Thoughts of Mine...

Things to do in Chicago in the Summer

2011-06-08T18:25:00.005-05:00

Summer is upon us here in Chicago
(at least for a while, who knows how long the great weather will last),

so with great weather comes all the great thing to do in Chicago for the next couple of months.

There is so much to do in Chicago, you can go eat at many of the food festivals, enjoy at concert, even enjoy at movie at the park.

So look over the list and hope to see you at a few of these places.

Please check out my other blog on all the Movies at the Park Here or the complete list Here.

06/08 - Neon Trees @ the House of Blues $20

06/09-10 - Gabriel Iglesias @ The Venue at Horseshoe Casino $50-$70

06/10-12 - RibFest 2011 @ 400 N Lincoln Ave
Fri (5pm-10pm), Sat (12pm-10pm), Sun (12pm-10pm)
($5 donation but expect to spend around $25 for all the great food)
They even have an Amateur Rib-eating contest register here.

6/12-16 - Shedd Aquarium Free Day (All Day Long)

06/13 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

06/15 - Rihanna: Loud Tour w/B.o.B and J.Cole @ United Center $30-120

06/16-19 - 10 for $10 @ Zanies Comedy Club - Chicago $10
(10 Comedians for only $10)

06/16 - Natasha Bedingfield w/ Kate Voegle & Andy Grammer @ House of Blues $25

06/18 - Lucky Boys Confusion w/ The Action Blast, State & Madison & Ivory Theory @ House of Blues $20

06/18-19 - 6 Corners BBQ Fest @ 4000 N Milwaukee Ave
Sat (12pm-10pm), Sun (11am-10pm)

($6 donation but expect to spend around $25)

06/24 - 07/03 - Taste of Chicago 2011

06/24-07/02 (11am -9pm), 07/03 (11am -7pm)

(free entry,food tickets go for strip of 12 for $8)

06/25 - Rascal Flatts w/ Sara Evans, Justin Moore, & Easton Corbin @ First Midwest Bank at Tinley Park $25-$100

06/25-26 Chicago Summerfest @ Licoln Park

Sat (11am-10pm), Sun (12pm-9PM)

($5 Donation)

06/26 - Hombres G w/ Enanitos Verdes @ House Of Blues $60

06/30 - He is We w/ Ocean Grove & Andrew Allen @ Beat Kitchen $12

07/06 - Art Institute Free Day (All Day long)

07/08 - Britney Spears w/ Nicki Minaj, Jessie and The Toy Boys and Nervo @ The United Center $40-$370

07/09 - Vans Warped Tour @ First Midwest Bank at Tinley Park $46

(Bands include HelloGoodbye, Simple Plan, The Ready Set, Unwritten Law and more)

07/09-10 - Roscoe Village Burger Fest @ 2000 W Belmont (near Damen)

Sat (11am-10pm), Sun (11am-10pm)
($6 donation but expect to spend around $25)

07/11 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

07/13 - The Art Institute Free Day (All Day Long)

07/15-17 - Windy City RibFest in Uptown @ 4800 N Broadway

Fri (5pm-10pm), Sat (12pm-10pm), Sun (12pm-10pm)

($5 Donation)

07/17 - WWE Money In The Bank PPV @ AllState Arena $ 35-$300

07/21-22 - Mana @ AllState Arena $50-$110

07/23 - 106 & Park Presents: Closer to my Dreams Tour @ House Of Blues $30

(Feat Tyga, Mindless Behavior, Lil Twist, Jawan Harris, Trevante & Diggy Simmons)

07/23-24 - Wicker Park Fest @ Milwaukee Ave and North Ave
Sat (12pm-10pm), Sun (12pm-10pm)

($5 Donation)

07/29 - Owl City @ Aragon Ballroom $32

07/30-31 - Taking Back Sunday w/Thursday @ House Of Blues $30

08/03 - We The Kings w/ The Summer Set, The Downtown Fiction, Hot Chelle Rae & Action Item @ Bottom Lounge $15

08/03 - The Art Institute Free Day (All Day Long)

08/08 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

08/09-10 - Taylor Swift @ Allstate Arena $35-90

08/10 - The Art Institute Free Day (All Day Long)

08/11-14 - Chicago Comic Con @ Donald E Stephens Convention Center
Thur (5pm-9pm), Fri (12pm-8pm), Sat (10am-7pm)
& Sun (10am-05pm)

One-day Ticket: $25 Adv - $35 at the door.

Four-days Ticket: $50 Adv - $60 at the door

08/13-14 - Wrigley Summerfest @ 3300 N Seminary
Sat (12pm-10pm) Sun (10am-9pm)

($5 Donation)

08/13 - Selena Gomez @ Rosemont Theater $50-$130

08/20 - Honda Civic Tour Feat Blink-182 w/ My Chemical Romance @ First Midwest Bank at Tinley Park $20-$90

08/20-21 - Chicago Air and Water Show @ Lakefront

08/20-21 - Northside Summerfest @ 4050 N Lincoln Ave

Sat (12pm-10pm) - Sun (11am -9pm)

($5 Donation)

08/26-28 - Boulevard Bash @ 3000 W Logan Ave
Fri (5pm-10pm), Sat (12pm-10pm), Sun (12pm-9pm)

($5 Donation)

08/27-28 - Bucktown Art Fest @ Senior Citizens Park

Sat & Sun (11am-7pm)
(free admission)

08/29 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

08/31 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

09/01 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

09/06-07 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

09/06-09 - Museum of Science and Industry Free Day (All Day Long)

09/07 - The Art Institute Free Day (All Day Long)

09/09-10 - Windy City Wine Festival @ Buckingham Fountain
Fri (4pm-10pm) Sat (3pm-9pm)
(Wine Tasting Ticket - $27 Advance, $35 at the Door)
(Designated Driver ticket $10)

09/12 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

09/12-13 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

09/12-13 - The Shedd Aquarium Free Day (All Day Long)

09/12-16 - Museum of Science and Industry Free Day (All Day Long)

09/14 - The Art Institute Free Day (All Day Long)

09/19-23 - Museum of Science and Industry Free Day (All Day Long)

09/20-21 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

09/20-21 - The Shedd Aquarium Free Day (All Day Long)

09/26-27 - The Shedd Aquarium Free Day (All Day Long)

09/27 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

09/29 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

09/26-30 - Museum of Science and Industry Free Day (All Day Long)

10/01 - Euphoria Tour feat. Enrique Iglesias w/ Pitbull and Prince Royce @ Allstate Arena $30-$120

10/03 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

10/03-04 - The Shedd Aquarium Free Day (All Day Long)

10/05 - The Art Institute Free Day (All Day Long)

10/05-06 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

10/10 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

10/11-12 - The Shedd Aquarium Free Day (All Day Long)

10/12 - The Art Institute Free Day (All Day Long)

10/17-18 - The Shedd Aquarium Free Day (All Day Long)

10/23 - Vicente Fernandez @ Allstate Arena $50-$150

10/24-25 - The Field Museum Free Day (All Day Long)

10/24-25 - The Shedd Aquarium Free Day (All Day Long)

10/31 - The Shedd Aquarium Free Day (All Day Long)

10/31 - Museum of Science and Industry Free Day (All Day Long)

Wow!!!! What a busy next couple of Months :-)
Hope to see everyone at all these places.

Concerts in Chicago for the first half of 2011

2011-02-22T22:15:00.001-06:00

I love going to Concerts,

being there listening to the music,

watching the band playing in sync with emotion,

the amazing energy of the crowd,
I love all of it.

This year looks to be one of the good one so far,
with shows all around Chicago with all different styles, playing in all different places with amazing fans cheering on.

The one show I can't wait to see if Yellowcard, which is one of my favorite band of all time and it's great to see them back together and playing new musics for their fans.

I hope to see you guys there in the front row.

02/17 @ The Bottom Lounge $15

HelloGoodbye with Jukebox, The Ghost, Gold Motel & Now Every Children

Hellogoodbye - When we first met

02/28 @ The House of Blues $18

Plain White T's w/parachute & Miggs

Plain White T's - Rhythm of Love

03/15 @ The House of Blues $26

Good Charlotte with Forever the Sickest Kids & The Century

Good Charlotte - Like It's Her Birthday

03/25@ The Metro $17

Travie Mccoy with Donnie, Black Cards, XV & Bad Rabbits

Travie McCoy Feat Bruno Mars - Billionaires

04/06 @ The Bottom Lounge $15

The Ready Set with All Star Weekend, The Downtown Fiction & We Are The In Crowd

The Ready Set - Love Like Woe!!!

04/14 @ Aragon Ballroom $33

30 Seconds to Mars

30 Seconds to Mars - Kings and Queens

04/15 @ Aragon Ballroom $33

My Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance - Sing

04/16 @ Lincoln Hall $15

A Rocket To The Moon

A Rocket To The Moon - Like We Used To

04/29 @ Congress Theater $30

All Time Low with Yellowcard, Hey Monday & The Summer Set

All Time Low - Weightless

YellowCard - For you and your denial

Hey Monday - I Don't wanna dance

05/03 @ The Bottom Lounge $15

Bowling for Soup

Bowling For Soup - 1985

Other shows that people are/will want to go but that are not for me are:

02/24 @ The House of Blues $

Ke$ha

02/26 @ The United Center $40+

Kid Rock

02/ 28 @ The United Center $50

Lady Gaga

03/07-09 @ The Chicago Theater $50 +

Janet Jackson

03/17 @ The Congress Theater $30

Diplomats (Jim Jones, Cam'ron, Juelz Santana)

04/01 @ The United Center $50+

Lil Wayne with Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Travis Barker & Mixmaster Mike

06/03-04 @ The Allstate Arena

Glee

Can't wait to see you Guys there :-)

Movies of 2011 (or look at all the popcorn I’ll be eating)

2011-01-17T12:00:00.006-06:00

This year like every year, the movie industry is looking to accommodate the fanboys (& fangirls)

by giving us a great selection of movies that are either comic-related, comic-influence or simply fun movies to watch.

Last year we were giving a lot of “fanboys” movie that were hit or miss like Scott Pilgrim, Red, Jonah Hex, The Losers, Iron Man 2, etc

and also movies that were amazing to watch like Toy Story 3, Inception, Despicable me, etc.
This year looks to top last year with the amount of releases and I hope with quality.

The list of movies I’m excited for this year are as follow. . .

01/14 – The Green Hornet

02/18 - I Am Number Four

03/04 – Rango

03/11 – Battle : Los Angeles

03/25 – Sucker Punch

04/01 – Hop

04/15 – Rio

04/15 – Scream 4

04/29 – Fast Five

05/06 – Thor

05/20 – Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

05/27 – Hangover 2

05/27 – Kung Fu Panda 2

06/03 – X-men First Class

06/10 – Super 8

06/17 – Green Lantern

06/24 – Cars 2

07/01 – Transformers: Dark of the Moon

07/15 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 2)

07/22 – Captain America: The First Avenger

07/29 – Cowboys & Aliens

08/19 – Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World

Now there’s movies that I may not watch that a lot of people are definitely going to go see for whatever reason, movies like. . .

03/11 – Red Riding Hood

03/25 – Diary of the Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

05/22 – Water for Elephants

05/06 – Something Borrowed

07/15 – Winnie the Pooh

08/05 – The Smurfs

So there's my list of movies for the first 2/3 of the year and it looks to be an exciting year to be a movie fan, so I hope to see you at the theater this year.

Being Charitable (or donating $1 to a good cause)

2010-12-09T12:00:00.000-06:00

So I while back I discover Kickstarter which is a very cool website that according to their website "is a new way to fund creative ideas and ambitious endeavors."

We believe that...

• A good idea, communicated well, can spread fast and wide.
• A large group of people can be a tremendous source of money and encouragement.

Kickstarter is powered by a unique all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully-funded or no money changes hands.

So that means that if you donate and the goal is not reached no money gets collected and most ppl who are pputting up the project will have incentives to donate more (ex. if you donate $10 you get this, & if you donate $50 you get this, etc)

I Previously Donated to Challengers Comics to Help Fund the Chicago's First ever Original Comic Art Galleryand I was a complete success.

Now I found a project an even more project that I fell really passionate about. . .

Very Near Mint is a comic book about... comic books! The story centers around two friends, Colin and Sam, who run the Splash Page, a comic book shop. It also happens to be the first day of their new employee, Nate. As it turns out, it's a bad day for the new kid to start his new job. Something terrible has happened to this week's new comics. Also, Colin's ex-girlfriend has returned. And if that wasn't enough, some dude wants to ruin all their lives by... well... you'll have to read it to find out.

VNM (that's shorthand for Very Near Mint, kids) has it all. Comics, movies references, cute girls, nerds, drunk record store clerks, villains, humor, suspense, and did I mention cute girls?

Justin Peterson is the creator and he is trying to raise $3000 to be able to publish vol. 1 and be able to go around the contry promoting the book.

Please check out the video or any other projects in Kickstarter and be Charitable this season ;-)

Concert In Chicago This Winter (or trying to get closer to the stage)

2010-09-23T12:00:00.005-05:00

Many of you may already know that I LOVE going to concerts and I'm always checking to see who is coming to Chicago.

After over 1 hour of searching, i have found that a lot of artists that I like are coming to Chicago in the next couple of months, artists like Lady Antebellum, Hey Monday, Usher, Jimmy Eat World, etc.

So many in fact that i decided to write this blog to keep track of the shows and to also let all my friends and family know about them
Now I won't be able to go to all the Shows but there are some that are CAN'T MISS.

