Tuesday, June 18, 2002

DC COMICS FOR SEPTEMBER

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

BATMAN TITLES

DETECTIVE COMICS #774

Written by Greg Rucka and John Francis Moore; art by Steve Leiber, Stefano Gaudiano, Mark McKenna, and Rick Hoberg; cover by Bill Sienkiewicz.

Unwilling to accept the news of Sasha's predicament, Batman conducts his own investigation. But when the clues lead him to the ultra-secret government agency known as Checkmate, will even Batman escape alive? Plus, Part 2 of "The Hunt," by John Francis Moore, Stefano Gaudiano and Rick Hoberg.

40 pages, $2.75, in stores on Sept. 4.

BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #159

Written by John Ostrander; art by David Lopez and Dan Green; cover by Jason Pearson.

"Loyalties," Part 1 of 3. A madman takes over a Gotham church, and only Batman can bring him out before the house of God is reduced to a pile of smoldering rubble. But the madman's capture begins a journey of discovery for Lieutenant Jim Gordon, one which takes him back to the streets of Chicago, for a confrontation with a scandalous past he thought he'd left behind forever.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 11.

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #33

Written by Scott Beatty and Darwyn Cooke; art by Mike Collins, Bill Wray and Bill Sienkiewicz; cover by Brian Bolland.

New writer Scott Beatty begins his run. The man who broke Batman's back - Bane - comes to town and makes a startling statement. It's a fact that, at first, Batman can't seem to deny, causing the Dark Knight to team up with his long-time enemy to destroy the last of the Lazarus Pits. Plus, a Batman Black & White backup, "The Monument," written by Darwyn Cooke and illustrated by Bill Wray.

40 pages, $2.75, in stores on Sept. 18.

BATMAN #607

Written by Ed Brubaker and Geoff Johns; art by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens; cover by McDaniel.

Part 2 of a 2-parter. Deadshot is back in Gotham. And he's hot on the trail of his most dangerous quarry ever -- a target so foul, so menacing -- DC can't tell who it is. Can Batman stop the DC Universe's most fearsome assassin from turning Gotham City into a war zone?

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 25.

AZRAEL: AGENT OF THE BAT #94

Written by Dennis O'Neil; art by Sergio Cariello; cover by Mike Zeck and Jerry Ordway.

Azrael's irrational behavior provokes a former ally into recruiting an old foe to take revenge on Jean Paul Valley. But can even Biis stand up to Azrael's super-strength and berserker fury? Also, an international mission turns Azrael into a celebrity.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 11.

BATGIRL #32

Written by Chuck Dixon; art by Damion Scott and Wade von Grawbadger; cover by Scott and Robert Campanella.

It's an all-star DCU issue, as Batgirl joins forces with Robin, the Spoiler and Green Arrow's Connor Hawke to find Eddie Fyers. But even if they can locate Connor's longtime partner, can they save him, and the world, from the diabolical Agrippina and her Roman Legion cult?

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 11.

BATMAN: DARK VICTORY TP

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

The popular maxi-series that served as a follow-up to Batman: The Long Halloween is collected in this massive trade paperback, by the award-winning team of writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale. Contains all thirteen issues of the maxiseries, plus the #0 issue from Wizard: The Comics Magazine.

392 pages, $19.95, in stores on Sept. 25.

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #54

Written by Scott Peterson; art by Tim Levins and Terry Beatty; cover by Bob Smith and Beatty.

As a crime spree unfolds, a writer tries to get into the minds of Batman and his quarry - and only gets in the way. Will the writer get the story he's looking for, or will she become the story?

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 25.

BATMAN IN WORLD'S FINEST ARCHIVES VOL. 1 HC

Written by Bill Finger; art by Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Dick Sprang, and various; cover by Kane.

The first 17 solo adventures of Batman (and Robin) from World's Finest Comics - most of them unseen for over 60 years with only two ever reprinted since they originally appeared - are collected here! Showcasing the classic early work of Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Dick Sprang and others, these stories feature such milestones as the first appearance of long-time Bat-nemesis the Scarecrow and the last appearance of the rotund Alfred. Featuring an introduction by famed comics historian R.C. Harvey.

240 pages, $49.94, in stores on Sept. 18.

BIRDS OF PREY #47

Written by Terry Moore; art by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti; cover by Phil Noto.

Terry Moore writes a three-issue arc. Meet Heartache - a genetically gifted young woman who can alter and correct problems in any person she touches. Imagine what happens when it's Barbara's hand she holds, and the gift of mobility is granted once again to Oracle. This arc features the artistic talents of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 18.

CATWOMAN #11

Written by Ed Brubaker; art by Cameron Stewart; cover by J.G. Jones.

Cameron Stewart takes over the art chores as DC begins a devastating new arc in the life of Selina Kyle! Selina sets out to give something back to the neighborhood, but a new wave of crime brings her even closer to her roots than she ever imagined. And if that weren't enough, wait'll you learn the startling secret one of our supporting cast members is carrying. Plus, a surprise character appears to shake things up. This issue's got it all, including Slam Bradley, Leslie Thompkins, and even Bruce Wayne.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 25.

CATWOMAN SECRET FILES #1

Written by Ed Brubaker; art by art by Michael Avon Oeming, Cameron Stewart, Eric Shanower, Cliff Chiang, and Mike Manley; cover by Stewart.

The many lives of DC's Feline Fatale are explored in a spectacular one-shot with a lead story pencilled by Michael Avon Oeming. In addition to the lead (inked by Mike Manley), Catwoman scribe Ed Brubaker writes all of the stories in this Special, including a Slam Bradley tale, as well as one focusing on a new villain featured in an upcoming storyline, both illustrated by new Catwoman artist Cameron Stewart. Plus, Eric Shanower (Age of Bronze) draws a 2-page story investigating the rumors of Holly's death; and profile pages spotlight Catwoman and her supporting cast, courtesy of artists Stewart, Cliff Chiang and more.

48 pages, $4.95, in stores on Sept. 11.

GOTHAM GIRLS #2

Written by Paul Storrie; art by Jennifer Graves and J. Bone; cover by Shane Glines.

In the hot new series based on the WB Online webtoon, the female stars of the animated Gotham universe duke it out! Detective Rene Montoya, investigating the theft of a mysterious chemical compound, follows the deadly trail of Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, while Ivy tries to convince Catwoman and Batgirl that they should cooperate with her (fat chance).

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 11.

HARLEY QUINN #24

Written by Karl Kesel; art by Craig Rousseau and Dan Davis; cover by Carlo Barberi and Wayne Faucher.

Harley Quinn is back from Hell! The tragically disembodied troublemaker is wreaking havoc across Martian Manhunter's hometown, and the Manhunter's finding out that it's hard to stop the spirit form of one of the DCU's most random villains without being able to touch her. The Manhunter calls on the aid of the magician Zatanna to wrangle the slippery spirit, but even their combined efforts may not be much help once Harley figures out how to possess people at will.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 11.

NIGHTWING #73

Written by Devin Grayson; art by Rick Leonardi and Jesse Delperdang; cover by Michael Golden.

Part 3 of the 4-part "Something About Mary." Chief Redhorn's wife Mary goes to France, via a high-speed train. It should be a simple ride for Nightwing -- but when a cadre of gun-toting Bludhaven cops climb aboard, they bring new meaning to the term "bullet train!"

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 11.

ROBIN #106

Written by Jon Lewis; art by Pete Woods and Andrew Pepoy; cover by Kevin Lau.

Batman returns to try and reconcile with Robin, but their tender professional moment is broken as a new villain hits the scene with a bang, hijacking the Batmobile. It's blowout action, new gadgets, and a surprise development or two as Robin enters the most turbulent phase yet of his career.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 18.

SUPERMAN TITLES

SUPERMAN #186

Written by Geoff Johns; art and cover by Pascual Ferry and Cam Smith.

The 8-part "Ending Battle," running through all the Superman books for two months, begins. The Man of Steel's deadliest villains are targeting those closest to Clark Kent. When a revamped Master Jailer and Neutron attack the Capitol aiming for Pete Ross and Lana Lang, Superman must save his friends while uncovering clues to the mysterious mastermind behind it all.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 4.

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #608

Written by Joe Casey; art by Derec Aucoin; cover by Kevin Nowlan.

"Ending Battle" Part 2 of 8, featuring the debut of regular artist Derec Aucoin and cover artist Kevin Nowlan. The inexplicable attacks on Superman's friends and family continue, as Atomic Skull arrives at the Kent farm. Meanwhile, a host of super-villains start attacking people associated with Clark's childhood in Smallville. Where will the villains strike next?

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 11.

SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #130

Written by Mark Schultz; art by Brandon Badeaux and Mark Morales; cover by Pascual Ferry and Cam Smith.

"Ending Battle" Part 3 of 8. The Daily Planet is attacked by Evilstar and his Starlings, while a more powerful Terra-Man and Rock attack the Steelworks, forcing Lois to decide if her duty as a reporter comes before her duty to Superman.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 18.

ACTION COMICS #795

Written by Joe Kelly; art by Duncan Rouleau and Marlo Alquiza; cover by Kevin Nowlan.

"Ending Battle" Part 4 of 8. Superman confronts the man he believes is behind the attacks on his friends and family. But soon he's faced with the return of some unexpected foes.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 25.

SMALLVILLE: THE COMIC

Written by Mark Verheiden and Michael Green; art by Roy Allan Martinez and John Paul Leon; photo cover.

The WB TV series is now a 64-page comic, featuring two all-new stories based on the continuity of the show. What do you get when you mix Kryptonite and dinosaurs? A teenage raptor with a taste for Smallville students. Plus, a day in the life of Lex Luthor - what makes him tick? And why does he really want to stay in Smallville? Rounding out the issue are exclusive interviews (and photos) with the cast and production team behind the TV series, an in-depth look at the making of the first season pilot, and a special preview of season two.

64 pages, $3.95, in stores on Sept. 18.

SUPERGIRL #74

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

Linda Danvers' quest to find the Earth Angel essence that was Supergirl reaches a startling climax, though it may not end exactly as she hoped, especially when one of her traveling companions is killed by the Demon Mother, Lilith. Can Linda re-merge with Supergirl? Should she? Or is there another answer? Prepare for the end of this major storyline, and the beginning of a shocking new direction for Supergirl with issue #75.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 18.

SUPERMAN IN THE FIFTIES TP

Written by Otto Binder, Jerry Coleman, Bill Finger, Edmond Hamilton, and various; art by Al Plastino, Wayne Boring, Curt Swan, Kurt Schaffenberger, and various; cover by Boring.

The Man of Steel's most outrageous tales from the Fifties are collected here, including some important milestones in Superman's history: the first appearances of Supergirl, Krypto, Titano the Super-Ape, and the first Kryptonian villans! Plus, Superboy's last day in Smallville; Superman's big brother; Superman's Super-Magic Show; the battle with Bizarro & the Bride of Bizarro; the new team of Superman and Robin; and much, much more.

192 pages, $19.95, in stores on Sept. 18.

DC UNIVERSE TITLES

BIG DADDY DANGER #2

Written by Adam Pollina; art and cover by Pollina and Tyson McAdoo.

The slam-bang wrestling maxi-series continues. A secret mission takes Big Daddy away from his son, Danny Danger, and into the clutches of some old foes from the wrestling ring. Meanwhile, the dejected Danny has a run-in with some neighborhood toughs, but gets advice on getting even from an unexpected source.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 4.

DOOM PATROL #12

Written by John Arcudi; art and cover by Tan Eng Huat.

The Patrol battles the demon Raum in hell for the souls of thousands of innocents -- not to mention themselves. And the team finds unlikely allies in its battle, as well as a shocking revelation or two about their own immortal essences.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 4.

THE FLASH #190

Written by Geoff Johns; art by Justiniano and Walden Wong; cover by Scott Kolins.

Another Rogues spotlight! This issue, take a look into the life, origin and current status of the Pied Piper! Many of the other Rogues' lives center around this updated villain, including Trickster-turned-FBI agent James Jesse, and all-out Rogue Heat Wave. All this, and yes, the Flash too.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 25.

GREEN ARROW #17

Written by Brad Meltzer; art by Phil Hester and Ande Parks; painted cover by Matt Wagner.

"The Archers Quest," Part 2 of 6. In the second part of New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer's run on Green Arrow, Oliver Queen and Roy Harper (Arsenal) are together again! Green Arrow must pick up the pieces of his past and reconcile with his future. The classic bow-slinging duo confront the Shade over matters of death, but not for the reasons you think. Also, the return of the Arrowcave.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 25.

