of this creative team and her emotional life is revealed with every expression.

If you are a fan of Collen Wing and Misty Knight AKA Heroes for Hire (and if not, why not?), White Tiger is a must read. If you want to see more female action heroes, White Tiger is a must read. If you want your girlfriend to share your super hero obsession, White Tiger is a must read. Did you need any other reason to check this out? Oh, wait, if you hurry, it comes with Four Color Fantasies' money-back guarantee. Buy it today and make this Tiger purr.

Samurai: Heaven and Earth (Vol. 2, #1)

In comic book circles, there is some debate about which is the greatest breed of legendary warriors: ninjas or samurai. For my money, samurai have the ninja beat by a mile. Sure, ninja can do all that hopping around, stealthy stuff. They can poison your food or sneak up behind you and stab you with their fancy ninja blades, but is that really any way for a deadly martial artist to act? Would you hang out with someone who did that to you?

Samurai, on the other hand, are noble warriors who will look you in the eye. A samurai will tell you how he's going to kill you, give you the first shot, and still take you down before you know what happened. Now THAT'S impressive! Asukai Shiro, the star of Dark Horse's Samurai: Heaven and Earth (Vol. 2, #1) by Ron Marz and Luke Ross, is a prime example of the honorable samurai warrior. He fights for a just cause, he gives his opponents fair warning before they die at his hand, and he stays cool and calm even in the face of insurmountable odds. I'd like to see a ninja top that!

Shiro is on a quest to rescue his kidnapped love Lady Yoshiko. He swears to cross Heaven and Earth to be reunited with her, and is well on his way to keeping that vow. Having crossed all of Asia and most of Europe on Yoshiko's trail, Shiro finds himself in Spain as this volume of the series opens. Being a stranger in a strange land puts him at a bit of a disadvantage, so Shiro has to recruit some unwilling local to help him pick up his lost love's trail. Of course, some people just don't believe Shiro when he says they will help him or die. As you can probably imagine, some of those skeptics end up on the wrong end of Shiro's sword. (That's the sharp end, if you couldn't guess.)

This book has a great, epic story with beautiful, realistic art. Both Marz and Ross have done their research, as this historical tale looks and feels very authentic. If you love Lone Wolf and Cub, Frank Miller's Ronin, or even those Wolverine issues where he goes to Japan, you should check out Samurai: Heaven and Earth #1. This book has tragic romance, historical drama, plenty of action, and a cool samurai hero. If that isn't enough to entice you, it looks like Shiro may be running afoul of some pirates soon. Nobody can resist pirates. Pirates are cooler than ninjas, too.

Don't skulk in the shadows! Boldly make your way to Four Color Fantasies, where you can do the honorable thing and try out this guaranteed Book of the Week.

New Beloved Brit Stuns: Wisdom #1

You know, thanks to Walt Disney and Tinkerbell, everyone thinks fairies are adorable little winged darlings, flitting about the English countryside. However, if you read your folklore, fairies are usually portrayed as manipulative, angry, hateful little buggers. Given half a chance, they'll steal your crops and kidnap your babies. Bloody fairies.

In the England of the marvel Universe, fairies really exist in the Otherworld. The Otherworld is essentially the collective unconcious of the English people. It exists alongside the "real" world and is teeming with fairies, monsters, knights, kings, swords in stones, and all that other great stuff from your English Lit class. Unfortunately, sometimes the residents of the Otherworld collide with modern day England, and that makes trouble. When a bunch of wild fairies start waging war on humans, it's time to call in Pete Wisdom.

Wisdom is the head of MI-13, a secret government team that deals with "weird happenings." Pete's team is, honestly, a pretty weird bunch too. Wisdom himself is a mutant (he was in the best ever Excalibur run, back when Warren Ellis wrote it), and he leads a group with a rogue fairy, a hippy Skrull, Captain Midlands, and a woman who is "clairsentient" but NOT a telepath. A strange team to deal with strange stuff.

