Emo Nemo

Mily

Yourneighbor

Sarah

Shaidrian Rios

Jimmy Beans

miCCwatreSSop

Julie Wynne - videos

Kapuster

Nicky Tallon

Harini Sen

Vastralaya

I'd be irresponsibly remiss if I don't read and review other notable storylines from the Chris Claremont era of the seventies, eighties and nineties before jumping on other works found in the recent MARVEL NOW! line-up. I have made a compact schedule I'm adamant to follow through for 2015 and I want to accomplish reading most of Claremont's memorable stuff first, even though I may have to do do it sporadically with no coherent sense of chronological rhythm at times. But I already posted a disclaimer in 'About XMCG" that my readings and reviews of the X-Men comics line will be mentally challenging not just for myself but for anyone who is just as new to the series. My goal mainly is to select the stories I know have been proven to be unanimously well-praised or at least well-liked by the majority of long-time fans and critics. To recap, I selected the classic, recognizable ones first (The Dark Phoenix, Days of Future Past and God Loves, Man Kills) and then skipped ahead to the later ones in 2009-2011 which were arguably Claremont's least impressive body of work (X-Men Forever, Excalibur III). And that's only when I decided to come back to the oldies, starting with the short-lived nineties run X-Men and then further back to The Uncanny X-Men with a standalone like issue #200, The Trial of Magneto and stories such as Legion Quest and this one called The X-Tinction Agenda. In between I touched upon House of M which is probably my very first taste of the work of current X-Men writer Brian Michael Bendis; Greg Pak's Magneto Testament and (for tomorrow's review) Fabian Nicieza's Fatal Attractions arc. For posterity, I also reviewed the very first Stan Lee debut issue X-Men #1 from the sixties and Len Wein's resurrection piece, Giant-Size X-Men #1.AND HERE WE ARE.\
"If the mutants aren't free, then maybe what you've built [in Genosha] isn't worth saving."\
The X-Tinction Agenda was brought to my attention by a brief 21-minute documentary from YouTube about key storylines from the Claremont era whose events were considered vital even to this day because whatever happened in them has continued to play an important role in the subsequent stories after. This collected volume I've acquired, however, was longer than the actual one posted in Goodreads. This one has 322 pages because it also included four additional issues (#235-238) which effectively contextualized what will come to pass by the time the X-Tinction Agenda story arc hits. This arc ran for nine issues and were divided equally among three titles: Claremont's The Uncanny X-Men, and Louise Simonson's X-Factor and New Mutants run. The volume also provided a recap of what has happened to the X-Men so far which really helped me understand and position myself in the stories herein. Before we read issues #235-238, we have to first read the summary of the previous events that led up to them:I apologize if I just copypasta-d the paragraphs instead of summarizing the summary itself because it would kind of defeat the purpose. Now, unlike with other reviews, I opted not to discuss in detail each issue's content here because, frankly, that would be an exhausting venture for me (and I've been in a tight time table lately with IRL work stuff so I'm trying to write reviews with a manageable length). I also might give away a lot of critical plot points that will irrevocably spoil you, and I think this is a collection that is worthy of a pick-up, so let me just give you some encouraging words of recommendation and commentary instead.\
  The Uncanny X-Men #235-238\
The thing that readers who are interested in this particular storyline need to understand first is the general treatment and care that Chris Claremont has provided in his years of writing The Uncanny X-Men since the mid-seventies. Anyone who knows the history of Stan Lee's "strangest heroes of all" is familiar with the fact that the X-Men are supposed to represent the civil rights movement at the time they were created which was during the African-American liberation and civil rights. It was Claremont who decisively sealed this allegory once he started to write for the X-Men, going as far as writing a rather straightforward story about that chilling comparison in God Loves, Man Kills which I reviewed nearly two months ago. That being said, as you read his earlier and inarguably most enduring works, you will notice a pattern in his story arcs. Everything that he has done in his Uncanny run has been building up to this socio-political atmosphere rife with anti-mutant sentiment and blatant racial hatred that often make me personally uncomfortable at times. Nevertheless, it's what makes Claremont's X-Men stories so exciting, dramatic and naturally sympathetic; by contextualizing real-life struggles that people have witnessed themselves or grew up with back in that time period, Claremont was both socially aware and smart enough to create stories from those experiences which require him to explore certain aspects about the X-Men as characters in the context of the fact that in the Marvelverse, mutants are considered a minority group, heavily discriminated against and are oppressed and exploited by human opportunists for both profit and propaganda. These four issues (#235-238) resonate with this message, primarily focusing on the 'exploitation' side of the coin. The story opens significantly in Genosha, a fictional city where a great number of the mutant population reside as citizens alongside the humans whom they supposedly harmoniously co-exist with, as the media coverage and public relations for that place would have you believed. In reality, every mutant there is hunted down, processed and assigned with different manual labor positions to the tune of a very modernized style of capitalist slavery. Treated more as cattle or machines than actual dignified people with indispensible rights, the mutants are reduced into the functionality and purpose of their powers or abilities. A bonafide brilliant genetic engineer (or 'genegineer') would tamper and manipulate their DNA for multiple purposes, most notably for breeding and modification where certain cluster of mutants are allowed to have children depending on the type of mutant Genoshans require for whatever field they want. It's a dystopic nightmare come to life as portrayed in a superhero genre story, and Claremont as a writer truly excels in rendering such haunting pieces that aim to expose human beings' capacity for cruelty, lunacy, and brutality all for the sake of their ridiculous sense of entitlement in the context of how they respond and treat the mutants as a separate species from them. I enjoyed these issues because this is the first time I encountered the horrors and crimes of Genosha towards its mutant citizens, and the spectrum of hatred and apathy that it's steeped in. This story also placed Wolverine and Rogue as the central characters we follow in this adventure as they learn of the terrible ways their fellow mutant brothers and sisters are being held captive and abused by the humans.Of course, racial hate crimes wouldn't be complete without having a designated discriminatory word for the race/species you wish to subjugate and make suffer. There has been an ongoing hate word for mutants which is "mutie", much like the N-word of their time. But Claremont surpassed that moniker with the grueling "genejoke". This term now attacks the genetic distinction of mutants, an inflammatory mockery of both their individual and racial identity as a "joke", deeming it an unnatural phenomenon. And here I thought that the Harry Potter series' "Mudblood" term for non-magic borned witches and wizards was the most offensive hate word I've ever come across in fiction. "Genejoke" is so much worse, especially when it's used by armed men and women who would shout it at your face as they either torture or murder you.In the other collected edition, these four issues were not included and I recommend that you buy the one that does have them instead because, although they are not a part of the actual X-Tinction Agenda arc, these ones give you a clearer and more vivid idea of how anti-mutant sentiments affect, destroy and advocate certain human beings' disgusting oppressive propaganda in Genosha--and why they must be stopped once and for all.RECOMMENDED: 8/10\
  The Uncanny X-Men #270-272, New Mutants #95-97, X-Factor issues #60-62\
Personally, I enjoyed reading Claremont's contribution to this story arc the most, but Louise Simonson's issues from X-Factor and New Mutants are just as important but not as great as Claremont's. In addition, Jim Lee is once again illustrating Claremont's stories and I would maintain that he draws female X-Men characters the best of them all. The X-Tinction Agenda picks up many issues after #235-238, and here is the latest summary for that, once again industriously copypasta-d by me:This is, I believe, the height of all the criminal negligence and overall terrible assholery committed by the Genoshan humans that the X-Men, together with the X-Factor and New Mutants, will no longer put up with, and rightfully so--especially when this goddamn villain Cameron Hodge was discovered to be behind all of this, and then he also abducts and experiments on Ororo Munroe, my beloved Storm. Fuck that guy. There was nothing more satisfying than seeing him get obliterated into pieces once the last chapter closes. But before any of us would get to that heavenly readers, we had to endure the painful process of the continuing race war between the Genoshans and mutants as aided by the X-Men, and it's as depressing and enraging as one would expect. In spite of the shite our heroes are thrown head-first against, it also allowed for some of them to shine their brightest (like Cable, Beast, Angel, Havok, Wolfsbane and even Gambit). I also quite liked Storm's role in all of this even though it's rather insensitive to put an African superheroine in yet another degrading position where she is enslaved and brainwashed by a perceived powerful white man. It's...just gross, okay? But this does serve a purpose in the story and she does come out digfinied and stronger than ever in the end. Still, I was cringing in the scenes where she was programmed to attack her own friends and comrades while she is being pupetteered by Cameron Hodge WHO WILL NEVER STOP MAKING ME ANGRY. Ororo Munroe has always been a very important favorite; my love for her is only rivaled by Rogue and Jean Grey (my first and second faves respectively). I've always wanted to read more Storm-centric stories and I think the X-Tinction Agenda was about her in a manner of speaking. It explored her vulnerability but also invalidated that said vulnerability is a source of weakness. Villains and your average cunts and dickheads will take advantage of Storm, I suppose, but this self-fashioned weather goddess is a lot more powerful and deserving of our respect and fortitude than we actually give her. This story made a lot of use of her character--even if it's in the most unflattering way possible--but my love for Ororo Munroe has always been unfaltering anyway.Another commendable aspect of this story arc is the fact that we get to see the various X-teams work together and support one another in this brutal cavalry. Everyone feels important even if a select number of heroes do stand up more than others. As for the ending itself--well, the battle may have been won but a war is still imminent. The slavery and oppression in Genosha are just the tip of the iceberg in the ongoing fight among mutants and the humans who want them extinguished for good. We ended this story on that less than optimistic note, but as soon as the dust cleared, our heroes can at least claim their small, personal victories for themselves, knowing they have put the terrible crimes committed in Genosha in the spotlight so the rest of the world now knows what is truly going on there, and now everyone needs to make a decision of what they are fighting for or against.My only criticism for this story arc is that it does tend to get dull and redundant in some scenes and that some of the characterizations, and the flow of the narrative tend to contradict each other along the way but this can be overlooked and will not affect one's overall enjoyment of the story whatsoever as long as one is more emotionally invested on the characters themselves and their journey throughout all of this.RECOMMENDED: 7/10With thirteen exciting issues collected, the X-Tinction Agenda is a memorable piece that belongs to the strongest run of the Chris Claremont era. You should pick this one up and see for yourself if this type is the of X-Men story that will appeal to your sensibilities. OVERALL RATING: 8/10DO READ MY REVIEWS AT:

Inferno was X-Men story that ended up crossing over into entire line of Marvel comic books at the time. It made sense, Manhattan was the center of a demonic spell that turned the entire island into the realm of Limbo and almost all of Marvel's superheroes call New York city home. However,this reader opted to read only the core story in the X-Men and related titles which alone was already fifteen books plus two epilogues. This reader read all of the the chapters on Marvel Unlimited based on this handy guide from uncannyxmen.net.The core Inferno story was actually two arcs, with a Mr. Sinister battle shoehorned in. The first arc involved the younger mutant cast members of the New Mutants and X-Factor's wards, the X-Terminators. The story was about how the Inferno spell came to be cast and the fall of Limbo's former ruler, the New Mutant Magik. This story was all done by Louise Simonson who was the writer on New Mutants and on the X-Terminators miniseries. This story culminated two major plot threads; the Illyana Saga and the teen X-Terminators joining the New Mutants.This reader couldn't wait to finish this section and move to the X-Men/X-Factor team-up. I just don't have any affection for the New Mutants and their ilk. Plus, I really wanted to see how Marc Silvestri drew the X-Men at his peak and I wasn't disappointed when I did read those issues.The second arc was the X-Men/X-Factor team-up. A little context, the original class of X-Men became X-Factor and left the mansion while the X-Men died, were reborn and were covertly living in Australia. The X-Men also thought that X-Factor sold out and became mutant hunters; so there was definitely sparks to fly they meet and they did. It also dealt with Maddy Pryor wearing a new slutty witch outfit as the Goblin Queen and the man who held the strings behind the Jean Grey clone, Mr. Sinister.As I said, I wasn't disappointed. Marc Silvestri was doing the art on X-Men and he was at the peak of his powers. Walter Simonson did the art on X-Factor and it was wonderful as well. The X-Men and X-Factor were my favorite to read because of the great art teams that were on both at the time.Still, after having read all of the pertinent chapters and enjoying some of them, the story couldn't escape criticism of reducing the character of Maddy Pryor into a crazy version of herself and her eventual death as a villain in order to absolve Marvel of its most disturbing plot thread; that of Cyclops leaving his wife and child in order to join up with his ex-girlfriend on X-Factor. This may have relegated Maddy to the dustbin of concluded plot threads but it cemented Cyclops as a grade A jerk.This was how I read the individual issues and my thoughts expressed as briefly as I c0uld.Uncanny X-men #239 - the prologueX-Terminators #1-#3 - This part was boring, featuring that I don't care much for and don't exist anymore.New Mutants #71 - I'm impressed that this book has Al Williamson inking it. This issue made it easy to see why the fall of Magik was tragic for the fans of this book.X-Terminators #4 - Some characters that I didn't care for redeem themselves.New Mutants #72 - This book showed the events of X-Terminators #4 from the New Mutants point of view.Uncanny X-men #240 - The X-Men payback the Marauders with interest.Uncanny X-men #241 - Maddy completes her transformation into the crazed Goblin Queen.X-Factor #36 - X-Factor enters Inferno ground zero.X-Factor #37 - The Goblin Queen confronts X-Factor.New Mutants #73 - The Fall of Magik. Nuff said.Uncanny X-men #242 - X-Men versus X-Factor; in glorious Silvestri art!X-Factor #38 - Goblin Queen versus Jean Grey!Uncanny X-men #243 - Mr. Sinister invades the X-Mansion.X-Factor #39 - The combined forces of the X-Men and X-Factor versus Mr. Sinister!X-Factor Annual #4 - Epilogue; starring the Blues Brothers?X-Factor #40 - Second epilogue, Maddy funeral and the fate of the sacrificial babies. 

The Children of the Night have found a way to use the sun to their advantage...They are the Day Men.For thousands of years, the world has been controlled by the "50 Families" -- a secret network of vampire covens engaged in a timeless struggle for power. But when the sun rises, the vampires are forced to employ the services of a human who acts as their daytime fixer and protector...Trained for centuries to be the mortal soldiers of their vampire employers, the Day Men go forth at sunrise, alone into the world, to do the bidding of their sleeping benefactors. Written by Matt Gagnon (FREELANCERS) &amp; Michael Alan Nelson (DC's SUPERGIRL, HEXED) and drawn by industry legend Brian Stelfreeze. DAY MEN is a sexy, action-packed epic that brings modern master Brian Stelfreeze back to drawing comics for the first time since 2005!Collects issues #1-4.

Twenty-five years since \
  The Sandman\
 first changed the landscape of modern comics, Neil Gaiman’s legendary series is back in a deluxe hardcover edition!The Sandman: Overture heralds New York Times best-selling writer Neil Gaiman’s return to the art form that made him famous, ably abetted by artistic luminary J.H. Williams III (Batwoman, Promethea), whose lush, widescreen images provide an epic scope to The Sandman’s origin story. From the birth of a galaxy to the moment that Morpheus is captured, The Sandman: Overture will feature cameo appearances by fan-favorite characters such as The Corinthian, Merv Pumpkinhead and, of course, the Dream King’s siblings: Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium, Destruction and Destiny.Collects: The Sandman: Overture 1-6

\
  The end of an era!\
This TPB collects “Superman” # 423 &amp; “Action Comics” #583.Creative Team:Writer: Alan MooreIlustrator: Curt SwanInkers: George Pérez &amp; Kurt SchaffenbergerEditor: Julius Schwartz\
  FARENHEIT 1,763\
\
  If the nuisances from my past are coming back as killers… …what happens when the killers come back?\
It was 1986, and the Silver Age of Comic Books were coming to an end.It’s an odd feeling to remember that, since I am used to think about the Silver Age as something of the 70s, and always realizing that it ended just 4 years before reaching the 90s… it’s an odd feeling indeed.Julius Schwartz, the now iconic editor who updated to the Silver Age so many characters like Green Lantern, The Flash, Hawkman and The Atom, is a true synonym of that era, at least in the titles of DC Comics. Therefore, it was just right that Julius Schwartz would come out with the basic idea for this iconic story, that Alan Moore developed the bold narrative, along with the outstanding illustrations of Curt Swan, and the great inks of George Pérez &amp; Kurt Schaffenberger. It was the last story of Superman… the last story of the Silver Age of Comic Books.And as any “last” story of an era, ending it… and bringing a new one… since nothing truly ends… just transforms… the tale is a bittersweet merging of both ages. In this case, the story contains a closure of the still campy adventure of the Silver Age, but integrating an overture of the yet dark violence of the Bronze Age to come.The Silver Age ended yesterday and the Man of Tomorrow cried!\
  GOOD-BYE, SUPERMAN! WE’LL MISS YOU!\
\
  Nobody has the right to kill. – Not you, not Superman… Especially not Superman!\
It’s 1997, ten years later of the last sighting of Superman. Lois Lane got married, now she is Mrs. Jordan Elliot, and she had a child. A young reporter from the Daily Planet interviews her about her recollections of the last days of Superman…The goofy enemies of Superman like Bizarro, The Prankster and Toyman gone berserk in an unbelievable outbreak of genocides, homicides and even suicides. And the close people to Superman were starting to get killed since his secret identity was exposed in the middle of all that crazy violence. So, the menace was clear, if the “absurd” villains were able of such gruesome acts……how far could go his greatest foes?Lex Luthor, bald mad scientist (still Silver Age, remember?) is assimilated against his will, into an unholy fusion, with Brainiac’s brain, evolving him in the worst of both worlds, with a clear goal……to kill Superman and all his loved ones without mercy!The Legion of Super-Villains made a time trip from the 30th Century, to have front seats in the fall of Superman, since it’s an already historic fact in their time period!And the worst is still to come!Superman is forced to take in, his still alive closest friends, and making a desperate last stand in his Fortress of Solitude, but even him won’t be able to save them all, since even his own safety is guaranteed!But remember……the tale is a bittersweet merging of both ages… …the story contains an overture of the yet dark violence of the Bronze Age to come, but also a closure of the still campy adventure of the Silver Age. Wink.

The story that drew national media attention when DC Comics killed their greatest hero is collected here. When a hulking monster emerges from an underground resting place and begins a mindless rampage, the Justice League is quickly called in to stop the colossal force of nature. But it soon becomes apparent that only Superman can stand against the monstrosity that has been nicknamed Doomsday. Battling their way throughout America, the two fight to a standstill as they reach the heart of Metropolis. Going punch for punch, Superman finally ends the threat of Doomsday as he throws one last punch and collapses forever.

This fourth volume in the saga of the Swamp Thing finds the man-monster interacting with Deadman, the Phantom Stranger, the Spectre, and the Demon as he continues on his journey of self-discovery. Traveling through the horrors of a haunted house, the improbabilities of the afterlife, the depths of hell and the heights of heaven, the Swamp Thing continues his evolution from a simple monster into a powerful elemental being with a potential to exceed the bonds of the Earth itself.Collects issues #43–#50.

The second volume of Frank Miller's signature series is now planned as the lead story in the upcoming Sin City 2! This newly redesigned edition sports a new cover by Miller - some of his first comics art in years! Stuck with nothing but a seedy gumshoe job and some demons, Dwight's thinking of all the ways he's screwed up and what he'd give for one clear chance to wipe the slate clean, to dig his way out of the numb gray hell that is his life. And he'd give anything. Just to feel the fire. One more time. But he can't let himself lose control again, can't ever let the monster out. And then Ava calls. With a new look generating more excitement than ever before, this third edition is the perfect way to attract a whole new generation of readers to Frank Miller's masterpiece!

When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile. Disguised among the normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters have created their own peaceful and secret society within an exclusive luxury apartment building called Fabletown. But when Snow White's party-girl sister, Rose Red, is apparently murdered, it is up to Fabletown's sheriff, a reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf (Bigby Wolf), to determine if the killer is Bluebeard, Rose's ex-lover and notorious wife killer, or Jack, her current live-in boyfriend and former beanstalk-climber.Collecting: Fables 1-5

 \
  Introduction:\
 I have been reading the “X-Men” comics for awhile now, but there was one story line that fans were raving about during the 1990s and that was “X-Men: Mutant Genesis!” Well, the reason why “X-Men: Mutant Genesis” was praised a lot by the fans during the 1990s was because this was the highest selling comic book at the time. It also helped paved way for the famous 1990s cartoon series and it even paved way for an arcade game called “X-Men: Children of the Atom.” “X-Men: Mutant Genesis” was also considered Chris Claremont’s final work on the “X-Men” comics (well at least up until the 2000s anyway). Now, having been introduced to the “X-Men” franchise through the 1990s cartoon series, I had to check out the comic book that helped inspired the cartoon series for myself!\
  What is this story about?\
 There are two stories in this volume: one that involves the X-Men fighting against Magneto and the other with Wolverine being kidnapped by the Hand, Weapon X and Fenris.Magneto Story (Rubicon: Issue #1, Firestorm: Issue #2, and Fallout: Issue #3)In this story, when Magneto posed a threat to all the humans on Earth, both the United States and Russia decided to blow up his home planet, Asteroid M in order to stop him. At the same time, a group of mutant worshippers, led by Fabian Cortez, become Magneto’s new Acolytes and help him try to find his personal goal. Meanwhile, the X-Men, who have split up into two teams: the Blue team (consisting of Cyclops, Psylocke, Beast, Wolverine, Gambit and Rogue) and the Gold team (consisting of Storm, Archangel, Colossus, Iceman, Jean Grey, and Banshee) all try to stop Magneto before it is too late!Omega Red Story (The Resurrection and the Flesh: Issue #4, Blowback: Issue #5, …Along Came Sabretooth: Issue #6 and Issue #7)In this story, Omega Red, Wolverine’s old nemesis, is resurrected by the Hand, Weapon X and brother and sister team, Fenris and is out for revenge on both Wolverine and Sabretooth! Not only that, but Omega Red is also seeking for a secret weapon that could give him even more strength and only Wolverine knows where the secret weapon is located at!\
  What I loved about this story:\
 Chris Claremont , John Byrne and Scott Lobdell’s writing: I must admit that these stories were fun and exciting at the same time and I really enjoyed reading the volume that put the X-Men on the map (at least during the 1990s)! Chris Claremont’s writing for Magneto’s story was well written and I loved the way that Chris Claremont gave each character a focus in the story, especially showcasing how Gambit and Rogue work within a team. I also loved the way that Chris Claremont split up the X-Men into two teams, the Blue and Gold teams, not because they had a falling out with each other (which is a story line that is unfortunately used in the recent comics), but because it was a way for the X-Men to do more activity in saving the world by having two different teams perform different missions whenever they are needed. It was also interesting in seeing Magneto as the villain again since throughout the 1980s, he was working with the X-Men and you can actually see the history he had with the X-Men and how he keeps wondering why the X-Men are fighting him, despite his reasons being destructive. I really enjoyed John Byrne and Scott Lobdell’s writing of the second story that involved Omega Red as it was much more character driven, with some bits of Wolverine’s past being exposed and the blossoming relationship between Rogue and Gambit. I also loved the introduction of Jubilee in this story as she seems to replace Kitty Pryde as the tag along kid of the group and the scenes with her provided so much humor to the story. I also loved the way that John Byrne and Scott Lobdell portrayed Omega Red as being a villain who is bent on revenge against Wolverine and the scenes where he beats up Wolverine were quite intense.Jim Lee’s artwork: Probably the best part about this volume was Jim Lee’s amazing artwork! Every time I see Jim Lee doing the artwork for a comic book, you know that I will automatically fall in love with it! I loved the way that Jim Lee drew the characters as they all look truly realistic, yet a bit scratchy in some areas. I also loved the way that Jim Lee drew the action sequences as the explosions really do glow off the pages and I loved seeing the characters actually fighting hand to hand with their enemies (the best ones being of Psylocke using her martial arts skills to fight against enemies as they look amazing)! \
  What made me feel uncomfortable about this story:\
 The reason why I gave this a four star rating was because I felt that the stories moved along too fast and there were not enough character moments in the stories (save for the romantic relationship between Rogue and Gambit and Jubilee providing some fun to the story). Even though most of my favorite characters were in these stories, it felt like they were just there for the sake of action rather than actual character development and many fans have pointed out that the 1990s was a time of mainly action-driven comics.\
  Final Thoughts:\
 Overall, “X-Men: Mutant Genesis” was a truly fun and exciting read and I would recommend this book to any X-Men fan looking for a comic book that can be read just for the fun of it!Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

