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Hitting Shelves Today - 6/5

It's time for a third and final round of Kick-Ass!

Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl’s blockbuster return for the LAST EVER story arc of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr’s mega-selling series. Hit-Girl’s in jail, leaving Kick-Ass to lead the superhero team of Justice Forever. Their first mission: Bust Hit-Girl out of the clink. But superheroes have now been outlawed, leaving Kick-Ass to dodge both cops AND criminals. For the first time since donning the costume, Kick-Ass is beginning to have his doubts. Is he now in too deep to get out? The phenomenal follow-up to the Kick-Ass 2 movie coming this June. Issue #1 features six different covers by the industry’s biggest artists, all available for order. Each cover will feature a different character, and when all six covers are linked, a special message will be revealed.

To see that secret message, as well as a preview, click here.

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Astro City is back! It looks like an odd mix of genres and styles, but that's kinda what I like about it:

ASTRO CITY is back in a new, ongoing monthly series that showcases old heroes and new, as The Ambassador comes to Earth, and an ordinary man is caught up in a cosmic conflict! Featuring the return of favorites like Samaritan and Honor Guard, and the debut of some new sensations! Plus, the seeds of a new mystery: Who is the Broken Man? The entire award-winning creative team is back to kick off a new epoch of the human and the super human. Get in on the ground floor of Astro City’s next epic!

Here's a preview.

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The book I'm most excited about this week is Ten Grand #2. The first issue was one of my favorite reads of the year (and lucky for you, Image is also releasing a 2nd printing of #1 today as well so you can catch up!).

"ANGELS NEVER LIE" - FDA (Federal Demon Association) Advisory. Contents contain: one cult church where incantations are encoded into the playlist; one flesh-dwelling, food-obsessed demon; one seer capable of perceiving the spirit world but blinded to this one; one missing woman; one murder; one angel with an agenda of his own; and one rendezvous between supernatural investigator Joe Fitzgerald and the woman he loves, now deceased, in what may or may not be heaven. Warning: do not operate heavy equipment while reading.

Here's a preview.

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Here's a list of what's dropping today and how much it will set you back:

This is awesome - good on you, DC!

Sweet Jebus, isn't it the 14th yet!?!?

Spider-Man vs. Captain America vs. another Spider-Man...but in real life

Here's a news report about people who dress up like superheroes to extort tourists and how they are now getting into territorial fist-fights. Much like the real Captain America and Spider-Man would do...?

I think the best thing about this video is how little effort these "heroes" put into making themselves look like their comic book inspirations. And that heavy Spanish accent on Captain America? A dead give-away that you might not be talking to the real Steve Rogers.

Cruella DeVil to lead the Nova Corps?

Deadline.com reports that Glen Close has just been cast "playing a leadership role in Nova Corp, the intergalactic space patrol" in the upcoming Gaurdians of the Galaxy movie. The blurb goes on to assume the role will be the Corps' version of Nick Fury. But I'm guessing that won't be the case. In fact, if they play this right, I'm guessing we won't even see much of Close's face - she'll instead be the "voice inside the helmet", the Xandarian Worldmind. Which would make me very happy.

Hitting Shelves Today - 5/29

If you like women AND you like mutants - wow, today is your day thanks to X-Men #1:

Because you demanded it! The X-Women finally get their own book, from critically acclaimed superstars Brian Wood (X-MEN, ULTIMATE X-MEN, DMZ, The Massive) and Olivier Coipel (AVX, HOUSE OF M, THOR)! An old enemy shows up at the X-Men’s door, seeking asylum from an ancient evil come back to earth. Meanwhile, Jubilee has come home, and she’s brought with her an orphaned baby who might hold the key to the earth’s survival…or its destruction. Against a backdrop of what seems like an alien invasion and an eons-spanning war between brother and sister, Storm steps up and puts together a team to protect the child and stop a new threat that could destroy all life on earth!

Does it seem wrong to call this book "X-men"? Would it be somehow derogatory to call it "X-women"? I don't get it. Here's a preview.

