Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000

UPCOMING DC DIRECT

Following are upcoming products from DC Direct, with information from DC Comics.

ORION AND DARKSEID DELUXE ACTION FIGURE SET

The mightiest of the New Gods, father and son, now come in a Deluxe Figure Set. Orion stands 6.375 inches tall, with multiple points of articulation, and features a removable Astro Harness that clips to his waist, hands and feet - plus removable helmet and alternate (handsome-faced) head. Darkseid stands 7 inches tall, and features multiple points of articulation and Omega Beam action with light-up eyes. Packaged in a 4-color window box.

Price TBA, ships on April 4.

BAT-SIGNAL PROP

For years, Commissioner Gordon has used the Bat-Signal to contact Batman by illuminating the sky over Gotham City. Now DC Direct brings customers a reproduction of this well-known device in the form of an 8" tall x 6.7" wide rotating Bat-Signal prop which lights up to form the silhouette of a Bat. Batteries are included.

$149.95, ships on April 11.

GOLDEN AGE DR. MID-NITE ACTION FIGURE

The next wave of classic Golden Age figures is here. Dr. Charles McNider may be blind, but his special goggles enable him to see in pitch darkness, enabling him to fight crime as Dr. Mid-Nite. Standing 6.25 inches tall, with multiple points of articulation, Dr. Mid-Nite comes with interchangeable right gloves (one is a fist, the other has Hootie the Owl mounted on it), plus a flexible vinyl cape. Packaged in a 4-color blister pack.

Price TBA, ships on April 18.

GOLDEN AGE HOURMAN ACTION FIGURE

The line of classic Golden Age figures continues with chemist Rex Tyler -- who, when having taken one of his special Miraclo pills, receives a full hour of power and fights crime as Hourman. Standing 6.25" tall with multiple points of articulation, Hourman comes with a flexible vinyl cape. Packaged in a 4-color blister pack.

Price TBA, ships on April 18.

GOLDEN AGE SANDMAN ACTION FIGURE II

Due to demand, DC Direct releases this figure, formerly offered as the variant version of the Golden Age Sandman Action Figure (Wesley Dodds). This figure is re-packaged to reflect Dodds' position in the Golden Age Justice Society of America, and features multiple points of articulation, removable gas mask, removable hat and gas gun. Packaged in a 4-color blister pack.

Price TBA, ships on April 18.

BATGIRL STATUE

Sculpted by Barsom Manashain; based on designs by Ty Templeton.

Inspired by the animated-style cover to Batman & Robin Advantures #21 by Ty Templeton, this striking statue of Barbara Gordon, Batgirl, sits atop a Bat-Signal and measures 7 inches tall and 3.5 inches deep.

$99.95, ships on April 25.

THE FLASH AND CAPTAIN COLD STATUE

Sculpted by Sam Greenwell.

The Scarlet Speedster and his Rogues Gallery nemesis, Captain Cold, are featured in this statue, measuring approximately 9" wide by 5" deep by 6.5" tall. In this scenic offering, Cold is in the midst of a bank robbery as he fires his cold ray at Flash.

$125, ships on March 7.

THE FLASH PEWTER FIGURE

The Flash becomes the fifth hero to be showcased in DC Direct's line of pewter figures modeled on the heroes of the JLA! Measuring 3 1/2 inches tall by 3 inches wide, the Flash is featured in a classic running pose atop a circular base emblazoned with the JLA logo.

$24.95, ships on March 28.

THE SPIRIT STATUE

Sculpted by William Paquet; based on designs by Will Eisner.

Will Eisner's indelible creation, The Spirit, comes to life in a gorgeous statue that stands 12 inches high x 5-1/2 inches wide x 3-1/2 inches deep on an engraved base of "The Spirit" logo.

$195, ships on March 21.

DC COMICS FOR DECEMBER

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

(Please note: DC will be supplying the art, which will be posted here later on Tuesday).

BATMAN TITLES

BATGIRL #11

Written by Kelley Puckett; art by Damion Scott, Coy Turnbull and Dan Davis; cover by Scott McDaniel and Aaron Sowd.

"This Issue: Batman Dies!" Cain, the assassin who trained Batgirl, attempts to do the impossible -- kill Batman. Unfortunately, it looks like he's going to be successful.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 6.

BATMAN #586

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

"This Issue: Batman Dies!" It's a duel to the death between Batman and Oswald Cobblepot, the avian gangster known as the Penguin...and you'll never guess the outcome.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 13.

NIGHTWING #52

Written by Chuck Dixon; art and cover by Greg Land and Drew Geraci.

"This Issue: Batman Dies!" Nightwing faces the feisty feline of femme fatales, Catwoman. Though Selina salivates over the priceless Klopmann Diamond, there's no way Nightwing's going to let her steal it from the King of Diamonds, Casino. But when a group of gun-toting burglars enters the scene, will the duo forge an unlikely alliance?

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 13.

BIRDS OF PREY #26

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

"This Issue: Batman Dies!" He's the man who broke Batman's back, a hideous creature who laughs at danger and defies death. But take a moment to crawl inside Bane's head and you'll find...unrequited love? When Bane forms an unlikely alliance with Black Canary, she may just find herself a man on the rebound.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 20.

DETECTIVE COMICS #753

Written by Greg Rucka and Jordan B. Gorfinkel; art by Steve Mannion, Brad Rader, Jeff Johnson, and Dan Panosian; cover by Dave Johnson.

"This Issue: Batman Dies!!!" During a psychiatric evaluation, it's revealed that, as therapy, Two-Face has written and drawn his own comic book adventures starring Harvey Dent and Detective Renee Montoya, in which he chronicles the many deaths of the Dark Knight. Plus, the back-up adventure "The Jacobian" continues.

40 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 20.

ROBIN #85

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

"This Issue: Batman Dies!" The Joker is perhaps the greatest of Batman's foes, but after the death of Jason Todd he'll be linked forever with Robin. Poor Joker's been locked up in the Slab for so long, he's going cuckoo, and he's ready to spill the goods on Batman and his annoyingly resilient sidekick.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 20.

