Freak Comics

The Anita Blake series of novels by New York Times Best-Selling author Laurell K. Hamilton has sold over 3 million copies and amassed a dedicated group of fans. Now, the vampire hunter is staking her claim in the world of comics in Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter in Guilty Pleasures #1.

There have been 14 novels in the Anita Blake series with the most recent novel, Anita Blake: Danse Macabre, debuting at #2 on the New York Times Best-Sellers List, selling over 100,000 copies since its release in June 2006. Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter in Guilty Pleasures will be the first comic adaptation of Anita Blake, adapting the first novel of the series which has sold over 250,000 copies.

Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter in Guilty Pleasures #1 presents a world unlike our own, where vampires and were-creatures are legal citizens of the United States. Anita’s job is to act as judge, jury, and executioner when these supernatural beings cross the line, allowing her to swiflty dispense justice on the undead and superhuman.

Anita is also known as an animator, or one who can raise the dead, but this deadly hunter avoids vampires whenever possible. However, when a close friend’s bacherlorette party leads them into St. Louis’s vampire district, business begins to pick up for Anita.

When visiting the vampire strip club Guilty Pleasures, Anita’s fears are realized when a sneak attack threatens to claim her life. But is the enigmatic Jean-Claude there to help Anita or ensure her downfall?

Adapted from the Anita Blake series of novels, which has sold over 3 million copies and appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers list, Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter in Guilty Pleasures #1 is a story of horror and romance that is sure to amaze fans of Anita Blake and comics alike. To pick-up Anita Blake’s first comic appearance, call 1-888-comicbook to find the location of the comic shop nearest you.

Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter in Guilty Pleasures #1 (of 12) (Jul068379)
Written by Laurell K. Hamilton
Adapted by Stacie M. Ritchie
Pencils & Wraparound Cover by Brett Booth
32 Pgs./Rated T+ .$2.99
Foc – 9/28, on-Sale 10/18/2006

Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter in Guilty Pleasures #1 (of 12) Variant (Jul068380)
Written by Laurell K. Hamilton
Adapted by Stacie M. Ritchie
Pencils by Brett Booth
Variant Cover by Greg Horn
32 Pgs./Rated T+ .$2.99
Foc – 9/28, on-Sale 10/18/2006

The surprise smash hit Marvel Zombies continues its selling frenzy as the recently released Marvel Zombies HC has sold out. Collecting all five issues of the limited series along with the covers from all of the various printings, the Marvel Zombies HC is being rushed back to press for a second printing.

And what is another printing of Marvel Zombies without a brand new cover by Arthur Suydam? The second printing of the Marvel Zombies HC will be complete with an all-new zombie-tribute cover to Amazing Spider-Man #316 by Suydam.

Marvel Zombies was one of the biggest breakout successes of the last few years and the critics were all in agreement.

Don MacPherson of TheFourthRail.com says, “Marvel Zombies is a guilty-pleasure comic book for fans of both the super-hero and undead horror genres.”

The ComicFanatic.com calls Marvel Zombies “a perfect mesh of horror and superheroics.”

Troy Brownfield of Newsarama.com calls it, “a fun spin around the graveyard in mighty Marvel fashion.”

Thanks to the scores of real-life Marvel Zombies (you the fans!), the Marvel Zombies HC has become as big a success as the limited series that spawned it. Be sure to be on the lookout for the second printing of Marvel Zombies HC, hitting stores soon.

After Ghost Rider’s run-in with Doctor Strange, Johnny Blaze begins to reconsider his methods now that he has returned to Earth. Dr. Strange advised him to turn away from vengeance, but can he do so with Lucifer still on the loose?

He has been the Ghost Rider for longer than he cares to remember. In Ghost Rider #4, Johnny will find out how much of him is still a man and how much of him has become the Spirit of Vengeance as “Vicious Cycle” continues.

Ghost Rider #4 (Aug062046)
Written by Daniel Way
Layouts by Javier Saltares
Finishes & Cover by Mark Texeira
32 Pgs./Rated T+ …$2.99
Foc – 9/28, on Sale – 10/18/2006

The X-Men are off to Florida for a Spring Break they won’t soon forget, hoping for a nice relaxing break from the rigors of the Academy. But the X-Men won’t have time to visit theme parks or beaches on this vacation when the Lizard shows up to terrorize the Sunshine State in X-Men: First Class #2.

Richard George of IGN.com called X-Men: First Class #1 a “Must Read… X-Men: First Class is a lot of fun. It revisits the beginning of the X-Men, but does not retell stories that we already know…First Class is definitely a top-notch read.”

