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Below are the titles we have hand-picked for you to watch out for in February 2007: Return to the Upcoming Front Page Here |
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From
DC Comics: |
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Batman #663 Not even a gunshot to face can keep the Joker down, as the psychopathic Clown Prince of Crime returns to Gotham looking for revenge on the Dark Knight. John van Fleet (Batman/Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows) guest illustrates the continuation of Grant Morrison's acclaimed run on Batman.
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The Brave and the Bold #1 The classic Silver Age team-up series returns from the all-star pairing of writer Mark Waid (Kingdom Come, Fantastic Four, Superman: Birthright) and artist George Perez (Crisis on Infinite Earths, Avengers, New Teen Titans). In the debut issue Batman and Hal Jordan travel to Ventura, the gambling planet, on the trail of what could be the most powerful weapon in the universe. |
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The Flash #9 In the debut arc of new writer Marc Guggenheim (Wolverine, Blade) Bart Allen has come to accept the mantle of the Flash, but now faces a fresh quandry: does his team allegiance lie with the Justice League of America or the Teen Titans?
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Firestorm #33 Writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League Unlimited, Fantastic Four) and artist Dan Jurgens (Supreme Power: Hyperion, Sensational Spider-Man) join Firestorm for the closing arc of the series, as Jason Rusch and Professor Stein's attempts to resume living their former lives are complicated by Mister Miracle and the New Gods of Apokolips. |
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Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil #1 (of 4) In the eagerly awaited four-part Shazam series from Jeff Smith, creator of the massively acclaimed Bone, young orphan Billy Batson stumbles upon the lair of an ancient wizard and finds himself gifted with truly magical powers of flight, lightning speed, super-strength and more -- just in time for the world to come under attack from aliens and otherworldly monsters.
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Hellblazer #229 Veteran Hellblazer writer Mike Carey (Ultimate Fantastic Four, X-Men) returns to the series one more time for a special self-contained story illustrated by John Paul Leon (Earth X, Captain America). When John Constantine stumbles into the middle of a fiery row between twin sisters, he unexpectedly finds himself on a frantic treasure hunt for mystical artifacts required to both resolve the argument and ward off a dark presence stalking him through the streets of London. |
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Catwoman: The Replacements TP A new vigilante slips into the Catwoman suit to keep the peace in Gotham's troubled East End, but what will be the consequences of Selina Kyle's decision to step away from her costumed identity? Collecting Catwoman #53-8 from the new creative team of writer Will Pfeifer (Blood of the Demon, Aquaman) and artist David Lopez (Fallen Angel), with covers by Adam Hughes.
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Checkmate volume 1: A King's Game TP In the aftermath of the OMAC Project crisis and the rogue activities of former leader Maxwell Lord, the UN has reformed international super-spy organisation Checkmate with a new leadership and revised mandate to police world metahuman activity and combat threats to global security -- but will a secret Chinese super-soldier program derail the new initiative before it gets off the ground? Espionage and intrigue return to the DCU in the acclaimed new series from the OMAC Project team of writer Greg Rucka (Wonder Woman, Gotham Central, Queen and Country) and artist Jesus Saiz. Collecting Checkmate #1-7.
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The American Way TP In the early post-war 1940s the US government formed the Civil Defense Corps, a superhero team tasked with protecting America from raygun-wielding aliens, subterranean monsters, mad scientists and the overshadowing spectre of communism -- but with traditional values and social conventions under fire from the civil rights movement and the new generation and new ideas of the swinging 1960s what shocking secret will be revealed about the Corps' activities away from the TV cameras, and will America's first black superhero turn the nation's superhuman protectors into its greatest threat? Collecting the acclaimed eight-part superhero deconstruction limited series from writer John Ridley (Authority: Human on the Inside, Three Kings) and artist Georges Jeanty. |
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Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere TP The acclaimed BBC television series and bestselling novel by modern fantasy luminary Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Eternals, 1602) comes to comics in a nine-part adaptation by writer Mike Carey (Hellblazer, X-Men) featuring rare interior art from Glenn Fabry (Preacher covers). For unassuming London office worker Richard Mayhew a simple act of kindness in stopping to help a young woman in distress draws him into a ruthless underground conflict between a pair of sadistic assassins, the cat-like Marquis de Carabas, the Angel of Islington and other strange denizens of the parallel world of London Below.
