Thursday, July 20, 2000

DC COMICS FOR OCTOBER

Following are DC Comics' solicitations for October, with information coming from the company.

BATMAN TITLES

BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #136

Written by Archie Goodwin and James Robinson, art by Marshall Rogers, Bob Wiacek and John Cebollero; cover by Rogers and Cebollero.

The conclusion to the five-part "Siege." Batman is in for a huge surprise when he comes face to face with Brass and his mercenaries in the depths of Wayne Manor - only to discover that Brass knows more about the Wayne family's history than Batman ever expected - including Bruce Wayne's alter ego. What shocking family secrets involving Brass will be revealed before it's all over?

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 4

DETECTIVE COMICS #751

Written by Greg Rucka and Jordan B. Gorfinkel, art by Shawn Martinbrough, Jeff Johnson, Steve Mitchell and Dan Panosian; cover by Dave Johnson.

Poison Ivy has been secluded in Gotham Park since the end of "No Man's Land." Now the mayor wants her out - and has ordered Gordon to remove her at all costs, even though it's the last thing the Commissioner wants to do. Plus, Bruce Wayne is forced to hire a bodyguard, putting a crimp in his nocturnal activities as Batman.

40 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 11.

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #10

Written by Devin Grayson and Alan Burnett, art by Roger Robinson, Jose-Luis Garcia-Lopez and John Floyd; cover by Brian Bolland.

Part three of the four-part "Transference," guest-starring Nightwing and Robin. Batman â¤| dead? That's what it looks like after his confrontation with Hugo Strange. As Nightwing tries to figure out if he's still alive, Robin discovers Batman's personal logs about each of them, which only leads to more questions.

40 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

BATMAN #584

Written by Ed Brubaker, art by Scott McDaniel and Karl Story; cover by McDaniel.

A documentary film crew plans to get to the bottom of the man or myth, as they hit the streets of Gotham to try and capture Batman on camera. But the young film student and his crew are getting in the way of the Dark Knight's investigations, and Batman isn't too happy about that. Plus, will the Penguin be evicted from his headquarters, which happens to be owned by Wayne Enterprises?

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 25.

AZRAEL: AGENT OF THE BAT #71

Written by Dennis O'Neil, art by Sergio Cariello and James Pascoe; cover by Tony Harris and Jim Royal.

Part two of the three-part "Prophet." Jean Paul's mission to the desert takes a grisly turn as he begins to learn the secrets of the strange new Azrael. Stripped of his powers, will the Agent of the Bat be able to thwart the other Azrael - who wears Jean Paul's former costume with all his abilities intact? And what role does Leslie Thompkins' brother play in all this.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 11.

BATGIRL #9

Written by Kelley Puckett, art and cover by Damian Scott.

Caught in the midst of a bank robbery, Batgirl must make split-second decisions that might cost the lives of many. But the guilt of her own past resurfaces when she comes face to face with someone whose sins are far greater - and Batgirl finds herself questioning her own motives.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 4.

BATMAN BEYOND #14

Written by Hilary J. Bader, art by Min S. Ku and Jordi Ensign; cover by Brian Stelfreeze.

Etrigan the Demon guest-stars. Halloween time has come around, bringing mischief, mayhem and downright evil to the future Gotham City. Batman can't handle it all alone - but will the unstoppable and unpredictable Etrigan be of any help, or will he just his fun on All Hallows' Eve?

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Oct. 18.

BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER

Adapted by Darren Vincenzo, art and cover by Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh.

Bruce Wayne's greatest foe, the pyschopathic Joker, has returned to the future. Now, Terry McGinnis, the latest Batman, must use every lesson that he's learned from the original Batman to defeated the master of mayhem.

48 pages, $2.95, ships on Oct. 25.

BATMAN: DARK VICTORY #13

Written by Jeph Loeb, art and cover by Tim Sale.

The issue begins where the shocking evens of the previous issue left off. Has Batman finally found the identity of the Hang Man killer (if, in fact, there's only one) who has splattered the calendar with blood by hanging a member of the Gotham City Police Force each month? What connection does the Hang Man have to Harvey Dent, and can the murders be stopped before the most horrifying killing of them all takes place? This time Batman is no longer alone in his quest for justice as a young, inexperienced Robin joins him. But will the addition of an untested partner prove to be more deadly than it's worth? Witness the last stand of the crumbling criminal empire, as the Falcone Family faces off against Two-Face and a mob of freakish allies that includes the Joker, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy and Solomon Grundy. Will all of Gotham City be left in ruins before the last gang war is over? Which, if any, of the Falcones, the Marionis and the Vitis will survive? And how will the change the lives of James Gordon, Harvey Dent and Janice Porter?

48 pages, $4.95, ships on Oct. 18.

BATMAN: THE DOOM THAT CAME TO GOTHAM #2

Written by Mike Mignola and Richard Pace, art by Troy Nixey and Dennis Jahnke.

The mini-series continues. Returned from Arctic, explorer Bruce Wayne begins to grasp the horror that has accompanied him back to Gotham City, even as those dearest to him being to suffer the consequences. Appearances by strangely altered versions of Ra's al Ghul, Talia, the Demon Etrigan and Man-Bat highlight an issue that finds Bruce donning the mantle of the Bat â¤| perhaps never to remove it again.

48 pages, $4.95, ships on Oct. 11.

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #31

Written by Ty Templeton, art by Terry Beatty; cover by Templeton.

There's a blackout in Gotham. Citizens everywhere are running scared --- and who else could be behind such uncontrollable chaos but the Joker? Can the Dark Knight and company get a handle on the madness before someone seriously gets hurt?

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Oct. 4.

BIRDS OF PREY #24

Written by Chuck Dixon, art and cover by Butch Guice.

To save Blockbuster's life, Black Canary, Lady Vic and Grim continue their search for a heart donor in Gorilla City. At the same time, Canary is posing as Oracle - but how long can she deceive her captors?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

CATWOMAN #87

Written by Jordan B. Gorfinkel, art by N. Steven Harris and Wayne Faucher.

A tale from Catwoman's past finds Selina journeying south of the border --- where she discovers a shocking crime that strikes at the very heart of who she is.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 25.

HARLEY QUINN #1

Written by Karl Kesel, art and cover by Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson.

Harley Quinn is not the story of an honorable woman and her quest for justice. Instead, it's a love story gone horribly, horribly wrong, especially in the first issue, as the Joker's girlfriend must do with out Mister J's "calming" influence. Harley is driven to astounding lengths to free her loony lover. And that's just in the first seven pages. What follows is too strange for words, though it does involve a cameo bt Batman.

48 pages, $2.95, ships on Oct. 11.

NIGHTWING #50

Written by Chuck Dixon, art by Greg Land and Jose Marzan Jr., cover by Land and Karl Story.

An extra-sized issue finds Nightwing at a crossroads. He must make a difficult decision which could affect the kind of hero he chooses to be in the future. Dudley Soames - the twisted psychopath known as Torque - has been going down a path of insanity ever since his head was twisted 180 degrees by the behemoth known as Blockbuster. Soames finally loses it and takes Arnot, and the entire Bludhaven Police Headquarters, hostage. It's now up to Dick Grayson to set things right, and he prepares himself for the ultimate face-off against Soames in order to free the hostages. But before he can do anything, Dick first must decide which uniform he's going to wear in order to get the job done most effectively. Will he adopt his daytime identity of Bludhaven rookie cop, or will tackle Saomes in his nocturnal identity of Nightwing?

48 pages, $3.50, ships on Oct. 11.

NIGHTWING 80-PAGE GIANT #1

Written by Chuck Dixon, art by Michael Collins and Manuel Gutierrez.

The all-new villain Hella is out for revenge for the deaths of her cop-dynasty family. Will Nightwing stop her in time - or will it get even uglier before it gets better?

80 pages, $5.95, ships on Oct. 25.

ROBIN #83

Written by Chuck Dixon, art and cover by Pete Woods and Jesse Delperdang.

Vacation time. Tim Drake and the Brentwood gang enjoy sun, fun, girls and the good life. But the mystery of the new kid Danny means Tim's alter ego can't be too far behind. This issue features Robin vs. ninjas and Spoiler vs. her mom. Plus, just what is lurking in the waters of Gotham Harbor, and why is it so darn hungry?

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 18.

ROBIN: YEAR ONE #1

Written by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty, art by cover by Javier Pulido and Robert Campanella.

The first year of Dick Grayson as Robin is explored as faces some of Batman's deadliest foes - all while struggling with being a normal teenager and a ward to the rich and well-known Bruce Waune.

48 pages, $4.95, ships Oct. 25

SUPERMAN TITLES

SUPERMAN #163

Written by Jeph Loeb, art by McGuinness, Paul Pelletier and Cam Smith; cover by McGuinness and Smith.

Part two of the two-part story guest-starring Aquaman, as the King of the Seas is determined to take down presidential candidate Lex Luthor once and for all. Will Superman be able to save Luthor from being a victim of Poseidonis law? Will he even want to save him? Plus, a special appearance by Young Justice.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 4.

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #585

Written by J.M. DeMatteis, art by Mike Miller and Jose Marzan Jr.; cover by Miller.

Superman has his hands full with keeping Metropolis intact. Lex Luthor attempts to use the city's technology to terraform the rest of the country in his bid for presidency. Satanus tries to control the city's soul by using Superman's friends and foes to get it. And a mysterious Native American woman just wants to take Metropolis back for her people.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 11.

SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #107

Written by Mark Schultz, art by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen, cover by Mahnke.

A perilous journey back into the Phantom Zone awaits Superman and Steel, as they jump into unimaginable danger in order to retrieve Luna, leader of the Cyber-Moths. But it seems the villainess has made some friends during her stay, and they're about to give the Super-team a whole lot of trouble.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 18.

ACTION COMICS #772

Written by Joe Kelly, art by Kano and Marlo Alquiza, cover by Matt Haley.

Part one of a two-part confrontation between Superman and Ra's al Ghul. Lois investigates who tried to kill her husband during "Critical Condition," only to wind up on a trail that leads her directly to Talia. Meanwhile, Encantadora's brother has fallen into the hands of Ra's al Ghul - who is prepared to never worry about metahumans again, thanks to the newly enhanced Lazarus Pit. After the events in JLA and Detective Comics, will Ra's finally become unstoppable?

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 25.

SUPERBOY #81

Written by Jay Faerber, art by Ben Herrera and Keith Champagne, cover by Tom Grummett and Karl Kesel.

Guest-starring The Titans, who attempt to detain Roxy, whose body has merged with an alien lifeform and threatens to lay waste the town of Leesburg. Superboy might present the only chance to deal with Roxy peacefully - but will he stopping fighting The Titans long enough to reach her?

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 18.

SUPERGIRL #51

Written by Peter David, art and cover by Leonard Kirk and Robin Riggs.

A startling new look heralds a dramatic change in Supergirl's life. After the climactic battle with the Carnivore last issue, Linda Danvers is literally no longer the woman she used to be. What made her Supergirl has disappeared, and Linda - exhibiting only a fraction of her former powers - now sets off to find herself. First stop: Metropolis.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 25.

SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #50

Written by Jordan B. Gorfinkel, art by Min S. Ku and Terry Austin; cover by Mike Manley and Austin.

Superman â¤| accused of murder? The Man of Steel is put on trial wrongfully as a secret underground cult of young people accuses him of killing one of its members. With Superman's honor at stake, can Lois Lane help The Man of Steel clear his name? Featuring an appearance by the Parasite.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Oct. 4.

SUPERMAN IN THE SEVENTIES

Written by Elliot S. Maggin, Jack Kirby, Cary Bates, Robert Kanigher, Dennis O'Neil, Paul Levitz and Len Wein; art by Curt Swan, Kirby, Dick Dillin, Murphy Anderson, Werner Roth, Bob Oskner, Dick Giordano, Vince Colletta and others; cover by Neil Adams.