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The once-controversial Adventures of Superman #1 finally hits stands - with 100% less hate thanks to the departure of Orson Scott Card. It seems the noted homophobe lost his creative team when compassionate readers protested Card's involvement with the book.

Don’t miss the debut of this all-new series starring The Man of Steel, written and illustrated by some of comics’ finest talents!

Witness Superman’s first encounter with the work of Lex Luthor, brought to you by Jeff Parker (Hulk) and Chris Samnee (Daredevil)! Also, Bizarro has his worst (best?) day ever, penned by Justin Jordan with art by fan-favorite Riley Rossmo! Plus, from the mind of Jeff Lemire comes Superman vs. Brainiac! Or is it Luthor? Or Zod?? Find out in this month's issue!

Will Card's story ever see print? Let's hope not for the sake of DC's PR team!

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Why does Image Comic's Morning Glories #27 come with a zillion varient covers? The solicitation answers:

The double-sized Season 2 premiere! With an astonishing array of covers by some of the hottest artists working today: JENNY FRISON, ROB GUILLORY, SHAWN MARTINBROUGH, JAMIE McKELVIE, EMMA RIOS and MORNING GLORIES' own JOE EISMA!

Here's a preview and a look at all the covers.

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Here's a list of what's dropping today and how much it will set you back:

Auntie, don't you f-ing touch my comics!

Family members should not be touching my comic books without permission. Because when family members start touching your comics, bad things can happen. Take this for instance:

It's considered the Holy Grail of comic books: Action Comics No. 1 from 1938, featuring the debut of Superman. And David Gonzales found one mixed in with old newspapers insulating a wall in a house he was renovating in a small town in Minnesota.

Gonzalez did some research that confirmed the comic was valuable, though not as much as it could have been. He got into a heated discussion with a relative about its value, and the back cover got ripped.

Yes, you read that right. Turns out his wife's aunt tried to snatch it from him and ripped the book.

But don't feel too bad for the guy. The ripped book is only graded 1.5, but it's still already going for well over $100,000. Maybe it's time for me to change professions. It can't be that hard to tear down walls, right?

Calling in sick

Stupid cold! But I leave you with an image that makes me forget about my sore throat for a while - Skottie Young's variant cover of X-Men #1 - hitting shevles next week:

Have a good 3-day weekend, U.S. folks - see you all back here Tuesday.

Shots from Big Wow Comicfest

Better late than never! Below are a few shots from last weekend's Big Wow Comicfest in San Jose, CA. It was MUCH more crowded this year than last - so kudos to their marketing team for really getting the word out. Looking forward to next year's show! (WonderCon? Who needs that?)

 

Hitting Shelves Today - 5/22

Image Comics gives us The Bounce #1:

Meet the ultimate slacker superhero for the 21st Century! Jasper Jenkins is a super-head AND a super-hero! He’s relatable AND reliable and he’s embarking on the adventure of a lifetime! The sensational debut of the new feel-good hero of the decade! You can’t afford to miss it!

The preview features our hero hitting a giant bong - how bad can it be?

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DC introduces us to the Green Team today:

INVENTORS! EXPLORERS! ADVENTURERS! Do you need money to finance an important project? Then you should set up a meeting with THE GREEN TEAM!

• Nature of world-changing idea: _____

• Amount requested: _____

• Does your project have the potential to:

Fracture space-time? __

Replace the combustion engine? __

Attract extraterrestrial attention? __

Prove/disprove existence of deities? __

Piss off The Justice League? __

Render the human body obsolete? __

If any of the above are checked, please fill out liability release form GT2013-05. Send any 82 drawings, plans, models, or photos with request.

If you're confused, this preview might help sort things out.

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If you ever thought that Red Riding Hood would be a better story if it took place in Japan, run, don't walk, to get your copy of Akaneiro #1:

From the brilliant imagination of video game auteur American McGee comes a dazzling reenvisioning of Red Riding Hood set in the wondrous world of Japanese folklore! Justin Aclin and Vasilis Lolos take Kani a young woman torn between two cultures on an epic adventure battling devious yokai for the fate of her world!

Here's a preview.

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Here's a list of what's dropping today and how much it will set you back: