Fans who missed the first go round have no excuse not to get caught up, as BOOM! Studios presents THE AMORY WARS: ULTIMATE EDITION HC collecting the first two trades, including never-before-seen material.

Both the new THE AMORY WARS comic series and hardcover come on the heels of COHEED AND CAMBRIA’s new album YEAR OF THE BLACK RAINBOW this April, co-released with a novel of the same name, also written by Sanchez and David.

“Working with Claudio has been an absolute revelation in terms of Coheed and Cambria’s popularity,” said AMORY WARS co-writer Peter David. “I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve encountered people who don’t read “X-Factor,” never heard of “Fallen Angel,” but I mention that I’m working with Claudio and they instantly declare their undying love for all things C&C. They start rattling off titles, song lyrics, and they absolutely cannot wait to get their hands on the next installment of Claudio’s epic science fiction vision. For those fans who have been waiting years for this new comic series, the wait is over. For anyone who’s going to be entering Claudio’s world for the first time, welcome to Heaven’s Fence.”

“I know fans have been waiting for this story for years,” said Coheed and Cambria lead singer and AMORY WARS writer Claudio Sanchez. “I’m excited about partnering with Peter David and BOOM! Studios to finally get this story out of my head and into your hands.”

THE AMORY WARS tells the story of Claudio Kilgannon, son of Coheed and Cambria, the subjects of a privately developed anti-terrorist unit. The insidious Supreme Tri-mage Wilhelm Ryan, self-proclaimed ruler of Heaven’s Fence a network of 78 planets, sets forth to decimate those that could stand in his way, which include Coheed, Cambria and their children. Claudio must discover his role in this galactic turmoil and come to terms with his own growth in worlds that are always changing. THE AMORY WARS is the story behind the band Coheed and Cambria’s music, and fans have tried to unlock the true course of events encrypted in the lyrics since the band first debuted.

The complete SECOND STAGE TURBINE BLADE saga will be collected in THE AMORY WARS ULTIMATE EDITION, also released in May, and is perfect for fans to get caught up on the story behind the band’s music. This release is also timed to coincide with the April release of Coheed and Cambria’s newest album, YEAR OF THE BLACK RAINBOW. THE AMORY WARS ULTIMATE EDITION HC is priced at $29.99.

THE AMORY WARS: IN KEEPING SECRETS OF SILENT EARTH: 3 #1 hits shelves in May, featuring covers by Tim Bradstreet and Scott Keating, a 1-in-10 incentive cover, and interior art by Chris Burnham. THE AMORY WARS: IN KEEPING SECRETS OF SILENT EARTH: 3 #1 is $3.99.

Whether you’re a Darkwing fan from the hit TV show or want to discover this cherished character for the first time, this new mini-series delivers all the madcap adventurous spirit that made a fan out of millions!

Written by Ian Brill (ZOMBIE TALES) and James Silvani (MUPPET KING ARTHUR), the mini-series sees Darkwing’s city of St. Canard under the control of a mysterious corporation. Darkwing’s been out of commission for a while but when his friends and family are under attack…you better watch out you bad boys! Darkwing fights new villains as well as old, for Megavolt, Quackerjack, Liquidator and Bushroot are on the loose!

“It’s such a dream to bring back Darkwing, a favorite of mine and millions of other’s,” says series writer Brill. “Everyone involved in this book are working tirelessly to make sure this comic has the same feel of anarchic fun of the TV series, while still presenting a whole new adventure in the life of Darkwing.”

Debuting in 1991 as a spin-off of the hugely popular DUCK TALES, DARKWING DUCK brought super-hero action and excitement to the Disney Afternoon animation block, captivating viewers for years. Shown around the world, DARKWING DUCK is still a fan-favorite of pop culture fans everywhere.

DARKWING DUCK: THE DUCK KNIGHT RETURNS #1 is written by Ian Brill with interior art by James Silvani. The debut issues features two covers in a 50/50 split by Magic Eye Studios and Silvani respectively and a 1-in-10 incentive cover by Silvani and Jake Myler

A distraught fan asked why they did what they did to Roy Harper. James Robinson said that it was a controversial decision and was made to make Roy Harper a character that DC wanted to use in a specific way in the future. DC is proud of the story and stands by it. Rise and Fall will be awesome.