Wisdom is a Marvel Max limited series written by Paul Cornell, with art by Trevor Hairsine. Cornell has long been a favorite writer of mine. He has written some excellent Doctor Who novels, an acclaimed episode of the new Doctor Who TV series, some original sci-fi novels, and some great comics for 2000 AD. This is his first work for American comics, and I have a feeling Paul Cornell will become a beloved import like fellow Brits Garth Ennis and Warren Ellis. In the first issue alone, Wisdom manages to be original, funny, and scary, packed with great moments and clever ideas. Trevor Hairsine, another former 2000 AD artist, is no slouch either. His detailed, dark, and gorgeous art is a perfect fit for the book.

With great art and a great story, there is no excuse for you to miss out on Wisdom #1. If you enjoy the modern take on folklore in Fables, you should definitely give Wisdom a try. Of course, the fairies might try to steal your copy, so be careful! Bloody fairies.

Don't mess with Aunt May: Sensational Spider-Man #31

Spider-Man fans who have been around long enough remember how useless Pete's beloved Aunt May used to be. She doddered about the house making wheat cakes for her nephew, totally overlooking the many, many clues that Pete was really Spider-Man. Spidey couldn't reveal his identity because Aunt May's feeble heart would give out with the shock. He was always running from battles because Aunt May needed her medicine, being only minutes away from death. May was so clueless that she thought Spidey was a terrible menace, but she was going to marry "that sweet Doctor Octavius" so he could get his tentacles on her nuclear power plant. (If you don't know the story behind that one, just count yourself lucky and never think of it again.)

However, May Parker has had a bit of a renaissance period over the last decade or so. Gone is the cliched, sickly, dim-witted old lady of the past. Today's Aunt May is a strong, smart, no-nonsense, fount of wisdom and support for Peter and Mary Jane. Nowhere is that transformation more evident than in Sensational Spider-Man #31 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Angel Medina. Part of the fallout from Spidey's Civil War unmasking, this issue focuses on two of the women in Peter's life, Liz Allan and Aunt May.

Now that all the villains Spidey has pounded over the years know his identity, they figure they can get a little payback by attacking those close to him. One bunch of second-rate villains uses Liz and her son to lure Peter into a trap, while the Chameleon goes after the weakest link in Peter's life-Aunt May. I don't want to give anything away here, but lets just say Chameleon made a serious miscalculation. May is not the helpless victim he believed her to be, and I bet he won't ever look at a bakesale the same way again.

It is great that Marvel hasn't shied away from dealing with the logical consequences of Spider-Man's identity being public knowledge. Aguirre-Sacasa has used this controversial Civil War plot point to tell some excellent Spidey stories that could never have been told before. As a Spidey fan for almost 30 years, it's great to have stories with a truly new take on the character. If you've been reading Civil War, but missing out on the great stories spinning out from those events, you're missing the best part of the year's biggest superhero event.

Pick up Sensational Spider-Man #31, pull up a comfy chair and a plate of homemade oatmeal cookies, and enjoy! It's guaranteed at Four Color Fantasies all week. Try it or we'll reveal your true identity!

Unexpectedly Seasonal: Tales of the Unexpected #1

It's the middle of October and Halloween is sneaking up on us like the skulking, terrifying, bad boy of a holiday it is. You know what it means when Halloween is just around the corner? (Aside from the increased likelihood of egging and TP-ing, that is.) It means spooky comics, of course! There is no better way to spend a creepy October evening than curled up in a comfy chair with an eerie comic or two.

DC is here to help keep you frightened with their October debuting Tales of the Unexpected limited series. This book is an anthology title, headlined by The Spectre and backed up by Dr. 13. The Spectre tale, by David Lapham and Eric Battle, is the star of the show and gets the lion's share of the page count. The story stars dead Detective Crispus Allen, the current Spectre, observing and uncovering some seriously creepy goings-on in a run-down slumland building called the Granville Towers. The tenants are weird, the landlord is dead, and something is going on that even a ghostly detective can't figure out.

The Dr. 13 backup story is an interesting take on the "investigator of the unknown" formula. Terry Thirteen is a paranormal investigator, but he is also the ultimate sceptic. He doesn't believe in ghosts, monsters, aliens, or any other unexplained phenomenon. He seems compelled to explore these subjects because he is desperate to prove that they simply don't exist. The story is written by Brian Azzarello, with art by Cliff Chiang. In a very small number of pages, this story manages to incorporate cavemen, dinosaurs, yeti, cannibalism, freaky Freudian dreams, and a vampire. You can't ask for much more out of your entertainment dollar!