GREEN LANTERN #154

Written by Judd Winick; art by Dale Eaglesham and Rodney Ramos; cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams.

One of the most important people in Green Lantern's life has been attacked and left for dead. Kyle's about to discover that even with the most powerful weapon in the universe, he can't always protect those closest to him. Now that one of his inner circle is at death's door, Green Lantern is forced to examine just how vicious human beings can be. And no matter what actions he takes, both Kyle, and his legacy as Green Lantern, will begin to change with this issue.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 11.

GREEN LANTERN: EVIL'S MIGHT #2

Written by Howard Chaykin and David Tischman; art and cover by Marshall Rogers and John Cebollero.

Elseworlds. The residents of the slums of New York's Lower East Side have found a new hero in the form of the Green Lantern. As Kyle Rayner uses his newfound powers to clean up the poverty-ridden streets, Tammany Hall's finest, officer Hal Jordan, instigates a labor riot the likes of which New York has never before seen.

48 pages, $5.95, in stores on Sept. 25.

HAWKMAN #7

Written by James Robinson; art by Rags Morales and Tim Truman; painted cover by Andrew Robinson.

James Robinson writes the first "Lives Past" issue, showing the former lives of the Winged Wonder. It's back to the Old West, where we get a glimpse into the St. Roch of yesteryear, along with a look into the life and times of a gunslinger by the name of Nighthawk.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 4.

JLA #71

Written by Joe Kelly; art by Yvel Guichet and Mark Propst; cover by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen.

"The Obsidian Age: The Hunt for Aquaman" continues in Part 3 of 7. With the World's Greatest Super-Heroes defeated, a new JLA has assembled. But does the new team have what it takes to protect the world from the ancient evil that destroyed their predecessors - when they can't even stop fighting among themselves?

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 11.

JLA #72

Written by Joe Kelly; art and cover by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen.

It's the return of a king! Part 4 of the 7-part "The Obsidian Age: The Hunt for Aquaman." This is the moment comics fans have been waiting for, but, unfortunately, this king's revival in the past spells doom for the present, as the time-lost band of Leaguers falls to the new Atlantean dictator. Welcome to the Obsidian Age. The past ends now.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 25.

JLA: DESTINY #4

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

Elseworlds. The most powerful warriors on the planet have had enough. Captain Thunder, Wonder Woman, Midnight, the Flash, and the Marksman have set out to destroy the man who killed one of their own. And in their need for revenge, they've lost sight of the big picture. Listen closely, and hear the last silent scream of Destiny.

48 pages, $5.95, in stores on Sept. 4.

JLA/HAVEN: ANATHEMA

Written by Ashley-Jayne Nicolaus and Matthew P. Schuster; art and painted cover by Ariel Olivetti.

The World's Greatest Super-Heroes rejoin Earth's newest champions as the dread Anathema launches her assault on Haven. Now that the heroes of the Alliance have come to think of Earth as their home, they'll stop at nothing to defeat the woman responsible for their years of suffering. But will they pay the ultimate price in the battle that is to come?

48 pages, $5.95, in stores on Sept. 18.

JSA #40

Written by David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns; art by Leonard Kirk and Keith Champagne; cover by Rags Morales.

The grandson of a super-villain known as the Shadower has taken hostages to force Dr. Mid-Nite to perform surgery on his dying grandfather. If Mid-Nite isn't successful, the hostages will die. Only Captain Marvel and the Star-Spangled Kid have the slightest chance of stopping him -- or do they?

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 18.

JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #11

Written by Dan Slott; art by Min S. Ku and Dan Davis; cover by John Delaney and Rick Burchett.

Returning from an adventure in the far future, the Flash and special guest-star, the Atom, discover that the villainous Chronos is tampering with history. But when the two heroes notice that Chronos is trying to undo a terrible tragedy, will they stop him or help him? It's a special issue about living with the past and living for the future.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 4.

LAB RATS #6

Written and illustrated by John Byrne; cover by Byrne.

The conclusion of the Rats' time-travel adventure guest-starring Superman. Catapulted 50 years into the future, the Lab Rats face an alien invasion that may spell the end of the world! Is it possible that their journey through time is somehow responsible for dooming the Earth?

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 4.