Stories spanning from the realistic to the ridiculous highlight a collection of some of the Man of Steel's greatest adventures during the 1970s.

224 pages, $19.95, ships on Oct. 4.

DC UNIVERSE TITLES

AQUAMAN #74

Written by Dan Jurgens, art by Steve Epting and Norm Rapmund; cover by Michael Wm. Kaluta.

When Aquaman returns to his kingdom, he's shocked to discover the death of one of his closest allies. Determined to solve the mystery behind his friend's murder, Arthur must challenge a fearsome new enemy - one that might prove to be the greatest threat he's ever faced.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

CREATURE COMMANDOS #8

Written by Timothy Truman, art and cover by Scot Eaton and Ray Kryssing.

"War Movie" shows the various tribes of Terra Arcana uniting together, led by the stalwart Creature Commandos, to take down and destroy the inter-dimensional menace known as Saturna. What likes ahead for this ragtag team of misfit soldiers?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 11.

THE FLASH #167

Written by Geoff Johns, art by Angel Unzueta and Doug Hazlewood, cover by Brian Bolland.

The crazed "Wonderland" storyline continues in "Joining The Tea Party." Will Wally become what he despises the most - a Rogue - in order to defend himself against the onslaught of the assassin called Plunder and the awesome machinations of the Thinker? And why do Captain Cold and Mirror Master seem madder than the March Hare and Cheshire Cat combined?

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 25.

GREEN LANTERN #131

Written by Judd Winick, art by Darryl Banks and Andy Smith.

There's some down time for Kyle and John Stewart as they explore the changes affecting their lives, while Kyle's new assistant Terry becomes better acquainted with his new surroundings. But the calm doesn't last long as readers flash forward to find Green Lantern's being remade, piece by piece, by his captors, the Manhunters, as they plot to rule the new universe with his power ring.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 4.

THE GREEN LANTERN/GREEN ARROW COLLECTION HC

Written by Dennis O'Neil; art and cover by Neal Adams.

The classic stories by O'Neil and Adams are collected together for the first time in a special hardcover edition.

368 pages, $75.00, ships on Nov. 29.

HITMAN #56

Written by Garth Ennis; art by John McCrea and Garry Leach; cover by McCrea.

At last, the origin of Tommy Monaghan. A special issue focuses on the early years of Hitman, as readers see his early friendship with Pat and the years he was raised by Sean. This leads to the fateful night of horror that brought him down the path to being a hired killer, and his days as a United States Marine where he first hooked up with Natt. Plus the secret of Noonan's.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 25.

HOURMAN #21

Written by Tom Peyer; art by Rags Morales and David Meikis; cover by Morales.

The Master of Time is reduced to nothing. Hourman's greatest enemy has stolen everything from him: his name, his powers, his friends...his whole life! Who will save the day now that Hourman no longer has anything to offer? Don't look to Snapper -- death was just the beginning of his troublesâ¤|

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 11.

IMPULSE #67

Written by Todd Dezago; art by Ethan Van Sciver and Rodney Ramos; cover by Van Sciver and Wayne Faucher.

The tear-filled epilogue to the "Mercury Falling" storyline. The JLA, JSA, Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., and others visit Impulse in an effort to comfort him in his time of loss, and to pay their respects to a legendary hero who has fallen. How will Bart cope without his beloved mentor?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 11.

JLA #48

Written by Mark Waid; art and cover by Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary.

The "Queen of Fables" saga continues as readers find The World's Greatest Heroes -- still one member short -- out of their league, and their lives turned into a Grimm nightmare. The wicked Queen of Fables has changed Manhattan into a sinister magical forest, taken possession of the Wonderdome, and has made Superman completely helpless with her magic. And the only JLAer that has a chance of defeating the Queen -- Wonder Woman -- has been put into an enchanted slumber, never to awaken.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 25.

JLA SECRET FILES #3

Written by D. Curtis Johnson, Mark Waid, Tom Peyer, and various; art by Pablo Raimondi, Barry Kitson, Phil Jimenez, Bryan Hitch, Jeff Johnson, Kevin Maguire, John McCrea, Doug Mahnke, Jason Orfalas, and various; cover by Dave Ross.

The lead story (by Johnson and Raimondi) reveals the untold tale of how Talia, Ra's al Ghul's daughter, stole Batman's own Secret Files in order to help her father defeat the World's Greatest Super-Heroes during the "Tower of Babel" storyline. With Batman's personal observations on how he could defeat his teamates if ever the need arised, it's no wonder Ra's was so close to victory! Plus, Bryan Hitch's designs for the all-new Watchtower, breathtaking renditions of the greatest JLA line-ups in history, Profile Pages on the latest JLA villains, and a sneak peek of upcoming JLA adventures -- courtesy of Hourman's Time Vision.

48 pages, $4.95, ships on Oct. 11.

JLA/WITCHBLADE

Written by Len Kaminski; art by Mark Pajarillo and Walden Wong; cover by Pajarillo.

Sara Pezzini finds her eldritch weapon, the Witchblade, hopping bodies and possessing female members of the JLA. How will The World's Greatest Heroes stop one of their own without hurting them? Co-published with Top Cow Productions.

48 pages, $5.95, ships on Oct. 4.

JSA #17

Written by David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns; art by Stephen Sadowski and Michael Bair; cover by Alan Davis and Mark Farmer.

The all-new Injustice Society wreaks havoc on the JSA and its headquarters in Part 2 of "Injustice be Done." Johnny Sorrow's plan to free the King of Tears continues to unfold as the JSA squares off against its counterparts, resulting in a startling transformation for Hawkgirl, the Flash Jay Garrick trapped on the far side of the Speed Force, and Doctor Mid-Nite making a fateful mistake.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

ALL STAR COMICS ARCHIVES Volume 6 HC

Written by Gardner Fox, Jay Marr, Jim Robinson, and Jesse Merlan; art by Joe Kubert, H.G. Peter, Stan Aschmeier, Martin Nodell, Paul Reinman, John Chester Kozlak, and Joe Gallagher; cover by Michael Lark.

Thrilling stories from the Golden Age of the Justice Society of America are collected in this handsome volume -- reprinting All Star Comics #24-28 -- with an introduction by Roy Thomas and a new cover by Michael Lark.

224 pages, $49.95, ships on Oct. 25.

LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE #35

Written by J.M. DeMatteis; art by Michael Zulli and Vince Locke; painted cover by Phil Hale.

Part 3 of the 4-part story showcasing Hal Jordan as the new Spectre. Paralyzed and trapped by his psychic enemy, Caul, the Spectre fights his inner demons -- the souls of everyone on whom he has ever passed judgment. Will he come to terms with his new mission and terrible power? Meanwhile, Caul is free to pursue his own ultimate goal: to escape his preordained death at the Spectre's hands by triggering global Armageddon.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

LEGION LOST #8

Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning; art and cover by Olivier Coipel and Lanning.

The Legionnaires still are lost, a comrade has fallen, a strange being is running loose on the Outpost, and Singularity continues to view the heroes as an alien threat to his world. But hope finally shines through for the team with the unexpected arrival of help. Will it be enough to rally the team to its greatest moment since first being cast away to an unknown galaxy?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 4.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER #25

Written by John Ostrander; art and cover by Tom Mandrake.

Gypsy, J'onn J'onzz's former JLA teamate, guest-stars in a "jump-on" issue that has the ex-Justice Leaguer exploring some Egyptian tombs, only to unearth a deadly alien threat within! The Manhunter may be the only hope of stopping it -- but how will J'onn defeat something that may be of Martian origin?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 4.

ORION #7

Written by Walter Simonson and Howard Chaykin; art by Simonson and Chaykin.

It's Orion vs. a strength-increased Kalibak, in a battle to determine who rules Apokolips! But what secret does Desaad hold, and will it help or hurt Orion? Plus, a backup story written by Simonson and Howard Chaykin, with art by Chaykin.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

THE SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-HEROES #2

Written by Howard Chaykin and David Tischman; art and cover by Mike McKone and Jimmy Palmiotti.

Elseworlds. Dark workings are afoot as a contingent of the Secret Society of Super-Heroes decides to rebel against their righteous leaders, leaving Superman the lone altruist among a group now dedicated to using powers for personal gain. Only one thing stands between the Secret Society and anarchy: their newest member, young Bart Allen. And if he alone can stop them, it's only by exposing them for the world to finally see.

48 pages, $5.95, ships on Oct. 4.

STARMAN #72

Written by James Robinson; art by Peter Snejbjerg; painted cover by Andrew Robinson.

The conclusion to "Grand Guignol!" All should have been well in Opal after the events of last issue -- but a new terror has risen that threatens Starman's city. A threat that will destroy the city once and for all unless one hero makes the ultimate sacrifice. Plus, O'Dare vs. O'Dare! Who won't walk away from this violent family clash?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 4.

THE TITANS #22

Written by Jay Faerber; art by Paul Pelletier and Bud LaRosa; cover by Phil Jimenez.

Arsenal vs. Deathstroke for the life of Cheshire. And will Jesse Quick be of any help, or will she just get in the way? Meanwhile, guest star Green Lantern teams up with the mysterious Epsilon to stop a new threat to the Titans, while Troia finds her very existence seems in jeopardy.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

WONDER WOMAN #163

Written by Ben Raab; art by Derec Aucoin and Tom Simmons; cover by Karl Waller.

Aquaman guests in Part 2 of the 2-part "God Complex." In Atlantis, Diana and the King of the Seas investigate the mystery of a murdered boatload of innocent Wonder Scouts. The trail leads them directly to Black Manta -- but Aquaman's vile nemesis is a target himself of the true villain behind the killings. Will Wonder Woman be prepared to face the deranged deity that seeks to take both her and Aquaman's lives?

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Oct. 25.

YOUNG JUSTICE #26

Written by Peter David; art and cover by Todd Nauck and Lary Stucker.

Part 2 of the team's 3-part journey into space finds them on the Planet Myrg, attempting to free its populace from a tyrannical ruler. But the members of Young Justice are in for the ride of their lives as they end up facing an even larger threat with an unlikely challenge. Plus, Red Tornado's daughter receives some disturbing news that will have ramifications on another member of the team.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 4.

YOUNG JUSTICE: SINS OF YOUTH TP

Written by Peter David and various; art by Todd Nauck, Lary Stucker and various; cover by Mike Wieringo and Terry Austin.

The sold-out event is now collected. Featuring all 12 parts to this age-switching epic featuring Young Justice, The JLA, The JSA, and more.

320 pages, $19.95, ships on Oct. 18.

BEYOND THE DC UNIVERSE TITLES

MINOR MIRACLES HARDCOVER

Written and illustrated by Will Eisner; cover by Eisner.

Eisner's first new original work for DC. These four tales recall the magic of everyday miracles as Eisner returns to the New York City of his youth.

112 pages, black and white, $29.95, ships on Oct. 11 (softcover, $12.95).

THE WILL EISNER READER SC

Written and illustrated by Will Eisner; cover by Eisner.

Seven graphic stories by a comics master, in a new edition. This "must-have" graphic novel contains stories that originally appeared in Will Eisner Quarterly -- contemporary tales of poignant reality, imaginative forays into fantasy, ruminations on the human condition, and lighthearted exercises in whimsy. Included are "The Long Hit," "The Appeal," the classic "Sunset in Sunshine City," and four other tales.

88 pages, black and white, $9.95, ships on Oct. 4.

STATIC SHOCK: TRIAL BY FIRE TP

Written by Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington III; art by John Paul Leon and Denys Cowan, Steve Mitchell and Shawn Martinbrough; cover by Leon.

Static, the star of the new animated series on the Kids WB!, returns in this new trade paperback that collects the first four issues of his original series from Milestone Media.

104 pages, $9.95, ships on Oct. 4.

CARTOON NETWORK STARRING (COW & CHICKEN) #16

Written by Jesse Leon McCann and Paul Kupperberg; art by Mike Kazaleh, Tim Harkins and Gary Fields; cover by David Feiss.

The world's wackiest brother-sister team gets lost at sea -- and X-rayed at home! Plus, I.M. Weasel retires. Is it all over for Baboon's blundering?

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Oct. 18.

DEXTER'S LABORATORY #16

Written by John Rozum; art by John Delaney and Jeff Albrecht; cover by Bill Wray.

Dee-Dee gets the birthday present of her dreams in "Dee-Dee's Pony Tale", but it's, well, a real Trojan horse. Plus, Dexter tries to take a scientific shortcut while playing miniature golf.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Oct. 25.

LOONEY TUNES #71

Written by Jesse Leon McCann, Chuck Kim and Craig Boldman; art by David Alvarez, Walter Carzon, Mike DeCarlo, and Horacio Ottolini; cover by Alvarez and DeCarlo.

Go trick-or-treating with three Looney ghost stories. Bugs and Daffy find a UFO in "Hare-a 51"; Sylvester checks into a horror hotel (heeeere's Porky!); and, the whole crew dresses up as you-know-who in "Tazzy-Doo, Where Are You?"

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Oct. 4.

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS #8

Written by Sean Carolan and Jennifer Moore; art and cover by Phil Moy.

Ms. Bellum's on vacation, so the Mayor's in charge of Townsville -- and that's bad news. The Girls cope with City Hall craziness in "Mayor, May I."

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Oct. 18.

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS DOUBLE WHAMMY

Written by Sean Carolan, Jennifer Moore, Abby Denson and John Rozum; art by Phil Moy, Dan Fraga, Mike Manley, Mike DeCarlo and Jeff Albrecht; cover by Moy.

Get a double whammy dose of Bubbles, Blossom and Buttercup in this super-sized special, reprinting the first two sold-out issues of the smash hit monthly The Powerpuff Girls. Also featured is a bonus Dexter's Laboratory tale: "Bubble Boy."

64 pages, $3.95, ships on Oct. 4.

SCOOBY-DOO #41

Written by Rurik Tyler and John Rozum; art and cover by Joe Staton and Dave Hunt.

The Mystery Inc. gang gets a big "shock" from an electric monster that's haunting a trolley line. Also, a haunted city dump holds the answer to more mysteries than they bargained for.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Oct. 11.

WILDSTORM TITLES

GEN13 ANNUAL 2000 #1

Written by Ben Raab; art by Kaare Andrews; cover by Lee Bermejo.

"Devil's Night," the storyline running through all the WildStorm Annuals this month, begins here. During a séance on Halloween, the Gen13 gang unexpectedly lets loose the demon-supreme Ghoulgotha.

40 pages, $3.50, ships on Oct. 4.

THE AUTHORITY ANNUAL 2000 #1

Written by Joe Casey; art by Cully Hamner and Ray Snyder; cover by Lee Bermejo.

Part 2 of "Devil's Night," the storyline running through all the WildStorm Annuals this month. All over the world, the dead are rising from their graves. Can the Authority stop them before somebody starts WW III?

40 pages, $3.50, ships on Oct. 11.

WILDCATS ANNUAL 2000 #1

Written by Joe Casey; art by Lee Bermejo and Jim Royal; cover by Bermejo.

"Devil's Night" continues in Part 3 of the storyline running through all of this month's WildStorm Annuals. Grifter is haunted by visions of his dead brother. Ladytron fights off a surge of zombie attackers. Ghoulgotha seems to be up to no good.

40 pages, $3.50, ships on Oct. 18.

MAGIQUE ANNUAL 2000 #1

Written by Ben Raab; art by Jeff Moy and W.C. Carani; cover cover by Lee Bermejo.

"Devil's Night," the storyline running through this month's WildStorm Annuals, concludes. The sorceress Magique calls upon Michael Cray and Christie Blaze for help in defeating the menace of Ghoulgotha.

40 pages, $3.50, ships on Oct. 25.

THE AUTHORITY #20

Written by Mark Millar; art and cover by Frank Quitely and Trevor Scott.

The Earth-shattering climax to the 4-part "Earth Inferno." The team finds itself up against its greatest challenge yet: the planet Earth itself! The population of Earth is being moved to parallel realities, and the Authority is helpless to do anything about it. They've saved us all countless times, but how can the Authority save us from the world?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 25.

JENNY SPARKS: THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE AUTHORITY #5

Written by Mark Millar; art by John McCrea and James Hodgkins; cover by McCrea.

The Secret History of the Authority ends at the beginning, in the 1920s, when a young Jenny Sparks discovers what it means to be the Spirit of the Twentieth Century. There she faces her greatest challenge -- which might just finish Jenny off before she even gets started. But a time-tripping friend drops in on Jenny, with plans for Jenny's future and some much-needed answers.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

BRASS #5

Written by John Arcudi; art by Carlos d'Anda and Richard Bennett; cover by Bennett.

The war is over and the invasion force driven off...so why isn't anybody celebrating? Maybe it's because the super-soldiers that fought still have the Brass virus, and it's making them mean and crazy. Now Hershel Goldstein, the original Brass, has to face off against the only people in the universe he considers his friends -- and it won't be pretty.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 11.

COUNTDOWN #7

Written by Jeff Mariotte; art and cover by Aaron Lopresti and Randy Emberlin.

The action heats up as the scene shifts from the alien armada to the surface of the distant planet Klesh'n-4 -- where the interstellar supercriminals have taken over! But why does the fate of our world rest on a betrayal on the other side of the universe? With the end of the 8-issue series in sight, can the end of the world be far behind?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 11.

CRIMSON #22

Written by Brian Augustyn; art and cover by Humberto Ramos and Sandra Hope.