Garth Ennis returns to the world of the Punisher! A dozen Russian mobsters lie dead at Frank Castle's feet...but he wasn't the one who pulled the trigger. You'd think that the Punisher would celebrate - but if you know Frank, you'll know that this unexpected turn of events just stirs up more questions. Who is Valery Stepanovich? Why did he mow down a room full of mobsters? These are questions Frank is going to answer - and then decide if Valery deserves his own punishment. But what will happen when these two criminal hunters come face-to-face? Seeds planted decades ago in Moscow and Afghanistan are about to bloom bloody in New York City in an all-new tale by the writer who gets Frank Castle like no other! COLLECTING: PUNISHER: SOVIET (2019) 1-6

\
  Deadly good reading!\
This TPB edition collects “The Punisher” (2000) #1-12.Creative Team:Writer: Garth EnnisIllustrator: Steve DillonInker: Jimmy PalmiottiCovers’ art: Tim Bradstreet\
  BACK WITH A BANG! (ACTUALLY SEVERAL BANGS!)\
\
  Solo act again. No micro. No gimmicks: no fancy ammo, no battle-vans, no hi-tech surveillance. Just the basics. Been gone a while. Distracted. The scum of the city need a wake-up call. And here it comes.\
Frank Castle aka The Punisher returned to the Big Apple……and the worms are starting to run away.The Punisher declared war against the Gnucci Crime Family……why?...…Why not?The Punisher hates criminals and he plans to eliminate them so beginning with the Gnucci Crime Family is as good point to begin as anyone else, so nothing personal, no sworn vendetta, no secret motives. The Gnucci Crime Family just got the short straw in The Punisher’s War on Crime.Ma Gnucci is the lady who runs the Gnucci Crime Family along with her sons, but soon enough she’ll notice how fast her blood relatives are starting to fall along with her minions, so she’ll call to “her people” inside of the NYPD to deal with The Punisher……but there are two problems in that scenario……first, the NYPD isn’t dumb to go against The Punisher, oh no, siree, and second, the NYPD loves Punisher’s work since thanks to him, they have a lot less things to deal with, so while they don't say it aloud, they are quite okay with Punisher's work in the streets.However, they need to cover appearances to the public and media that are demanding a response against violence unleashed by the Punisher, so the NYPD forms a “Task Force”……a task force of two individuals. Good luck with that!Even Daredevil will mess into Punisher’s blood path, but maybe the Man without Fear would prefer to stay in Hell’s Kitchen since Frank isn’t in the mood to deal with him.And of course……there’s The Russian. Oh, boy!!!\
  I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU\
Frank Castle needs to live somewhere, so with his return to New York, he is taking an apartment under a false name (John Smith… smooth, Frank) and slowly he will get used to his eccentric neighbors: Mousy Joan (fearing of everything), Spacker Dave (pierced punk) and the massive humanity of Mr. Bumpo (with a too healthy appetite).Between casual brief talks in the corridors and odd offerings of food, Frank Castle slowly started to enjoy (in his own particular way) to have this "friends" in the place that now he is living.However, wherever The Punisher goes, mayhem follows him, so the apartment building may turn into a war zone, more than once, but don’t worry for good ol’ Frank, since his pals are there to back him up……not, really! I’m not kiddin’!If you mess with The Punisher, you mess with them too! Oh, yeah!\
  WHAT PSYCHO SEE, PSYCHO DO\
Maybe The Punisher wasn’t actually the role model for certain “outlaw abiding citizens” but you can’t blame the media if they think that Frank Castle’s work was the inspiration for a sudden vigilante viral spree where three different individuals started to show their own particular hate against specific kind of criminals…The Holy: A priest in the Spanish Harlem who is killing with an axe (yep) to any schmuck dumb enough to go to his church to tell him their crimes and expecting an absolution.Mr. Payback: A working man of low status who is killing any white collar bandit who makes sneaky strategies with their companies gaining profit at the same time of causing damage to innocent poor people.Elite: An upperclass man who is killing anybody who dares to make the slightest mess in his “clean” neighborhood.A whole bundle of serial killers who think that they are justified of their actions, and maybe you think that Punisher isn’t any better, but maybe the actions of these wackos will help you to ponder about it.