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #12

Written by Devin Grayson and Dave Gibbons; art by Roger Robinson, Gibbons and John Floyd; cover by Brian Bolland.

"This Issue: Batman Dies!" The sick serial killer Mr. Zsasz loves nothing more than the thrill of the hunt, commemorating each kill with a fresh hash mark on his body. Now he's after the ultimate rush by having the honor of cutting himself for his next victim, the Dark Knight. Plus, a Batman black and white backup feature written and illustrated by Dave Gibbons,

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 27.

CATWOMAN #89

Written by Bronwyn Carlton; art by Staz Johnson, Craig Rousseau and Wayne Faucher; cover by Johnson and Faucher.

"This Issue: Batman Dies!" It's the return of Harley Quinn, the cupid of crime. She's one of the few people who knows Selina Kyle's real story, and knowledge is power after all. You'll never look at Catwoman the same way again after this one,

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 27.

AZRAEL: AGENT OF THE BAT #73

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

Batman confronts Azrael in part one of a three-part story. The deadly new Azrael has come to Gotham City, with Jean Paul Valley close behind. Batman fears that Jean Paul may have returned to his murderous ways, but can Jean Paul prove otherwise before another innocent victim falls?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 13.

BATMAN BEYOND #16

Written by Hilary Bader; art by Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh; cover by Brian Stelfreeze.

Homeless men have been mysteriously disappearing from Gotham's streets, thanks to the international terrorist group known as Kobra. But as Batman Terry McGinnis investigates, he quickly goes from hunter to hunted -- and Bruce must somehow infiltrate Kobra to free the captured hero.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Dec. 27.

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #33

Written by Ed Brubaker; art by Brad Rader and John Lowe; cover by Bob Smith and Terry Beatty.

Batman begins to doubt whether his actions really make a difference in the world, and the guest-starring Phantom Stranger appears to show him what a world without a Dark Knight would look like -- and it isn't pretty. Batman sees first-hand that his quest has made the lives of his comrades much greater, as one by one they seem to follow the wrong path in the Stranger's vision.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Dec. 13.

BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #138

Written by Doug Moench; art and cover by Paul Gulacy and Jimmy Palmiotti.

Part 2 of "Terror." While Batman prowls the streets of Gotham in search of the mysterious female cat burglar, Dr. Hugo Strange has infiltrated the halls of Arkham Asylum and is brainwashing Jonathan Crane into re-embracing the alter ego that once fought Batman to a frightful near-standstill -- the Scarecrow. But once Strange has succeeded in his task, will the Scarecrow prove to be too dangerous for even him to handle?

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 6.

BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND VOL. 4 TRADE PAPERBACK

Written by Greg Rucka, Devin Grayson, Chuck Dixon and Larry Hama; art by Dale Eaglesham, Mat Broome, Rick Burchett, Paul Ryan, Damion Scott, Mike Deodato Jr., John Floyd and various; cover by Eaglesham and Floyd.

The collections of the most controversial Batman storyline ever continue, as the menace of Bane looms in Gotham.

224 pages, $12.95, ships on Dec. 20.

HARLEY QUINN #3

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

Get ready for pajama-party-rama-madness, guest-starring Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Hope, Mercy, the Body Doubles and more. After bombing out with Two-Face, Harley decides to gather the bad girls of the DC Universe for a sleepover. (How else to show off her wild new digs?) But she ends up with more guests than she's got miniature pigs-in-blankets -- and if that weren't horrific enough, there's a conspiracy afoot.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 13.

ROBIN: YEAR ONE #3

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

After last month's disastrous first encounter with Two-Face, Dick learned the terrible sacrifice he must make in order to serve Batman and protect the greater good as Robin. Before his wounds even have time to heal, Dick meets an icy stranger ready to bathe Gotham's streets in cold blood. If Two-Face was too much, how can a wounded, solo Robin hope to defeat the chilling threat of Mr. Freeze? And is he even prepared to stick around and try?

48 pages, $4.95, ships on Dec. 27.

SUPERMAN TITLES

SUPERMAN #165

Written by Jeph Loeb; art by Ed McGuinness, Art Adams, Mike Wieringo, Humberto Ramos, Ian Churchill, Rob Liefeld and Cam Smith; cover by McGuinness and Smith.

The Man of Steel is faced with a pair of dilemmas -- one of which is finding gifts for the JLA for the holidays, and the other problem is simply making him nuts! Meanwhile, in outer space, the time cops known as the Linear Man are beaten by a terrible force -- one that's headed towards Earth...and Superman.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 6.

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #587

Written by J.M. DeMatteis and Joe Casey; art by Mike S. Miller and José Marzan, Jr.; cover by M. Miller.

It's the showdown between Superman and Satanus for the soul of Metropolis. But it might cost Kal-El something dear. Meanwhile, break out the cigars. Lois Lane's sister Lucy finally gives birth.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 13.

SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #109

Written by Mark Schultz; art and cover by Duncan Rouleau and Jaime Mendoza.

Linear Man Lori Lee gives Clark a glimpse into a possible future without Superman -- only to find a world that has been ravaged by war with the heroes having taken to defending its leader Lex Luthor. It's not such a wonderful life without The Man of Steel...

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 20.

ACTION COMICS #774

Written by Joe Kelly; art by Eric Canete and Juan Vlasco; cover by Kilian Plunkett.

Clark spends some time with J'onn J'onzz - the Martian Manhunter -- and many of his various identities during New Year's Eve. But the peaceful night doesn't last long as a villain, once thought gone for good, starts to make things hot for the two Justice Leaguers.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 27.

SUPERBOY #83

Written by Joe Kelly; art by Pascual Ferry and Keith Champagne; cover by Ferry and Alvaro Lopez.

Superboy might be facing something far worse than the latest super-villain or world threat: Is it possible he's become...unhip? Having fallen into a serious rut, Superboy begins to worry that what once made him the coolest Kid in the DC Universe has become so "five minutes ago." The action heats up when Superboy seeks advice from several guest stars from the DC Universe, including Steel, Superman, and his teammates in Young Justice. Superboy may have to resort to drastic measures if he hopes to ever reach "phat" status again, but the answers to his problems may force him to take a good hard look inside himself, discovering what really defines him.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 20.

SUPERGIRL #53

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

Linda Danvers meets a young boy who's a talented, aspiring artist. Unfortunately his work has a tendency to come to life, which doesn't bode well for his critics. With Linda now posing as Supergirl, and still not used to her more limited abilities, she may need the help of a fellow artist who just happens to be Green Lantern.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 27.

SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #52

Written by Mark Millar; art by Alvir Amancio and Terry Austin; cover by Mike Manley and Austin.

"A Death in the Family" finds Supergirl's life hanging in the balance as she is dying slowly from a strange, otherworldly outer-space virus. Superman searches for the cure, but is mortified to discover that only Lex Luthor, his greatest adversary, holds the key to finding an antidote -- and he's in no mood to be generous.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Dec. 6.

DC UNIVERSE TITLES

THE FLASH #169

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

The surreal conclusion of "Wonderland!" finds Wally West in his most bizarre predicament yet -- trapped in a mystical guillotine through which he cannot vibrate out! Even worse, he's about to be beheaded by his own wife, Linda Park -- who's screaming for his bloody head! And that's only the beginning of the end...

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 27.

GOLDEN AGE SECRET FILES #1

Written by John Ostrander, Tom Peyer, Scott Beatty and various; art by Cliff Chiang, Claude St. Aubin, and various; cover by Michael Lark.

Reporter Clark Kent investigates the origins of costumed super-heroes, interviewing a variety of heroes who were there at the dawn of the Golden Age. Plus, Profile Pages and much more.

48 pages, $4.95, ships on Dec. 27.

GREEN LANTERN #133

Written by Judd Winick; art by Darryl Banks, Mark Bright and Rich Faber; cover by Matt Wagner.

Part 2 of "While Rome Burned." Former Green Lantern John Stewart lies in a hospital room tending to injuries suffered at the hands of the psychotic Fatality. Sentinel Alan Scott fights for his life against a mysterious demonic horde of yellow hellions. Meanwhile, could things be heating up between Kyle and Jen? Ring-slinging action and romance take center stage in "Enters the Emperor."

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 6.

HITMAN #58

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

The final story arc, "Closing Time," continues. Marc Navarone, the son of the late Johnny Navarone, prepares for his final confrontation with Tommy. Plus, Natt and McAllister learn the meaning of trust, as they do their best to locate Tommy and add firepower to his side.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 27.

HOURMAN #23

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

Part 1 of the 3-part "Unbelievable Truth" finds Hourman taking his closest friends on a road trip through time. But their chrono-joyride is fraught with peril, as even a simple bathroom break in the 1950s turns into a criminal confrontation! And just wait until Bethany badgers Hourman into revealing who her future husband will be.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 13.

IMPULSE #69

Written by Todd Dezago; art by Eric Battle and Buzz; cover by Ethan Van Sciver and Wayne Faucher.

Part 2 of an unusual tale that ties into events from Green Lantern: Circle of Fire. Our stubborn speedster finds himself battling a world-quaking creature on the planet Rann. Guest-starring Green Lantern and Rann's champion, Adam Strange.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 13.

JLA #50

Written by Mark Waid; art by Bryan Hitch, Phil Jimenez, Doug Mahnke, Mark Pajarillo, Ty Templeton, Paul Neary, Drew Geraci, Walden Wong and Kevin Nowlan; cover by Hitch and Neary.

The World's Greatest Super-Heroes have faced everything from alien invasions to an ancient universe-devouring weapon of destruction. But can they face a League divided -- torn in conflict over the decision to kick one of their members off the team? The surprising tension grows now that half the team's voted to eject Batman from the JLA while the other half seems willing to forgive the Dark Knight for his sins. Special guest artists illustrating certain chapters: Phil Jimenez illustrates a chapter focusing on Wonder Woman, Mark Pajarillo and Walden Wong collaborate on The Flash, Doug Mahnke and Drew Geraci illustrate chapters on Green Lantern and Aquaman, while Ty Templeton and Kevin Nowlan focus on Plastic Man and Martian Manhunter. Will the League emerge from this setback stronger -- or will it dissolve into a team of distrust? Meanwhile, a flurry of mysterious activity in the Watchtower heralds the arrival of a threat that will plague the Leaguers greatly in the months to come.

48 pages, $3.75, ships on Dec. 27.

JLA: ACT OF GOD #2

Written by Doug Moench; art and cover by Dave Ross and George Freeman.

Their powers gone, their lives irrevocably changed, the once super-powered heroes of Earth struggle to retain their grasps on life, love, and in some cases, even sanity. But while the JLA members confront their personal demons, the villain known as Lex Luthor reigns as strong as ever -- and is threatening not only all of "normal" humanity, but the seemingly helpless heroes as well.

48 pages, $4.95, ships on Dec. 20.

JLA: EARTH 2 SC

Written by Grant Morrison; art and cover by Frank Quitely.

The softcover version to last year's best-selling hardcover, featuring an evil mirror version of the JLA known as the CrimeSyndicate.

96 pages, $14.95, ships on Dec. 20.

JLA: SEVEN CASKETS

Written and painted by Dan Brereton; cover by Brereton.

What happens when the premier heroes of the world, the greatest force for good ever known, become something...evil? That's exactly what happens in JLA: Seven Caskets. All around the world, things are going bump in the night. Horrifying apparitions are manifesting from pole to pole. On the moon, the JLA are visited by a pair of ghostly twins who bring a dire warning: a Chaos god is awakening at the center of the earth. His coming is heralded by the restless spirits wreaking havoc worldwide. Among these are seven undead kings who served the Chaos God in ancient times. Should the seven kings succeed in fully rousing their deity, an eternal, evil darkness will claim the world forever. But as the World's Greatest Super-Heroes split up to stop these adversaries, they find that their vaunted unity is quickly crumbling, and they no longer seem able to pool their strengths and quell their petty squabbling. The rules have changed -- and good may not always triumph against this twisting, warping evil. It appears the only way the JLA can save the day...is to become as evil as their foes. Even if they save the world...who will save the Leaguers from themselves?

48 pages, $5.95, ships on Dec. 6.

JLA: WORLD WAR III TP

Written by Grant Morrison and J.M. DeMatteis; art by Howard Porter, Mark Pajarillo, John Dell, and Walden Wong; cover by Porter and Dell.

Collecting the epic final storyline by writer Grant Morrison, featuring the JLA in battle with the new Injustice Gang and the universe-shattering threat known as Mageddon. Contains JLA issues #34-41.

208 pages, $12.95, ships on Dec. 13.

JLA VS. PREDATOR

Written by John Ostrander; art and cover by Graham Nolan and Randy Elliott.

They've hunted the Dark Knight Detective. They've gone after the Man Man of Steel. Now they're prepared to go after the most challenging prey imaginable: the entire Justice League of America. The World's Greatest Super-Heroes go up against the galaxy's deadliest hunters in JLA vs. Predator. When a group of Predators arrive on Earth, they make targets of each of the JLA members -- relishing in the thrill of the hunt. They engage in the ultimate sport of attempting to kill the most powerful heroes ever known. But how can any foes, even ones as relentless as the Predators, possibly beat our heroes? Because this time, the Predators are equipped with the incredible powers of the Justice League itself! With the help of a rogue Dominion geneticist, the aliens have transformed themselves into "Meta-Predators" -- super-powered versions of the same ultimate hunters who stalk the universe's most dangerous game! Can even the mighty JLA withstand the savage onslaught of a squad of Predators with Superman's strength, the Flash's speed, and Plastic Man's morphing powers?

48 pages, $5.95, ships on Dec. 13.

JSA #19

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

Part 4 of "Injustice Be Done." Johnny Sorrow has succeeded in doing the unthinkable: He has unleashed the dreaded King of Tears. With Sentinel in critical condition and Dr. Fate missing, how will the JSA prevail? Perhaps with help from the most unlikely of allies...The Spectre.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 20.

LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE #37

Written by Steven Grant; art by Scott Kolins and Klaus Janson; painted cover by Greg Staples.

The villain who nearly defeated two Green Lanterns sets his sights on Kyle Rayner in the 2-part final story of the "Traitor Trilogy." The spaceborn Traitor has returned to Earth once again, ready to seek revenge for the humiliations he suffered at the hands of Green Lantern Abin Sur in the Old West and those dealt him by GL Hal Jordan and his JLA colleague the Atom. How will Kyle defeat a foe who has so much experience battling Emerald Warriors?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 20.

LEGION LOST #10

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

With the Lost Legionnaires' spirit having reached its lowest point, the team must face a huge Progeny army which has converged on our heroes' ship for a final showdown. Even if the vastly outnumbered team can overcome its differences and pull together against the Progeny, it almost certainly won't be enough against the even greater threat lying in wait.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 6.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER #27

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

The conclusion of "The Renegades of Mars." J'onn J'onzz must tackle the surviving Renegades who have beaten him once before, and he must do it minus one of his greatest powers! But the Renegades soon will learn exactly what it means to go up against a true Martian Manhunter.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 6.

ORION #9

Written and illustrated by Walter Simonson; cover by Simonson.

Orion may have won his latest battle, but it's at a price -- for he has been altered somehow by the events of the previous issue. Now changed, he must face Desaad, who can no longer sit idly by and watch as Orion continues to rule Apokolips.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 20.

PLASTIC MAN ARCHIVES VOL. 2 HC

Written and illustrated by Jack Cole; cover by Cole.

With even more outrageous, over-the-top stories and art than in the previous volume, Plastic Man Archives Volume 2 features stories reprinted from Police Comics #21-30 and Plastic Man #1.

224 pages, $49.95, ships on Dec. 13.

STARMAN #74

Written by James Robinson; art by Russ Heath; painted cover by Andrew Robinson.

The final "Times Past," illustrated by the legendary Russ Heath, finds us on New Year's Eve, 1899 -- and Brian O'Dare, aka Scalphunter, embarks on his last case as the sheriff of Opal City. This is the tragic adventure that cost Scalphunter his life -- a dark tale of deception featuring the mysterious Tuesday Club and the bloody war Savage fights with them.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 6.

THE TITANS #24

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

Part 2 of the "Who's Troia?" trilogy. Seen here for the first time in over 2 years, a brave but foolhardy group of Titans characters (from the Kingdom Come Hyper-Time reality) break down the fragile walls of the DC Universe -- fighting to save a dear friend who's chaotic history and outrageous backstory is under threat of utter annihilation. Can Nightstar, Kid Flash, the Red Hood and the rest of the sons and daughters of the Titans save Troia from being erased from existence forever - without eroding the walls between realities?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 20.

WONDER WOMAN #165

Written by Phil Jimenez and J.M. DeMatteis; art by Jimenez and Andy Lanning; cover by Adam Hughes.

Guest-starring Batman, Nightwing and Troia. In "Avatars," Wonder Woman and Batman have been drawn into their enemies' trap, unaware of the true power they were confronting. Now the Amazon Princess and Dark Knight Detective find themselves overwhelmed by the awesome power they face, and the hatred behind it. Their only hope: Nightwing and Troia. But Dick Grayson and Donna Troy have their own terrifying adversary to defeat before they can come to the rescue.

32 pages, $2.25, ships on Dec. 27.

YOUNG JUSTICE #28

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

Having saved one planet from destruction, the heroes hardly have any time to rest before they are plunged into the New God world of New Genesis. That means a confrontation with the Forever People and their Super-Cycle can't be far behind.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 6.

DC: BEYOND THE UNIVERSE TITLES

THE SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOL. 3 HC

Written and illustrated by Will Eisner; cover by Eisner.

The third volume in a continuing series of Archives featuring Will Eisner's indelible creation, The Spirit -- reprinting the weekly newspaper sections from July 6 to December 28, 1941.

224 pages, $49.95, ships on Dec. 20.

STATIC SHOCK!: REBIRTH OF THE COOL #2

Written by Dwayne McDuffie; art and cover by John Paul Leon.

Virgil Hawkins is finally back in costume -- but will the power of Static be enough to defeat the menace that destroyed the mighty Blood Syndicate? Plus, Frieda's looking at her best friend a bit differently these days -- and Virgil's new girlfriend doesn't like it. Guest-starring Hardware, the Shadow Cabinet and the Heroes.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 13.

CARTOON NETWORK STARRING (SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST) #18

Written by John Rozum and C. Martin Croker; art by Robert Pope and Dan Davis; cover by Croker.

Final issue. Zorak goes on a New Orleans vacation, only to bring back a little black magic to stir up trouble in "Who Voo-Dooed It?" Plus, Space Ghost gets a schoolboy crush. Awww, isn't that sweet? But he recruits the worst possible ally to help him declare his love. And for readers' monthly Cartoon Network fix, stay tuned for the upcoming Cartoon Cartoon ongoing series.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Dec. 20.

DEXTER'S LABORATORY #18

Written by Andy Merrill, Brett Lewis and James Denning; art by John Delaney, Eduardo Savid, Matt Jenkins and Jeff Albrecht; cover by Bill Wray

Three new stories have Dexter using mad science in brand new ways. First, he does the impossible and makes toys...that come with batteries. Then he creates a device to get his gloves on the TV remote -- and another to stop himself from humming the catchy (but annoying) ditty in his head.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Dec. 27.

LOONEY TUNES #73

Written by Earl Kress; art and cover by David Alvarez and Mike DeCarlo

A holiday issue - the Looney Tunes way. Bugs and Daffy plan a visit to the North Pole -- but they cause so much chaos that they're forced to take the reins of Santa's sleigh...on Christmas Eve.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Dec. 6.

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS #10

Written by Abby Denson; art by Ricardo Garcia Fuentes and Mike DeCarlo; cover by Phil Moy.

It's a birthday party! Everybody loves birthday parties! And this one has a clown! Everyone loves clowns!! Uh oh! This clown is going bonkers! Looks like it's up to the Powerpuff Girls to shut him down before the joke's on Townsville.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Dec. 20.

SCOOBY-DOO #43

Written by Joe Edkin; art by Joe Staton, Erik Doescher, Mike DeCarlo, and Dave Hunt; cover by Staton and Hunt.

Shaggy enters an art contest to redesign a town's mascot, and gets "drawn" into a big mystery! Plus, get winter chills with the gang as they investigate a Christmas ballet haunted by a Nutcracker Ghost.

32 pages, $1.99, ships on Dec. 13.

WILDSTORM TITLES

THE AUTHORITY #22

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

Part 1 of a 4-part story arc. They've saved the world from forces beyond and enemies within. But now it's time for the team to suffer terrible consequences for its actions. All they ever wanted was a better world, but some people in very high places like things just the way they are...and want The Authority to pay the ultimate price.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 27.

CRIMSON #23

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

The final countdown begins to humanity's last hope. How will the final chapter play out -- who will live, who will die, who will be changed forever? The conclusion is just around the corner as the action and suspense continue to build.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 20.

DANGER GIRL: KAMIKAZE! #1

Written by Tommy Yune; art and cover by Yune and Vince Russell (alternate cover by J. Scott Campbell).

A new evil lurks in the depths of East Asia, taking Abbey, Val and Sydney from the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong to the ancient jungle ruins of the Angkor Empire. Right on the heels of the gripping conclusion of their mission against the Hammer, the Danger Girls must face a shadowy new nemesis known only as the Kama Syndicate. After losing the trail of an infamous arms dealer, the Danger Girls send Valerie after a lead in Kowloon, relying on her computer-hacking skills to recover nuclear secrets stolen from the former Soviet Union. But when a beautiful -- and mysterious -- Chinese operative enters the scene, all hell breaks loose. What was supposed to be a simple search and retrieval mission turns into an explosive firefight over Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor. And the adventure doesn't end there: The Danger Girls unearth something terrifying dating back to World War II. What had long been thought lost with the defeat of the Japanese Axis threatens to resurface and terrorize the world once again.

32 pages, $2.95, ships on Dec. 13.

GEN13 #60

Written and illustrated by Adam Warren; cover by Warren.

Adam Warren goes full-time as the new regular writer -- and illustrates his first issue too. Brace yourself for "Behind The Power," a suspiciously familiar TV show that recounts the colorful history of Gen13 -- from the early glory days, to their ultimately tragic fates. Gen13 #60 is a self-contained issue that serves as the perfect starting point for new and returning readers. Brace yourself for the glory and the tragedy of "Behind the Power," a suspiciously familiar TV show which unflinchingly recounts the scandal-plagued histories of super-heroes. This week, the show depicts the colorful history of Gen13, from the team's early years of obscurity, to their golden days of fame and success, to their sordid decline into utter failure and debauchery, to their ultimately tragic and pitiful fates! Waitaminute -- this can't mean the end of Gen13, can it? What's Adam Warren going to write about for the remainder of his run? This is just the beginning of the action-packed hijinks yet to come.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 20.

GEN13: MEDICINE SONG

Written by Ben Raab; art by Brent Anderson and Will Blyberg; cover by Anderson.

An evil spirit has emerged from the desert, seeking vengeance on the San Carlos reservation and Sarah Rainmaker. Only the mystical Medicine Song of Geronimo can protect her and her fellow Gen13 teammates. But can Rainmaker overcome her fear of the monster known as Greywind and remember the words before it's too late.

48 pages, $5.95, ships on Dec. 13.

GEN-ACTIVE #4

Written by Ben Raab and Jay Faerber; art by Michael O'Hare, Trevor McCarthy and Tyson McAdoo, cover by John Cassaday (alternate cover by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs).

Featuring the return of Wildcore. Back in the Arctic wasteland, the inmates of the supervillain prison Purgatory Max have taken over in a bloody revolt. Department PSI sends in their top team, Wildcore, to quell the uprising...or die trying. Plus, when a Deviant goes home for the holidays, she learns the shocking truth about her parentage.

48 pages, $3.95, ships on Dec. 6.

JET #4

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

The mini-series concludes. Mister Meaner closes his lethal grip around the college campus as Jet and Sergeant Bobby Stubbs fight to overthrow his malign influence. But can they even trust each other?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 27.

RESIDENT EVIL: FIRE & ICE #2

Written by Ted Adams and Kris Oprisko; art by Shawn Crystal and John Nyberg; cover by Lee Bermejo.

The S.T.A.R.S. Charlie Team splits into two sections to investigate two different possible Umbrella labs -- one team going to the frozen Alaskan wastes where they are confronted by mutated Arctic beasts, the other to Mexico during the Day of the Dead celebration, where the line between dead and undead has never been so hard to determine.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 6.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION -- THE KILLING SHADOWS #4

Written by Scott Ciencin; art by Andrew Currie and various; cover by Currie.

The Next Generation thriller reaches its stunning conclusion in this issue, as we find out what the race of assassins known as the Bodai Shin is really after -- and what they portend for the future. No one on the Enterprise-E will be the same after this...if they even live to tell about it,

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 13.

STAR TREK SPECIAL #1

Written by Ben Raab, Stuart Moore, Andy Mangels, Mike Martin, Ian Edginton, Jeff Lang, and Christopher Hinz; art by Steve Lieber, John Lucas, Paul Neary, Gordon Purcell, Tommy Lee Edwards, and Carlos Mota; painted cover by John Van Fleet.

The first-ever Star Trek Special #1 from WildStorm is a Prestige Format one-shot presenting an exemplary array of Star Trek tales by a wide variety of creative talents, featuring all of the most popular characters from the four televised Star Trek programs. In the Star Trek: Next Generation story "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Nanoprobes," Star Trek novelists Andy Mangels and Mike Martin and artist Paul Neary look at what happens when the Borg try to assimilate a new life form that may not exist -- on a mining planet populated mostly by Horta. Ben Raab and John Lucas team up on the Deep Space Nine story "When the Stars Come A-calling," a look at the events that drove young writer Benny Russell to science fiction for a career. Ian Edginton and Carlos Mota tell a heartwrenching story about original series captain James T. Kirk's chance encounter with his nephew Peter. Star Trek novelist Jeff Lang pairs with Steve Lieber for a final goodbye to a beloved character from the original series in "The Wake." Science-fiction novelist Christopher Hinz joins Tommy Lee Edwards on the Next Generation story "The Legacy of Elenor Dain" -- the strange tale behind a popular, lost artist. Former Vertigo editor Stuart Moore and Gordon Purcell team up for "Exercises in Futility," a Voyager story in which Seven of Nine puts everything she has into figuring out a faster way home.

64 pages, $6.95, ships on Dec. 20.

STEAMPUNK #7

Written by Joe Kelly; art and cover by Chris Bachalo and Richard Friend.

In Part 2 of "Mechanica Sundown," Cole learns the origins of the manimatronics that keep him alive, and gains another piece of the puzzle which is his memory. Laslo, Vicki and Cole undergo their own personal moments of crisis. Meanwhile, Faust goes on a tear through the countryside, and we meet a fringe group of freedom fighters known as the Sundowns.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 27.

WILDCATS VOLUME 2 #18

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

Part 5 of the 6-part "Serial Boxes." Grifter and Spartan set a trap to catch the super-powered serial killer who has been ruthlessly murdering people with the Marlowe name. But things don't go as planned, especially when Ladytron butts in -- with apocalyptic results. Meanwhile, Jeremy and Pris recuperate from their injuries.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 6.

AMERICA'S BEST COMICS TITLES

PROMETHEA #12

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

Quite possibly the strangest reading experience you will ever have unfolds in the latest chapter of Promethea, At the center are a magical theater and a three ring circus where possibilities and impossibilities abound. Be dazzled by an only slightly abridged, nearly complete history of the universe and western culture as it unfolds before you. As an added bonus, this issue features special "flip-book" action.

32 pages, $2.95, ships on Dec. 27.

TOP TEN #11

Written by Alan Moore; art and cover by Gene Ha and Zander Cannon.

A sad aftermath to the apocalyptic events of the previous issue unfolds with devastating results. A new cop joins the force, only to replace the precincts fallen brother officer. The mood is tense, the atmosphere uneasy -- and the "nature" of the newbie makes it all the more troubling.

32 pages, $2.95, ships on Dec. 20.

TOMORROW STORIES #9

Written by Alan Moore; art by Hilary Barta, Rick Veitch, Jim Baikie, and Dame Darcy; cover by Melinda Gebbie.

Under a high-kicking, high-rolling cover from Melinda Gebbie, we have the usual high-octane highball that is Tomorrow Stories. Poured from the blender, this issue's comic-book cocktail includes the hydraulic highjinks of Hilary Barta's swimmingly successful Splash Brannigan, a puzzling perceptual poser for Rick Veitch's Greyshirt, another frankly felonious fiasco with Jim Baikie's First American, and a juicy jungle jaunt with Melinda Gebbie's Cobweb.

32 pages, $2.95, ships on Dec. 13.