THE LEGION #12

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

The Legion has found the one world that might have the weaponry necessary to defeat Robotica and retake Earth. Unfortunately, the only chance they have to use those weapons lies in defeating the legendary figures guarding them. Meanwhile, on Earth, Brainiac 5 matches wits with Robotica's leader, who Brainy is discovering is no slouch in the brains department either.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 25.

THE POWER COMPANY #8

Written by Kurt Busiek; art by Tom Grummett and Prentis Rollins; cover by Grummett and Michael Bair.

Green Arrow guest-stars in "Power Loss," Part 1 of 2! Up until now, the Power Company has been a team of fractious personalities and diametrically opposed motivations, held together by the skill and diplomacy of one man, Josiah Power. Now, as the Power Company partners pursue success in very different ways, an attack occurs that removes Josiah from the playing field, leaving the team leaderless. Everything changes for the Company, starting now - and it may not be a change they can survive.

32 pages, $2.75, in stores on Sept. 11.

THE SPECTRE #21

Written by J.M. DeMatteis; art by Norm Breyfogle and Dennis Janke; cover by P. Craig Russell.

Monsieur Stigmonus and Carol Ferris return as the disparate threads of the Spectre's life begin to draw together. After the Spectre's trip to space revealed just what sort of haunting hold the villain Sinestro had over him, Stigmonus drags Sinestro's undead soul back to the realm of the living -- and this time Hal's arch-nemesis will leave much more than just mental scars.

32 pages, $2.75, in stores on Sept. 4.

THE TITANS #45

Written by Tom Peyer and Barry Kitson; art by Peter Grau and James Pascoe; cover by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez.

In the middle of the desert, the former Titan named Damage calls out for the assistance of the Titans - and Jesse Quick comes to the rescue. But are the strange voices in the desert that are haunting Damage merely ghostsâ¤|or something much more dangerous?

32 pages, $2.75, in stores on Sept. 25.

WONDER WOMAN #185

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

The adventure in the '40s continues! It's a day in the life of the Golden Age Wonder Woman, as the disguised, time-displaced Diana tries to track down a Nazi saboteur in Washington D.C.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 25.

YOUNG JUSTICE #49

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

Part 3 of the 4-part "Fighting MAAD." The team's new leader heads an army of young heroes to invade Zandia, the island of super-villains that houses the murderer of someone very close to the team. All the action and chaos leads into next month's extra-sized issue #50.

32 pages, $2.75, in stores on Sept. 4.

BEYOND THE DC UNIVERSE

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS ARCHIVES VOL. 1 HC

Written by Wally Wood, Len Brown and Larry Ivie; art by Wood, Gil Kane, Reed Crandall, Mike Sekowsky, George Tuska, Dick Ayers, Mike Esposito, Dan Adkins, John Giunta, and various; cover by Wood.

One of the most fondly-remembered comicbooks of the '60s gets the quality-reproduction treatment, reprinting T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1-4 (1965-66). The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. (The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves) Agents feature the mighty Dynamo and his Thunder Belt; Noman, the multi-bodied living android and his cloak of invisibility; and Menthor, and his psionic helmet. These three agents forged together to counter the evil worldwide menace of the Warlord and his minions.

248 pages, $49.95, in stores on Dec. 4.

TOR VOL. 2 HC

Written and illustrated by Joe Kubert; cover by Kubert.

Eight more adventures are collected of one of Joe Kubert's most legendary creations, Tor - the saga of a noble yet uncompromising primitive man attempting to survive alone in a savage world of dinosaurs, disasters and devious men. Reprinting Tor #3-5 (from the 1950s), this oversized volume also features a foreword by Joe Kubert dealing with the early years of his career and the creation of Tor. Plus, an insightful introduction by comics writer and historian Roy Thomas; original Tor backup features, including the youth-oriented Danny Dreams stories; and a 27-page portfolio section with commentary by Kubert containing unseen sketches, pages, animation art and other developmental material.

144 pages, $49.95, in stores on Sept. 25.

CARTOON CARTOONS #13

Written by Will Pfeifer, Jennifer Moore & Sean Carolan; art by Matt Jenkins, Robert Pope, Dave Hunt, and Dan Davis; cover by C. Martin Croker.