Both stories are well-told and well-drawn. The subject matter is perfect for the season, and the first issue is topped off with an excellent cover from Mike "Hellboy" Mignola. Pick up this comic, dig in to that bag of cheap candy you bought for the trick-or-treaters, and have yourself an early Halloween party.

No need to be scared, because Tales of the Unexpected #1 is Four Color Fantasies guaranteed Book of the Week!

Escape into the CRIMINAL

People are fascinated by the darker corners of the world, those places that we all know should really be avoided at any cost. Even those of us who are smart, or lucky, enough to stay away from dirty alleys that smell like urine are tempted to peek inside once in awhile. That urge probably explains the recent resurgence of dark and gritty storytelling in comics (and other media) lately.

The newest down and dirty crime comic on the block is Criminal, from Marvel's creator-owned Icon imprint. Written by Ed Brubaker and drawn by Sean Phillips, this book comes with a pretty good pedigree for a dark crime comic. The story lives up to Brubaker's previous work, with believable, well-rounded characters, cracking dialogue, and a convoluted plot. Phillip's art is a little more realistic than his recent stint on Marvel Zombies, but it still has that same rough edge that makes it a perfect fit for a story like Criminal.

Our protagonist is Leo Patterson, the son of one of the greatest pickpockets ever to work a city. Leo's dad died in prison, and Leo is determined not to make the same mistakes his father did. Not that he decides to actually earn an honest living; he just works really hard not to get caught. Leo operates by a pretty strict set of rules. The rules have kept Leo out of prison so far, but he finds himself tempted to break the rules to make one huge score that could take care of all his problems and responsibilities. Of course, there is just no way that things are going to go as smoothly as Leo would like.

If you want to sneak down that stinky alley and experience life on the wrong side of the tracks, you can't go wrong by doing it from the relative safety of your favorite comfy chair. Stop by Four Color Fantasies and pick up this guaranteed Book of the Week. But no five-finger discount! Leo is a bad, bad example, kids!

No Comedy Magician: Doctor Strange: The Oath #1

There are quite a few folks in the super-community who call themselves "Doctor" something, but most of them aren't really doctors. Doctor Doom, for example, is certainly not the kind of doctor I would want to perform a major surgery on myself or a loved one. Doctor Stephen Strange (Sorceror Supreme, Master of the Mystic Arts), however, is an honest-to-goodness HMO-charging, medication-prescribing doctor.

The good Doctor's medical training comes to the fore once again in Doctor Strange: The Oath by Brian K. (Y the Last Man) Vaughan and Marcos Martin. When Doc's loyal and true manservant Wong comes down with a fatal medical condition, he swears to live up to his Hippocratic Oath and find a way to save Wong. Lucky for Wong, Doctor Strange has considerably more resources than the average General Practitioner. Of course, nothing is easy in the world of super hero comics and finding a cure is not going to be a walk in the park, even for the Sorceror Supreme.

In recent years, the trend in the Marvel Universe seems to be to treat Doctor Strange as a bit of a joke. Admittedly, someone as pompous as Stephen Strange is an easy target for a laugh. Vaughan seems set to return Strange to an appropriate place of prominence in the Marvel U. He may be a bit on the stuffy and arrogant side, but he IS the most powerful magician in the world and the sole protector of the entire dimension in which the Marvel heroes reside. Nothing to sneeze at, even if he does dress funny.

There is certainly a lighthearted side to this series. Any comic that opens with Iron Fist and Arana sitting in the Night Nurse's waiting room, tending their wounds and listening to elevator music, is not without a funny bone. Doctor Strange, for all his faults, is portrayed as a powerful yet compassionate man. He may be a bit oblivious to the mundane world around him, but he does mean well and he is willing to risk his life for the benefit of others.

With a compelling and clever story by Vaughan and great art by Martin, this limited series is too good to miss. Pay a visit to the Doctor today, and try Doctor Strange: The Oath #1, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week.