A tale of loyalty and unlikely friendship featuring two of the most recognizable and popular super-heroes on the planet, SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES pairs the Man of Steel with the Dark Knight. The iconic super-heroes unite when longtime Superman enemy Lex Luthor, now president of the United States, accuses Superman of a horrible act against mankind, and assembles a top-secret team of powerhouse heroes to bring Superman in — dead or alive. But after the Dark Knight Detective proves Luthor's accusations to be baseless, the "World's Finest" duo prepares to topple the corrupt president's reign once and for all.Collects Superman/Batman #1-6.

New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman's transcendent series SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision.In PRELUDES &amp; NOCTURNES, an occultist attempting to capture Death to bargain for eternal life traps her younger brother Dream instead. After his 70 year imprisonment and eventual escape, Dream, also known as Morpheus, goes on a quest for his lost objects of power. On his arduous journey Morpheus encounters Lucifer, John Constantine, and an all-powerful madman.This book also includes the story "The Sound of Her Wings," which introduces us to the pragmatic and perky goth girl Death.Includes issues 1-8 of the original series.

For years he fought alongside Gotham City's greatest protector, the light to Batman's irrepressible darkness. Against all manner of foe he braved inconceivable odds, ever skirting the line between heroism and death. His name is Dick Grayson. Before he became Nightwing he was the first to don the mantle of Robin. When his parents fell victim to the machinations of a mobster, millionaire Bruce Wayne, known to a precious few as the Batman, took the young orphan under his wing. For months Grayson trained in the ways of crime fighting, until at last he was ready to patrol the night with his mentor. But the training ground and the threats of the real world are two very different things. For the newly anointed Robin, it would be a baptism of fire.Batman gave Robin his Direction. The evil of the world would shape his destiny. This is his story.

A modern Batman tale set early in the Caped Crusader's career; an early encounter with the supernatural (although, to be fair, the story starts in "Dark Knight Detective" mode with a creepy edge and continues to get creepier.) The writing has one-too-many subplots for my taste; it takes half of the last chapter to wrap up all the story-lines.Reprints Legends of the Dark Knight #6–10, placing it in (original) publication order directly between Batman: Shaman and Batman: Prey / Batman: Prey.Occurs in the Wikipedia-defined chronological order between Batman: Other Realms and Batman: Going Sane.

The Dark Knight's greatest enemies have all simultaneously escaped from Arkham Asylum and are preying on Gotham City. With his city under siege, Batman pushes his body to the limit as he takes on The Joker, the Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, The Riddler and the Scarecrow. But things get much worse when Bane, the man behind all the madness, confronts an exhausted Batman...

\
  Jim Starlin writing Batman! ‘Nuff said!\
This TPB collects “Batman: The Cult” #1-4.Creative Team:Writer: Jim StarlinIllustrator: Bernie Wrightson\
  NOT YOUR USUAL BATMAN’S STORY\
You know that you’re about to get a thrill, when Jim Starlin is writing and even more if it’s something for DC, and even more and more if it’s about Batman.Since Jim Starlin is a big name in the comic book’s business but he has been more prolific in Marvel, being responsible of epic works like The Death of Captain Marvel and Infinity Gauntlet, also co-creating relevant characters like Thanos, Drax and Gamora, along with the re-introduction of characters like Adam Warlock and Silver Surfer, therefore becoming one of the major architects of setting the new rules for the Marvel Cosmic ambiance, so……when you can get your hands on some stuff by Starlin but in the distinguished competition, well, it’s not brainer to buy it right away.I had heard about Batman: The Cult but I hadn’t a clear idea of what was about, but I knew that if I have the chance to get it, I haven’t to hesitate about it.Not matter if you’re fan of Batman or not, if you wanted something out of your usual Batman’s story, where he’s not in total control, where he’s not having the upper hand, where he’s not prepared to the challenge, where he’s a fallible man……this is your book!\
  GOTHAM CITY, UP IN ARMS\
Gotham City has many legends, and you can bet that many of those aren’t something good, and this one isn’t the exception……in the times of the colonization, the Miagani, a Native American tribe, based on what would eventually become Gotham City, dealt with a strange menace, in the embodiment of some kind of shaman, finally locked up in cave that later imprudent colonist liberate him.Since then, always trying to hurt Gotham City, and each time, bigger and bigger his ambitions and the scope of his plans……where now he won’t limit until having the whole city in his grasp!Is it just a legend?Is it a true story?Is it one heck of a scam?Is it a real paranormal threat?Nobody is sure about it, not even the world’s greatest detective!The native american Deacon Blackfire is charismatic and he has his way with words, and soon, he’s able to get the largest army circulating around each corner of Gotham City……the homeless and beggars.Batman notices too late the shocking absence of them on the streets and alleys……and a split-second of careless……Batman himself falls victim of the cult built by Deacon Blackfire and he’s submitted to a maddening process of brainwash.He won’t be able to distinguish what’s reality and fiction!Trapped in the pitch-black undergrounds of Gotham, Batman will break in mind and body……and only Robin (Jason Todd) is his only hope of not becoming truly crazy!Gotham City along with its dark protector will face one of their greatest challenges!