Ian Sattler confirmed that they are constantly evaluating the co-features and are happy with them so far.

A fan and obvious collector of the various Lantern rings that have been released lately wanted to know if there would be a Legion ring. It has been talked about it and may still happen, but no plans.

Sattler revealed that DC is seriously evaluating doing digital comics.

In answer to the next fan it was revealed that a Batman Beyond mini will begin in June and that there will also be a Superman/Batman special that takes place in that world and feature Superman Beyond.

Geoff Johns revealed that he will definitely be fleshing out the New Guardians in Green Lantern. The other Lanterns decide to stay on Earth.

Asked if there has been any though to having Damian Wayne join the Teen Titans, Sattler said it’s come up. Damian will be busy in Batman this year, but maybe after.

About the Earth-One books, DC is still figuring out what frequency they will be released in. Batman will come out twice a year.

Asked about any future Marvel/DC crossovers, Sattler asked the fan why he would want any before saying bluntly that DC is not interested in doing anything with Marvel right now.

Asked if any Golden Age characters will be coming back to replace their current analogs, Brian Azzarello said there will be a new DC status quo after Blackest Night #8 and left it at that.

A Legion fan wanted to know if the new book would also include a new history so readers can get a straight continuity. Sattler said to read the book as Paul Levitz will reveal a lot about their history. He emphasized that there is lots of Legion stuff coming up this year.

Asked if we will see any more Firestorm, Johns said he is a main character in Brightest Day.

Asked if there will be anymore Elseworlds type books, Sattler said there are discussions.

Geoff Johns said there is a very, very good chance in response to the possibility of a Green Lantern animated series.

A Kid Flash series is still being planned.

The next fan wanted to know the movies’ effect on the comics directions and vice versa? The panel agreed that DC is affecting Hollywood, an example being that Johns is heavily involved in Green Lantern film. As part of his new job Johns is making sure DC comics lead the charge. Staying with the DC movies, Sattler revealed that Mastadon is doing the score for the Jonah Hex film.

Asked to reveal something new about the Earth-One Batman book, Johns said that it would feature Barbara Gordon.

The next big reveal was from Robinson, who said he will be revisiting Opal City with a new Shade series down the road. Asked about an appearance from Jack Knight, he gave no answer. Staying with Robinson, he emphasized that while readers may be upset with Green Arrow’s current direction, the outcome will make everyone happy in the end. Star City will be one of the greatest cities in the DCU.

Another fan wanted to know if we would see more of JSA in other media? Johns responded by revealing that the Justice Society will reappear in Smallville towards the end of the season.

Expect some info soon from Jim Lee regarding All-Star Batman and Robin.

The inevitable Aquaman question came up with the only response being to read Brightest Day.

Asked for more specific questions regarding the other Lantern Corps members, Johns revelaed that there would be a Larfleeze Christmas Special this year, but that may have been a joke. He wasn’t joking when he said that Atrocitus will tangle with Lobo in a couple of months. Johns also said that Riddler will be the main villain in the second Earth-One Batman book.

More Wednesday Comics may be on the way and the Batwoman series is definitely coming soon.

The panel ended with the panelists deciding that Sattler was the new DC whipping boy, now that Dan DiDio is no longer Executive Editor.

The first question out of the gate was will Spider-Man and MJ ever be back together as a married couple? Joe Quesada fielded that one with a quick “No.” He elaborated that they worked too hard to get Peter where he is now. He can understand why readers want it back, but as cool as it may seem the marriage handcuffs the character. It’s problematic. It ages Peter Parker and makes him tough to write about. When Peter is happy and gets everything he wants the book gets very boring. Having to come up with way to get MJ and Peter at odds in their marriage made it unhealthy. He also acknowledged that the Spider-Man stories now may seem to retread old stories, but it’s new to the next generation of readers.

Heroic Age: Brian Michael Bendis is excited about the upcoming Avengers stories. Just because Avengers and the Marvel Heroes are back together doesn’t mean the world is a good place. It also doesn’t mean everyone is pals again and don’t have issues with each other.

The next fan asked about the Creative Process that Marvel employs. Quesada said that for him it starts before the writer summits. He feels the big crossovers need a break, the storytelling challenge is keeping the Marvel line exciting if you back away from them. Basically, he told the creators to take a look at their books and treat them like a self-contained story and tell the biggest possible stories. Eventually they will revisit big company-wide event.