HOMAGE COMICS

ZERO GIRL #1

Written and illustrated by Sam Kieth; painted cover by Kieth.

Zero Girl is the story of a high-school misfit coming of age. Young Amy Snooster -- weirdness magnet that she is -- never has been the most popular girl in school. She can speak to insects and believes that circles are good and squares evil. Awkward and different, she doesn't quite fit into any social circle, and she likes it that way. But strange things seem to happen when Amy is around - the spontaneous appearance of puddles of water, for instance -- and it has made her the target of relentless bullies. With the aid of a sympathetic guidance counselor, Amy explores the meaning of her surreal abilities and discovers her place in the world.

32 pages, $2.95, ships on Dec. 6.

VERTIGO TITLES

100 BULLETS #19

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

The epilogue to "Hang Up on the Hang Low." After completing Agent Graves' "assignment," Loop finds himself in an even more difficult position: face to face with one of Graves' most dangerous associates. As if this weren't trouble enough, Graves himself makes Loop an offer that will forever change his life.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 6.

DEADENDERS #12

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

Tensions mount as Anna and Beezer go up against a familiar nemesis in the Science Corp. laboratory. Although they discover important info about their mysterious heritage and learn about an unlikely, nothing can prepare Beezer and Anna for what they're about to uncover: it's part-human, part-machine and a complete monstrosity -- but is it the cataclysm?

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 20.

THE DREAMING #57

Written by Caitlín R. Kiernan; art by Christian Hojgaard and Ron Randall; painted cover by Dave McKean.

Part 1 of the 4-part final story arc for The Dreaming, "Rise," a storyline which ignites a rebellion that will change forever the mercurial landscape that is The Dreaming. Following the Sandman's orders, the Corinthian returns to his citadel to resume his role as the Dark Mirror. But the Corinthian's treacherous nemesis, Echo, who has been running the show in his absence, has decided that she likes her current position and, ultimately, crafts a nightmare war in The Dreaming in an apocalyptic effort to retain the throne. Guest appearances by such favorite Sandman characters include Brute, Glob, Cain and Abel. With the conclusion of The Dreaming, readers may look forward to more stories featuring its denizens in upcoming projects of The Sandman Presents.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 20.

HELLBLAZER #157

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

In this stand-alone issue, entitled "...And Buried?", John Constantine is confronted by FBI Agent Frank Turro, who has more information pertaining to Constantine's incarceration. John's always been a master at pulling the strings, but this time he finds he very well may be the puppet. In addition, a group of bad men wait for the return of an even badder man -- one who seemingly won't stay dead.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 27.

LUCIFER #9

Written by Mike Carey; art by Dean Ormston; cover by Duncan Fegredo.

Immortality can be a curse -- at least if you're three thousand years old and you've got the gods on your back. When Lucifer refuses the gift of death to a beautiful but ancient priestess, he forces her to look elsewhere -- and triggers a sequence of events which may earn him the ultimate bargaining chip, in this self-contained story which acts as a prelude to the third major storyline of the series.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 6.

THE NAMES OF MAGIC #1

Written by Dylan Horrocks; art by Richard Case; painted cover by John Bolton.

Tim Hunter is back, and he has finally accepted the role he plays in the grander scheme of things, as he learns to recapture his magic.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 27.

OUTLAW NATION #4

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

"Story" hits the open road with Jenny and Martin in search of the fabled "Johnson Place" and his lost memories. And what better way to catch up on the last 25 years than a marathon TV bender? As bits of Story's past stream back to him via satellite dish, the über-sadistic "Kid Gloves" sinks to new levels of depravity in order to bag his brother Story.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 20.

SWAMP THING #10

Written by Brian K. Vaughan; art by Roger Petersen and Rick Magyar; painted cover by Glenn Fabry.

Setting off to find Heather Strand, Tefé runs into her first roadblock: John Constantine, who is set on returning her to her parents. Tefé won't go back without a fight, and an intense confrontation ensues which reveals even more secrets about her origin and Constantine's part in it.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 13.

SWAMP THING: THE CURSE TP

Written by Alan Moore; art by Stephen Bissette, Stan Woch, John Totleben, Alfredo Alcala, and Ron Randall; cover by Simon Bisley.

The third trade paperback collecting the critically-acclaimed Swamp Thing run by Alan Moore, featuring the first appearance of John Constantine. Contains Saga of the Swamp Thing #35-42.

192 pages, $19.95, ships on Dec. 27.

TRANSMETROPOLITAN #41

Written by Warren Ellis; art by Darick Robertson and Rodney Ramos; cover by Matt Wagner.

The second of three self-contained issues finds Spider Jerusalem getting a whole new take on the world, courtesy of the untreated mental patients spat back into the street by a collapsing healthcare system. Living lives so unpleasant they feel driven to come up with reasons why the world is the way it is, these conspiracy theorists reveal their secret, berserk hypotheses on the new world order.

32 pages, $2.50, ships on Dec. 13.

X-MEN MOVIE UPDATE

X-Men movie figures continue to arrive in different forms. Currently available in stores are 10-inch figures.

The figures come with "authentic costumes" and dog tags corresponding with the character.

Pictured are Wolverine, Magneto and Cyclops.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

In other X-Men movie news, the official announcement of the VHS and DVD release of X-Men will be made this week, a Fox representative told The Continuum. The movie is expected to be released on Nov. 21.

TODD MCFARLANE DOCUMENTARY

The Devil You Know: Inside the Mind of Todd McFarlane, a documentary on Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, will debut at the at Calgary Film Festival on Sept. 23.

McFarlane will attend the premiere of the documentary, which is the culmination of more than two years of research, and more than a year of filming and production.