Lisseth sends a huge blow to all humanity: Not a single soul will be allowed to enter Heaven or Hell...forever! Only a "Chosen One" who is willing to make a huge sacrifice, perhaps the ultimate sacrifice, can stop her nefarious plan.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 25.

DANGER GIRL #7

Written by J. Scott Campbell and Andy Hartnell; art by Campbell, Sandra Hope, Richard Friend, and Scott Williams; cover by Campbell and Hope.

It's been months since readers last saw Abbey Chase and the rest of the Danger Girls, and things have not gotten better for our beautiful and intrepid heroines. The villainous Hammer has successfully gathered all the mystical artifacts he needs to attain world domination, and the situation is beyond dire. Join Abbey, Sydney, Valerie, Deuce, and Johnny Baracuda as they navigate the treacherous waters of Hammer Island and enter into a battle royale to retrieve the stolen artifacts! Which of our heroes will not be coming back for the Danger Girls Specials and miniseries that lie ahead? What is the stunning secret of Secret Agent Zero?

48 pages, $5.95, ships on Oct. 24.

GEN13 #58

Written by Ben Raab; art by Ed Benes; cover by Dan Norton.

The latest "cute little monsters" craze has gotten horribly out of control. Little Asian schoolchildren run for their lives as once-adorable creatures bear tooth and claw in a mini-monster massacre. Who can save them? Get out your signal watch and make a distress call to...Science Ninja Squad Gaijin13.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

JET #2

Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning; art by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs; cover by Jason Pearson.

The four-issue mini-series continues. "Midnight To Midnight," the storyline taking place within a span of a day, races on as Jodi Slayton takes a break between classes for a lunch date with a smitten classmate. But her break doesn't last long before she finds herself donning her identity of Jet in order to take down the bad guys, save John Q. Citizen, preserve her secret identity, and keep the world safe. Unfortunately, Special Crimes Officer Bobby Stubbs has been given the order to bring Jet in...at any cost.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

RACER X #3

Written by Tommy Yune; art by Jo Chen; cover by Yune.

The thrilling conclusion as Rex Racer faces the ultimate challenge -- the death-defying Fire Race. Speeding through the heart of a volcano, Rex must survive outrageous obstacles as he races against his own teacher, Prince Kabala. But what of his taboo relationship with Princess Sylvania? And can he win the trust of an entire nation and assume the role he was destined for: Racer X?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 25.

RESIDENT EVIL: FIRE & ICE #1

Written by Ted Adams and Kris Oprisko; art by Lee Bermejo and Mark Irwin; cover by Bermejo.

A bimonthly miniseries adapts the scenarios of the popular Resident Evil videogame in standard comic-book form for the first time, Meet Charlie Company, a brand-new S.T.A.R.S. unit. Its first mission: to track down the source of a deadly virus released at a circus.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 4.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION -- THE KILLING SHADOWS #2

Written by Scott Ciencin; art and cover by Andrew Currie and Bryan Hitch.

The merciless, legendary assassins known only as Bodai Shin have set out to annihilate any witnesses to their one crime on Nydaris by destroying the entire planet! Using technology developed by their victim, Dr. Noguri, a breathless race across Nydaris's nightside ensues. Meanwhile, in orbit over the planet, the Enterprise is dealing with its own Bodai Shin nightmare.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 11.

WILDCATS VOLUME 2 #16

Written by Joe Casey; art by Sean Phillips; cover by J.G. Jones.

Part 3 of a deadly 6-part story finds a popular member of Wildcats becoming the latest victim of a brutal serial killer. After the sadistic confrontation that occurs this issue, things will never be the same for the 'Cats as the gruesome "Serial Boxes" continues.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 4.

AMERICA'S BEST COMICS

PROMETHEA #11

Written by Alan Moore; art and cover by J.H. Williams III and Mick Gray.

Discover the magic with the latest issue of the multiple-Eisner Award nominated series. It's a new millenium in New York and there's an old-fashioned giant monster wreaking havoc on the streets of the Big Apple. Promethea engages in all-out superheroine-heroics as she battles a decidedly non-Y2K compliant Elasti-Gel -- which ultimately turns into a giant millenium cyber-slug.

32 pages, $2.95, ships on Oct. 25.

VERTIGO TITLES

100 BULLETS #17

Written by Brian Azzarello; art by Eduardo Risso; painted cover by Dave Johnson.

Part 3 of the 4-part "Hang Up on the Hang Low." Street player Loop Hughes discovers that his intended target and the mysterious Agent Graves have crossed paths in the past. For Graves, Loop's assignment is quite personal. And for Loop, 100 bullets might not be enough.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 4.

ADVENTURES IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE #3

Written by Garth Ennis; art by Carlos Ezquerra; cover by Brian Bolland.

"Up Yours Fritz," the riotous conclusion to the over-the-top mini-series. On the eve of D-Day, Capt. Darcy and his crew rumble with "Jager X," a squad of monstrous Nazi paratroopers -- in the fuselage of a Nazi bomber. Can our heroes stem the Nazi tide at 30,000 feet?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 4.

DEADENDERS #10

Written by Ed Brubaker; art by Warren Pleece and Cameron Stewart; cover by Philip Bond.

Part 2 of the 3-part "More Fun in the New World." When Beezer travels to the utopian Sector 20, he encounters a mysterious girl named Anna who possesses the same strange, cataclysmic visions as Beezer. With Anna's help, will Beezer finally discover the secret to his own origin? It doesn't seem likely, when a simple hand-shake between the pair sends both on a mind-bending, world-warping trip that leaves them with more questions than answers.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

THE DREAMING #55

Written by Bill Willingham; art by Adam Hughes, Michael Wm. Kaluta, Daniel Torres, Phil Jimenez, Paul Pope, Peter Gross, Zander Cannon, Linda Medley, Albert Monteys, Marc Laming, and Willingham; painted cover by Dave McKean.