Are the plans for Dan Slot at Marvel? Yes, stay tuned.
Rick Remender was asked about the thinking behind Frankencastle. The storyline was born out of the fact that he felt Frank should take a hit during Dark Reign. At the same time he came up with Monster Metropolis and it became an opportunity to connect Frank with the monsters and have fun.

Matt Fraction was asked about his plans for Thor. Spacey and Big was the words he used. And Jewish (He was kidding about that last one). He was iInterested in exploring the character’s duality as a god wearing a man suit and a man wearing a god suit. Things that he’s already planning to explore are the God-tree and the other Nine Worlds. Fraction is a big fan of the Lee/Kirby Thor. Expect his run to be a sci-fi/barbarian/metal/explosion meld.

The next question was one often asked, will the Disney/Marvel merger have any bearing on the movies and cartoonsas well as the comics? Quesada was very quick to say that from all indications, Marvel will continue to run as it has always run. They now have the ability to use the power of Disney, but the books and movies will be as they have been. Following that up, the price of books will not go down.

In regards to a charge from a fan that the Marvel U as a whole gone though some big downs, the panel replied that the stories are better when the characters get backed into a corner. In the Stan Lee days there was always some tension and apprehension between the characters meeting. Civil War brought that back, it was done on purpose to bring that back.

Moving on to a question about the current state of affairs in X-Men, Matt Fraction mostly repled that everyone should keep reading. The timeline of the X-Men books over the next couple of months follows the end of Nation X, then Second Coming, followed by an Heroic Age special. Second coming is a giant story, so many big things happen.

Bendis answered a questioned about New Avengers by reiterating that the current series wraps up in New Avengers Finale, which he says is an awesome, triple-sized wrap up to the first series. New Avengers #1 is stunning.

In the world of Spider-Man there is a story in the works that will fill in the blanks from the end of One More Day with what MJ asked Mephisto. That will happen this year. Asked if Gwen Stacy was ever coming back, Quesada revealed that it had long ago been talked during OMD. Joe Straczynski and Quesada had wanted to, but it was finally decided not to.

It was at this point that the panel revealed they were leaving nasty notes to the DC folks in the panel that was scheduled next.

Returning to Thor, a fan asked whatever happened to Thunderstrike? No plans for Thunderstrike.

Concerning his upcoming arc in the returning Avengers book, Bendis stated that Kang breaks the space-time continuum and we will Old Man Logan, Next Avengers and all kinds of alternate universes and characters.

One fan wanted to know when the Runaways were coming back. No plans right now, but Marvel is trying to find right time.

In response to an Agents of Atlas fan, Quesada said they are proud of the book, citing that as the main reason why they are publishing it.

An Iraq War vet asked about Captain America, specifically wanting to know why Quesada apologized for the controversy in Captain America #602. Quesada said to read the whole “apology” as he recognized that they made a mistake in naming a comic protest group as a real life group. They didn’t meant to. That’s what the apology was about. He thinks the claims of racisms and such are not warranted. The apology was taken wrong by the media. As a whole, Marvel would like to steer clear of political beliefs, except when the characters dictate it. He firmly believes that if you show one side, then you should show the other side as well.

Asked about the status of several teams, Quesada said we would see Young Avengers sooner rather than later, Loners is in the works and New Warriors is possible with a strong hint to wait for future announcements.

Ending with the Hulk family of books, Quesada said he is happy with the way they’ve developed the Hulk extended cast and that will play into future plans for the books. Also, no plans for a return of Mr. Fixit.

“7 PSYCHOPATHS is probably the most difficult story I’ve ever drawn,” said 7 PSYCHOPATHS artist Sean Phillips. “Nine or ten panel pages, having to find reference for everything I had to draw, drawing a type of story I’d never tackled before, it was hard work. Many times I wondered if it was worth the effort. Then I started to receive jpegs of Hubert’s coloured pages, and it was definitely worth it. He’s made it look like a book drawn by someone who knew what he was doing! It seemed as if I could do Fabien’s great story justice after all.”7 PSYCHOPATHS #1 hits shelves in May, is written by Fabien Vehlmann and features cover and interior art by Sean Phillips. Cover price for 7 PSYCHOPATHS #1 is $3.99.