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From Marvel Comics: |
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Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #1 (of 7) From the mind of bestselling author Stephen King comes an all-new chapter in his blockbuster modern fantasy series the Dark Tower, finally revealing the origins of the enigmatic Roland the Gunslinger and his quest to reach the Dark Tower and the secrets contained within, scripted for comics by fan-favourite writer Peter David (X-Factor, Fallen Angel, Hulk) and Dark Tower scholar Robin Furth and brought to life by the stunningly detailed illustration of Eisner-winning artist Jae Lee (Inhumans, The Sentry, Hellshock) and digital painter Richard Isanove. The double-sized advertisement-free debut issue features a 31-page main story, a map of the realm of New Canaan, an exclusive prose story with spot illustrations, a sneak preview of issue #2 and more.
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Amazing Spider-Man #539 With his life already in turmoil in the aftermath of Civil War, the worst is yet to come for Spider-Man as one more shocking event will send him back to the black costume and into one of the darkest periods of his troubled superhero life.
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Civil War: The Initiative one-shot The future of the Marvel universe begins here as fan-favourite writers Brian Michael Bendis and Warren Ellis join X-Men legend Marc Silvestri in a giant-sized special issue centered on the post-Civil War fallout on the New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Thunderbolts, Iron Man, Omega Flight and more.
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New Excalibur #16 & 17 When one of the New Excalibur team suffers a devastating personal tragedy, their colleagues must rally in support just as their own lives and the future of the group are thrown into chaos. Veteran X-Men writer Chris Claremont returns to New Excalibur, joined by new ongoing artist Scot Eaton (Black Panther, Spectacular Spider-Man), for a deeply personal two-part story.
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X-Factor #16 James Maddocks is a happy and successful man, secure in his love for his family and his Christian faith -- until one day he opens the door to a mysterious stranger and learns he is merely a runaway duplicate spawned by mutant private eye Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man. How far will James go to save himself, and can Madrox end the life of an innocent man to restore his powers?
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Punisher Presents: Barracuda #1 (of 5) The Punisher's latest foe is back, more or less in one piece, on a solo mission playing bodyguard for the son of a mob boss with many enemies -- all of whom are looking to take a shot at Junior in payback for his dad's many indiscretions and doublecrosses. A five-part Punisher MAX spinoff from writer Garth Ennis and artist Goran Parlov. (For mature readers.)
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Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson Omnibus HC Frank Miller and Klaus Janson's 1981 visionary reinvention of Daredevil transformed a failing superhero series into a gritty neo-noir hit, pushing the envelope of writing and visual technique in mainstream comics and catapulting Miller to superstar status ahead of his magnum opus Sin City. Now, one of the most acclaimed and influential runs in modern comics history, featuring the introduction of Elektra, Stick and the Hand, is presented in one giant deluxe oversized hardcover volume collecting Daredevil #158-161 & 163-191 and What If? #28.
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Annihilation Book 1 HC A colossal destructive energy force punctures the fabric of the universe and sweeps through multiple galaxies destroying millions of worlds including Xandar, home planet and base of intergalactic peacekeepers the Nova Corps. With the Corps gone it's up to the last remaining member, Richard Rider of Earth, to stop the Annihilation Wave and the deadly enemy who unleashed it -- with the help of unlikely ally Drax the Destroyer. The first in a series of oversize deluxe hardcovers compiling Marvel's cosmic crossover event of 2006, collecting Drax the Destroyer #1-4, Annihilation Prologue and Nova #1-4.
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Beyond! HC A cosmic being of incalculable power gathers together a mismatched assortment of nine Marvel heroes and villains for a final hand-to-hand showdown on the remote planet of Battleworld. Who will live? Who will die? Is it in continuity? Find out in a loving tribute to Marvel's pioneering Secret Wars crossover from writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League Unlimited, Fantastic Four) and artist Scott Kolins (The Flash).