A special guest-filled issue of The Dreaming features Lucien's precocious assistant, Danny Nod, as he travels different mythical realms with Goldie the Gargoyle. From the landing of Robin Hood's final, fateful arrow to the tantalizing harem of the Arabian Nights to Jack and the Beanstalk and the Three Little Pigs -- Danny and Goldie partake in hilarious adventures as they interrupt stories in progress and change the course of modern literature in the process.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

HELLBLAZER #155

Written by Brian Azzarello; art by Marcelo Frusin; painted cover by Tim Bradstreet.

Part 5 of the 6-part "Good Intentions." Trapped between a nasty secret and a brutal threat, Constantine discovers something in the backwoods of West Virginia -- a horror that's older, stronger and infinitely more vicious than any human threat could possibly be. Something that finds Constantine in a most unlikely position: completely out of his element.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 25.

HELLBLAZER SPECIAL: BAD BLOOD #4

Written by Jamie Delano; art by Philip Bond; cover by Sean Phillips.

The crazed conclusion. New London riots and hair-brained assassination plots abound as the very-pregnant Dolly prepares to ascend the throne as the New Queen of England. But the elderly John Constantine learns a secret about her bloodline that threatens to dash the Royalist plans.

32 pages, $2.95, ships on Oct. 11.

LUCIFER #7

Written by Mike Carey; art by Peter Gross; cover by Duncan Fegredo.

Part 3 of the 4-part "The House of Windowless Rooms." On the verge of regaining his lost wings, Lucifer must fight the ancient Gods of the Japanese Underworld, on their turf and on their terms. Meanwhile, back in L.A., Mazikeen has her own crisis to contend with, as the ancient predators known as the Shapeless lay claim to Lucifer's mystical gateway.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 4.

OUTLAW NATION #2

Written by Jamie Delano; art by Goran Sudzuka; painted cover by Glenn Fabry.

Vertigo's newest series continues as Story Johnson finds his way out of the Cambodian jungle and deep into the heart of a Southern bayou. Forced to rely on the kindness of a stranger, Story's got a head full of jumbled memories, a hat full of something worse and his murderous brother "Kid Gloves" stalking his every move. Meanwhile, across the country, Story's ex-lover, Ruth -- a.k.a. "Sweetcakes" -- finds her life in imminent danger as she pursues her wayward son in his search for the fabled Johnson "place."

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 18.

PREACHER: DEAD OR ALIVE -- THE COLLECTED COVERS HC

Text by Garth Ennis and Glenn Fabry; art and cover by Fabry.

A hardcover collection featuring every Preacher cover painting by artist Glenn Fabry, with running commentary by Garth Ennis and Fabry.

192 pages, $29.95, ships on Oct. 25.

THE SANDMAN PRESENTS: MERV PUMPKINHEAD -- AGENT OF DREAM

Written by Bill Willingham; art by Mark Buckingham and John Stokes; painted cover by Kevin Nowlan.

This hilarious one-shot features everyone's favorite pumpkinhead as a daring Super-spy Agent of Dream -- or is that all just in his head?

48 pages, $5.95, ships on Oct. 18.

SWAMP THING #8

Written by Brian K. Vaughan; art by Roger Petersen and Rick Magyar; painted cover by Simon Bisley.

As Tefé tries to make sense of the horrible events from the previous issue, she senses Daphne's presence, which leads her to a reunion with Pilate. Together for the first time, Barnabas, Pilate and Tefé are squatters for the night at an abandoned murder scene, where strange dreams seem to point towards trouble lying ahead.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 11.

TRANSMETROPOLITAN #39

Written by Warren Ellis; art by Darick Robertson and Rodney Ramos; cover by Tim Bradstreet.

The conclusion to the 3-part "Back to Basics." Tensions have risen in The City as anger burns in the political power structure. Revolution fever sparks in the underground and police brutality increases on the streets. Which means that Spider Jerusalem is unchained and crazy with freedom and completely in his element -- becoming the voice of the people, whether they like it or not.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Oct. 11.

THE WITCHING HOUR HARDCOVER

Written by Jeph Loeb; art by Chris Bachalo and Art Thibert; cover by Bachalo.

The bewitching miniseries that featured the Vertigo debut of writer Jeph Loeb, and the Vertigo return of artist Chris Bachalo is collected in a hardcover. A trade-paperback edition will not be offered with an in-store date earlier than March 2001.

160 pages, $29.95, ships on Oct. 18.

UPCOMING DC DIRECT

Following are newly announced products from DC Direct.

PLASTIC MAN BY ALEX ROSS POSTER

Painted by Alex Ross.

Continuing the series of full-color painted posters by Alex Ross that began with Flash and Green Lantern. This classic image of the Silver Age Plastic Man is captured in a 4-color poster that is designed to be displayed alone or placed side-by-side with others in the set.

22 inches by 34 inches, $7.95, ships on Nov. 8.

ZATANNA BY ALEX ROSS POSTER

Painted by Alex Ross.

Adding to the series of full-color painted posters by Alex Ross featuring classic characters in classic poses, this striking 4-color 22" x 34" poster features everyone's favorite magician Zatanna.

22 inches by 34 inches, $7.95, ships on Nov. 8.

IMPULSE/YOUNG JUSTICE STATUE

Sculpted by William Paquet, based on designs by Todd Nauck.

The last of three statues of the heroes of Young Justice showcases the team's most reckless member: Impulse. Skidding to a halt atop a building, the cold-cast porcelain Bart Allen stands 9" tall atop a 5.5" deep x 3" wide base designed to interlock with those of the already-solicited Superboy and Robin Young Justice statues.

$175, ships on Jan. 10.

NIGHTWING MINI-STATUE

Sculpted by William Paquet, based on designs by Scott McDaniel.

The sold-out medium-size version of the Nightwing statue sculpted by William Paquet from designs by Scott McDaniel is now recaptured as a mini, measuring 4.25" high x 4.25" deep x 3" wide. This cold-cast porcelain statue captures Dick Grayson in action on a rooftop.

$39.95, ships on Jan. 31.