The Shows are as follow:

09/24 - AM Taxi at The Beat Kitchen $10

10/07 - Jimmy Eat World at The Riviera Theater $32

10/10 - Ok Go at The House of Blues $25

10/13-10/14 - Drake at The Chicago Theatre $60+

10/20 - Aaron Lewis of Staind at The House of Blues $40

10/22 - Train Wreck Symphony at the Cubby Bear $6

10/23 - The Script at The Riviera Theater $32

10/30 - Young Jeezy at The Chicago Theater $60+

11/8 - Hey Monday at The Bottom Lounge $18

11/12 - The Summer Set at The Beat Kitchen $16

11/18 - Lady Antebellum at The Chicago Theater $60+

12/3 - Usher at The Allstate Arena $60+

Wow that's a lot of shows, if you live in or around Chicago , then I hope to see you guys there. :-)

Scott Pilgrim Vs The World Movie and Game Review

2010-08-16T00:28:00.003-05:00

First of all this movie is amazing and i recommend that you and everyone you know go see it.

If you haven’t heard about Scott Pilgrim, then I don’t know how you survived all these years so for the one or two of you who don’t know, Scott Pilgrim is a 23 yr old slacker who meets Ramona the girl of his dream (literally) and in order to date Ramona he most defeat her 7 evil exes.

This past week we got both of the Movie and the PSN\XBOX Live Arcade game of the critically acclaimed Comic Series Scott Pilgrim Vs The World.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game

The game came out first on tuesday 8/10 for the PSN , the game like the movie plays out the whole series and it lets you play up to 4 players as Scott, Ramona, Kim Pine & Stephen Stills.

The game is a throwback to the 8-bit days and it’s very enjoyable I highly recommend you to download the game for only $9.99

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World : The Movie

The movie came out on Friday and I watched it with a large group of different ages and everyone loved the movie.

All the casting and locations were spot on with my favorite casting being the casting of Wallace and Ramona were perfect, and the dialogue was one of the best part of the whole movie.

I recommend everyone to see the movie then play the game or play the game then watch the movie doesnt matter what order as long as you do both.

My Huge Summer To Do List ( or why I will be tired come September)

2010-06-16T13:00:00.101-05:00

This summer looks to be full of activities to do in my wonderful city of Chicago.

Several different activities are going around town from June till August from Movies in the Park to a Late night Bike Ride and HUGE Pillow Fight.

I will be trying to be at ALL these places this summer and I hope to see you there as well :-)

(I started this blog before I was Ribfest but didn't finish it till after but Ribfest was Amazing, I had so much fun there)

Ribfest Chicago 2010 06/11- 06/13

Location: 4000-4130 N. Lincoln Ave

12th Annual Food/Music/Family fun fest in North center. Voted again in the Top 10 Chicago Fests, 65,000 lbs of BBQ and 50,000 fans are found at this nationally-recognized event. Chicagoland rib restaurants vie for "Best Ribs" and other vendors serve up tasty items. Top local and nationally touring indie/pop/rock/alt country bands take the stage for one of Chicago's best music fests (no cover bands!!). And families enjoy Kids Square on Sat/Sun from Noon-6pm. $5 Gate Donation requested

The Bamboozle Roadshow 2010 06/12

Location: Soldier Field Parking Lot

The Bamboozle Roadshow 2010 brings today’s best musicians on two stages for an incredible rockin’ experience at Chicago’s premier lake front venue, Soldier Field, in the heart of the Museum Campus. Other acts include: Forever The Sickest Kids, Good Charlotte, HelloGoodbye, Cady Groves, Great Big Planes, Mercy Mercedes, Stereo Skyline, The Ready Set, and Vita Chambers. Time lines and acts subject to change.

The Line-up is as follows;

4:05 - 4:35 Hellogoodbye

4:55 - 5:25 Forever the Sickest kids

5:45 - 6:15 Good Charlotte

6:35 - 7:15 All Time Low

7:35 - 8:15 Boys Like Girls

8:35 - 9:15 LMFAO

9:35 - 10:15 Third Eye Blind

Pillow Fight Flash Mob: Red vs. Blue 06/26

Location: Millennium Park

It's here! A pillow fight is about to erupt on the streets of Chicago! FlashChicago is exited to be planning this event!

Here's the skinny:

-You will need a pillow for this event (a soft one please, no "firm" pillows, try to use down, or some other soft filling).

-You will need a bag (backpack or gym bag) to hide your pillow in until it's time.

-You will need to wear either a red or a blue shirt (LAST NAMES STARTING WITH A-M ARE RED, N-Z ARE BLUE.)

-You will need ears (to hear whistle to start the fight)

-You will meet in front of the "Bean" at 10:00am and hang out (take pics, act normal) until you hear the signal (see number 3).

-You will be required to have fun.

-You should bring a friend. The more the merrier!

Movies at the Park 06/26

Location: Horner Park 2741 W Montrose Ave

Movie - Raiders of the Lost Ark

Taste of Chicago 06/25 - 07/04

Location: Grant Park in Downtown Chicago 300 S. Columbus

The City of Chicago welcomes the 30th annual Taste of Chicago June 25 – July 4, 2010. Each day more than 70 local restaurateurs offer a delicious combination of ethnic items, family favorites, exotic and Chicago specialties feeding more than 3 million people in Grant Park, in downtown Chicago. Entertainment is also provided every day by a variety of musical performances on multiple stages. See the official web site linked below for a complete list of the entertainment options.

Sales for the Taste of Chicago tickets go on sale on 06/19 at Dominicks for $6 a strip.

Artist performing at the Taste Stage:

(most shows start at 5:30 except for 06/27 which starts at 3:00)

06/25 - Salt-N-Pepa, Bell Biv Devoe

06/26 - Gavin Rossdale

06/27 - Emily Osment, All Star Weekend

06/28 - Broadway in Chicago

06/29 - Los Lobos, Los Lonely boys

06/30 - Mat Kearney, Brett Demen

07/01 - Trey Songs, Teairra Mari

07/02 - Rob Thomas

07/03 - Steve Miller Band

Movies in the Park 07/03

Location: Independence Park 3945 N Springfield Ave

Movie - Apollo 13

Friends of the Parks’ L.A.T.E. Ride 07/10 - 07/11

Location: All over the city

Join up to 9,000 bicyclists on Saturday night/Sunday morning July 10/11 for Friends of the Parks’ L.A.T.E. Ride. Enjoy a 25-mile ride through Chicago's neighborhoods and along the lakefront. Cycle past skyscrapers, hear shout of "Opaah!" in Greek Town, cruise through the North Side, wave to onlookers, and watch the sun rise over Lake Michigan. Plus, you’ll enjoy music before the ride, sponsor booths to explore, refreshments before the ride and at the rest stop, and great food and beverages after your trek through the city.

Movies in the Park 07/13

Location: Hollywood Park 3312 W Thorndale Ave

Movie - Cloudy with A Chance of Meatball

Movies in the Park 07/20

Location: Churchill Field 1825 N Damen Ave

Movie - School of Rock

Movie at the Park 07/24

Location: Haas Park 2402 N wastenaw Ave

Movie - Ghostbusters

The Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival 07/23-07/25

Location: Logan Square

Chicago's most diverse and vibrant art Festival, will take place in Logan Square from Friday July 23rd to Sunday July 25th.

The Festival will feature dozens of curated gallery exhibitions and a spectrum of live musical acts.

Enjoy delicious local cuisine, sidewalk sales, outdoor cafe-style seating, the acclaimed Logan Square Farmer’s Market and more!

A complimentary trolley will be available to help you navigate this epic Festival. Mark your calendar and don’t miss it.

The Chicago Air & Water Show 08/14 - 08/15

Location : Chicago Shoreline

The Chicago Air & Water Show is the largest spectator event in the United States and the longest ongoing show of its kind in North America.

Shell Oil Products US is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Chicago Air and Water Show since 1995. This event allows Shell the opportunity to connect with the City of Chicago and embrace the local community. We are honored to take part in bringing this free event to the Chicago shoreline to showcase the pride in our brand and our appreciation for the City." - Kevin Autin, General Manager SOPUS

Movies in the Park 08/20

Location : Hamlin 3035 N Hoyne Ave

Movie - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Movies in the Park 08/22

Location: 2636 N Kimball

Movie - How to Train a Dragon

Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival 09/17 - 09/18

Location : Millenium Park

This vibrant Latin music festival showcases local, national and international talent in the various Latin music genres that include salsa, reggaeton, mariachi, norteña, Spanish pop y más. Many artists are Grammy award winners and nominees.
Considered one of the most spirited festivals, ¡Viva! moves to Millennium Park and celebrates 22 years of bringing some of the most beloved performers and Latin legends from around the world. The festival features two musical performance stages and a Salon de Baile, where all are welcome to come and dance to live music as well as stay for the evening DJ set. Para los ninos (kids), don’t miss the ComEd Kid’s Zone, complete with a giant inflatable castle for jumping and a special guest appearance by the Chicago area mascots.

PLUS. . . .

Attraction around Chicago have Free admission on specific days

Adler Planetarium

June 07-11, Sept 7, 13-17, 21 & 28.

Art Institute

Every Thursday from 5pm-8pm

Field Museum

July 2-3, Aug 24, Sept 15-16, 21-22

Museum of Science & Industry

June 7-11, Aug 30, Sept 7-14, 20-21, 27-28

Shedd Aquarium

June 14-18, Sept 13-14, 20-21, 27-28

WOW That's one busy summer and that's not counting Birthdays, Graduation and the everyday stuff we do.

My C2E2 Collection ( or what I'll be reading this summer)

2010-06-03T13:00:00.001-05:00

In my last blog I posted about all the books I ended up picking up at C2E2,
some of these books I've had never read before and some I wanted to have as part of my collection.

I picked up a total of 17 books total ranging from several different companies and different genres.
I only have read some of the books both recently and before

The list of books are as follow:

Hellboy Animated Volume 1: The Black Wedding
This is a great short book that really captures the spirit of Hellboy and his wonderful cast of characters.

Area 10
This is by Far my favorite Vertigo crime book and is becoming one of my favorite graphic novels ever.

The Bronx Kill
Another of the Vertigo crime book (haven't read yet)

Superspy
A series of Short spies stories written and drawn by Matt Kindt.(Haven't read yet)

Whiteout Volume 1: The Definitive Edition
An great crime story written by one of my Fave writer, Greg Rucka. (haven't read yet)

That Salty Air
Life is never as bad as you think

Mouse Guard Volume 2: Winter 1152 (Mouse Guard Graphic Novels)
A great story continues in this story of Mouses struggling to survive a harsh world.

Dead@17 : Ultimate Edition
A massive collection of series of books about a demon killer called Nara.

Noble Causes Archives Vol.1
this volume collects the first 20+ issues of a superhero drama. (haven't read yet)

Fear Agent Vol.1
A really good story about a Bounty Hunter in space, (can't wait to read the rest)

Empire
A really good story about what do you do after you take over the world.

Iron Man : Demon in a Bottle
A must-have in my collection, a quintessential Iron Man story. (haven't read yet)

Marvel : 1985
A really good story about heores in the real world by Mark Millar and Tommy Lee Edward.

Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft
An amazing story brought to us by Joe Hill (son of Stephen King)

The Killer Vol.2
The second volume of a story about a hit-man and the life he lives.

Liberty Meadows Vol.4
Adding another volume of the Frank Cho wonderful story. (haven't read yet)

I'm hoping to finish reading these books in time before Wizardworld: Chicago Comicon 2010 in August
(most likely since I'm going to probably buy more books)

C2E2 ( or How my life got so much better)

2010-05-21T12:00:00.002-05:00

In April, Reed Exhibitions (The People who brought us New York Comic con) gave us our first Comics Convention in the Downtown Chicago, Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo was a Three day event that was held in McCormick Place in April 17 -20.

With the first Con in downtown Chicago in over 10 years, they knew that the con had to be big and amazing, and I think they accomplished that.

here are a few pictures of all the wonderful people and things that was C2E2.

The Talent

One of my Current Favorite Artist in the industry right now is Chris Samnee, Chris is a artist on Siege: Embedded and My favorite of the Vertigo's Crime Series Area 10.

This is my Area 10 graphic novel signed by Christos Gage & Chris Samnee with a sketch of the main character by Samnee.

and a sketch of one of my favorite female character Tara Chase from Oni Press' Queen & Country.

This is the talented Ethan Van Sciver doing a sketch of coolest character in DC Hal Jordan (Green Lantern).

Tony Harris was a hard man to find but I was able to get a sketch of Mitchell Hundred from Wildstorm's Ex Machina.

One of the nicest people at the show is Franco from Tiny Titans, Franco was giving sketches for only $1.

One of the coolest sketches is of The Hulk from Paul Pelletier.

But the best sketch of the weekend is one that I didn't even get,

It was the sketch my girlfriend got from Jim Cheung of an amazing Scarlett Witch.

Now to show some pics from the Convention floor. . .

Princess Leia

Marvel's X-Force (Wolverine, X-23, Warpath, Domino & Wolfbane)

The Penguin and the Riddler just hanging out

The DC booth

The Original Batmobile

Back to the Future's Dolorian

The King WWE's Jerry Lawler

Now for some of the stuff I ended buying from the Convention.

A set of Bone family PVC.

and all the books i ended up buying (all 17 books), I'll have a future blog to talk more about these.

and in the end we came back happy with tons of stuff and a uninvited guest :-)

Plus C2E2 2.0 has already been announce for 2011 with the dates of April 8.10, 2011.

Cant wait to be at C2E2 2 next year.

Fanboys' Summer preview (or what I'll be watching for the next 5 months)

2010-04-27T12:00:00.004-05:00

This is the a little late but I'm still putting it out,
So Last week started the "unofficial" start of the Fanboy summer season with the release of Kick-Ass
(which BTW it's really good, if you haven't seen it stop reading this and go, you can always read this later).