Here's how the National Film Board of Canada's describes the documentary, which is directed by Kenton Vaughan:

"In less than a decade, Calgary's Todd McFarlane has turned his comic-book superhero, Spawn, into a business empire spanning comic books, movies, cartoons and toys. Spawn has turned its creator into the most successful comic-book artist in the history of the industry - a man wealthy enough to spend $3 million on a collectible baseball. And McFarlane has done it by his own rules, not those of corporate America. Despite Spawn's violent image, McFarlane is a doting father and a devoted husband whose true love is baseball. The Devil You Know tries to understand this enigmatic man, and explores some of his most intimate thoughts. The film also looks at the obsessive devotion of McFarlane's fans. By following two of them as they try to keep up with the latest toys and comics, The Devil You Know explores the grey area where art turns into business, and a fan turns into a customer."

The movie will be released on home video in November.

CROSSGEN IN FRENCH

All of CrossGen Comics' titles - Mystic, Sigil, Scion, Meridian, CrossGen Chronicles and The First - will soon be published in France as French language editions following a one-year agreement between CrossGen Comics and French publisher Semic S.A.

Semic will publish these French Editions on a bi-monthly basis beginning in November. Each edition will contain two American comics. Each of the first issues will contain 64 pages for a cover price of 29 Francs except for CrossGen Chronicles #1, which will have a cover price of 25 Francs for its 48 pages. Following issues will contain 48 pages for a cover price of 24 Francs.

The first two titles to be published in November are Mystic and Sigil, followed by CrossGen Chronicles, Scion, and Meridian in December, and then The First in March. Semic will distribute these French Editions to the newsstand and bookshop market in France, French-speaking parts of Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and the French overseas provinces.

"This agreement with Semic is a fantastic opportunity for CrossGen to broaden its scope and appeal outside the U.S.," said James Breitbeil, CrossGen's marketing and distribution director. "Semic has recognized the broad appeal of CrossGen's titles and the growing strength of CrossGen's global consumer brand. With this agreement, CrossGen will be significantly enhancing its commitment to foreign markets and its place asan international entertainment company."

ONI PRESS MINI-SERIES CONCLUDE

Oni Press announced on Monday that the conclusions to Scott Morse's Soulwind and Andi Watson's Breakfast After Noon will be released in January.

Soulwind V: The August Ones will be the final volume of the mini-series.

"When I began publishing this book back at Image in 1997," Morse said. "I had no idea that it would become such a long-term project. For me, the wait has been even longer, since I began the first volume even before that, when I was 19 and still in art school. To be finally reaching the end of the story is an event filled with both tremendous excitement and tremendous relief."

"The fascination thing about Soulwind is that, like Matt Wagner's Mage series or Andi Watson's Skeleton Key, you get to watch the artist grow along with his characters," said Oni Press editor-in-chief Jamie S. Rich. "The character development is echoed in Scott's growing talents as a storyteller, and the journey of the story is the personal journey of its creator, as well."

According to Oni, one of the elements of the Soulwind series of graphic novels has been its leap across space and time, showing different characters in different realms that are all connected by the legendary sword that gives the book its title. The fifth book promises to make all the stitches in the fabric of the tale clear-particularly the connection between The Chosen One and Sophie, characters introduced in the first two books.

"I think people will be surprised and delighted by how all the elements of Soulwind fit together," Morse said. "I have been very grateful to my readers for granting me their time and their faith, and I have pretty good faith that they will find it was worth it."

Also in January will be the sixth and final issue of Breakfast After Noon, which will reveal the fate of Rob and Louise. The young British couple both lost their jobs in the first issue, just a few months before their planned wedding. The first five issues have focused on the process of coping with unemployment, finding new avenues to work, and the strain it has put on their relationship. In the conclusion, readers will learn the answers to their queries.

"One of the main goals of Breakfast After Noon was to show people the very real process regular people can go through when they are suddenly faced with major life changes," Watson said. "It's been a kick to get the fan letters, where the correspondents vacillate between rooting for Rob and his desire to stick to his plan and those who are more behind Louise's get-up-and-go attitude. Part of the appeal has also been the will-they? or won't-they? nature of their engagement--and now you will finally know if this pair actually ends up together or not!"

"I think with both of these series, Soulwind and Breakfast After Noon," Rich said, "is that both Scott and Andi have given fans real characters that they can care about and are willing to follow over the course complicated, unpredictable stories. Both of these creators are at the top of their craft, delivering their fans the sort of ideal marriage of story and art that comics readers are always yearning for. These two grand finales should only serve to make everyone eager to see what both of these guys come up with next."

The Soulwind IV: The Way Things Never Happened trade paperback ships on Jan. 26, and retails for $8.50. It has 96 pages of never-before-published story and art with a new, painted, full color cover. It will be printed at digest size, 5 *" X 8 *".

Breakfast After Noon #6 also ships on Jan. 26. It features 32 pages of story and art, with digital gray tones and a full-color cover, retailing for $2.95.

CLAYPOOL FOR JANUARY

Following are Claypool Comics' solicitations for January, with information provided by the company.

ELVIRA #93

By Frank Strom, Dan Day, Louis Lachance and Richard Howell.

Kidnapped and brought to a secluded island, Elvira and four other abductees are forced to save their own lives by -- cooking? Yes, it's extreme food prep -- culinary sudden death -- all at the command of the sinister Iron-Handed Chef, and it's all in "Recipe for Terror." Also, Elvira's drafted into helping out a couple whose love life is better when he's in werewolf form, in "Movin' On Up -- to the Beast Side."

32 pages, black and white, $2.50.

SOULSEARCHERS #46

By Peter David, Richard Howell, Neil Vokes and Bob Wiacek, cover by Amanda Conner and Steve Leialoha.

Concerned about the media's glamorization of unsuitable role models? Well, in Fear City, a mothers' group has taken steps to stop it; trouble is, their efforts have summoned Matthew Plotkin, the infamous Witchtracker, up from Hell -- and his main target is Soulsearchers' young witch Kelly Hollister. Imagine wondering who'd have any reason to pick on Kelly, only to find it was "All Along ... the Witchtracker!"

32 pages, black and white, $2.50.

BRIEFLY