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Civil War: Road to Civil War TP Brian Michael Bendis, J Michael Straczynski (w), Alex Maleev, Ron Garney, Mike McKone, Tyler Kirkham (a), Gabriele Dell'Otto (cover) 160 pp. Go back the the seeds of the conflict in three prequel stories setting the stage for Civil War. In New Avengers: The Illuminati special from the Eisner-winning Daredevil team of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev uncover the hidden origin of Marvel's most secret super-team and the issue that tears them asunder; in Amazing Spider-Man #529-31 Peter Parker goes to Washington with new boss and mentor Tony Stark to address a government committee proposing a Superhuman Registration Act; and in Fantastic Four #536-7 the First Family of Marvel is called to the investigate the earthly arrival of a mystical object that could signify the return of a long-lost hero. |
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Madman Gargantua HC Ahead of a new ongoing series launching April comes a massive 852-page limited edition hardcover collecting every Madman story ever, plus a generous helping of bonus materials and surprises, in the definitive presentation of the surreal pop art vision of acclaimed writer-artist Mike Allred (X-Statix).
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Emissary volume 1: Revelations TP Messiah or Anti-Christ? Protector of Earth or alien invader? When a mysterious superpowered entity identifying itself as the Emissary appears in the skies over New York City, how will the public and governments the world over react to the arrival of what could be the saviour of humanity or its destroyer? Collecting The Emissary #1-4 plus bonus material from writers JR Rand and Christopher Long and artist Juan Ferreyra (Rex Mundi, Small Gods).
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The Agency TP In a dystopian future in which an increasingly ineffective police has stepped aside to allow private corporate security forces to do the dirty work of law enforcement, join the cybernetically enhanced operatives of the Agency as they hunt for a sadistic serial killer. The action-packed and darkly humorous forgotten classic from writer Paul Jenkins (Civil War: Front Line, Spectacular Spider-Man) and Kyle Hotz (Criminal Macabre) is finally available in a deluxe collected edition including the six-part limited series plus a brand new selection of sketches, layouts and other extras.
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From
Dark Horse Comics: |
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City of Others #1 (of 4) Two masters of classic and contemporary horror comics come together in an eagerly anticipated four-part series from prolific writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night, Cal McDonald) and massively influential illustrator Bernie Wrightson. Stosh 'Blud' Bludowski is a natural born killer, emerging into the world without the capacity to feel or empathise with any emotion other than pure bloodthirsty rage. Killing is Blud's job, and he's the best in the business -- until one day he encounters two hits that refuse to die, and awakens to the shocking possibility that he may not be human after all.
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The Secret #1 (of 4) Tommy Morris has scored big time, landing an exclusive invitation to the hottest party of the year and the tantalisting prospect of hooking up with the girl of his dreams -- but when an innocent prank call goes very wrong, Tommy finds himself drawn into the dark secrets of Franklin High's social elite. The opening chapter of a terrifying coming-of-age horror mystery crafted by Dark Horse founder Mike Richardson and with lush painted visuals from Eisner-nominated artist Jason Alexander (The Escapists, Damn Nation).
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From the smaller publishers: |
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The Secret History Book One (of 7) Four brothers and sisters, cosmic archons of immense power, are locked in an epic conflict through time and space to control the destiny and development of Western civilisation. From Moses' challenge in the desert to the Great Fire of London to the trenches of the first World War, the secret history of the world unfolds in the first of seven prestige format issues from writer Jean-Pierre Pecau and artists Igor Kordey (New X-Men), Leo Pilipovic and Goran Sudzuka (Y the Last Man, Outlaw Nation).
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Transformers Movie Prequel #1 (of 4) Prepare for the eagerly anticipated Transformers live-action film with the opening chapter of a four-part prequel series from the fan-favourite pairing of writer Simon Furman and artist Don Figueroa, with IDW editor in chief Chris Ryall, as the Autobots and Decepticon travel from Cybertron and bring their war to our world. |
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Manga Shakespeare GNs: Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet Two of the Bard's greatest tragedies are reinvented for a new audience in the popular manga style, as the melancholy Dane Prince Hamlet worries about the responsibilities of state following the suspicious death of his father and starcrossed lovers Romeo and Juliet defy the age-old feud between their respective great families and sacrifice everything they have to be together forever. |
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Simpsons Comics volume 15: Beach Blanket Bongo TP In the latest collection of original Simpsons comics stories Homer, Lenny and Carl take early retirement to a tropical island that isn't all it seems, an auction of rare comic book, cult movie and Radioactive Man memorabilia brings the nerds of Springfield out in droves, Krusty the Clown becomes a doctor, Principal Skinner uncovers more shocking tales of the Permanent Record File, and much more. |
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Misery Loves Comedy GN The first giant collected edition of the works of Ivan Brunetti, modern master of bad taste comics, compiles the first three issues of infamous underground comic Schizo plus various anthology work and miscellanea from 1992-2005. (Definitely for mature readers.) |
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Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide volume 37 HC & SC The comic book industry's bible since the 1970s, the latest edition of the Overstreet Guide provides the most complete listing of comics and associated prices from the 1500s to the present, along with articles on the development of Captain America and Daredevil and other supplementary material. |
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Abadazad Book 3: The Puppet, the Professor and the Prophet HC More determined than ever to find her missing brother, Kate and her companions journey to the Wretched Awful City only to come across the fierce Mr Gloom and become entangled in a trap in the puppet village. Continuing the massively acclaimed all-ages fantasy series from prolific writer JM DeMatteis (Hero Squared, Justice League International, Amazing Spider-Man) and veteran illustrator Mike Ploog.
