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Monday, Nov. 13, 2000

IMAGE FOR FEBRUARY

Following are Image Comics' solicitations for February, with information coming from the company.

AGE OF BRONZE #10

Written and art by Eric Shanower.

"Sacrifice Part 1." Part one of an all-new story arc begins with Helena's triumphant arrival in Troy. Paris proudly displays her before his admiring father, King Priam. But the Trojan council quickly polarizes into factions over whether to send Helen home or not. Meanwhile, Aeneas and Troilus are having troubles with their own love-lives.

24 pages, black and white, $3.50.

APHRODITE IX #3

Written by David Wohl, penciled by Dave Finch, inked by Joe Weems, colored by Steve Firchow.

Arrested for murders that she doesn't even remember committing, Aphrodite realizes she's at the center of a conspiracy that's much larger than she originally thought. Now she's more determined than ever to learn where she's from and who created her --- and for what purpose? Unfortunately there are also those that don't want her to know. Too bad for them...

32 pages, $2.50.

BUTCHER KNIGHT #3

Written by Charles Holland, penciled and inked by Dwayne Turner.

Blood. Gore. Demon waste and dead cops. That's what filled the room where Dolgen's Section X squad found Luther Washington. Dolgen wants answers. But Luther is a question wrapped in an enigma and shows no sign of wanting that to change. Dolgen will not quit. He can't. He is an engine of destruction made flesh who hunts and kills monsters. Dolgen is determined to find out who and what Luther Washington is. He will do this at all costs. Unless Daria has anything to say about it. And she will.

32 pages, $2.50.

THE DARKNESS #38

Written by Scott Lobdell, art by Mark Pajarillo.

Jackie Estacado has barely completed his training with Ripclaw, when The Darkness is forced to battle The Conquistator and his legion of Hostile Cherubs. But will even these two be enough to stem the coming Blood Tide -- or is Jackie going to have to look towards his sister Capris for help?

32 pages, $2.50.

DARK REALM #3

Written by Robert Chong, art by Taeson Chang, colored by Quantum Color Fx.

As the "chosen one", Detective Shannon Davenport is about to inherit an awesome power that is handed down just once every millennium. That is, if she can survive until the stroke of midnight. Only by slaying her during the Dark Ritual can Bantar, the Dark King, steal the right of power to become the absolute ruler of both the Dark Realm and the Earth. Can anyone stop the supreme demon before it is too late? Find out in this penultimate issue.

32 pages, $2.95.

DOUBLE IMAGE #1

The Bod written by Larry Young, art and cover by John Heebink; Codeflesh written by Joe Casey, art and cover by Charlie Adlard.

The Bod: Just another story in Hollywood. A gorgeous girl in her hometown in rural Kansas, Kelly Gordon leaves her college drama department to make it big in Hollywood. She's talented and brainy, but is underestimated by most folks because she's stunningly beautiful. Gorgeous. Built. Blonde, blue-eyed, wholesome. A babe cliche. No one takes her seriously because of her looks. But after an on-set special-effects gig goes awry, Kelly becomes invisible. Yesterday, no casting agents in Hollywood would see her; now no one can see her.

Codeflesh: When super-villains get arrested, who bails 'em out? Cameron Daltrey, owner of Daltrey Bail Bonds, that's who. And when those same super-villains skip out on bail, who drags them back in? He'd have to be a man who loves his job, no matter how it wreaks havoc on his life.

32 pages, $2.95.

HELLSPAWN #7

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, art and cover by Ashley Wood.

"The Group." If you're interested in what makes the Hellspawn tick, this one's for you. Hellspawn #7 features one of the most unique perspectives into Spawn's psyche you will ever see. Special artwork by Todd McFarlane helps bring to life this singular event. Andâ¤| a secret group meeting in a church basement reveals just how far and wide the Spawn legacy reaches.

32 pages, $2.50.

MIDNIGHT NATION #5

Written by J. Michael Straczynski, penciled by Gary Frank, inked by Jason Gorder, colored by Dan Kemp.

No one has ever succeeded in reclaiming his soul from the Men. That truth, which means the potential demise of David Grey, comes home when Laurel must encounter one of her previous failures.

32 pages, $2.50.

NO HONOR #1

GIVE'EM A CLICK

Written by Fiona Avery, penciled by Clayton Crain.

View the world through the eyes of a world-class art thief. Witness the theft of an antique katana and the rebirth of an ancient Samurai soul in the body of a thief without honor. Fall in love with someone you could never possibly know, hunt while being hunted, and taste the world again for the first time in 1300 years. No Honor is a four-issue tale of one thief who finally runs out of luck and runs into Tannen Yojimbo, the spirit of a Samurai who will change his world forever.

32 pages, $2.50.

OBJECTIVE FIVE #7

Written by Todd Samovitz and Kevin Hoffer, penciled by Luke Lizalde, inked by Crime Lab Inks, colored by Tyson Wengler.

"Origins." This issue reveals exactly what the Chinese have in mind for the Objective Five team. After being kidnapped, our heroes find Russian bio-weapons alive and well in China. While being interrogated by the champions of human rights, the team discovers just how deep the Chinese are into the "super soldier" virus program. Could this same program reveal the origins to the virus that infected them?

32 pages, $2.95.

POWERS COLORING AND ACTIVITY BOOK

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, art by Mike Avon Oeming.

Ever stop by your local police precinct and get one of those coloring/activity books the cops hand out to teach safety tips and crime prevention? Well, this month the team behind the super hit comic, Powers, brings you the coloring/activity book that they hand out at the precinct where the comic book Powers takes place. Find out what happens if you don't listen to the rules and touch a super hero without permission... Find out what happens if you put on a costume and cape and jump off a large building in an attempt to get your favorite super heroes attention... Find out what to do if your father is, in fact, a super villain.

16 pages, black and white, $1.50.

RISING STARS #14

Written by J. Michael Straczynski, penciled by Christian Zanier.

It's the fight everybody's been waiting for: Patriot versus Matthew Bright, Critical Maas goes critical mass, and the final truth behind the murders is revealed at last.

32 pages, $2.50.

SAM & TWITCH #19

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, art by Alex Maleev, colored by Jay Fotos, cover by Ashley Wood.

"Bounty Hunter Wars, Part V." The conclusion to the most storylines. The badass bounty hunter Bilal has gone too far and all the bounty hunters in New York are on his trail. Sam and Twitch must beat the hordes to reach Bilal first. But what will an enraged Twitch do when he finally faces the man who destroyed his life? A shocking ending.

32 pages, $2.50.

SAVAGE DRAGON #84

By Erik Larsen .

Mike Allred's The Atomics and Madman guest star as the Dragon fights BrainiApe and the deadly new Vicious Circle in the arena of death. And readers are not going to believe who's behind all this insanity.

32 pages, $2.95.

SECTION ZERO #6

Written and art by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummet, colored by Ben DiMagmaliw.

The finale of Section Zero's "Ground Zero" storyline-- and the first appearance of Kurt Busiek and George Perez's creator-owned Westwind. Death, deceit and destruction define the final battle for the mysterious island known as Ground Zero a battle that will force Section Zero to pay the ultimate price. Plus: Nicholas West is a powerful attorney... and mystic, with the ability to control the elements. Introducing: Westwind, a different kind of rainmaker, in a back-up story,

32 pages, $2.95.

SHIDIMA #2

Written by Adrian Tsang, penciled by Arnakin and Warui Namakemono, inked by Ramil Sunga, colored by Shane Law.

Aldaran must discover why a rebellion that he was once a part of but helped to dissolve is mysteriously resurfacing in the highlands of Shidima. But in doing so, he risks exposing himself to the very people he betrayed to the empire three years ago. Meanwhile, Hakara and Mitsuro, two of the most dangerous swordsmen in Shidima, are hot on the trail of the same mystery, but what will they do when the trail leads them into a head on collision with Aldaran?

32 pages, $2.95 (with covers by Pat Lee, Warui Namakemono and Arnakin.

SPAWN #107

Written by Todd McFarlane and Brian Holguin, penciled by Angel Medina, inked by Danny Miki, colored by Brian Haberlin, cover by Greg Capullo.

"What Are The Secrets Of The Kingdom?" On the trail of the most terrifying horror he has ever encountered, Spawn discovers an entity that promises to reveal the path to salvation and paradise, while leading followers into the darkest corners of evil. The more Spawn investigates, the more puzzling the clues become. The ultimate truth awaits him, and is even more terrifying than Spawn could ever have imagined.

32 pages, $2.50.

SPAWN: THE DARK AGES #24

Written by Steve Niles, penciled by Nat Jones, inked by Kevin Conrad, colored by Todd Broeker, cover by Ashley Wood.

"Bleed, Pagan, Bleed." In the north, the cold winds of death have come for the Druid Gareth. And a lost angel, Raven, has found her way to his side. Is she the Druid's savior or the instrument of his demise? In the south, Covenant has found a strange hermetic companion named Dumas the Giant. Dumas long ago mastered such arcane arts as Alchemy and what will one day be known as science. Now this knowledge is in the Hellspawn's grasp. A single question remainsâ¤| how will Spawn use these dark, dangerous gifts?

32 pages, $2.50.

TELLOS TPB VOL. 1: RELUCTANT HEROES

Written by Todd Dezago, penciled by Mike Wieringo, inked by Stull, Massengill, Case and Ketchum, colored by PaulMounts/Bongotone.

Collecting the and hard-to-find Tellos #1-5, the Another Universe Exclusive Tellos: Prelude, the Dynamic Forces Exclusive Tellos: Prologue, and a complete cover gallery including every variant covers.

152 pages, $17.95.

TOMB RAIDER: THE MAGAZINE #1

This oversized debut issue will feature the hard-to-find first two issues of the Tomb Raider comics book series and a sexy centerfold of Lara Croft. This first issue will also include an interview with Tomb Raider scribe, Dan Jurgens, a visit to the studio of penciler Andy Park and inker Jonathan Sibal and a profile of colorist Jonathan D. Smith.

56 pages, $4.95.

TOMB RAIDER #1: B&W MINI PREVIEW EDITION

Written by Dan Jurgens, penciled by Andy Park.

Top Cow offers for the first time, the exclusive Tomb Raider #1: Mini-Edition Preview. Made as an added bonus that was included in the Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation Millennium Edition PC Video Game, this is the first introduction of Lara Croft to the Top Cow Universe and her own comic series, Also included are a Sketch Book area by series artist Andy Park and an added preview of another best selling video game and comic book, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver.

16 pages, black and white, price TBA.

TOP COW CLASSICS: MIDNIGHT NATION #1

Written by J. Michael Straczynsk, penciled by Gary Frank, inked by Jason Gorder.

Top Cow presents the next black and white edition of J. Michael Straczynski's creation, Midnight Nation. Telling the story of police detective David Grey on a search for his soul, this supernatural thriller has quickly become one of the most sought after titles of 2000.

32 pages, , black and white, $2.95.

TOMB RAIDER #11

Written by Dan Jurgens, penciled by Andy Park, inked by Jonathan Sibal, colored by Jonathan D. Smith.

Through the years, countless people have searched for the epic kingdom of Shangri-La. Finally, Lara Croft, a hunter unequalled by any other, has succeeded where so many others have failed. The only problem is, that no one is ever allowed to leave...alive. Has Lara finally fallen into the one trap even she can't escape?

32 pages, $2.50.

WARLANDS SPECIAL: THREE STORIES

Written by Adrian Tsang, penciled by Pat Lee, inked by Alvin Lee, colored by Angelo Tsang,

Collecting the rare Warlands Vol. 1: Wizard 1/2, Another Universe #0, all-new epilogue story, all-new framing sequence and a complete cover gallery of the above including all the variants. Enjoy an evening by the fireside in the land of magic and vampires. Experience first hand three tales that forever changed the balance between might and right in the world of Warlands. In Warlands Special: Three Stories readers will discover two early self-contained tales from the Warlands Universe as well as the beginnings of Warlands Ice Age all in one place. This graphic album provides the perfect opportunity to sample the past, present, and future of Warlands all in one accessible package.

48 pages, $5.95.

CASEY TALKS X-MEN

Joe Casey, new writer of X-Men, told The Continuum that the best part of getting the job is the current climate at Marvel Comics.

"I think we're finally going to be allowed to make significant changes in the way these books are done," Casey said. "The potential here is enormous."

Casey will be writing X-Men and Grant Morrison will be writing Uncanny X-Men, beginning with issues in May.

"We actually talked about him writing X-Men a few months ago, when he was visiting L.A. to do movie stuff," Casey said of Morrison. "Lately, we've been e-mailing back and forth pretty regularly. We've spoken on the phone a bit. But we've just started on this path. The next few months is gonna be

full-tilt, non-stop, TransAtlantic cross-creator mayhem!"

Casey said he doesn't know who the artist of X-Men will be.

"As long as it's somebody ready to bust ass on the big dog in the industry, as well as being ready to push the envelope further than they ever thought possible, then we're in business," he said.

What's his take on X-Men?

"X-Men is probably the most forward-looking concept in comics," Casey said. "Evolution mixed with alienation. Heavy stuff. Beyond that -- and this is my latest mantra -- X-Men is not about superheroes. X-Men is beyond superheroes."

It's not certain yet with which characters each writer will be working,

"There are a few characters I'm looking forward to writing -- some of them I've written before, actually -- but I'm trying to come at this whole thing with a fresh, clean perspective," Casey said. "Once I get more into the gig, favorites will inevitably happen."

DERENICK PENCILS X-MEN #109

Tom Derenick told The Continuum that he is filling in as artist of X-Men #109.

"It's Chris Claremont's final issue of X-Men, which was originally solicited with Leinil Francis Yu as penciler," Derenick told The Continuum. "It's a Christmas issue with a lot going on in it that leads into the next year."

Derenick said he is being inked by Norm Rapmund and Rick Ketcham on the issue.

X-Men #109, due next month, will be a 100-Page Monster, including reprints of Uncanny X-Men #98, #143 and #341.

FOX KIDS AIRS X-MEN FINALE

Fox Kids, which brought back the original X-Men animated series on July 17, is finishing up a cycle of the show on Tuesday with "Graduation Day," the 76th and final episode.

Beginning Wednesday, Fox Kids begins a new cycle of X-Men with the first season's episodes.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

Here's a rundown of this week's shows:

Monday: "Descent." The year is 1859, the dawn of mutantkind. The place is London, England, where the Victorian era is in full swing. In academic circles, many new theories are debated, perhaps none more strongly than those of Charles Darwin. His theory of natural selection divides the scientific community--pitting learned scholars like Dr. James Xavier (ancestor of Professor Charles Xavier) against Dr. Nathaniel Essex, a brilliant biologist.

Tuesday: "Graduation Day." During a Mutant/Human Relations Summit meeting, Professor Xavier is attacked by infamous mutant hater, Henry Gyrich, who unleashes a blast from a powerful psychic energy disrupter. Even as the X-Men race to get Xavier to the Blackbird, he is fading. Moira McTaggert is summoned, and together she and Beast do their best...but Charles is beyond the help of medical science. Meanwhile the media has transmitted news of the brutal attack worldwide, and mutants everywhere begin to look to a new leader.

Wednesday: "Night of the Sentinels, Part I." Jubilee is saved by the X-Men when Sentinels--giant mutant-apprehending robots--attack a shopping mall. The X-Men discover that renegades within the government are using a Mutant Registration Program to track down and eliminate mutants.

Thursday: "Night of the Sentinels, Part II." The X-Men break into the Mutant Registration Office and destroy the files, but Beast is apprehended while trying to escape. Gyrich and Trask, the renegades responsible for the Sentinels, kidnap Jubilee, hoping she can lead them to the X-Men.

Friday: "Enter Magneto." Enter Magneto While Beast stands trial for the break-in, The Master of Magnetism attempts to break him from prison. Professor Xavier recognizes his age-old foe Magneto, a maverick who aims to start a mutant war against humanity.

WEINBERG WRITES DARKSIDE FOR MARVEL

Robert Weinberg, writer for Cable, will be returning to his horror roots in a new comic, Darkside, which will be released by Marvel Comics next summer.

Weinberg is the author of 15 novels, 12 of them horror, as well more than two dozen horror short stories. Three of his horror stories have been optioned for film and he's currently working on a horror TV show with Zide/Perry Productions.

Darkside was created by Weinberg at the suggestion of Marvel editor, Mark Powers, and assistant editor, Pete Franco, who thought Weinberg's horror background would result in something different than the usual Marvel super-hero title. Though no artist has been selected for the book, several pencilers are being considered.

Weinberg explained Darkside's concept:

"Who says man's the only intelligent species on Earth? No, I'm not talking about dolphins or whales or even those monkeys they taught to play cards and read baby books. I'm talking the real things; beings who walk our streets, ride our cars, work, eat and sleep and do all the stuff that humans do -- but that aren't human. Who says?

"They call themselves the Others. No one knows much about them. Their history is as dark and murky as our own. It doesn't matter. What matters is that they're here. They look like us, they act like us, and most people never suspect they're not one of us. But, they're different. They're not human.

"The Others possess powers no mortal has, and oftentimes they are controlled by thirsts and passions and desires that are totally and absolutely alien. Some of them crave blood; others can change their shape; while still others can suck the soul right out of your body.

"Over the centuries, mankind's developed folklore and legends about the Others - given them names like vampire and werewolf and ghoul and ghost and demon. But, they're not so easily categorized. Each of them is different, just as each human is unique and special in their own way.

"Like humans, the Others prefer to socialize with their own kind. So they gather in clubs, in bars, in locations meant for them and no one else. Most of them sleep by day and party by night. They keep a low profile and hide in the darkest shadows. Our world of sunshine and faith and hope, they call 'Dayside.' Their world, a place of shadows and darkness and terrors unsee, the world the Others call their own, they know as 'Darkside.'

"Sydney Taine, tall, beautiful, sensual, is a female detective who walks on the Darkside. No one knows much about Taine other than she solves crimes that ordinary crime solvers can't. The Others avoid the police and politicians at all cost. Taine is one of the few humans they trust, and some of them wonder about her. A few elders speculate behind locked doors that perhaps Taine is yet a third lifeform, a race called the Players. Could all life on Earth, both Humans and Others, be mere pawns in a vast game for unknown stakes played by a select few like Sydney Taine. When asked, Taine laughs and walks away. But she never answers.

"(Darkside) deals with Sydney Taine, and her partner, Ape Largo, perhaps the ugliest man alive, as they solve the crimes, conspiracies, and the unnatural disasters that all take place on the Darkside. Good and evil battle in this hidden society, but sometimes telling which is which isn't going to be easy. Nothing is easy on the Darkside."

X-MEN: EVOLUTION UPDATE

X-Men: Evolution's premiere episode on Kids' WB! on Nov. 4 was the No. 2 program for the morning - trailing only Pokemon: The Johto Journeys - in the ratings among boys 6-11.

The series earned a 7.5 rating and a 30 share among boys 6-11. X-Men: Evolution outperformed its competition, including cable, in kids 6-11 and its broadcast competition in kids 2-11, girls 2-11 and girls 6-11.

The premiere episode delivered a 32 percent increase in kids 2-11 and a 49 percent increase in boys 2-11 for the 10:30 a.m. (ET) time period versus the previous week.

Although the network is happy with the show's performance, it has not renewed the series yet for a second season. It's simply too early in the process.