There are 12 movies that are fanboy-related coming out this summer, some you may know and some you don't.
This movies are based from different mediums like from Comics, Video Games, Cartoons, etc.
These is the list of movies out this Summer
(can't wait to see the all)

APRIL

KICK ASS (04/16)
(starting Aaron Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Nicolas Cage & Christopher Mintz-Plasse)

THE LOSERS (04/23)
(starting Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana & Chris Evans)

MAY

IRON MAN 2 (05/07)
(starting Robert Downey Jr, Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickie Rourke & Scarlett Johansson)

ROBIN HOOD (05/14)
(starting Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett & Mark Strong)

PRINCE OF PERSIA (05/28)
(starting Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley & Alfred Molina)

JUNE

THE A-TEAM (06/11)
(starting Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson & Jessica Biel)

JONAH HEX (06/16)
(Starting Josh Brolin, Megan Fox & John Malkovich)

TOY STORY 3 (06/18)
(starting Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles)

JULY

THE LAST AIRBENDER (07/02)
(starting Norah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, Dev Patel & Jackson Rathbone)

PREDATORS (07/09)
(starting Danny Trejo, Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga & Lawrence Fishburne)

AUGUST

THE EXPENDABLE (08/13)
(starting Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Mickey Rouke, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Terry Crews & Dolph Lundren)

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD (08/13)
(starting Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Keiran Culkin, Brandon Routh, Anna kendrick & Chris Evans)

Now those aren't all the movies that are coming out,
the rest are these movies aren't comic-related but some of you might be looking to any of these movies.

* Letters to Juliet (05/14)
(starting Amanda Seyfried, Christopher Egan, Gael Garcia Bernal)
* Shrek Forever After (05/21)
(starting Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz)
* Killers (06/04)
(starting Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl)
* The Karate Kid (06/11)
(Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Tajari P Henson)
* Grown Ups (06/25)
(starting Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello)
* The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (06/30)
(starting Kristen Srewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner)
* Inception (07/16)
(Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Paige)
And Many More. . . .

I wish all the movies good luck in getting people in the theaters and I really hope they are GOOD.

Book Review ; Jeff Lemire's Essex County Trilogy

2010-03-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

The book I'm reviewing is Jeff Lemire's Essex County, the beautiful hardcover trilogy that came out last year which included all 3 main stories & bonus shorts stories.
I had the luxury of both meeting and talking to Jeff Lemire at Windy City Comicon 2009 and i got both my Essex county and The Nobody signed.

This book is separated into three main stories, Tales from the Farm, Ghost Stories & The Country Nurse all gorgeously written and drawn by Jeff Lemire.

Tales from the farm is a story that revolves around three people, Lester, Kenny & Jim.
Lester is a teenage boy who recently lost his mother and is being raised by his uncle Kenny and Jim is a former hockey player who befriends Lester.
Tales from the farm is by far my favorite of the three, it's a great story about choosing when to let go & about growing up.
The story is equally paced and it sets the readers up for a nice reveal.

Ghost Stories is a story about an old man named Lou Lebeuf who is reminiscing about the good old days of playing hockey with his brother Vince & how their lives intertwine throughout their lifetime.
This story is about looking back, regrets and getting back to where you belong.
Ghost story gives you a look at a life of someone from his early 20's to his late 60's with all his ups and downs, it can be read as a stand-alone but has a small connection to the first story.

The Country Nurse is about a nurse named Anne who takes care of most people in Essex County, she also bring both stories together and it give the trilogy a good conclusion.
This story is about closure and bringing people together, this story gives us the beginning and the present of our two stories from an outside perceptive.

I definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants a great story or even for first-timer looking to get into some good graphic novels.

Check out the book at your local library or buy it online at Amazon.

May Comics Solicitation

2010-02-27T19:12:00.001-06:00

It’s solicitation time again, with new books and collections for everyone from New readers to Long-time collectors.
The book I really look forward to are brightest Day #1, Avengers #1 and Zatanna #1.

Please understand that this is not my TOTAL order (my total number of books for each month usually runs around 25 - 30 books), just the books that will be coming out that I'm excited for.

ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN/WOLVERINE #1
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils & Cover by ADAM KUBERT
Foilogram Variant Cover by ADAM KUBERT
THE HEROIC AGE IS HERE!
Spider-Man and Wolverine! Everyone’s favorite wise-cracking web-spinner and ferocious furball come together in their first major series ever! The super-star creative team of Jason Aaron (WOLVERINE: WEAPON X, PUNISHERMAX) and Adam Kubert (ULT. FANTASTIC FOUR, X-MEN) send Spidey and Wolvie to the edges of the Marvel Universe as they face such awful beings as The Czar, Big Murder and Doom the Living Planet! But who is the major Marvel villain pulling the strings? And can Spidey & Wolvie refrain from killing one another long enough to find out?

ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #1 (of 5)
Written by WARREN ELLIS
Art & Cover by KAARE ANDREWS
Foilogram Variant Cover by KAARE ANDREWS
THE HEROIC AGE IS HERE!
The superstar team of Warren Ellis and Kaare Andrews (SPIDER-MAN: REIGN) take X-Men into the Heroic Age!
Something’s happening in the tiny East African city of Mbangwi. Something that requires immediate investigation. A newborn sprouts metal electrodes and explodes, taking out an entire hospital. Is this the first wave of mutant rebirth that the X-Men have been praying for...or something very, very different? Something sinister?

AVENGERS #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Variant by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Variant by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Heroic Age Variant by GREG LAND
THE HEROIC AGE IS HERE
There came a day! A day unlike any other...where two of Marvel's top creators teamed up for the very first time to create a bombastic new monthly Marvel comic that not only ushers in the Heroic Age of Marvel Comics but unleashes onto the world the most blockbuster Avengers team ever! Who will answer the call? And will they assemble just in time...because Kang the Conqueror is here from the future. And wait till you find out why...! Bonus back up feature: the oral history of the Avengers, part one. A brand new illustrated look at the Avengers in a way you have never seen before by series writer Brian Michael Bendis.

BIRDS OF PREY #1
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art and cover by ED BENES
Soaring out of BRIGHTEST DAY, the Birds are back in town! Because you demanded it, fan-favorites Gail Simone (WONDER WOMAN, SECRET SIX) and Ed Benes (JUSTICE LEAGUE, GREEN LANTERN) reunite to reinvent the book where they made their explosive debut as a team. Oracle, Black Canary, Huntress and Lady Blackhawk all return to Gotham City where they belong – and they’ve brought a couple of new friends (or are they foes?) along with them!
Guest-starring a major Bat-villain and the first appearance of the most dangerous, most twisted new Birds villain ever!

BRIGHTEST DAY #1-2 
Issue #1 on sale MAY 5
Issue #2 on sale MAY 19
Written by GEOFF JOHNS & PETER J. TOMASI
Art by IVAN REIS, PATRICK GLEASON, ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK & JOE PRADO • Covers by DAVID FINCH
BRIGHTEST DAY continues, but in ways you can’t possibly expect! What does BRIGHTEST DAY mean to the DC Universe? Is everything from here on out going to be bright afnd shiny? No, BRIGHTEST DAY means something else entirely, something we can’t tell you...yet. But we can tell you our heroes will need to rise up more than ever to combat the forces of evil, and a select few will uncover a secret that binds them ALL. It all begins in the specially priced issue #1! 

I, ZOMBIE #1
Written by CHRIS ROBERSON
Art and cover by MICHAEL ALLRED
Gwen Dylan is a gravedigger in an eco-friendly cemetery...and a zombie detective. Once a month, she has to eat a human brain – both to keep from going all “Night of the Living Dead,” and to keep her own memories intact. As a result, Gwen’s mind is crowded with the dead person’s thoughts. And lately, she feels compelled to fulfill their final requests. Torn between a mysterious mummy and a dashing young monster-hunter, Gwen is set for adventures beyond imagination! A were-terrier, a swinging ’60s ghost and a pack of paintball blasting vampires complete the cast of I, ZOMBIE.
Written by World Fantasy Award finalist Chris Roberson (CINDERELLA: FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE) with art by Eisner Award-winning superstar artist Michael Allred (X-Statix, Madman), I, ZOMBIE is a monster of a tale with razor-sharp prose and powerful pop artistry.
Don’t miss this special debut issue launching Vertigo’s next monster hit, priced at just $1.00!

SECRET AVENGERS #1
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by MIKE DEODATO
Wraparound & Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant Cover by MIKE DEODATO
Heroic Age Variant by TBA
THE HEROIC AGE IS HERE!
Who are the Secret Avengers? Are they a covert team of heroes working the darkest corners of the globe to stop disaster? Are they part-spy, part-superhero? Are they XXXXXXX’s newest idea to save the world...or all they all of the above? A new era begins as Marvel's hottest team takes a 21st century twist!

SENSE & SENSIBILITY #1 (of 5)
Written by NANCY BUTLER
Pencils & Cover by SONNY LIEW
Award-winning writer Nancy Butler, adapter of
Marvel’s best-selling adaptation of PRIDE & PREJUDICE, returns to Marvel with another Jane Austen classic: SENSE & SENSIBILITY! Alongside incredible artist Sonny Liew (My Faith in Frankie, Wonderland), Butler brings to life the world of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, two daughters without parents or means, forced to experience hardship, romance, and heartbreak, all in the hopes of achieving love and lasting happiness.

SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #1
Written by JAMES ROBINSON & STERLING GATES
Art by AARON LOPRESTI & MATT RYAN
Cover by EDDY BARROWS
The Battle for New Krypton! This is it! The storyline the SUPERMAN books have been building to since 2008 has arrived! Superman has never faced such a difficult challenge - how can he stop the two worlds he loves from destroying each other? General Zod has been waiting for another shot at Earth for years, and with 100,000 supermen on his side, it looks like it's his war to win! But on Earth, General Lane has an ace up his sleeve that will level the playing field quite nicely!

SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #2
Written by STERLING GATES & JAMES ROBINSON
Art by JAMAL IGLE & JON SIBAL
Cover by EDDY BARROWS
The Battle for Mars! With Superman having left the Kryptonian military to try to stop the war, General Zod needs a new Commander El - enter Supergirl! As Zod's army gets closer to Earth, the battlefield shifts to Mars where Superman must confront his cousin! Neither wants to fight, but both will do what they must for the sake of what they think is right! Meanwhile, Superboy knows what he must do to stop this war - even if it means becoming hated by both planets!

SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #3
Written by JAMES ROBINSON & STERLING GATES
Art by EDUARDO PANSICA
Cover by EDDY BARROWS
The Battle for Earth! All of Earth's heroes must make one last stand against the Kryptonians while Superboy and Steel try exposing the evils of General Lane! But will they be branded traitors?

SUPERMAN: WAR OF THE SUPERMEN #4
Written by STERLING GATES & JAMES ROBINSON
Art by EDDY BARROWS
Cover by EDDY BARROWS
The Battle for Survival! Supergirl vs. Ursa! Superboy vs. Non! And Superman vs. Zod! The fate of two worlds will be decided here! In the end, can Superman save either?

THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art and cover by YILDIRAY CINAR & WAYNE FAUCHER
Fan-favorite LEGION writer Paul Levitz returns to the 31st century super team he made supreme with an all-new intergalactic era! This exciting series picks up on threads from Geoff Johns’s “Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes” storyline and creates its own all-new ones, including a Green Lantern Corps tie-in and the destruction of a major planet! Rocket on board here as Levitz and rising star artist Yildiray Cinar (TEEN TITANS) revitalize one of DC’s most beloved franchises starting with an oversized first issue with a variant cover by superstar artist Jim Lee!

THUNDERBOLTS #144
Written by JEFF PARKER
Penciled by KEV WALKER
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Heroic Age Variant by LARRY STROMAN
THE HEROIC AGE IS HERE!
The new era for Marvel’s always-evolving, always controversial team kicks off here! It’s a beginning, a return, a departure, and an arrival of a new artist (MARVEL ZOMBIES 3 & 4’s Kev Walker) all rolled into one in a fresh, shocking status quo! The most dangerous people on Earth are now all in one hellish prison, and the only way out is through rehabilitation and contribution to society via The Thunderbolts...under the leadership of the steel-hard-skinned Avenger named Luke Cage! So bring on the first participants: Juggernaut! Crossbones! Ghost! Moonstone! And...Man-Thing? Against the sordid recent history of the group as a black ops kill squad, can Power Man restore the Thunderbolts to their rightful potential? Find out as the entire series is revamped, and also discover why ComicsBulletin.com says: "Jeff Parker writes villains with his typical panache...This is why I read comic books."

TITANS: VILLAINS FOR HIRE SPECIAL #1
Written by ERIC WALLACE
Art and cover by FABRIZIO FIORENTINO
It’s a new team and direction for the Titans! Deathstroke and his mercenary team including Cheshire, Tattooed Man and other surprise members burst out of BRIGHTEST DAY #0! Get in on the ground floor here as the team is hired to assassinate The Atom! And for this team, failure is not an option!

ZATANNA #1
Written by PAUL DINI
Art by STEPHANE ROUX & KARL STORY
Cover by STEPHANE ROUX
At last - the Mistress of Magic in her own ongoing series! Zatanna Zatara has long made her home in San Francisco, but right under her nose a sinister threat has developed - a crime boss who dominates the criminal underworld with the dark powers of the magical underworld! The terrifying Brother Night is making his play for San Fran, and the police force - including hunky detective Dale Colton - turn to Zee for help. But Brother Night is a whole new kind of criminal and if Zatanna thinks she can backwards-talk him down, then she's in over her top-hatted head! Superstar writer Paul Dini (BATMAN: MAD LOVE) is paired with the gorgeous art of Stephane Roux (BIRDS OF PREY), making his anticipated DC debut on interior art! There's only one thing to say - T'NOD SSIM TI!

REVOLVER HC
On sale July 14
192 pg, two color, $24.99 US
Written by MATT KINDT
Art and cover by MATT KINDT
REVOLVER is an original graphic novel by acclaimed writer/artist Matt Kindt (Super Spy, 3 Story: The Secret History of The Giant Man) that’s a tale of two worlds — and how both test a man to his limits. Stuck in a dead-end job with a boss he can’t stand and a materialistic girlfriend, Sam rises from a late night of barhopping to discover his whole world has changed. Literally.
An avian flu outbreak has killed millions, the nation’s infrastructure has crashed and a dirty bomb has destroyed Seattle. Forced to go on the run, Sam awakes to a normal world the next day – and to chaos again the day after that. A single constant between the two worlds will undo all the damage, if he can find it – but that seems impossible. In one world, anything goes. In the other, he’s out of danger and sleepwalking through life. So Sam’s got an even bigger problem: Which world to choose?