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The Templar Chronicles: The Heretic #1 (of 6) Chuck Satterlee (w), Loren Meyer (a) Adapted from the bestselling first novel of the Templar Chronicles series from award-winning science fiction writer Joe Nassise, The Heretic is centred on a modern order of Knights Templar working in secret for the Vatican to protect humanity from the supernatural, and an ancient army resurrected into undead service in pursuit of a lost mystical relic. |
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From the Manga range: |
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Vampire Hunter D Vol 7: Demon Journey to the North Sea, Part One When a beautiful, mortally-wounded woman makes her last request to D, despite the perils involved, he finds that he can't refuse. She gives him a strange, priceless gem, and asks him to deliver it to her sister, who lives in a far-off North Sea fishing village. His journey is made all the more perilous by a series of rogues hired by the woman's murderer, all who'll stop at nothing to claim the gem. Will they catch D? Or will he be able to fill the woman's last wish? |
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Works Works is a compilation of short stories about women in love. From school-girl crushes to office romance, these stories will speak to anyone who has ever been in love, or been loved. |
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Negima Vol 13 In this issue of the hugely-popular series Negima, boy wizard Negi finds himself facing his greatest challenges yet! Not only does he have to struggle with the fierce tournament competition, but also, his long lost father returns! What will happen? Find out in Negima Volume 13!
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Suzuka Vol 3 In the tradition of popular manga title Love Hina, Suzuka follows the story of a young country boy, Yamato, who jumps at the chance to go to high school in Tokyo... only to find out he's staying in an all-girls boarding house! When Yamato falls for his next door neighbour, Suzuka, all sorts of trials await him... and the only way to find out what happens next is to read it for yourself! |
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Kedamono Damono Vol 1 Kedamono Damono isn't just your typical shojo romance... it's got its own special twist in the form of Haruki, overseer of the boys' basketball team. His junior, Konatsu, manages the team, and at first thinks that Haruki's just a big jerk. But as time goes on, she starts to confide in him, and their friendship grows, bringing them closer. But there's a big problem... Haruki may be a boy by day, but at night, he's a real pervy girl! |
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My-HiME Vol 2 Based on the hugely-popular anime, My-HiME tells the story of Yuuichi Tate, a so-called average schoolboy who turns out to be a "Key" for the powers of two HiMEs! In this volume, a battle between Mai and Nao reveals the truth behind the attack on Yuuichi's "little sister" Shiho, while the Key himself learns more about his hidden power. To complicate matters further, a HiME battle is announced, and Mikoto is used as bait to ensure Mai's participation! And the consquence of losing? Nothing less than being forced to leave Fuuka Academy! |
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LOVE MODE Vol 5 |
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Naruto Vol 13 The final battle of the Chuunin Exam is at hand! Sasuke manages to make it to the arena in time to compete, but the anticipation of the battle has only whetted Gaara's bloodlust and strained his already fragile sanity. Can Gaara pull himself together in time to face Sasuke's new-found strength? Or will the demon inside him gain complete control and wreak havoc on Konohagakure? |
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Death Note Vol 10 The new L is now suspected of being Kira, and Near is using that suspicion to sow doubt into the hearts of the taskforce members. Facing trouble once again, Light is forced to pass the Death Note onto another to take the heat off himself. But this time, he chooses a disciple from among his true believers... |
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Fullmetal Alchemist Vol 12 When the Elric brothers and Prince Lin set a trap for the homunculus Gluttony, the hunter becomes the hunted! And on another front, state politics are shaken up when a horrifying truth about Fuhrer President King Bradley is revealed... and Colonel Ray Mustang is right there to capitalise on the situation!
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