Magic the Gathering Duel Decks

Any time Wizards of the Coast is nice enough to put one of these out, they do their best to give fans what they want.  Each previous set was snatched up by insiders and coveted by people with slower information networks.  Thanks to our highly trained spies, you are getting a heads up this time.

 
For those of you who have played recent blocks of MtG (specifically the Alara block), the names listed will be enough to convince you. Everyone else, read on.

A battle between these two is sure to be epic in the truest sense of the word.  The fight will build slowly as weak soldiers and artifacts emerge at the start.  The soldiers will boost each other to formidable threats as the artifacts give way to their larger brethren.  This is all speculation, but soldiers and artifacts tend to follow a standard (but fun) formula.

Talk to your store today about reserving one, but look for them to arrive on September 3, 2010

- Ryan

Lloyd's Pick of the Month

 ALL-STAR SUPERMAN VOL. 1

The amazing creative team of Grant Morrison (BATMAN) and Frank Quitely (WE3) create a new vision of the World's First Super-Hero! Now in trade paperback, this volume collects the first six issues of the acclaimed series and features Lex Luthor, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Bizarro, and more!

This is one of the best Superman stories ever told. All- Star is part of a new DC line that allows leading comics creators to present their own versions of the company's classic characters without acknowledging any of the baggage the icons have acquired over the decades. Morrison & Quitely’s re-imagination of the Man of Steel is for Superman fans old & new, & non-Superman fans. They stay true to the mythos of an icon while taking the reader on a fantastic voyage by tackling questions fans have had for years. Winner of multiple awards and on a number of “must-read” lists.

Green Lantern Movie Synopsis

ComicBookMovie.com posted the official synopsis of the Green Lantern movie:

In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan.
Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax … he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.

Liz's Pick of the Week

Paul Pope's 100%

Gritty urban sci-fi and see-through dancing girls may not immediately bring romance to mind for most folks, but then Paul Pope has never exactly been what you'd call a conventional storyteller.  His graphic novel 100%, available in trade and hardcover from Vertigo, follows three intertwined love stories through an entirely probable New York City, circa 2038 A.D.

Pope does a masterful job of weaving made-up history and technology into an environment that feels very real- sometimes cozy, sometimes brutal, always crowded, and always tumbling uncontrollably into tomorrow.  In this story a club owner, her estranged boxer husband, her artist cousin, a paranoid bartender, a busboy, and a troubled exotic dancer are all trying to navigate a harsh January in the city.  They fret about the violence that surrounds them, they fall in and out of love, and they  work hard for a chance at something better.

Beautiful inky black-and-white linework gives 100% a glamorous old-movie feel, despite the futuristic setting.   It's less a typical dystopic exercise and more of a meditation on the timelessness of human relationships, and comes highly recommended from your friends here at the Laughing Ogre!

Cowboy Ninja Viking

If you think I just listed my job history, you are right.  "Cowboy Ninja Viking" also happens to be the name of a great comic series from AJ Lieberman (W) and Riley Rossmo (A).  This story takes three of history's stone-cold killers and crams them into one person's head.  Duncan has managed to cope with the voices in his head and even relies on the abilities of each persona.  Unfortunately, his skill set doesn't translate well to the private sector, so the government agency which helped create him is trying to reel him back in.  Duncan's adventure is filled with intrigue, action, and the zaniest mixes of split personalities you can imagine.

This book has a great sense of style and humor.  Be sure to check it out the next time in your in the shop!


- Ryan

Weekly Spotlight: Wednesday Comics

DC'S WEDNESDAY COMICS by VARIOUS

Comics fans may remember last fall's Wednesday Comics, a weekly serialization of one-page newspaper-style stories by an all-star roster of writers and artists.  Those strips are collected in all their oversize glory in this big beautiful hardcover, out now from DC Comics!

Familiar faces in the hands of familiar creators abound here.  Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are all featured, as are Sgt. Rock, the Metal Men, and more; Kurt Busiek, Bryan Azzarello, and Kyle Baker contribute, along with famed father-son team Joe and Adam Kubert.  Big alternative names names Neil Gaiman and Mike Allred collaborate for a goofy, eerie Metamorpho: the Element Man.  Dave Gibbons and Ryan Sook go old-school Jack Kirby with Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth, and fan favorites Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti bring us the heartwarming adventures of Supergirl and her pets.  Acclaimed creator Paul Pope gives his take on the sci-fi Strange Adventures an inky, retro glamour.

These are comics you can't find anywhere else, preserving the large format and eye-popping colors of the original newsprint in a sturdy, long-lasting tome.  Though it may take some maneuvering to make space for it on your shelf, Wednesday Comics is worth the effort!

Picks for the Week

SECRET AVENGERS #1

The Heroic Age Continues! What the heck is Moon Knight doing on an Avengers team? And what's the deal with Nova? Well check out the latest launch in the Marvel Avengers line up and find out. The book is written by Ed Brubaker and the art is by Mike Deodato, so that's quite an A list team to start up this new book. Check it out.


THANOS IMPERATIVE IGNITION #1

 
Pick your poison. Is it Thanos or the the "new dark force" that wishes to annihilate the Marvel Universe? Find out what cosmic heroes are called upon to battle the two forces and what the cosmic consequences will be. Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, with artwork by Brad Walker, the results are sure to pack a healthy punch of action, and plenty of good fun. 




BATMAN RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #2 OF(6)

Grant Morrison has been busy spinning his tale of Bruce Wayne's return. Now it looks like Bruce is running around with the Puritans, at least the Joker's not around to stuff the turkey. Let's see where Bruce's adventures will take us next, you know with Grant Morrison it should be a fun ride, and the Frazier Irving artwork makes for a stunning presentation. Enjoy.


MYSTERY SOCIETY #1

 
Steve Niles and Fiona Staples team up in this new book from IDW. And with Steve Niles at the controls, it's sure to be a fun ride. This team of vigilantes that form the Mystery Society (Nick Hammond and Anastasia Collins) take on all comers in this story dealing with the secrets behind Area 51.