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2010 Wish list (or what I plan to have on my shelf by 2011)

2010-02-05T12:00:00.002-06:00

It's a new year and a new wish list

Every year I makes a list of what I want to add to my Collection and I like to see if I get it done by the year end.
Some of these I haven't read and some are my favorites so I just want to have them my collection.
This year I have added Mangas and regular Books to expand my reading as posted in my resolution blog

after all these I will DEFINITELY have a lot of reading....

GRAPHIC NOVELS

Absolute Death Written by Neil Gaiman; Art by Mark Buckingham, Chris Bachalo, Jeffrey Jones, Dave McKean and Mark Pennington; Cover by Dave McKean

Absolute Justice by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, and Doug Braithwaite

Absolute Planetary Book One & Book Two by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday

Absolute V for Vendetta Written by Alan Moore; Art and cover by David Lloyd

Area 10 Written by Christos Gage; Art by Chris Samnee

Blacksad Written by Juan Diaz Canales; Art by Juanjo Guarnido

Blood and Water Written by Judd Winick; Art by Tomm Cooker; Cover by Brian Bolland

Criminal (Deluxe Edition) Written by Ed Brubaker; Art by Sean Phillips

Dark Entries Written by Ian Rankin; Art by Werther Dell'Edera; Cover by Lee Bermejo

Superman: Secret Origin by Geoff Johns art by Gary Frank

The Bronx Kill Written by Peter Milligan; Art by James Romberger; Cover by Lee Bermejo

The Chill Written by Jason Starr; Art by Mick Bertilorenzi; Cover by Lee Bermejo

The Executor Written by Jon Evans; Art by Andrea Mutti; Cover by Lee Bermejo

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Written byEric Shanower & L; Frank Baum Art by Skottie Young.

Wolverine: Old Man Logan Written by Mark Millar; Art by Steve Mcniven.

MANGAS

20th Century Boys written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa.

All My Darling Daughters written and illustrated by Fumi Yoshinaga

Bakuman written by Tsugumi Ohba and drawn by Takeshi Obata.

Hero Tales written by Huang Jin Zhou and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa.

Nightschool written and illustrated by Svetlana Chmakova.

Peepo Choo written and illustrated by Felipe Smith

Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa

Tsubasa: Those with Wings written and illustrated by Natsuki Takaya.

BOOKS

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

In the Woods by Tana French

Sandman Slim: A Novel by Richard Kadrey (Author)

Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography by David Michaelis

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers: A Novel by Thomas Mullen

The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy by Chuck Hogan, Guillermo del Toro

Wow after looking at list, this is going to be a big year for reading.

April 2010 Comics Solicitation

2010-01-31T12:00:00.014-06:00

It’s solicitation time again, with new books and collections for everyone from New readers to Long-time collectors.

The book I really look forward to are Chew: Volume 2 (best new series), the finale to all the siege books, Flash #1 & Brightest Day #0.

Please understand that this is not my TOTAL order (my total number of books for each month usually runs around 25 - 30 books), just the books that will be coming out that I'm excited for.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #630 Written by ZEB WELLS Pencils & Cover by CHRIS BACHALO “Half-Man, Half-Reptile...the Lizard will take over all of Earth unless Spider-Man alone can stop him!” With these words, Dr. Curt Connors, the man who would be The Lizard, ushered a new kind of villainy into Spider-Man’s life. Now a widower with a son in foster care, and working at the bottom of the pharmaceutical industry, Connors is a broken, shell of a man...how long will it be before a Lizard breaks that shell?! How will it affect Peter Parker’s date with Carlie Cooper?! How is THE BLACK CAT involved? Zeb Wells and Chris Bachalo reunite to bring you the next great Spider-Epic as The Lizard returns!

AVENGERS: THE ORIGIN #1 (of 5) Written by JOE CASEY Pencils & Cover by PHIL NOTO The true story of the Avengers is revealed right here! This five-issue extravaganza reveals previously untold details of the historic first meeting of Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, Ant-Man and the Wasp! You only THINK you know the full story. From Joe Casey (AVENGERS: EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES) and artist extraordinare Phil Noto!

BLACK WIDOW #1 Written by MARJORIE LIU Art & Cover by DANIEL ACUÑA The deadly super-spy from IRON MAN 2, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN and CAPTAIN AMERICA in her own ongoing series! Natasha Romanoff is not a super hero. She’s not psychic. She doesn’t fly. And yet as the Black Widow, she manages to hold her own against a world of incredibly powerful enemies...and allies. But now someone has tried to kill Natasha...and almost succeeded. Injured gravely, almost beyond her ability to recover, Black Widow sets out to find her attacker...with no suspects and no leads. Who could be deadly enough to get the drop on Natasha? And what connections do they have to some of her closest super hero friends...? Plus, a backup detailing the deadly history of the Black Widow!

BRIGHTEST DAY #0 Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi • Art by Fernando Pasarin Cover by David Finch The biggest event in comics continues as BRIGHTEST DAY burns back the BLACKEST NIGHT from the writing team behind GREEN LANTERN and GREEN LANTERN CORPS – Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi! And don’t miss the exciting DC Comics debut of red-hot cover artist David Finch (New Avengers, Ultimatum)! The effects that the already classic BLACKEST NIGHT will have on the DC Universe will be felt for years to come and this issue not only sets the stage for the new ongoing biweekly DC Universe book BRIGHTEST DAY, but also the next exciting era of the DC Universe!

DOC SAVAGE #1 On sale APRIL 14 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US Written by PAUL MALMONT • Co-feature written by JASON STARR • Art by HOWARD PORTER & Art Thibert • Co-feature art by SCOTT HAMPTON • Cover by J.G. JONES 1:10 variant cover by John Cassaday The Man of Bronze in his own series at last! Doc Savage is the target of a brazen attack on New York City! Tragedy will strike one of Doc’s compatriots, and someone may not survive the opening pages of “The Lord of Lightning! ” Written by Paul Malmont, national best-selling author of The Chinatown Death-Cloud Peril, with art by Howard Porter (JLA)! And don’t miss the hard-hitting JUSTICE, INC. co-feature, starring Richard Benson, the Avenger! When criminals abduct one of his own detectives, Benson’s icy heart sears with a rage hotter than any he’s ever known. “Worst Nightmare” begins here, written by crime novelist Jason Starr (THE CHILL) with art by Scott Hampton (LUCIFER)!

FIRESTAR #1 Written by SEAN MCKEEVER Penciled by EMMA RIOS Cover by STEPHANIE HANS Angelica Jones has been many things in her life. Daughter. Friend. FiancÈe. Mutant. Hellion. New Warrior. Avenger. And, most recently, cancer survivor. Granted a second chance at life, Angelica has only one question for herself: What do I do with it?

GARRISON #1 Written by JEFF MARIOTTE Art and cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA Garrison may very well be the world’s most dangerous man. In a near future where everyone’s under surveillance, though, nobody knows anything about him – and federal agent Jillian Bracewell’s investigation into his identity could get her killed. Writer Jeff Mariotte (Angel, DESPERADOES) returns to WildStorm with this 6-issue action/adventure miniseries spectacularly illustrated by Francesco Francavilla (Zorro)!

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #25 Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING Penciled by BRAD WALKERCover by ALEX GARNER He’s back...Thanos! How did he return? Why is he back? And what does the appearance of the galaxy’s #1 threat mean for our rag-tag band of universal protectors? Find out in the next issue of the comic that CosmicBookNews.com calls “Awesome. Amazingly, jaw-droppingly awesome.”

Kill Shakespeare #1 Written by Conor McCreery, Anthony Del Col Art by Andy Belanger Cover by Kagan McLeod, Belanger What Fables does for fairy tales, Kill Shakespeare does with the greatest writer of all time. This dark take on the Bard pits his greatest heroes (Hamlet, Juliet, Othello Falstaff) against his most menacing villains (Richard III, Lady Macbeth, Iago) in an epic adventure to find and kill a reclusive wizard named William Shakespeare. This debut— featuring a full 32-page story—will change the way you look at Shakespeare forever.

MAGDALENA #1 story Ron Marz art Nelson Blake II cover Ryan Sook The Star of the Forthcoming Feature Film Gets Her Own Series! The Magdalena has been the official protector and warrior of the Catholic Church for over two thousand years, sworn to defend the Faith with the Spear of Destiny against all manner of supernatural threats. However, Patience, the latest Magdalena, has seen through the hypocrisy of her masters and struck out on her own. When her old mentor comes to her with a mission to prevent Armageddon, will she be able to resist the call? From writer Ron Marz (Witchblade, Angelus) and the art team of Pilot Season: Murderer, Nelson Blake II, Sal Regla, and Dave McCaig. Featuring covers by Ryan Sook (Wednesday Comics)!

MARVEL HER-OES #1 Written by GRACE RANDOLPH Pencils & Cover by CRAIG ROUSSEAU High school equals: bad cafeteria food, bullies, gym class and...people with secret super powers? As if!! Janet Van Dyne’s no stranger to the pitfalls of teenage living, but it’s about to get a whole lot trickier now that she has powers of her own. It’s hard keeping a secret like that in high school, especially when it would be so easy to send some blasts in the direction of her nemesis and popular ice queen, Namora. Maybe Janet would get a break then. Too bad she’s stuck pretending she’s normal. Too bad she’s in this all alone... or is she? Jenny Walters has some anger issues herself, causing her to Hulk out! Turns out the school theatre isn’t the only place you’ll find some drama this year!!

S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN Penciled by DUSTIN WEAVER Cover by GERALD PAREL Historical Variant by DUSTIN WEAVER Black & White Issue Variant also available Leonardo Da Vinci was an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. So was Issac Newton. So were Imhotep and Zhang Heng and Galileo and many other geniuses throughout time. They were the first heroes to defeat Galactus and the Brood and turn Celestials back. They saved the world long before Captain America or Iron Man were ever born, but what does this mean to our heroes of today? What does this mean to Nick Fury? Do not miss this Marvel Comics masterpiece that fans will be talking about for decades to come. All the insanity is courtesy of JONATHAN HICKMAN (FANTASTIC FOUR, SECRET WARRIORS, Nightly News) and DUSTIN WEAVER (X-MEN).

SIEGE #4 (of 4) Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils & Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL The Marvel blockbuster of the year!! This double-sized finale brings the Dark Reign to a shattering conclusion and brings with it the bombastic new HEROIC AGE. Every single page of this book is a shocker: Lives are changed. Heroes fall. Deaths. Revenge. Villain comeuppance. And when the dust settles, who will be in charge of the Marvel Universe?? You will find out here and only here. This is the one they will be talking about.

SIEGE: EMBEDDED #4 (of 4) Written by BRIAN REED Penciled by CHRIS SAMNEE Cover by ADI GRANOV SIEGE BLOCKBUSTER TIE-IN!! As the SIEGE of Asgard escalates to its final chaotic moments, one man must decide which is more important - living through the day, or getting the truth behind the story of the century!

DARK AVENGERS #16 Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils & Cover by MIKE DEODATO SERIES FINALE!!!

NEW AVENGERS #64 Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils by TIM GREEN II Cover by STUART IMMONEN SERIES FINALE!!!

MIGHTY AVENGERS #36 Written by DAN SLOTT Pencils & Cover by KHOI PHAM SERIES FINALE!!!

AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #35 Written by CHRISTOS N. GAGE Penciled by JORGE MOLINA Cover by DAVID YARDIN SERIES FINALE!!!

NEW AVENGERS: FINALE Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Pencils & Cover by BRYAN HITCH In the wake of SIEGE, an ALL NEW shocking conclusion to the landmark NEW AVENGERS series. NEW AVENGERS is coming to an end...but not without a bang. For the first time ever, series regular Brian Bendis teams up with the superstar artist that reinvented team books for this generation...Bryan Hitch. The entirety of the Marvel landscape has changed and many Avengers do not know their place in it. But before they can move on, some very important loose ends need to be tied up. A.K.A. it's payback time!! All this and a bevy of super star artists stop by to pay tribute to the work they made famous over the course of this top-selling book.

THE FLASH #1 Written by GEOFF JOHNS Art & cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL A BRIGHTEST DAY tie-in! Get in on the ground floor of DC’s next epic in the making! The Flash races out of BLACKEST NIGHT and into his own monthly title as the all-new adventures of The Fastest Man Alive start with “Case One: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues! ” Barry Allen runs back to his life in Central City, but when one of the Rogues turns up murdered under mysterious circumstances, it’s up to The Flash to not only solve this bizarre crime, but protect those that are still targeted by the elusive killer. Plus, don’t miss a peek into the future of the Flash universe in this special, extra-sized starting point issue!

THE LIGHT #1 (of 5) story NATHAN EDMONDSON art & cover BRETT WELDELE The new series from the writer of OLYMPUS and the artist of THE SURROGATES. In Oregon, a mysterious virus infects anyone that looks into an electric light. An abusive father blindfolds his daughter and together they escape town as people are burning alive from the inside out. A fierce, action-packed and gritty tale of survival, THE LIGHT is 28 DAYS LATER meets 30 DAYS OF NIGHT.

THE SPIRIT #1 Written by MARK SCHULTZ Art by MORITAT Co-feature written by Dennis O’Neil Co-feature art by Bill Sienkiewicz Cover by LADR÷NN The Spirit returns in an all-new ongoing series! Central City destroys everyone who lives within its borders...so it’s a good thing The Spirit already died once! International crime syndicate The Golden Tree wants to help Central City’s Octopus consolidate control over the underworld and the Spirit is the kind of mess the Golden Tree was created to clean up. They’ve offered the Octopus the services of one of their finest assassins to take his breath away for good – and the sight of this killer would get anyone’s heart pounding! This issue also features the debut of the eight-page THE SPIRIT: BLACK & WHITE co-feature, showcasing the industry’s finest talent. And who better to kick things off than DENNIS O’NEIL and BILL SIENKIEWICZ?

ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #1 Written by MARK MILLAR Pencils & Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU Some jobs are just too dirty for the Ultimates. For these, Nick Fury must gather the Avengers, a black ops team willing to do the missions that others won’t. What role will an infamous mass killer play in Fury’s plans? Find out here, as the Punisher returns to the Ultimate Universe! The blockbuster team of MARK MILLAR (ULTIMATES) and LEINIL FRANCIS YU (SECRET INVASION) presents the explosive beginning to ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.

Hardcover & Trades

CHEW, VOL. 2: INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR TP story JOHN LAYMAN art & cover ROB GUILLORY Tony Chu, the cibopathic federal agent with the ability to get psychic impressions from the things he eats, is on a bizarre new case. A newly discovered fruit takes Agent Chu to a remote island full of secrets, strangeness—and a shadowy killer with a particularly sinister appetite. Presenting the second storyline of IGN.com's pick for Best Indie Series of 2009 and MTV Splash Page.com's pick for Best New Series of 2009. Find out what the fuss is about in this latest a twisted and darkly funny comic about cops, crooks, cooks, cannibals and clairvoyants. Collects CHEW #6-10

Luckiest Boy Written by Scott Sava Art & Cover by Joseph Bergin III 13-year-old Russell Ranger is the unluckiest boy in the world. Nothing ever seems to go his way. Nothing good at least. One day, though, he meets a Leprechaun, who grants him one wish. So he wishes to be the Luckiest Boy in the World! Suddenly, his family wins the lottery, gets to meet his favorite football player, and even discovers Bigfoot. He's a worldwide celebrity. But something's not right. All of the good luck is going to Russ. But, that means all the bad luck is given to the rest of the world!

The Flash: Rebirth Written by Geoff Johns Art and cover by Ethan Van Sciver Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, the writer/artist team behind the blockbuster GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH and THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR, create an explosive, jaw-dropping epic that reintroduces Barry Allen as The Flash in this hardcover collecting the fast-paced 6-issue miniseries. But how will this greatest of all Flashes find his place in the twenty-first century?

Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk Written by DAMON LINDELOF Penciled by LEINIL FRANCIS YU Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU It’s the unstoppable Hulk vs. the unkillable Wolverine in the biggest fight the Ultimate Universe has ever witnessed! S.H.I.E.L.D. head Nick Fury thought he’d killed the Hulk’s alter ego, scientist Bruce Banner. But now, the tower of rage and green muscle is rampaging across the globe. Fury has a long list of operatives at his disposal. But there’s only one man capable of doing this job right: Wolverine! With razor-sharp claws, unbreakable Adamantium bones and a healing factor that can shrug off wounds that would kill lesser men, Logan seems the perfect match for the Hulk. But in their first encounter, the Hulk shows him the meaning of raw power — by ripping Wolverine in half! Can either man survive this fearsome reckoning? And if so, will they ever be the same again? Collecting ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK #1-6.

Goals in 2010 (not "resolutions")

2010-01-26T15:30:00.002-06:00

I always try to make "resolution" that I never follow up, so this year will be different.

These are Goals that I want to accomplish before the end of the year, projects and ideas that I want to have accomplish.

Some are for fun, but most are to better myself and my life.

None of these are in any specific order except the top 3

10) Write a comic book story - my artwork is still not up to par to be able to draw a comic book, but I'm hoping to get my writing skills set up first.

9) Write a novel - practice, practice, practice, I need to get down to writing more.

8) Draw at least 3 TIMES a week - I've been slacking off on a lot of things and I plan to change that.

7) Read at least 6 books (non-comic book related) - even though I am reading more, I really need to expand my reading to different type of novels.

6) Read more Mangas - same thing applies here from #7, I need to expand my readings to different cultures.

5) Learn to play a guitar - I would really love to be able to compose and play my own songs.

4) Compose a song with Nancy - once I learn the guitar, I want to be able to compose a song with my little sister her on the piano and me on the guitar.

3) One new and/or cool thing a month - I realized that I don't do new things anymore and I plan to change that immediately, hopefully have all my friends along with me.

2) Get a car - even though public transportation doesn't bother me, I would be good to not have to depend on others for rides.

1) Get engage with my girlfriend - I've been with my girl for over 4 1/2 years and my life has been amazing with her, and I can't wait to take that next step in our relationship.
(don't worry my girlfriend never reads any of my blogs so hopefully she won't find out)

Hopefully by the same time next year I will be able to show that I indeed accomplish ALL my goals.

First post of 2010 (or what I got for Christmas)

2010-01-01T19:52:00.017-06:00

Welcome 2010 or as my friends are calling it "dos mil ten" now as the holidays have come and past i wish to talk about the great gifts I have received from my friends and families.

My family and friends always knows about my love for Comics and Video Games and this years was no exception,
as my collection this year grew more extensive with my presents and all the books I've purchased.

Written by Brian Azzarello; Art by Victor Santos; Cover by Lee Bermejo

Written by Brian Michael Bendis; Art by Michael Avon Oeming

Written by Robert Kirkman; Art by Ryan Ottley

PS3 - God of War Collection

And some of the books I've purchased this year are:

Chew Volume 1: Taster's Choice

Gotham Central: Vol.1 and Vol.2 HC

Irredeemable: Volume 1

Sleeper: Season 1

The Complete Essex County Trilogy (Tales from the Farm, Ghost Stories, and The Country Nurse)

and many more. . .

I look forward to 2010 and even more books to read and buy.

You can follow my on twitter here.

November Comics Solicitation

2009-09-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

It’s solicitation time again, with new books and collections for everyone from New readers to Long-time collectors.
The book I really look forward to are CHEW, VOL. 1: TASTER'S CHOICE TP(which is getting a lot of positive reviews) and POWERS VOL. 3 ISSUE #1 (which is my favorite series of all time).

Please understand that this is not my TOTAL order (my total number of books for each month usually runs around 25 - 30 books), just the books that will be coming out that I'm excited for.

ADVENTURE COMICS #4
Written by Geoff Johns
Co-feature written by Geoff Johns & Michael Shoemaker
Art by Jerry Ordway
Co-feature art by Clayton Henry
Cover by Jerry Ordway and Francis Manapul
Variant cover by Francis Manapul
The return of Superboy! Superboy-Prime, that is! The grasp of BLACKEST NIGHT knows no bounds, and it is now at the doorstep of Superboy-Prime. Believe it or not, Prime has met his match. The Black Lanterns know his deepest, darkest secrets and force Prime to feel emotions he's long discarded. Plus, in the Legion of Super-Heroes co-feature, Dawnstar is on the trail of the person – or people – who have been causing so much trouble for the Legion. But does she get too close to the truth? Her Legion teammate Wildfire comes to her rescue, but are the duo able to discover just who is behind this villainous plot to destroy the known universe?
On sale November 18 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

BLACK WIDOW: DEADLY ORIGIN #1 (of 4)
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Penciled by TOM RANEY & JOHN PAUL LEON
Cover by ADI GRANOV
Cover by TOM RANEY
Variant Cover by GREG LAND
Before she steals the world's heart in Iron Man II, get caught in the wicked web of Marvel's sexiest and deadliest super-spy! She's been everything from a Russian espionage agent to a Champion to an Avenger, now a skeleton from Natalia Romanova's past is reaching out for those she's loved and lost...and the Black Widow has many victims to choose from! From the frozen streets of Moscow to the upper stratosphere, writer Paul Cornell (CAPTAIN BRITAIN & MI3) and artists Tom Raney (DARK REIGN: HAWKEYE) and John Paul Leon (The Winter Men) deliver a globe-hopping, bone-breaking, high-tech thriller that reveals how Natalia's shadowy past threatens all she now holds dear. Guest-starring the Winter Soldier and Wolverine!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN #5 (of 5)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils & Gatefold Cover by BRYAN HITCH
Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
Variant Cover by DAVID FINCH
Steve Rogers is back...or is he? This is the action-packed finale of the best-selling series as the Avengers try to rescue their best and brightest from the Red Skull's darkest designs. Find out the fates of Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes and what their futures hold in store!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

CINDERELLA: FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE #1
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Shawn McManus
Cover by Chrissie Zullo
When supernatural artifacts from the Homelands begin surfacing in the modern world, it falls to Cinderella, Fabletown's best kept (and best dressed) secret agent to stop the illegal trafficking. But can Cindy foil the dark plot before Fabletown and its hidden, exiled inhabitants are exposed once and for all? And how does her long lost Fairy Godmother factor into the equation?
Whether she's soaring through clouds, deep-sea diving, or cracking jaws, Cindy travels from Manhattan to Dubai and hooks up with a handsome, familiar accomplice who may be harboring secret motives of his own. Meanwhile, trouble brews back home in Fabletown when Cindy's overworked, underappreciated assistant decides to seize control of The Glass Slipper, Cindy's exclusive shoe boutique.
Writer Chris Roberson (occasional contributor to HOUSE OF MYSTERY and JACK OF FABLES), artist Shawn McManus (SANDMAN, THESSALY: WITCH FOR HIRE) and evocative new cover painter Chrissie Zullo deliver Cindy's first major solo adventure replete with sex, spies and magical shoes in the 6-issue CINDERELLA: FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE.
On sale November 4 • 1 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS

DARK REIGN: THE LIST - AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Written by DAN SLOTT
Pencils & Cover by ADAM KUBERT
Hero Variant Cover by FRANK CHO
Villain Variant Cover by FRANK CHO
Norman Osborn has saved the best for last as he takes on the most personal item on his evil To-Do list. The violent tension between Spider-Man and Norman has grown for years and has been building to a boil for the last few months after Osborn’s last defeat at Spidey’s hands at the end of America Son. Norman can no longer put off what needs to be done. Plus, the story from Pulse #5 outing Norman Osborn as the Green Goblin to the world.
48 PGS./One-Shot/Rated A ...$3.99

IMAGE UNITED #1 (of 6)
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art ERIK LARSEN, ROB LIEFELD, TODD McFARLANE, WHILCE PORTACIO, MARC SILVESTRI & JIM VALENTINO
covers ERIK LARSEN, ROB LIEFELD, TODD McFARLANE, WHILCE PORTACIO, MARC SILVESTRI & JIM VALENTINO
THE CROSSOVER EVENT OF THE CENTURY IS HERE!
The heroes of the Image Universe are united in order to fight the greatest threat the world as ever faced! You can’t miss this historic event as the original Image Founders draw all the characters they made history with. Each page is an amazing jam piece – it’s a story told in a way never before attempted in comics!
NOVEMBER 25 32 PAGES / FC $3.99

ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS
Written by GREG PAK & FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by RODNEY BUCHEMI
Cover by ADI GRANOV
Hercules! Spider-Man! Ares! New Avengers! Wolverine! Mighty Avengers! The Agents of Atlas! If there's a bigger event this fall, we don't know what it could be! At long last, the Prince of Power takes the fight to his villainous stepmother Hera and the forces of the Olympus Group -- just as she unleashes the most terrifying threat the Marvel Universe has ever seen! But first Herc has to gather together a star-studded strike force from the ranks of the New and the Mighty Avengers! First on the list: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! But why is Everyone's Friendly Neighborhood fighting against Hercules? Has he joined the side of the dark gods? It's webs and wisecracks versus Olympian power in this super-sized one-shot! (There will be major property damage, we guarantee.) Plus: The iHerc team proudly welcomes our new INCREDIBLE HERCULES on-going back-up feature... THE AGENTS OF ATLAS, written by fan favorite scribe Jeff Parker! When the forces of New Olympus target Venus, will Jimmy Woo lead his team into the fray for or against Hercules' forces?

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #138
Written by GREG PAK & FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by RODNEY BUCHEMI
Wraparound Cover by ADI GRANOV
ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS: Part 1 (of 4)
A battle of god-like proportions begins...right now! For months, the signs have been all over the Marvel Universe... The tension has been rising... All pointing to a single question: "What is CONTINUUM?" The answer turns out to be so deadly, so horrifying, that it will alter the course of the MU forever -- unless Hercules and the New and Mighty Avengers can stop it in time... but standing in their way is the fighting-mad ARES, God of War! "And, in our backup tale, there's no love for Venus as Aphrodite's rain of pain continues to pour on the Agents of Atlas!"
40 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

KOOKABURRA K #1 (of 3)
Written by CRISSE & HICKS
Adapted by AUBREY SITTERSON
Pencils & Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Exclusive US Variant by NICO MITRIC
From beyond the farthest frontiers of any solar system explored by man, a destructive force is sweeping through the universe wiping Callystes, Dakoï, Lilith and Planet Earth from the stellar map. A rocket full of refugees hurtles through space with the letter “K” emblazoned on its side. On board the unlikely crew of seven children, several adults, an ancient wizard-knight and the ghost of a cyborg travel with a mysterious cargo that will alter their fates forever.
48 PGS./Mature ...$5.99

LOBO: HIGHWAY TO HELL #1
Written by Scott Ian
Art and cover by Sam Kieth
A Lobo story like nothing you’ve seen before! You can imagine that when you live life the way the Main Man lives life — loud, loose, and ludicrously violent — you might pick up an enemy or two along the way. An enemy like, say, oh I don’t know, Satan himself. And Satan, my friends, does not play around. Hell’s iron-fisted ruler has a serious mad-on for the last Czarnian, and he’s gonna hit Lobo right in his blackened, scabrous heart. So Lobo’s just gonna have to hit him harder. Repeatedly. In the FACE. But first, Lobo has to go to Hell...a little sooner than anticipated!
Metal icon Scott Ian of Anthrax makes his comics debut, joining forces with visionary creator Sam Kieth to bring you a Lobo story that’s so over the top, you won’t even remember what the top used to look like! Bleeding dolphins, demonic Chihuahuas, the world’s worst cruise ship, exploding moons, severed heads, and still more sick fraggin' stuff all await you on the Highway to Hell — don’t miss a single twisted page!
On sale November 4 • 1 of 2 • 64 pg, FC, $6.99 US