Look for more on X-Men: Evolution soon here in The Continuum

X-MEN MUTANT WARS GAME

Activision's X-Men Mutant Wars, a game for the Game Boy Color, is now available in stores nationwide.

The game has a suggested retail price of $29.99 and has been rated "E" for everyone by the ESRB.

"X-Men Mutant Wars puts the power of Marvel's legendary mutant heroes in the palm of gamers' hands," said Colin Mack, Activision Studio Japan. "Now, players can explore the conflict of good vs. evil in their quest to defeat Magneto and his evil minions, only to find a more sinister force awaiting them. The game offers a wide array of characters and multiple game modes to deliver hours of non-stop action."

In X-Men Mutant Wars, players assume the role of one of five here -- Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Gambit and Iceman -- as they use their unique powers to defeat a band of cyborgs on a deadly rampage. Using superhuman jumps, flips, speed-ups, projectile attacks, players take on evil mega-bosses as they attempt to discover the true mastermind behind the robotic uprising.

Gamers explore nine mission-based levels as they battle to shut down the enemy's plot. Players can choose from one of two modes of play -- story mode, which lets them progress through each mission, or fight mode, which challenges them to take on a slew of bosses.

X-Men Mutant Wars was developed by HAL Corporation for Activision.

FIRST LOOK: BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #11

Batman: Gotham Knights #11 will ship on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Devin Grayson and Robert Kannigher, with art by Roger Robinson, Kyle Baker and John Floyd and a cover by Brian Bolland.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"The shocking extra-sized conclusion of the four-part 'Transference.' Bruce Wayne has been kidnapped by Hugo Strange, which leaves his rescue up to Nightwing and Robin. Can they save their mentor from this madman, or will

the Batman's secret finally be revealed? And speaking of secrets, the mysterious author of the Journal entries beginning in issue #1 is finally revealed."

Batman: Gotham Knights #11 will be 48 pages and will cost $3.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: TOMORROW STORIES #8

Tomorrow Stories #8 will ship on Wednesday from DC Comics and America's Best Comics. The issue is written by Alan Moore, with art by Hillary Barta, Rick Veitch, Jim Baikie,and Melinda Gebbie and a cover by Baikie.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"Gebbie's Cobweb features some startlingly glamorous super-hero action, while Veitch's gaslit sleuth, Greyshirt, stars in an encounter with his femme fatale antagonist, the living jewel Lapis Lazuli. And don't forget the inspired and messy mania of Barta's sublime Splash Brannigan, or Baikie's toweringly inane First American."

Tomorrow Stories #8 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: MERIDIAN #6

Meridian #6 will ship on Wednesday from CrossGen Comics. The issue is written by Barbara Kesel, with art by Joshua Middleton and Dexter Vines.

Here's how CrossGen describes the issue:

"In all her short life, Sephie's never set foot on the surface world of Demetria... until now. She's taken in by the kindly Minister of Akasia, who has ideas of how the Sigil-Bearer's power can benefit her city... whether Sephie wants to help them or not. Ilahn is grieving for his lost heir, but fate provides him with an alternative to his niece. And the displaced Meridianites arrive at their destination, only to find Cadadorian soldiers waiting..."

Meridian #6 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

BRIEFLY

  • Spawn #100 covers will include art by Frank Miller, Alex Ross, Mike Mignola and Greg Capullo.

    GIVE'EM A CLICK

  • CrossGen Comics has announced that Scot Eaton and Andrew Hennessy will take over as the art team with Sigil #11, following fill-in issues by Kevin Sharpe and Randy Elliott. CrossGen also announced that the first issue of Meridian for Greg Land and Drew Geraci will be #11.

  • Image Comics next spring will release Age of Bronze: A Thousand Ships, a trade paperback that collects Age of Bronze #1-9.

  • Ben Raab told The Continuum he is writing Superman: Shogun of Steel, a 64-page Elseworlds one-shot to be drawn by Josue Justiniano. "Not sure about the release date yet," Raab said.

  • Coming after midnight: DC for February - and much more!!!
    E-Mail the Continuum at roballs@aol.com



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