Although posthumously famous for the bloody barbarians Kull and Conan, many critics feel that Howard's most memorable hero was this dour Puritan adventurer. Solomon Kane was in fact one of the first series characters created by the prolific pulp writer, who virtually single-handedly created the subgenre of heroic fantasy. Set in the 1600s, these tales are a striking combination of horror and fantastic adventure that remain among Howard's most intense. A lone swordsman on a mission to rid the world of evil, Kane wanders across Europe and Africa, endlessly fighting mad villains, winged vampires, and black magic. Originally published in the legendary pulp magazine "Weird Tales," the stories have been collected in several variant editions. More recent editions have striven to publish the tales as the author originally composed them--utterly merciless and without any hint of light reaching into Howard's unique vision of darkness. --Stanley Wiater

In Marvel 1602, award-winning writer Neil Gaiman presents a unique vision of the Marvel Universe set four hundred years in the past. Classic Marvel icons such as the X-Men, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and Daredevil appear in this intriguing world of 17th-century science and sorcery, instantly familiar to readers, yet subtly different in this new time. Marvel 1602 combines classic Marvel action and adventure with the historically accurate setting of Queen Elizabeth I's reign to create a unique series unlike any other published by Marvel Comics.Collecting Marvel 1602 #1-8 - penciled by andy Kubert and digitally painted by Richard Isanove, with covers by Scott McKowen.

age and evolve a hero or villain through the actions you select and the path you follow - be it for good, evil, or somewher...

Beginning approximately five years after the events of the first Knights of the Old Republic, The Sith Lords takes players on an entirely new journey as they as...

Engage in this saga set in the Golden Age of the Republic - over 4,000 years before the first Star Wars film, when both Jedi and Sith number in the thousands. W...

One day, the Mushroom Kingdom was invaded by the Koopas, a tribe of turtles famous for their black magic. The quiet, peace-loving Mushroom People were turned in...

Super Mario Bros. 3 is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It was released for home consoles in Japan on October 23, 1988, in North America on February 12, 1990 and in Europe on August 29, 1991. It was developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development, led by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka.

Tetris (Russian: Тетрис) is a puzzle video game created by Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov in 1984. It has been published by several companies for multiple platforms, most prominently during a dispute over the appropriation of the rights in the late 1980s. After a significant period of publication by Nintendo, the rights reverted to Pajitnov in 1996, who co-founded the Tetris Company with Henk Rogers to manage licensing.In Tetris, players complete lines by moving differently shaped pieces (tetrominoes), which descend onto the playing field. The completed lines disappear and grant the player points, and the player can proceed to fill the vacated spaces. The game ends when the uncleared lines reach the top of the playing field. The longer the player can delay this outcome, the higher their score will be. In multiplayer games, players must last longer than their opponents; in certain versions, players can inflict penalties on opponents by completing a significant number of lines. Some versions add variations on the rules, such as three-dimensional displays or a system for reserving pieces.

Mario is super in a whole new way! Combining the finest 3-D graphics ever developed for a video game and an explosive sound track, Super Mario 64 becomes a new...

It's a Bumpin', Bruisin', Brawlin' Bash! The many worlds of Nintendo collide in the ultimate showdown of strength and skill! Up to four players can choose their...

With the Empire attacking the Kingdoms of the North and the Wild Hunt, a cavalcade of ghastly riders, breathing down your neck, the only way to survive is to f...

Kingdom Hearts is the story of Sora, a 14-year-old boy whose world is shattered when a violent storm hits his island-paradise home, and is separated from his tw...

Sid Meier's Civilization V is a 4X video game in the Civilization series developed by Firaxis Games. The game was released on Microsoft Windows on September 21, 2010, on OS X on November 23, 2010, and on Linux on June 10, 2014.

The game that incorporates RPG, action, adventure, and 1st-person shooter genres into a chaotic blend of real-world conspiracies, cliffhangers, and plot twists....

Human Revolution you play Adam Jensen, a security specialist, handpicked to oversee the defense of one of America's most experimental biotechnology...

Battlefront puts familiar whack-a-mole gameplay to work in epic battles against the opposing Star Wars faction....

Several years have passed since Kyle Katarn avenged his father's death and saved the Valley of the Jedi from Jerec and his band of Dark Jedi. Allowing his Force...

Star Wars Battlefront II improves upon the original game's single-player experience with open-ended, mission-based objectives inspired from all six Star Wars fi...

In a desperate attempt to keep a conquering alien race called the Covenant from finding Earth, you--a cybernteically enhanced soldier representing the peak of h...

Mass Effect is a science fiction action-RPG created by BioWare Corp., the commercially and critically acclaimed RPG developer of "Jade Empire," and "Star Wars:...

Baldur's Gate takes you back to the Forgotten Realms on a visually dazzling role-playing adventure, one that brings to life the grand tradition of Advanced Dung...

The Mass Effect trilogy is a science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life forms and mysterious uncharted planets. In this d...

A group of good-hearted, but incompetent misfits enter the police academy, but the instructors there are not going to put up with their pranks.

1984 American film directed by Hugh Wilson

After moving to a new town, two brothers discover that the area is a haven for vampires.

1987 film by Joel Schumacher, Richard Donner

The adventures of high school and junior high students on the last day of school in May 1976.

An examination of the machinations behind the scenes at a real estate office.

1992 American drama directed by James Foley

James Bond sets out to stop a media mogul's plan to induce war between China and the UK in order to obtain exclusive global media coverage.