BATARANG MINI-PROP

Presenting DC Direct's first in a new line of miniature props. The Dark Knight's signature weapon is handsomly recreated in pewter attached to a bat-shaped base mounted on a wood platform. Measuring at 5" wide including base, this prop is meant for display purposes only, and fits beautifully on most shelf spaces.

$79.95, ships on Feb. 7.

RAVEN ACTION FIGURE

The mysterious Raven struggled with her inner dark side as she used her empathic powers to relieve the suffering of others. Now she comes to life in the second wave of classic New Teen Titans figures from DC Direct. Raven stands over 6" tall on a translucent base modeled after the smoke that appears to transport her. Comes with multiple points of articulation. Packaged in a 4-color blister pack.

Price TBA, ships on Feb. 7.

CYBORG ACTION FIGURE

Part human and part machine, Victor Stone is a walking arsenal able to interchange his hands with various weapons as the need arises. This 6 1/8" tall Cyborg comes with two "normal hands" that can be interchanged with a small "laser finger" hand and a larger "sonic disrupter" (sonic disrupter will not emit a million decibels of white sound). Comes with multiple points of articulation. Packaged in a 4-color blister pack.

Price TBA, ships on Feb. 7.

KID FLASH ACTION FIGURE

Wally West is re-created as an action figure modeled on his days in the New Teen Titans. This figure stands 5 3/4" tall with nine points of articulation (including neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees) and comes with a detachable base (featuring a stylized Flash logo) which allows the figure to be displayed in a running position.

Price TBA, ships on Oct. 25.

KINGDOM COME FULL-COLOR SUPERMAN STATUE

Sculpted and designed by Alex Ross

The popular statue sculpted by Kingdom Come painter Alex Ross returns in a fully-painted full-color 9" tall version (smaller than the previously offered monochrome version). Each statue comes with an official Certificate of Authenticity.

$149.95.

RAIMI TALKS SPIDER-MAN MOVIE

Director Sam Raimi is giving comics fans insight to his ideas for the Spider-Man movie via a short tape that Marvel Comics is playing at its booth at the Comic-Con International in San Diego.

Here's a transcript of the tape:

"We've assembled a great team of artists and technicians. We don't have anyone yet cast for Spider-Man, but we're talking to all of Hollywood's hottest young men. I'm not at liberty to say their names, but almost every young great actor has come to me and said that they must play Spider-Man because he is the hero of their youth.

"I've been a fan of Spider-Man since I was a kid. What is so exciting about Spider-Man is that Peter Parker, his alias, the human being that Spider-Man is, lives in our world, in the real world. And he has problems that we identify with. He's misunderstood. Unlike Batman and Superman, where you have the whole crowds actually cheering for him, Spider-Man does good but he's misunderstood, and people boo Spider-Man. They don't know that he's doing good.

"What I'd like Spider-Man to be is not be a muscleman that is Superman or Batman, those stiff characters, but rather this very, lithe, thin graceful dancer of a super-hero who performs his ballets 80 stories up, above the city.

"His outfit will be different that any of the super-heroes you've seen in the past, modern fabrics that you see them on snowboarders or windsurfers. They're kind of a high-tech look.

"The web-shooters that are classic to the comic book, those metal bands that shoot the web fluid â¤| in James Cameron's original treatment of the Spider-Man movie, he's changed that. And I think he's done the right thing, because now Spider-Man's webs come right out of his wrists. I think it's more interesting because it's one more thing he's got to be embarrassed of. When he walks around high school, he'll be like this now (Raimi holds sleeves over his wrists).

"Of course, we're going to have lots of big action and stunts. We're going to have two of our favorite villains, the Green Goblin and the terrible Doctor Octavius, also known as Doc Ock. And they do battle amongst the rooftops of Manhattan, and the Goblin uses his devices from his Goblin glider, his own personal winged transport, to his infamous pumpkin bombs, stun bombs, blast bombs and he also uses his bag of razor bats - you don't want to know what those things do. Doc Ock is a brilliant scientist, and he has developed these snake-like arms. And they are expanding arms that can work with great dexterity and fluidity, which I think is going to be quite interesting with visual effects, which are going to have to be created digitally. And we have a great designer in Sony Imageworks to help pull that off.

"One of the big illusions of the picture is to make Spider-Man really fly through the city. It's got to have a graceful, soaring quality. It uplifts the audience. Unlike some of the other super-hero pictures, where the guys are stiff on wires.

"We've got a lot of great hopes for Spider-Man. We think it's going to be very entertaining, create great new visuals that the audience hasn't seen before and we hope it will be very, very successful because, at its heart, it is a young man we can identify with and his problems, which hopefully we can relate to, and we'll get to watch him as he grows beyond the limitations of his character and becomes a responsible young man."

WATCHMEN ACTION FIGURES

DC Direct has targeted the launch of its Watchmen action figures for mid-2001.

A representative of DC said that which figures would be released when hasn't been determined yet, but that the Watchmen toys will be released "in waves."

At its booth at the Comic-Con International in San Diego, DC displayed prototypes for Dr. Manhattan and The Comedian.

Other upcoming DC Direct toys will include Amazons and Adversaries - Artemis, Ares and Cheetah -- on March 14; Aquaman and Aqualad on March 28; and a Krypto soft toy on March 31.

SUPERNATURAL LAW MOVIE UPDATE

Batton Lash told The Continuum that the Supernatural Law movie, based on his comic of the same name, remains in development at Universal Pictures.

"There's a rewrite of the script recently by Marti Noxon, one of the writers for Buffy the Vampire Slayer," said Lash from the Comic-Con International in San Diego. "So we've got a very hip, humor/horror pedigree on the rewrite."

Noxon's draft was turned in about six weeks ago.

"From my understanding, Universal is very happy with it," Lash said. "I read it, and I laughed out a lot. She nailed a few things with the clients that I was very happy with."

Lash said that the film is out to directors now.

"Before we came to the show, the producers told me they were interviewing and talking to directors," Lash said. "And hopefully by the time the show's over, I'll go home and I'll hear the glorious news that they've hired a director."

BRIEFLY