All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #1 (of 12)
Eric J. Moreels et al (w), Keu Cha (cover)
64 pp.

For thousands of years Ares, God of War, has been the most violent and
brutally efficient destructive force in the arsenal of Zeus, father of
the Greek gods -- but now he has turned his back on killing and started
a new life on Earth to pursue the simple mortal goal of raising his son.
When Olympus comes under attack, how far will Zeus go to bring back the
services of his mightiest warrior? The Pantheon makes a long-overdue
return to the Marvel Universe in the opening chapter of a gritty
five-part series from writer Michael Avon Oeming (Thor: Blood Oath, Beta
Ray Bill) and artist Travel Foreman (Doctor Spectrum).

With the second year of Joss Whedon and John Cassaday's Astonishing
X-Men just around the corner, relive the highlights of the first volume
in a special one-shot featuring a new cover by Cassaday.

While the destinies of most people are defined from the beginning, there
are a few who could swing towards either light or darkness --
particularly if pushed. Mob hitman Quint has by the nature of his
profession always leaned towards the dark, but when confronted by a
target he failed to kill he finds himself at a crossroads. More pieces
of the puzzle are revealed in the ongoing modern fantasy series from
star writer J. Michael Straczynski (Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four,
Supreme Power) and artist Colleen Doran (A Distant Soil, Orbiter).

In the conclusion of 'The Murdock Papers' the dream team of writer Brian
Michael Bendis (New Avengers, Ultimate Spider-Man, Powers) and artist
Alex Maleev end their Eisner-winning run on Daredevil with one last
shocking upheaval in the life of the Man Without Fear.

Brought together to combat weapons of mass destruction by the Highest
Anti-Terrorism Effort (HATE), the Nextwave team of forgotten heroes --
Monica Rambeau (AKA Photon), Machine Man, Meltdown, Elisa Bloodstone and
the Captain -- are decidedly unhappy when they discover HATE and its
financial backer the Beyond Corporation are in fact supporters of
superhuman terrorism themselves. Explosions are promised as Warren Ellis
and his Ultimate Fantastic Four collaborator Stuart Immonen don't hold
anything back in one of the most anticipated new series of the year.

Introducing the new creative team of hot writer Robert Kirkman (Walking
Dead, Invincible) and veteran X-Men artist Tom Raney (Ultimate Secret,
Ultimate X-Men Annual). Still recovering from their latest encounter
with Magneto, the X-Men hit the streets for a night on the town -- but
mysterious new character the Magician may have other plans for them.

Batman's conscription of orphaned Dick Grayson into his war on crime has
attracted the attention of both Black Canary and an unexpected visitor
from Metropolis. Continuing the adventurous revamp of the Dynamic Duo
from legendary Batman writer Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns,
Batman: Year One, Sin City) and superstar artist Jim Lee (Batman: Hush,
Superman, X-Men).

The return of Batman's newest deadly enemy raises yet more questions
about his true identity and motivations. Collecting Batman: Gotham
Knights #50-55 and #66.

The Shadowpact continue to oppose the Spectre, with some help from
Captain Marvel, the Phantom Stranger and others, in an extra-sized
Infinite Crisis tie-in special from Day of Vengeance and Fables writer
Bill Willingham.

Spearheading the 'British Invasion' of American comics during the 1980s
and early 90s, Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, Watchmen, From Hell,
Promethea) is one of the most acclaimed and influential writers in
comics history. This complete collection of his DC Universe stories
includes: the dark Batman: The Killing Joke, featuring rare interior
artwork by Brian Bolland; 'Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?',
almost universally regarded as one of the best Superman stories ever;
plus tales featuring the Green Lantern Corps, Vigilante, Omega Men and
more.

MI6 agent-turned-private eye Michael Jones' investigation into the theft
of some very rare and exotic pornography takes him far deeper than he
wishes to go into a web of unsolved murders and dysfunctional family
rivalry.