POWERS #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art & Cover by MICHAEL AVON OEMING
Because you asked for it, you got it... POWERS IS BACK!! MONTHLY!! From the writer of your favorite blockbuster Marvel comics (DARK AVENGERS, NEW AVENGERS, SECRET INVASION, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN) Brian Michael Bendis and award-winning artist Michael Oeming (Mice Templar) comes a brand new chapter in one of the most successful creator-owned comics of the decade! Homicide Detectives Christian Walker and Enki Sunrise investigate murders specific to super hero cases... powers. Where super hero and crime comics explode into each other! This new number one is the PERFECT jumping on point for new readers and a glorious return to form for long time fans. And yes, this book will be shipping monthly. And yes, our horrible letter column is back!!
40 PGS./Mature Content...$3.95

PSYLOCKE #1 (of 4)
Written by CHRISTOPHER YOST
Penciled by HARVEY TOLIBAO
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Psylocke has returned to the X-Men! Following the defeat of Madelyne Pryor and her Sisterhood, Psylocke travels to Japan to re-inter her former body in its proper resting place. But when a swarm of Hand ninjas attack Psylocke and do the unspeakable under orders from Matsu’o—the assassin originally responsible for transplanting Psylocke’s mind into the body of an Asian ninja—Psylocke determines that Matsu’o is one loose end that can no longer be left unresolved. It’s a tale of carnage and revenge, brought to you by superstars Chris Yost (X-FORCE) and Harvey Tolibao (AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE)!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$3.99

PUNISHERMAX #1
Written by JASON AARON
Penciled by STEVE DILLON
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
Variant Cover by STEVE DILLON
An all-new ongoing series from the acclaimed team of Jason Aaron (WOLVERINE: WEAPON X) and Steve Dillon (PUNISHER: WELCOME BACK FRANK), two guys who were born to tell the exploits of Marvel's most brutal vigilante.
Wilson Fisk is a bodyguard for mob boss Don Rigoletto, but he has his eyes on a much bigger prize, and he's gonna use Frank Castle to help him realize his dreams. The biggest story in MAX history begins here, as we witness the birth of the greatest villain the Punisher has ever faced.
32 PGS./Explicit Content ...$3.99

REALM OF KINGS
Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING
Penciled by LEONARDO MANCO
Cover by CLINT LANGLEY
Exploding out of WAR OF KINGS, what lies in the REALM OF KINGS? The shocking showdown between Black Bolt and Vulcan has created The Fault, a vast tear through time and space through which almost anything can charge into our universe. What secrets does it hold? What dangers lurk within? Will it reintroduce forgotten allies...or unleash ancient enemies? The cosmic masters Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning unite with WAR MACHINE’S Leonardo Manco to open the next great chapter in Marvel’s resurging cosmic corner!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

STRANGE #1 (of 4)
Written by MARK WAID
Penciled by EMMA RIOS
Cover by TOMM COKER
No longer Sorcerer Supreme of the Marvel Universe, Stephen Strange must discover a new path to fulfillment and enlightenment. Unfortunately, that path leads through a bizarre, terrifying gauntlet of magical menaces--and if the former Master of the Mystic Arts is going to survive the journey, he'll need some assistance--in the form of a brand-new student!
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

THE MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ #1 (of 8)
Written by ERIC SHANOWER
Pencils & Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Variant Cover by ERIC SHANOWER
Variant Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
The epic continues! Fresh off their landmark run on THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF OZ, superstars ERIC SHANOWER (Age of Bronze) and SKOTTIE YOUNG (X-MEN) return with L. Frank Baum’s MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ. Join new characters Tip and Jack Pumpkinhead as they’re whisked to Oz, and meet foes and friends! You’ve NEVER seen L. Frank Baum’s masterpiece like this before...
32 PGS./All Ages ...$3.99

VICTORIAN UNDEAD #1
Written by Ian Edginton
Art by Davide Fabbri
Cover by Tony Moore
Variant cover by Simon Coleby
“Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” Those are the words of Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the world’s first consulting detective, yet even he finds his skills tested to their limit as he and his erstwhile comrade Dr. John Watson are confronted with the most extraordinary case of their career – the dead are returning to life! Can a plague of Biblical proportions be far behind for Victorian London? And who – or what – is behind the resurrection of these ravenous revenants?
From renowned writer Ian Edginton (STORMWATCH: PHD) and acclaimed international artist Davide Fabbri (Star Wars) comes the first chapter in an incredible new 6-issue Sherlock Holmes adventure! Featuring a cover by original Walking Dead artist Tony Moore!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Tony Moore), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Simon Coleby). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale November 18 • 1 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

CHEW, VOL. 1: TASTER'S CHOICE TP
story JOHN LAYMAN
art & cover ROB GUILLORY
NOVEMBER 25
128 PAGES / FC
$9.99

Tony Chu is a detective with a secret. A weird secret. Tony Chu is Cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. It also means he's a hell of a detective, as long as he doesn't mind nibbling on the corpse of a murder victim to figure out whodunit, and why. He's been brought on by the Special Crimes Division of the FDA, the most powerful law enforcement agency on the planet, to investigate their strangest, sickest, and most bizarre cases.
Collects CHEW #1-5
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE!

DESTROYER PREMIERE HC
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Penciled by CORY WALKER
Cover by JASON PEARSON
For sixty years, Keen Marlowe has been a super hero, taking down bad guys, fighting the good fight. But it’s is about to come crashing to an end. See, Marlowe is dying -- maybe today, maybe tomorrow, the only question is when. But Marlowe isn’t about to go quietly into the night. Before he goes, he intends to leave the world a safer place for his family. And if that means hunting down -- and murdering -- every super-villain he can, so be it. They don’t call him “Destroyer” for nothing. Collecting THE DESTROYER #1-5.
120 PGS./Explicit Content ...$24.99

I KILL GIANTS TITAN EDITION HC
story JOE KELLY
art & cover JM KEN NIIMURA
NOVEMBER 18
300 PAGES / BW
$39.99

S&N EDITION LIMITED TO 150 COPIES $50.00

Barbara Thorson, a girl battling monsters both real and imagined, kicks butt, takes names, and faces her greatest fear in the bittersweet coming-of-age story called "Best Indy Book of 2008" by IGN. AICN says "...a great mini full of eccentricity, humor and humanity that I not only highly recommend, but hope to see get some well-deserved attention come Eisner time." This is a LIMITED EDITION OVERSIZED PRINTING and will not be printed again.
Collects I KILL GIANTS #1-7, plus the original script for issue #1, pin up gallery, back up material and more!

PTA NIGHT HC
story JEREMY R. SCOTT
art & cover JEREMY R. SCOTT
NOVEMBER 4
32 PAGES / FC
$12.99

It's the creepiest PTA Night ever when the lunch lady's soup comes alive, the janitor turns into a werewolf, and the old graveyard that the school was built over brings the dead back to life! More humorous than frightening--a treat for kids of all ages!
SILVERLINE BOOKS' FIRST WORDLESS PICTURE BOOK, A STORY TOLD COMPLETELY THROUGH ILLUSTRATIONS!

And here is the rest of it.
You can follow my on twitter here.

My adventure at the Chicago Comic-Con

2009-08-28T15:41:00.000-05:00

This past month was Chicago Comic-con and it was amazing.
When I first heard that some of the major comic companies were not going to be there I was a bit upset, but once you step on the floor ans especially walk over to the artist alley you realized that this was going to be an incredible experience.

I was able to say hello to a lot of the greats in the comic industries and a lot of the up and coming artists without having to wait in long lines or go to panels.

this is my experience;

This is the First and probably the best thing I got at Artist Alley, it is a watercolor sketch from Francis Manapul artist of DC Comics' Adventure Comics.

Took my Queen and Country: The Definitely Edition Vol. 3 to get it signed by the Incredible Mike Norton & Chris Samnee which I did.

First by Mike Norton,

Then by Chris Samnee which actually drew a Tara Chase sketch in the book,
So amazing.

I also ended up buying Chris Samnee's sketchbook which is simply beautiful.

I also took my Scapled. vol 1 hoping to get it autograph by one of my New favorite Writers, Jason Aaron.

Which I Did, thanks Jason.

One of the best thing about the Con was going and just saying Hello to all of my favorite creators in the industry like . . .

Christina Strain (colorist extraordinaire)

Skottie Young (artist on Marvel's Wonderful Wizard of Oz)

Chris Samnee (artist on DC Comics' The Mighty)

And last but not least, all the great deals on all the book I bought were amazing.

The list of book I bought are as follows;

Sin City Vol. 1 & Vol. 7 (to finish my collection)

Northlanders Vol. 2 (vol. 2 of an amazing series of stories dealing with Vikings)

Myspace's Dark Horse Presents Vol. 1

The Losers Vol. 2 & Vol. 3 (finally read the first volume can't wait to read the rest)

Marvel's Eternals (been meaning to buy this for a while)

New Avengers: Illuminati (read the individual issues but wanted the HC)

Spider-man: Death of the Stacys (a classic)

Captain America: the Chosen (an excellent out of continuity Captain America Story)

X-men: Magneto Testament (A never before look at Magneto origin as a Jew in WWII)

Batman: Detective 27 (an elseworld tale about a detective in the 1920's)

The Nobody (Jeff Lemire's magnificent book loosely based on the Invincible Man)

The Clockwork girl

Legion of Monsters (a collection of new and old stories featuring classic Horror characters)

You can follow my on twitter here.

October Comic Solicitations

2009-08-01T15:00:00.012-05:00

It’s solicitation time again, with new books and collections for everyone from New readers to Long-time collectors.
The book I really look forward to are: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz HC and Old Man Logan HC,
I will be buying several of both and giving them to friends to read and hopefully enjoy.

Please understand that this is not my TOTAL order (my total number of books for each month usually runs around 25 - 30 books), just the books that will be coming out that I'm excited for.

OZ: THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ HC
Written by ERIC SHANOWER
Penciled by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
The premiere American fantasy adventure gets the Merry Marvel treatment! Eisner Award-winning writer/artist Eric Shanower (Age of Bronze) teams up with fan-favorite artist Skottie Young (New X-Men) to bring L. Frank Baum’s beloved classic to life! When Kansas farm girl Dorothy flies away to the magical Land of Oz, she fatally flattens a Wicked Witch, liberates a living Scarecrow and is hailed by the Munchkin people as a great sorceress...but all she really wants to know is: how does she get home? Collecting THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ #1-8.
208 PGS./All Ages ...$29.99

PRIDE & PREJUDICE PREMIERE HC
Written by NANCY BUTLER
Penciled by HUGO PETRUS
Cover by SONNY LIEW
“IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife...” Tailored from the adored Jane Austen classic, Marvel Comics is proud to present PRIDE AND PREJUDICE! Two-time Rita Award-Winner Nancy Butler and fan-favorite Hugo Petrus faithfully adapt the whimsical tale of Lizzy Bennet and her loveable-if-eccentric family, as they navigate through tricky British social circles. Will Lizzy’s father manage to marry off her five daughters, despite his wife’s incessant nagging? And will Lizzy’s beautiful sister Jane marry the handsome, wealthy Mr. Bingley, or will his brooding friend Mr. Darcy stand between their happiness? "This project has been like a dream come true for me as a writer and as a former graphic designer—not only am I adapting a book I love, I am doing it in the one forum, comics, where words and pictures carry equal weight." Nancy Butler, two-time RITA winner and multiple RT Reviewer's Choice winner in Regency. Collecting PRIDE & PREJUDICE #1-5.
120 PGS./Rated T+ ...$19.99

DARK REIGN: THE LIST - SECRET WARRIORS
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Pencils & Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Norman Osborn's got it in for Marvel's super spy, but what happens when he needs Nick Fury to uncover a breach in National Security? Nothing good, nothing good at all. It's lies, interrogations, double-crosses and just a whole bunch of meanness - It's the LIST. Plus, Nick Fury Files and a classic reprint.
48 PGS./One-Shot/Rated T+

DARK REIGN: THE LIST - PUNISHER
Written by RICK REMENDER
Pencils & Cover JOHN ROMITA JR.
Frank Castle has disabled much of Norman Osborn’s criminal underground, tarnished his well-groomed public image and attempted to assassinate him. Today Osborn returns the favor. With Frank still torn apart from his battle with the Hood, Osborn dedicates himself and every single HAMMER resource to one goal: killing The Punisher. To make sure they don’t fail, The Dark Avengers are going with them. Somebody has to die. Somebody will. Legendary artist John Romita Jr. returns to The Punisher, joined by regular series writer Rick Remender for this, the most ferocious battle of Frank Castle’s life. Plus, a preview of the next exciting chapter of the Punisher.
48 PGS./One-Shot/Parental Advisory

DARK REIGN: THE LIST - HULK
Written by GREG PAK
Pencils & Cover by BEN OLIVER
Norman Osborn thought he had a plan for keeping the Green Goliath from mussing his wavy coif -- but he forgot about the Hulk's most dangerous incarnation. Now the H.A.M.M.E.R. comes down as Banner and Skaar face Osborn's deadliest femme fatales in a monumental battle of brawn and brains. Plus a reprinting of Amazing Spider-Man #14, the first appearance of the Green Goblin & guest-starring The Hulk.
48 PGS./One-Shot/Rated A

DARK REIGN: THE LIST - WOLVERINE
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils & Cover by ESAD RIBIC
The power mad Norman Osborn wants control of the Weapon Plus program. The eternally-surly Wolverine wants to stop him. The artificially-evolved super-sentinel Fantomex wants to shoot everyone in the face and zip away in his kick-ass flying saucer. The Kree warrior Marvel Boy just wants the hell out. And the all-new Weapon XVI wants to bring the world to its knees. And you should want to read it. PLUS: Jason Aaron’s never-before-reprinted first Wolverine story, from WOLVERINE (first series) 175—and more!
48 PGS./One-Shot/Parental Advisory

