Monday, April 22, 2002

AVATAR PRESS FOR JULY

Following are Avatar Press' solicitations for July, with information coming from the company.

WARREN ELLIS' STRANGE KILLINGS: THE BODY ORCHARD #1

Written by Warren Ellis, art and cover by Mike Wolfer.

Before his disgrace and removal to solo deniable duties, Sergeant Major William Gravel was part of SAS team Alpha One Four. He hasn't seen his teammates since his fall. He knows only that they're still in the job, doing the things he used to do. Which doesn't remotely explain why, while he's moonlighting in New York, the Alpha One Four team should be seen blowing away a newly-elected mayor -- a military man himself , and then vanishing into thin air. This series digs deep into William Gravel's magic past and begs an answer to one of the greatest combat magician secrets, what is the Body Orchard?

32 pages, black and white, $3.50 (wraparound cover, $3.95).

SHI: POISONED PARADISE #2

Written by William Tucci, art by Karl Waller, covers by Tucci, Waller Matt Martin.

Billy Tucci's Shi concludes her first color series as Avatar with this action packed finale. Shi has gotten trapped in between a vicious warlord that wants her dead and an innocent village that has taken her in to heal after her severe wounds of her last battle. With no choice but to engage the huge samurai army, she assembles what little help she can find and prepares for what will certainly be her most deadly battle. Set in the Feudal times of Japan, Poisoned Paradise is the first of Tucci's all-new stories of Shi through the ages. The time period is brought back to life with the luscious artwork of Karl Waller and vibrant colors by Nimbus. Death has a new face this summer and Shi's back in full force, don't miss thisstunning conclusion.

32 pages, $3.50.

TIDALWAVE STUDIOS

10th MUSE #1

Written by Marv Wolfman, art by Roger Cruz, covers by Andy Park, Chris Bachalo, Cruz, Mark Brooks, R.V. Valdez.

The 10th Muse series moves to Avatar to launch a new on-going series. 10th Muse is the story of Emma Sonnett, alone hero sets forth to seek out justice. A district attorney by day and the Muse by night. 10th Muse features Greek Mythology set in modern dayworld. This special first issue heats up the action right away. He calls himself The Guardsman and he has come to Earth to enlist the services of five veryspecial protectors to defeat an unstoppable force known only as Overthrow. To protect the Earth these five heroes come together to form The Odyssey, this planet's newest and greatest superhero team featuring The 10th Muse, Orion the Hunter, Trident, Isis and Atlas. But there is more to both The Guardsman and Overthrow than even the Odyssey know, and what is at stake is a greater menace than any this planet has ever faced before.

32 pages, $3.50.

BLACK TIDE #1

Written by Debbie Bishop, art by Mike S. Miller, covers by Andy Park, Miller, Mark Pajarillo.

The super-spy story Black Tide relaunches at Avatar in a new on-going series. As operatives of a Special Ops unit called Deceivers, super-terrorists and wanted criminals were no match for them. Now, as unseen evil works against them and dangerous enemies resurface, three conflicted heroes must choose sides in a fight for their lives. A Black Ops mission turns out to be a trap when one operative is exposed to a deadly bio-chemical agent. While our three heroes face an evil new opponent who uses their fears against them, two other villains have conspired to destroy them.

32 pages, $3.50.

TIDALWAVE AT AVATAR SAMPLER

Art by Roger Cruz, Mike Miller, R.V Valdez and more; cover by Ash Solomon.

The ultimate sampler is here for less than a buck. In the last two years TidalWave has brought readers some of the most unique heroes. With characters like the 10th Muse and Isis, merged with the creative talents of such heavy hitters such as Roger Cruz, Marv Wolfman, Randy Green and Norm Breyfogle, TidalWave blends the top notch artwork with innovative storylines. This special edition offers up some new artwork and brings readers up to date on all the TidalWave Universe titles. It is a who's who of the TidalWave's characters and features all of TidalWave's current and near-future titles.

16 pages, 99 cents.