The enduring ElfQuest fantasy saga continues in a new bimonthly limited
series, as Sunbeam makes contact with a underwater tribe that fears all
life on the surface.

For Henry James, the new kid at Bug-Bee-Gone Co., his job as a pest
exterminator is a fresh start and way to move on from the darkness in
his past. While the veteran exterminators try to convince him that
humans live in the world of bugs, not the other way around, there is far
more going on with cockroaches and creepy-crawlies than even they
realise. A darkly comic new ongoing series from emerging writer Simon
Oliver and Eisner-nominated artist Tony Moore (Walking Dead).

Award-winning crime novelist Denise Mina debuts on DC Vertigo's
longest-running title. Streetsmart sorcerer John Constantine responds to
a call from help from Chris Cole, an average guy who has found himself
in some magic-related trouble -- but when Constantine learns an infamous
Scottish occultist is involved, he realises both Cole and himself are in
far deeper than they thought.

The revelations keep coming as the Crisis continues to escalate, and
Batman forces a confrontation with his wayward disciple Nightwing.
Featuring guest appearances aplenty and guest pencils from original
Crisis on Infinite Earths artist George Perez.

In the stunning sequel to Identity Crisis, the JLA decides to reveal to
Batman how far they went in manipulating his mind -- but when the Secret
Society of Super-Villains attack, their own memories restored, the
Martian Manhunter alone confronts the alien dictator pulling the
strings. Identity Crisis may have rocked the Justice League to its core,
but this story may tear it apart permanently. From writers Geoff Johns
(Infinite Crisis, Teen Titans, Flash) and Allan Heinberg (Young
Avengers, The OC) and artist Chris Batista, with covers by Identity
Crisis artist Rags Morales. Collecting JLA #115-119.

Forces in Hell and on Earth prepare for a final battle for supremacy
across space and time, as the hit series from writer Mike Carey
(Hellblazer) continues. Collecting Lucifer #55-61.

The acclaimed Planetary enters its final act as the inscrutable Elijah
Snow finally reveals his secret solo agenda, and secrets that go even
deeper than the rest of the Planetary team could ever imagine. From
Transmetropolitan and Ultimate Fantastic Four writer Warren Ellis and
Astonishing X-Men artist John Cassaday.

Acclaimed writer Grant Morrison (All Star Superman, The Invisibles, We3)
joins a host of hot artists in the opening chapter of the epic 30-part
Seven Soldiers event. As some of the forgotten characters of the DC
Universe are redefined in standalone stories, their adventures
intricately intertwine as they work together -- without ever meeting --
to save Earth from an apocalyptic alien threat. Collecting Seven
Soldiers of Victory #0, Shining Knight #1-2, The Guardian #1-2, Zatanna
#1-2 and Klarion the Witch Boy #1.

Veteran writer-artist Joe Kubert returns to DC's iconic war hero in a
new six-issue miniseries. It's 1943, and deep within Nazi-occupied
Lithuania is a hidden treasure that could decide the outcome of the
Second World War. Sergeant Rock and the combat-happy soldiers of Easy
Company are dispatched to capture the delicate prize, but will they be
able to complete the mission when they discover the shocking nature of
the target?

After 500 years of searching Marco Esperanza's quest for revenge ends
when he confronts Lester Blackthroat, the man he blames for his undead
fate -- but has Esperanza been chasing the wrong man all this time?
(For mature readers.)

Kicking off a year-long series adapting the US Showtime network's
Masters of Horror event, a series of thirteen one-hour horror films from
legends of horror cinema including George Romero, John Carpenter, Dario
Argento and more.

Collecting all four of the first wave of Apparat one-shots, inspired by
the pulp comics of the 1930s, plus ten pages of essays and bonus
material detailing their inspiration and creative process.

Optic Nerve #10
Adrian Tomine (w/a)
32 pp., B&W
Published by Drawn & Quarterly