DAREDEVIL #501
Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art by ROBERTO DE LA TORRE
Cover by ESAD RIBIC
Variant Cover by TIM SALE
Meet Daredevil as you’ve NEVER seen him before!
The cataclysmic events of issue 500 left Matt in the toughest place of his life – and forced him to make the hardest decision he’s ever made. Now’s the start of a radically different chapter in Daredevil’s adventures, and the perfect jumping-on point as the new creative team of Andy Diggle (THUNDERBOLTS) and Roberto De La Torre (IRON MAN) take DD to entirely new highs...and lows!
32 PGS./Rated T+

DOCTOR VOODOO: AVENGER OF THE SUPERNATURAL #1
Written by RICK REMENDER
Penciled by TO BE REVEALED AT SDCC
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant Cover by BILLY TAN
Launching from the pages of New Avengers, Jericho Drumm assumes the role of Marvel’s new Sorcerer Supreme as DOCTOR VOODOO! Having foreseen an unimaginable evil that will soon envelop the Marvel Universe, the Eye of Agamotto has passed the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme on to the one man who has the unique gifts to stave off the coming darkness -- but is Doctor Voodoo ready for the momentous duty as avenger of the supernatural? As Jericho begins to grapple with his colossal new position, malevolent beings of vast power see his arrival as an opportunity to strike. Rising stars Rick Remender (PUNISHER) and *ARTIST TO BE REVEALED AT SDCC* crack open a new chapter in the Book of Vishanti to tell the ongoing adventures of the new Sorcerer Supreme in the Mighty Marvel fashion!
32 PGS./Rated T+

DEADPOOL #900
Written by JASON AARON, MIKE BENSON, CHARLIE HUSTON, JOE KELLY, DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI & FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by KYLE BAKER, SHAWN CRYSTAL, SANFORD GREEEN, ROB LIEFELD, CHRIS STAGGS & DALIBOR TALIJIC
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
Special SUPER-sized, ACTION-packed 104-page special to commemorate Deadpool’s historic 900th issue! ... Wait, has it really been nine-hundred issues...? Who cares! If this collection of octane-infused stories by some of comics’ hottest talent doesn’t make you want to genuflect at the Altar of Wade, nothing will. Thrill as the Merc with a Mouth squares off against probe-happy aliens, trigger-happy mimes and one seriously unhappy fanman – and that’s just half the book! Wince as Wade bares his soul (and lots more) to a shrink who’s got major squirrels in his own attic. Thrill as he travels around the globe and then some to settle a childhood bet. And chill as C.S.I. investigators at a blood-splattered crime scene attempt to piece together why this particular “unsub” needed battery cables, Crisco oil, three stacks of adult magazines and a live chicken to pull off the hit.
104 PGS./Parental Advisory

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #38
Written by James Robinson
Art and cover by Mark Bagley
Variant cover by Andy Kubert
A new era begins for the World's Greatest Heroes as superstars James Robinson (STARMAN, SUPERMAN) and Mark Bagley (TRINITY, Ultimate Spider-Man) take over! It all begins as a one-time member of the JLA falls before he can warn the team of looming peril while what’s left of the JLA journeys to the heart of their past to decide if the team has any future at all.
Of course, that means this is the best time for a savage villain from the team’s past to attack the demoralized heroes! The team will have to muster enough will to win not only today, but in the harrowing months to come. It’s the start of a spanking new odyssey for the JLA that will lead in the coming months to a fresh line-up for DC’s flagship team. Get onboard now for the next epic chapter of the Justice League’s legacy!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Mark Bagley), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Andy Kubert). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale October 21 • 32 pg, FC,

X-BABIES #1 (of 4)
Written by GREGG SCHIGIEL
Penciled by JACOB CHABOT
Cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Zombie Variant by TBA
Little X-Men! Big Adventure! Stars Reborn! Things have changed in Mojoworld as Mojo’s been ousted by Mr. Veech, who’s replaced the The X-Babies - the number one, top-rated stars - with something newer, safer, friendlier, and...more adorable! The X-Babies we know and love aren’t going to sit by and let that happen. And how are the characters from Marvel’s mid-’80s, kid-centric Star Comics line involved? The sleeper hit of the fall starts here!

WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN HC
Written by MARK MILLAR
Penciled by STEVE MCNIVEN
Covers by STEVE MCNIVEN & MICHAEL TURNER
MARK MILLAR and STEVE MCNIVEN—who last teamed for the monumental CIVIL WAR—bring us the most important WOLVERINE story of the 21st Century. Nobody knows what happened on the night the heroes fell. All we know is that they disappeared and evil triumphed and the bad guys have been calling the shots ever since. What happened to Wolverine is the biggest mystery of all. For 50 years, no one has heard hide nor hair from him...and in his place stands an old man called Logan. A man concerned only about his family. A man pushed to the brink by the HULK GANG. A man forced to help an old friend—the blind archer, HAWKEYE—to drive three thousand miles to secure his family’s safety. Get ready for the ride of your life, Logan. Collecting WOLVERINE #66-72 & WOLVERINE GIANT-SIZE OLD MAN LOGAN.
208 PGS./Parental Advisory ...$34.99

EX MACHINA DELUXE EDITION VOL. 2 HC
Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Art by Tony Harris & Tom Feister and
Chris Sprouse & Karl Story
Cover by Tony Harris
In this new, deluxe volume collecting issues #12-20 of the hit series along with EX MACHINA SPECIAL #1-2, Mayor Mitchell Hundred must make a difficult decision about his own future, becomes part of a shocking trial complicated by the unexpected arrival of an all-new Super Hero, and leaves New York City for the first time since his election to embark on a strange adventure. Plus, shocking tragedy strikes an Iraq War protest in downtown Manhattan.
Advance-solicited; on sale December 2 •
272 pg, FC, $29.99 US • MATURE READERS

That's it hope to see you next week for October Solicitations.
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Windy City Comicon '09 (Or how i spend my September)

2009-07-10T14:00:00.004-05:00

Living in a big city like Chicago, I have the luxury of having not 1 but 2 comic conventions this year (Wizardworld Chicago & Windy City Comicon). Now with Wizardworld Chicago that is a show that is big and sometimes overwhelming but with Windy city Comicon that is more personal and a place that is closer to my heart.

At WCCC you get a real connection with the Creators, you can stand their and talk to them one on one without the feeling of being rushed.
Last year was so much fun and Amazing, I got to meet several creators that I'm a fan of and a lot of new creators that open my eyes to their wonderful work.

The list of creators have increase dramatically (both in Volume & Talent) can't wait to experience the greatness that is Windy City Comicon.

The Guest list is as follows:

David Petersen - Mouse Guard

Tony Atkins - Jack of Fables

Art Baltazar - Tiny Titans

Matt Kindt - Superspy

Jeff Lemire - Essex County Trilogy

Tony Moore - Walking dead, Ghost Rider

Mike Norton - Green Arrow, Blue Beetle, Trinity

Skottie Young - Wonderful Wizard of Oz, New X-men

Jason Howard - The Astounding Wolf-Man

Robbi Rodriguez - Maintenance

Chris Samnee - Queen & Country, Capote in Kansas.

AND MANY MORE. . .
With over 50 guests (check out the rest here) this will be an amazing show that you will not forget

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September Comic Solicitations

2009-07-01T15:00:00.003-05:00

It's time for September solicitations,
As we approach the end of the comic convention season a lot of books are being announced or are ending their run and
with all the announcements closely approaching the anticipation of all these books is something that I can't wait.
This are the book I'm most looking forward to for the month of September.

ULTIMATE COMICS ARMOR WARS #1 (of 4)
Written by WARREN ELLIS
Penciled by STEVE KURTH
Cover by BRANDON PETERSON
Villain Variant by CARLOS PACHECO
Special Variant by TBA
Exploding from the ruins of ULTIMATUM, Tony Stark races against time to save his crippled corporation and stop the theft of his armored arsenal! Superstar writer WARREN ELLIS (ULTIMATE HUMAN) teams up with rising talent STEVE KURTH (IRON MAN) to bring you a globe-spanning, high-octane thriller with a blast from Tony’s past that you’ve gotta see to believe!

DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN: EXODUS
Written by MATT FRACTION
Penciled by MIKE DEODATO
Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
The climactic conclusion to the crossover event of 2009 is here! This is it, the final battle for the Dark Avengers and the X-Men that will change the status quo for the Marvel Universe. Emma Frost’s betrayal comes home to roost. Cyclops’ plan clicks into place, but is it too late? What can the X-Men do against the Sentry and Ares?

DARK X-MEN: THE CONFESSION
Written by CRAIG KYLE & CHRISTOPHER YOST
Penciled by TBA
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
Emma Frost’s secret dealings with the Cabal come to light and her life will never be the same.

RUNAWAYS #14
Written by KATHRYN IMMONEN
Penciled by SARA PICHELLI
Cover by DAVID LAFUENTE
The unbelievable conclusion to “Homeschooling” is here. And someone comes back.

WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN GIANT-SIZE #1
Written by MARK MILLAR
Pencils & Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
This is it! The moment you’ve been waiting for! Prepare yourselves for the most brutal battle in the history of comics as Wolverine returns— and unleashes a tidal wave of bloody revenge! It’s Wolverine versus the Hulk Gang to the death! Don’t miss the flesh-rending final chapter to the greatest Wolverine story ever told by the peerless Mark Millar and Steve McNiven! Plus—you won’t be able to tear yourself away from the gallery of covers, background material, behind-the-scenes extras, and all-new pinups that fill out this GIANT-SIZE SPECTACULAR!

SPIDER-WOMAN #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & 50/50 Cover by ALEX MALEEV
50/50 Cover by ALEX ROSS
THE WAIT IS OVER! The explosive Eisner award-winning team of Bendis and Maleev reunite for their first ongoing series since Daredevil! Ripped from the pages of New Avengers and Secret Invasion, watch as the gorgeous and mysterious Jessica Drew reenters a society she did not make...as an AGENT OF S.W.O.R.D. This brand new series is a perfect companion to the dazzling Spider-Woman motion comic. Containing new story and artwork not available in any other format. This is the start of a major chapter in one of the most high profile characters in all of Marvel Comics.

STRANGE TALES #1 (of 3)
Written and Drawn by PAUL POPE, PETER BAGGE, MOLLY CRABAPPLE, JOHN LEAVITT, JUNKO MIZUNO, DASH SHAW, JAMES KOCHALKA, JOHNNY RYAN, MICHAEL KUPPERMAN, NICK BERTOZZI, NICHOLAS GUREWICH & JASON
Cover by PAUL POPE
At long last, the wait is over!! Marvel is proud to present the debut of this hotly anticipated three issue anthology showcasing Marvel’s greatest characters re-imagined by the best and brightest talents working in independent comics today. Don’t miss what’s sure to be one of the most exciting collections of comics short stories ever produced!!! Every issue stars a stunning array of the best, most exciting cartoonists on the planet—showcasing the Marvel Heroes as you’ve never seen them before! Featuring the long-awaited Peter Bagge “Incorrigible Hulk” serialized over all three issues!

CRIMINAL: THE SINNERS #1
By Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
FROM THE CREATORS OF INCOGNITO -- THE AWARD-WINNING SERIES RETURNS!
“THE BEST CRIME COMIC EVER PUBLISHED...” – Comic Book Resources
One of the most award-winning and acclaimed comics series of the last several years returns to the shelves this September with a perfect new jumping-on point for new readers -- or those who’ve gotten hooked on Brubaker and Phillips hit series INCOGNITO and are craving more!
CRIMINAL’s most popular character, TRACY LAWLESS returns in THE SINNERS. It’s been a year since Tracy was forced into working for the bad guys, and now made men are turning up dead all over the city, in what appears to be mob-style hits. But since criminals don’t go to the cops for justice... only Tracy can solve this crime.

CRIMINAL: THE DELUXE EDITION
By Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
This oversized deluxe hardback edition features CRIMINAL books 1 thru 3 -- COWARD, LAWLESS, and THE DEAD AND THE DYING. A fantastically-designed and printed book showcasing the Eisner and Harvey Award-Winning crime comics from the creators of SLEEPER and INCOGNITO.
Also features many extras – including a Criminal short story and the never-before-printed five page “movie trailer in comics form” that Brubaker and Phillips created to announce the series online... illustrations, selected articles, behind the scenes looks, painted covers... and much much more!
A true collector’s edition spectacular from two of the hottest creators in comics, and a must-have for any fan!

SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank & Jon Sibal
Covers by Gary Frank
Hot on the heels of their acclaimed run on ACTION COMICS, superstars Geoff Johns and Gary Frank reunite to present a 6-issue event that spells out the definitive origin of Superman for the 21st century – and it all starts with a gigantic 48-page issue! Chronicling Clark Kent’s journey from the cornfields of Smallville to the skyscrapers of Metropolis, you'll witness a whole new look at the beginnings of Lex Luthor, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Lois Lane, Metallo, Jimmy Olsen, the Parasite and more! It's a look at the mythic past of the Man of Steel with an eye toward the future!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Gary Frank), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Gary Frank). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

THE FLASH: REBIRTH #6
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and covers by Ethan Van Sciver
In a battle along the outskirts of time, the secrets of the Speed Force have been revealed! The new archnemesis of those who ride the lightning is coming for Iris Allen. And the Barry Allen you knew is gone forever...or is he? What change does Wally West face? What destiny will Kid Flash choose? Prepare to meet a Flash Family that's both familiar and different...and get to the starting line for the next epic adventures of the Speed Force!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

SWEET TOOTH #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art and cover by Jeff Lemire
From out of the deep woods and the mind of acclaimed indie cartoonist Jeff Lemire (THE NOBODY, The Essex County Trilogy) comes a new Vertigo monthly ongoing series like no other! After being raised in total isolation, Gus – a boy born with deer-like antlers – is left to survive in an American landscape devastated a decade earlier by an inexplicable pandemic. Even more remarkable is that Gus is part of a rare new breed of human/animal hybrid children who have emerged in its wake, all apparently immune to the infection.
Enter Jepperd, a violent, hulking drifter who soon takes in Gus and promises to lead him to “The Preserve,” a fabled safe-haven for hybrid children. Along the way they’ll have to contend with science militias, deadly scavengers, rival bounty hunters, and hybrid worshipping cultists as they fight to make it to safety and solve the mysteries of this deadly new frontier.
This bizarre and haunting new series is boldly written and illustrated by Eisner-nominated creator Jeff Lemire and elegantly colored by fellow Eisner nominee Jose Villarubia. A little boy with antlers, a big man with guns, a world without hope – SWEET TOOTH #1 ships in September for only $1.00! Plus, don’t miss a free preview of this title in August’s JACK OF FABLES #37!