The X-Men head to Florida to drop in on an old colleague of the Professor’s; however, Dr. Curt Connors has been through some changes since Xavier last saw him. The innocent visit turns into an all out battle for survival in the Everglades, forcing Beast and Angel to hunt Spider-Man’s foe: The Lizard.

Jeff Parker and Roger Cruz bring you another brand new, unforgettable tale of Charles Xavier’s original X-Men in X-Men: First Class #2.

X-Men First Class #2 ( of 8 ) (Aug062086)
Written by Jeff Parker
Penciled by Roger Cruz
Cover by Marko Djurdjevic
32 Pgs./Rated a …$2.99
Foc – 9/28, on-Sale – 10/18/2006

On his Civil War “Vendetta”, Wolverine has gone toe-to-toe with the man responsible for the Stamford disaster Nitro, an Atlantean Death-Squad, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and Damage Control. In Wolverine #47, things don’t get any easier for Logan as the man with the power of a thousand exploding suns, the Sentry, stands in his way.

In the conclusion to the Civil War tie-in “Vendetta,” Wolverine finds himself on the wrong end of a Damage Control clean-up crew. But what happens next leads Logan 30 thousand feet in the air onto the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier., with the elite Super Human Restraint Unit ready and waiting to put him down.

Then, the Golden Guardian of Good, who could quite possibly be the most powerful super hero in the Marvel Universe, is brought in to make sure Logan stays down. In a fight fit for a main-event, Wolverine pits his claws against the raw power of the Sentry.

With the odds stacked against him, can Logan fulfill his Civil War Vendetta in Wolverine #47? Better yet, will Logan be able to walk away from a fight that has already pushed his healing factor to the limit?

Wolverine #47 (Aug062081)
Written by Marc Guggenheim
Penciled by Humberto Ramos
Cover by Kaare Andrews
32 Pgs./Parental Advisory …$2.99
Foc – 9/28, on-Sale – 10/18/2006

Stan Lee commemorates his 65th year at Marvel with a series of one-shots uniting him with his greatest characters! The first of these, Stan Lee Meets Spider-Man, features an encounter between Stan and everybody’s favorite wall-crawler, penned by “The Man” himself.

Civil War is encompassing the entire Marvel Universe and the effects of the war are being felt by every hero, villain, and civilian. Civil War: Choosing Sides One-Shot features five stories that shine a spotlight on the wildcards and impact players whose part in the Civil War has yet to be told, including Daredevil/Iron Fist, U.S. Agent, the Irredeemable Ant Man, Venom, and even…Howard the Duck!?

While the heroes wage war on one another, just what are the villains of the Marvel Universe up to? Mac Gargan, the supervillain known as Venom, is looking at a country full of preoccupied heroes. That spells trouble for anybody in his way. Written by Marc Guggenheim with art by Leinil Franics Yu, this Venom story shows why the psychotic symbiote’s bloody role in Civil War is just getting started. Everyone will be amazed where his story continues.

Danny Rand, the man who has recently moonlighted as Daredevil and who possesses the power of the Iron Fist, has joined Captain America’s Anti-Registration crew along with his former partner Luke Cage. Find out the reasons behind Iron Fist’s decision in this story by Matt Fraction and David Aja in a story that leads into the new Iron Fist ongoing series from Fraction, Brubaker, and Aja coming this November.

In a story by Robert Kirkman and Phil Hester, Civil War sees the birth of brand-new superhero with a classic name in the Irredeemable Ant-Man. When a low-level S.H.I.E.L.D. agent comes across Hank Pym’s prototype for a new Ant-Man suit, the entire Marvel Universe is in trouble. This “hero” isn’t looking to help mankind, he’s looking out for himself. Not only does this story feature the first appearance of the new Ant-Man, but it leads directly into the new ongoing The Irredeemable Ant-Man #1 in October.

Captain America has chosen a side, but what about the man who briefly took up his mantle, the U.S. Agent? In a story by Michael Avon Oeming and Scott Kolins, John Walker has to choose a side – the government he has always remained loyal to or the man whose legend he attempted to uphold? The answer won’t be what you think.

Plus, “Civil War: I’m With Howard!” What happens when you’re an alien duck stuck in a Civil War? The most asked for tale of Marvel’s Civil War…does a Master of Quack Fu need to register? Find out what the Super Human Registration Act has in store for everybody’s favorite surly duck in a story by Ty Templeton.

Don’t miss the Civil War: Choosing Sides One-Shot as the characters from these five stories gear up to make an impact on Civil War.

Civil War: Choosing Sides (Jul068173)
Written by Michael Avon Oeming, Matt Fraction, Robert Kirkman, Ty Templeton, and Marc Guggenheim
Penciled by Leinil Francis Yu, David Aja, Phil Hester, Scott Kollins, and Ty Templeton
48 Pgs./Rated T+ …$3.99
Foc 10/5, on Sale 10/25/2006

The Runaways recently lost one of their own when a teammate died in Runaways #18 and now they’re about to lose two more members of the family as writer and co-creator Brian K. Vaughan is leaving the title with issue #24 along with co-creator and penciler Adrian Alphona. Vaughan’s run on the Runaways will span 42 issues, in that time accumulating a rapid fan base as well as a wealth of critical praise, winning several awards.

Starting in 2002, Vaughan and Alphona took the concept of teenagers learning that their parents are actually super villains and ran with it. Entertainment Weekly named Runways Vol.1 HC to its Must List and the America Library Association named it to the Top Ten list for Best Books for Young Adults for 2006. Wizard Magazine even named Runaways “the best original concept from Marvel in thirty years.” Now Vaughan and Alphona are leaving the kids they created to others as Runaways will continue on with a new creative team with issue #25.

Vaughan and Alphona’s run on the Runaways with help from artists Takeshi Miyazawa, and Mike Norton will be remembered as one of the best in recent Marvel history. Everyone at Marvel and all of the devoted Runaways fans wish Vaughan and Alphona the best with the same sendoff given at the end of each issue’s letters page - keep running.

But this is NOT the end of the Runaways…let the speculation begin now…who will be the new creative team on Runaways! The answer will be revealed to retailers at the Baltimore Summit in one week.

The first issue of Heroes for Hire, leaping directly out of Civil War, has sold out at Diamond and a Second Printing Variant is on its way.

In Heroes for Hire #1, writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray along with fan-favorite artist Billy Tucci (Shi) bring to you a new ongoing series filled to the brim with action, adventure, and kung fu.

Palmiotti says, “Heroes for Hire features such an eclectic group of characters that there really is something for everyone in this series, and the book selling out so fast proves it. We are extremely happy about this news and the follow-up news that there will be a second printing only makes me happier because I know people will have another chance to pick it up if they missed it. We want to thank Marvel Comics, the retailers who support us and especially the fans.”

Shawn Hill of SilverBulletComicBooks.com says Heroes for Hire #1 “is a nice read…with a strong concept and a diverse and interesting cast.”

A group of heroes including Spider-Man’s former flame Black Cat, the Daughters of the Dragon Colleen Wing and Misty Knight, the Master of Kung Fu Shang Chi, Paladin, and an all-new Tarantula unite to form one of Marvel’s unlikeliest groups ever.

Also, be sure to pick up Heroes for Hire #2, a Civil War tie-in, as comics’ newest team begins their hunt for the country’s most prominent fugitive – Captain America.

Heroes for Hire #1 Second Printing Variant (Jul068294)
Written by Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
Pencils & Cover by Billy Tucci
32 Pgs./Rated T+ …$2.99
Foc – 9/14, on Sale – 10/4/2006

Heroes for Hire #2 (Jul061966)
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Pencils & Cover by Billy Tucci
32 Pgs./Rated T+ …$2.99
Foc – 9/7, on Sale – 9/27/2006

The New Universe is making a comeback this December thanks to the team of Warren Ellis and Salvador Larroca and Marvel.com is the only place where you can see the first 8 pages of Newuniversal #1. To see the first page, click here and check back everyday for another page.

Starting on August 30th, Marvel.com will be posting a new page of Newuniversal each day for eight straight days. Salvador Larroca has reinvented himself again for Newuniversal and these preview pages need to be seen to be believed.

The New Universe was originally an imprint of Marvel Comics in the 1980’s featuring titles like D.P.7., Starbrand, and Justice. It was a separate universe from the main Marvel titles that was to echo the real world and offer a more realistic take on super-heroes and science fiction.

The New Universe went on to only last three years but it is still remembered fondly to this day. It’s been twenty years since the launch of the original New Universe and its reinvisioning by Ellis and Larroca come this December is sure to turn heads.

Check Marvel.com everyday for the exclusive premiere of the first 8 pages and be there this December when the New Universe launches again in the pages Newuniversal #1.