1997 James Bond film directed by Roger Spottiswoode

Mourning his dead child, a haunted Vietnam War veteran attempts to uncover his past while suffering from a severe case of dissociation. To do so, he must decipher reality and life from his own dreams, delusions, and perceptions of de

A police officer is brought out of suspended animation in prison to pursue an old ultra-violent nemesis who is loose in a non-violent future society.

1993 dystopian science fiction action comedy movie directed by Marco Brambilla

A sole survivor tells of the twisty events leading up to a horrific gun battle on a boat, which began when five criminals met at a seemingly random police lineup.

1995 German-American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Bryan Singer

A high school wise guy is determined to have a day off from school, despite what the Principal thinks of that.

A young boy and a group of misfit friends embark on a quest to find a dark magic item of ultimate power before a diabolical tyrant can.

1985 American animated dark fantasy adventure film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation

As kids, they escaped a UFO death cult. Now, two adult brothers seek answers after an old videotape surfaces and brings them back to where they began.

A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply.

2018 science fiction psychological horror film

Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.

Upon his return to his ancestral homeland, an American man is bitten, and subsequently cursed by, a werewolf.

When Frank Castle's family is murdered by criminals, he wages war on crime as a vigilante assassin known only as The Punisher.

1989 Australian-American action film directed by Mark Goldblatt

An alien child is evacuated from his dying world and sent to Earth to live among humans. His peace is threatened, when other survivors of his home planet invade Earth.

2013 superhero film directed by Zack Snyder

Following clues to the origin of mankind, a team finds a structure on a distant moon, but they soon realize they are not alone.

2012 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott

A group of small but vicious alien creatures called Crites escape from an alien prison transport vessel and land near a small farm town on earth, pursued by two shape-shifting bounty hunters.

Robot Johnny Five comes to the city and gets manipulated by criminals who want him for their own purposes.

Aliens help a feisty old New York couple in their battle against the ruthless land developer who's out to evict them.

American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor

American musician, songwriter and producer

American rock singer, songwriter and musician

American recording artist; singer-songwriter

The misadventures of a talking sea sponge who works at a fast food restaurant, attends a boating school, and lives in an underwater pineapple.

A group of teenage friends and their Great Dane (Scooby-Doo) travel in a bright green van solving strange and hilarious mysteries, while returning from or going to a regular teenage function.

Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen appears as Ali G, a rapper-wannabe from Staines. Ali G has his own TV show, where he interviews people on serious subjects. They're not aware that Ali G is just a character and they're being set up as part 

Al Bundy is a misanthropic women's shoe salesman with a miserable life. He hates his job, his wife is lazy, his son is dysfunctional (especially with women), and his daughter is dim-witted and promiscuous.

A silly Japanese game show on which contestants are painfully eliminated through barely possible stunts and events, most taking place above pools of mud.

Syndicated series featuring the stars of the World Wrestling Federation. Featuring wrestling matches, interviews and updates on ongoing feuds and upcoming events.

Citizens of the Universe, also referred to as 'COTU', is a guerrilla theatre specializing in 'found space' performances and is currently headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. There are branches of COTU also located in Orlando, Florida, Baltimore, Maryland, and Greenville, South Carolina.COTU was founded in 2001 by James Cartee and Andrew Bryant in Greenville, South Carolina with core artist Dan A. R. Kelly, Jason Bryant and Traysie Amick. COTU's work ranges from original works and foreign language pieces to classics with a recent focus on films that have been adapted for stage.In 2004, the group's production of Arthur Miller's The Creation of the World and Other Business was banned from playing at Greenville Technical College.

Mark and Jez are a couple of twenty-something roommates who have nothing in common - except for the fact that their lives are anything but normal. Mayhem ensues as the pair strive to cope with day-to-day life.

An extraterrestrial race arrives on Earth with seemingly good intentions, only to slowly reveal their true machinations the more ingrained into society they become.

In the mid 23rd century, the Earth Alliance space station Babylon 5, located in neutral territory, is a major focal point for political intrigue, racial tensions and various wars over the course of five years.

American space opera television series created by writer and producer J. Michael Straczynski

Science and mythology - and how they are the same thing.

Various mishaps at a police station in an English town. The main character is the anachronistic, yet charming and funny Inspector Fowler. CID foil to Fowler, Inspector Grim is a bumbling, seething idiot.

James Hacker was propelled along the corridors of power to the very pinnacle of politics - Number 10.

The Right Honorable James Hacker has landed the plum job of Cabinet Minister to the Department of Administration. At last he is in a position of power and can carry out some long-needed reforms, or so he thinks.

The story of an office that faces closure when the company decides to downsize its branches. A documentary film crew follow staff and the manager David Brent as they continue their daily lives.

The show centers on Warwick Davis in his day-to-day life, complete with the frustrations he faces.

Hayden Fox is the head coach of a university football team, and eats, sleeps and lives football.

Andy Millman (Ricky Gervais) is an actor with ambition and a script. Reduced to working as an extra with a useless agent, Andy's attempts to boost his career invariably end in failure and embarrassment.

An outlaw superhero's investigation of a possible conspiracy against his colleagues changes all their lives even as evidence builds toward a horrific conclusion.

Comedy sketches written and performed by renowned duo Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.

Geoff Nelson

Formerly married petroleum engineers who still have some issues to work out. They are drafted to assist a gung-ho Navy SEAL with a top-secret recovery

1989 American science fiction film directed by James Cameron

It is 1942 and the German submarine fleet is heavily engaged in the so-called "Battle of the Atlantic" to harass and destroy British shipping. With be

The polar ice caps have melted, and the earth is covered by water. The remaining people travel the seas, in search of survival. Several different soci

1000 feet below the ocean, navy divers discover an object half-a-mile long. A crack team of scientists are deployed to the site in Deepsea Habitats. W

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