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Chicago Outdoor Film Festival (or How I will spend my tuesdays)

2009-06-26T15:00:00.001-05:00

One of the best things about this wonderful city that I live in is all the wonderful things you can do in the Summer
like Taste of Chicago and The Air & Water Show
but my favorite thing to do in the summer is The Chicago Outdoor Film Festival .

Every Tuesday after sunset from July 14 to August 25
(There are no rain dates or make-up dates.),
they will showing free movies on a 50-foot by 34-foot screen in downtown Grant Park at 100 S. Lake Shore Drive. (It's south of Millennium Park, and north of the Art Institute).

The list of Movies and show times are as follows;

Grant Park Movies - 2009 Schedule:

July 14, 2009 @ 8:58 pm: Sunset Boulevard (1950)

July 21, 2009 @ 8:52 pm: Duck Soup (1933)

July 28, 2009 @ 8:45 pm: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1950)

August 4, 2009 @ 8:37 pm: Born Yesterday (1950)

August 11, 2009 @ 8:27 pm: Psycho (1960)

August 18, 2009 @ 8:17 pm: Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)

August 25, 2009 @ 8:05 pm: Tootsie (1982)

Hope to see you there watching a movie under the stars

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Chicago Comic-con 09' (or how I big of a geek I am)

2009-06-10T15:00:00.004-05:00

Comic book Convention is in full effect by the time it hits Chicago in August,But with me living in Chicago it is something that I always look forward to.
So excited to have all these creators coming to Wizardworld Chicago or how it is now called Chicago Comic-con (going back to the name that it had before Wizard purchased them in 1997.)

The list of creators is not as big as previous years, but I really look forward to meeting or even getting a sketch from any of these creators.
(I especially will be hounding Jim Cheung, Mike Choi and Freddie E.Williams II for sketches and find Jason Aaron & Dan Slott and bow to their greatness)

Mark Millar - Guest of Honor
(Kick-Ass, Fantastic Four & Wolverine Writer)

Jason Aaron - Special Guest
Scalped, Ghost Rider, upcoming Wolverine: Weapon X writer)

George Pérez - Special Guest
(Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds artist)
*Courtesy of the Hero Initiative

JG Jones - Special Guest
(Final Crisis Artist)

Brian Azzarello - Special Guest
(100 Bullets, The Joker writer)

Mitch Breitweiser - Special Guest
(Captain America: Theatre of War, Uncanny X-Men Annual artist)

Jim Cheung - Special Guest
(Secret Warriors cover artist, New Avengers, New Avengers:Illuminati artist)

Frank Cho - Special Guest
(Hulk, Jungle Girl artist)

Dan Slott - Special Guest
(Amazing Spider-Man, Mighty Avengers writer)

Craig Rousseau - Special Guest
(Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Perhapanauts artist)

Mike Norton - Special Guest
(Green Arrow/Black Canary, Trinity artist)

Mike Choi- Special Guest
(X-force, Uncanny X-men, X-23 artist)

Shane Davis- Special Guest
(Green Lantern, Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lantern artist)

Mike Mckone - Special Guest
(Deadpool, Punisher & Amazing Spider-man Artist)

Sean Mckeever- Special Guest
(Teen Titans, Terror Titans Writer)

Matt Wagner- Special Guest
(Zorro writer)

Billy Tan- Special Guest
(New Avengers Artist)

Mark Texeira- Special Guest
(Moon Knight Artist)

Freddie E.Williams II- Special Guest
(Robin Artist)

Michael Golden- Special Guest
(Cover Artist Extraordinaire)

AND MANY MORE...

The Show starts August 6-9, 2009 @ Donald E. Stephens Convention Center hope you can make it and have as much fun as I will be.

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August Comics Solicitations (or what I'm going to be spending my money on)

2009-05-31T15:21:00.004-05:00

The Comic industry is so much different than all other entertainment mediums, for those of us who order our books each month, the ordering system works 2 months ahead to give the companies enough time to see what will be ordered and how much.
So in June we get the solicitations for August and I decided to male a list ofo all the books that I'm really looking forward the most.

Please understand that this is not my TOTAL order( my total number of books for each month usually runs around 25 - 30 books), just the books that will be coming out that I'm excited for.

MARVEL
THE MARVELS PROJECT #1 (of 8)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils & Cover by STEVE EPTING
The centerpiece of Marvel's 70th Anniversary celebration! Who is the mysterious old man who lies on his deathbed in a hospital in 1939, and how does his passing mark the beginning of the first heroic age of the Marvel Universe — and signal the rise of the superhumans? Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting unveil the defining story of the origin of the Marvel Universe, revealing the hidden connections that unite the earliest costumed champions, and whose reverberations are felt dramatically into the present day! It’s a world on the brink of war, and the race is on to create the world's first super-soldier! Witness the first days of the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner, and many more-- how they shaped the world to come, and how the future they would create in turn shaped them! The must-read event of the season for any Marvel fan from the Award-Winning creators who redefined Captain America for the modern audience!

MARVEL
ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #1
Written by MARK MILLAR
Pencils & Cover by CARLOS PACHECO
Guess who’s back!! That’s right, kids, MARK MILLAR (THE ULTIMATES, WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN) and superstar artist CARLOS PACHECO (AVENGERS FOREVER, X-MEN) blast into the Ultimate Universe for a mind-blowing, heart-pounding and gut-wrenching event of epic proportions! When a highly-classified secret threatens Captain America, only the newly-returned Nick Fury has the tools to bring ‘em in! As the first of a series of blockbuster arcs begins: PROJECT AVENGERS is a go!

MARVEL
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by DAVID LAFUENTE
Almost ten years ago, Ultimate Spider-Man launched the Ultimate line, a reinvention of the Marvel Universe that defied the odds and every expectation. Today, it happens again: This new chapter in the life of the teenaged webslinger picks up in the aftermath of Ultimatum and completely redefines the status-quo of Spider-Man for the next generation! With a new supporting cast, new villains and maybe even a new Spider-Man, this new chapter will keep you guessing month after month. Join Eisner Award-winning writer BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS in introducing new ongoing artist DAVID LAFUENTE (ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL, PATSY WALKER: HELLCAT)! You have never seen a Spider-Man like this before! Be there!

MARVEL
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #601
Written by MARK WAID
Penciled by MARIO ALBERTI
Cover by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
Prepare for the All-New, All-Deadly: DARK MARY-JANE!! Oops, sorry, that's the rest of Marvel's solicits...Actually, in this issue "Red-Headed Stranger" begins just after the surprising events of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #600 with Pete's love life taking a turn for the worse just as his old flame Mary Jane returns to New York City. (FINALLY!! Sheesh. What took us so long?!)

MARVEL
DAREDEVIL #500
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by MICHAEL LARK
Additional Stories by ANN NOCENTI, DAVID AJA & OTHERS
50/50 Gatefold Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
This is it! The 500th issue of DAREDEVIL! What is the Kingpin's true plan? What do he and Lady Bullseye have in common? What will Matt Murdock do to make things right again? And just how will Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark leave this story for the next creative team to pick it up? Don’t miss the twists and surprises that will have everybody talking! An all-star anniversary issue featuring new stories by Ann Nocenti, David Aja, and others!

MARVEL
FANTASTIC FOUR #570
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Penciled by DALE EAGLESHAM
Cover by ALAN DAVIS
Brand new creative team - Brave new comics experience! Be there as Marvel's newest exciting creator, Jonathan Hickman, teams up with superstar artist, Dale Eaglesham, to give you the Fantastic Four experience you've been waiting for! It's adventure, it's family, it's tough questions in dark times...See what happens when Reed Richards tries to SOLVE EVERYTHING.

MARVEL
WAR OF KINGS #6 (of 6)
Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING
Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER
Cover by BRANDON PETERSON
Variant Cover by ADI GRANOV
This is it – the big fight for all the cosmic marbles! Shi'Ar vs. Inhuman! Black Bolt vs. Vulcan! Who will rule? The fate of two intergalactic civilizations teeters on the brink, and the outcome of this conflict will send shockwaves throughout the Marvel Universe! Don’t miss the climactic chapter in what IGN.com calls: "Action-packed but intimate and character driven...this could very well be the textbook definition of how to execute major superhero storylines."

DC COMICS
BATGIRL #1
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Lee Garbett & Trevor Scott
Cover by Phil Noto
Variant cover by J.G. Jones
In the wake of “Batman R.I.P.” and BATTLE FOR THE COWL, a new heroine has emerged in Gotham City, and as she begins her nocturnal crusade to take back the night, she will truly learn what it means to wear the mantle of the Bat. But who is this young woman, and why has she donned the cape and cowl?

DC COMICS
ADVENTURE COMICS #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul, co-feature art by Clayton Henry
Covers by Francis Manapul
It's the return of one of DC Comics' longest running books and one of its greatest modern-day heroes – Conner Kent! In our first heroic issue, Superboy can't wait to jump back into his life – but which life will it be? With a clarity he's never had before, Conner makes a beeline for the greatest place on Earth...Smallville?
Plus, in the wake of FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS, Starman heads off on an all-new mission in the present. And it's one that will not only impact Superboy, but the future of the DC Universe itself. Fortunately, the off-kilter Legionnaire won't be dong it alone! And in the upcoming months of ADVENTURE COMICS look for Lex Luthor! Brainiac! Lightning Lad! Superboy's pal Simple Simon! Sun Boy and Polar Boy! Ultra, the Multi Alien! Wonder Girl! Black Lantern Alexander Luthor! And many, many more new and familiar faces!

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G-MAN: CAPE CRISIS #1 (of 5)
story CHRIS GIARRUSSO
art & cover CHRIS GIARRUSSO
Mini-Marvels creator CHRIS GIARRUSSO returns with a brand new G-Man miniseries! When pieces of G-Man's magic cape fall into the wrong hands, things quickly spin out of control. G-Man and his friends must battle to recover the pieces, and this time the bad guys have the same power as G-Man!

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KING CITY #1
story BRANDON GRAHAM
art & cover BRANDON GRAHAM
Pete falls in love with an alien he's forced to betray...Anna watches her boyfriend literally turn into the drug he's addicted to...and Joe has a cat that can become any tool or weapon.
It's all just another day in King City, where mystery is down every alley...and weirdness is crawling through your window.
From critically acclaimed comics vet BRANDON GRAHAM comes a comic unlike any you have ever read!

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KILLER OF DEMONS TP
story CHRISTOPHER YOST
art & cover SCOTT WEGENER
120 PAGES / FC

Collecting the critically acclaimed mini-series from the writer of Marvel's X-Force and the artist of the Eisner nominated Atomic Robo! Hell has invaded Earth and only one man can stop it... junior account executive Dave Sloan, aka the Killer of Demons! With an angel at his side, Dave can see the demons that have infiltrated our world... and they all have to die! But these 'demons' are mostly Dave's co-workers, or people that annoy Dave in some way, leading him to believe that he's gone totally insane. Or has he? Dave has to fight to survive and find out the truth... is he a whacked out mass murderer, or the last hope the world has against the forces of Hell?

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Comic Suggestions for the female in your life

2009-05-06T13:00:00.003-05:00

For those who follow my blog know that I'm a big fanboy and I have said that I can get anyone to truly enjoy comics if I know what they like and they are willing to give it a try .

I have introduced comics to several of my friends and family who have thank me for showing how great comics are.
One of the best things I've done is to introduces my sister and my girlfriend into comics and they both have become big fans of as well.

So I decided since in this month is my anniversary with my girlfriend, I should make a list of all the graphic novels and weekly comics that would be great to introduce to any ladies in your life to see if you can get them interested or to a least to understand the medium.

Runaways - When you were a kid did you ever think that your parents might be evil??
Brian K Vaughan & Adrian Alphona answer that with a wonderful story about a group of kids who after finding out that their parents are super-villains decide to fight back.

Spider-man loves Mary Jane -"you hit the Jackpot"
Sean McKeever & Takeshi Miyazawa takes you back to high school with Mary Jane Watson and her friends deal with teen drama, romance and some action.

Plain Janes + Janes in Love -People Loving Art In Neighborhoods. But can art attacks really save the madness that is high school?
Cecil Castellucci & Jim Rugg bring us 2 great books about a group of outcast who decide to make high school a much better place to be.

Y:The last man - How would you feel if you were the last man on Earth?
Brian K Vaughan & Pia Guerra takes us to a world where in a blink of a eye, Yorick brown and his Capuchin monkey are the only males on earth.

True story swear to god - The meeting at the bus stop that changed the world of two people. This is where it all started.
Tom Beland brings us a auto-biographical account of a once-in-a lifetime chance of meeting your true love and what happens afterward.

Blankets - How does it feels like to sleep next to someone for the first time.
Craig Thompson wrote and drew his memoir telling the story of his childhood in an Evangelical Christian family, his first love, and his early adulthood.

Spiderman:Blue, Daredevil:Yellow - Behind every great Hero, there's an even greater female.
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale gives us some great stories of what make each of our Heroes be the best, and the one common thread in all stories is that each one is trying to be the best for the special girl in their lives (Gwen Stacy and Karen Page).

And many more titles to chose (Mouse Guard, Bone, Scott Pilgrim, Strangers in Paradise, Fables, Echo, New york Four, Confessions of a blabbermouth, etc)
With this list, anyone can become a fan if they just give it a try.

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