“My little creator owned book is making the move to the biggest creator owned comic company!” exclaimed Hack/Slash creator Tim Seeley. “The move is sanctioned by Devil’s Due Publishing, and Josh Blaylock has been helping me with the transition. June will see the release of the first issue of HACK/SLASH: MY FIRST MANIAC, which is set in Cassie’s past and is the perfect tale for new readers as well as those who’ve been following the book for several years. And, best of all, my crack creative team of artist Dan Leister, colorist Mark Englert, editor Jim Lowder and letterer Crank! are coming with me to Image-Land.”

Adds Image Publisher Eric Stephenson, “After working with Tim on LOADED BIBLE, we welcomed the chance to collaborate with him again. We are delighted that Tim decided to move HACK/SLASH to Image!”

At the end of every horror movie, one girl always survives. In HACK/SLASH, Cassie Hack not only survives, she turns the tables by hunting and destroying the slashers that would harm the innocent! Alongside the gentle giant known as Vlad, the two cut a bloody path through those who deserve to be put down…hard!

HACK/SLASH: MY FIRST MANIAC explores Cassie’s first case. 16-year-old Cassie Hack has just been forced to kill her mother, the undead murderer known as the Lunch Lady. Now faced with overwhelming guilt, she must decide if she can make a life with her foster parents or use her new-found slasher killing skills to save other screaming teenagers. But does the apple fall far from the tree? A perfect jumping-on point for new readers and a previously untold tale for old fans!

HACK/SLASH: MY FIRST MANIAC #1, a 32-page full color comic book for $3.50, will be in stores June 9, 2010. Also available on June 9 are HACK/SLASH OMNIBUS VOL. 1 (new printing) and HACK/SLASH, VOL. 3: FRIDAY THE 31ST (new printing).

Here’s the synopsis for Splice: Superstar genetic engineers Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) specialize in splicing together DNA from different animals to create incredible new hybrids. Now they want to use human DNA in a hybrid that could revolutionize science and medicine. But when the pharmaceutical company that funds their research forbids it, Clive and Elsa secretly conduct their own experiments. The result is Dren, an amazing, strangely beautiful creature of uncommon intelligence and an array of unexpected physical developments. And though, at first, Dren exceeds their wildest dreams, she begins to grow and learn at an accelerated rate—and threatens to become their worst nightmare.

Joel Silver, Chairman of Dark Castle Entertainment, said, “Vincenzo has made a thought-provoking thriller that combines horror, science fiction and moments of dark humor in a fascinating exploration of one of today’s most controversial topics. ‘Splice’ is like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”

If you need any further convincing, Guillermo del Toro is one of the executive producers and stamps this as a film presented by him. If del Toro feels that strongly about Splice I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it is both a very interesting film and wholly original. The summer movie season is already starting to get crowded, but I think you should make room for Splice in your “must-see in the theater” viewing schedule.

Already the talk of the Internet, Sharktopus is about a research scientist (Roberts) and his talented daughter who develop a secret military weapon – a hybrid shark/octopus that can be controlled by electrical implants. But when the controls break down, the monster goes on a killing rampage at the resort beaches of Mexico.

Eric Roberts received Golden Globe nominations for his starring roles in King of the Gypsies (1978) and Star 80 (1983). He was nominated for the 1985 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the escaped convict Buck in the film Runaway Train. In 1987, he won the Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut performance in Burn This. Roberts’s other starring roles included Raggedy Man, The Pope of Greenwich Village, Nobody’s Fool, Final Analysis and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. He appeared in The Dark Knight as Sal Maroni, a Gotham City Mafia boss who hires The Joker (Heath Ledger) to kill Batman (Christian Bale).

Roger Corman, who just received an Honorary 2010 Oscar, is the legendary director and producer of numerous low-budget cult classics, among them It Conquered the World, Teenage Doll, The Little Shop of Horrors, House of Usher, Pit and the Pendulum, Premature Burial, The Raven, The Masque of the Red Death, The Wild Angels and The Trip.
Corman is also credited with opening the door to a number of young filmmakers including Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Jonathan Demme and Ron Howard.

Sharktopus is produced by Roger Corman and Julie Corman, and directed by Declan O’Brien (Wrong Turn 3, Cyclops, Monster Ark, Rock Monster).