Space Ghost decides it's his lucky day, and nothing's gonna' change his mind about it - not even Zorak's violent efforts to prove otherwise. Plus, Brak interviews people on the street, asking the blissfully stupid questions that only Brak can ask. This is going to cause problems when he tries to interview an angry cosmic villain.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 24.

LOONEY TUNES #94

Written by David Cody Weiss, Earl Kress and James Deming; art by David Alvarez, Mike DeCarlo, John Costanza, Walter Carzon, and Horacio Ottolini; cover by Mona Koth.

It's more "Duck Amuck"-style frenzy as Daffy begs the sadistic penciller of this comic to please, please not put him in another "Moby Dick" story! Plus, a hypnotic hat turns Taz into Bugs, Bugs into Daffy, Daffy into Elmer, and Elmer into -- well, readers will see.

32 pages, $2.25,in stores on Sept. 4.

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS #30

Written by Frank Strom and Bronwyn Carlton; art by Ricardo Garcia Fuentes and Mike DeCarlo; cover by Phil Moy.

Bubbles causes troubles in Townsville! First, she gets a chain letter that spells pure mayhem for anyone who doesn't answer it! Then, she agrees to help Mojo with a project to earn some spare change. But is this project really just a home for "adorable baby animals, cute little puppies, cuddly tiny kittens, and precious petite possums?" Well, duh.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 18.

SCOOBY-DOO #64

Written John Rozum and Scott Cunningham; art by Joe Staton, Horacio Ottolini, Anthony Williams and Jeff Albrecht; cover by Staton and Dave Hunt.

"The Dragon's Eye" continues. Adrift in the Sea of Japan, Scooby-Doo and Mystery Inc. battle a flying beast from Japanese myth. Plus, things really steam up when a demon haunts a spa.

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on Sept. 11.

WILDSTORM TITLES

21 DOWN #1

Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Grey; art by Jesus SaIz and Palmiotti; painted cover by Joe Jusko.

A new WildStorm series debuts, tying into events of the new Gen13. Preston Kills has an incredible gift - a gift of second sight given to him by the mysterious Herod when Preston was a boy. There's just one catch: the gift will kill Preston when he turns 21, meaning he has only an all-too-brief year left to live. When a mysterious woman appears at Preston's door with the idea that he might be able to save himself, his world is turned upside-down.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 4.

AUTOMATIC KAFKA #3

Written by Joe Casey; painted art and cover by Ashley Wood,

In a world of bizarre images, none come close to those of Automatic Kafka as a TV game show host.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 18.

BLACK SUN #1

Written by Marc Andreyko; art and cover by Trevor Scott.

A new "Eye of the Storm" mini-series begins. While investigating a bizarre waterfront crime, hotshot police detective Maggie Sun discovers a centuries-old hellish plot that's about to be unleashed by the Demon Lord Azuras. With the help of a mystical black pearl, Maggie alone has the power to battle Azuras and his demon minions. But does the answer to defeating Azuras lie in her own family's dark past? For more information, see the feature article. Note: Issue #1 will ship with two covers. Both covers are by Trevor Scott and will ship in a 50/50 ratio.

40 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 18.

DV8: NEIGHBORHOOD THREAT TP

Written by Warren Ellis; art by Humberto Ramos, Juvaun Kirby, Michael Lopez, Kevin West, Sal Regla, and various; cover by Ramos and Regla.

WildStorm Productions collects Warren Ellis' work on DV8 #1-6, plus the Wizard #1/2 - featuring power-mad, former I.O. bigwig Ivana Baiul's personal super-powered team, DV8. Can these misfits interact with a population they've been trained to regard as inferiors, especially with their own myriad social and psychological dysfunctions?

176 pages, $14.95, in stores on Sept. 25.

THE ESTABLISHMENT #13

Written by Ian Edginton; art and cover by Charlie Adlard.

Final issue. Out of space, out of time, with entropy encroaching at the heat death of the universe, the Establishment convinces the legendary Majestic and the vampiress Our Lady Eurcrastia to help them prevent Orwell from re-programming the vast God-machine that was the WildCATS' Hadrian. Orwell's aim? To kick-start a new universe in his own image.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 18.

GEN13 #1

Written by Chris Claremont; art and cover by Ale Garza and Sandra Hope.

A decade after making a huge splash in the comics world, WildStorm's Gen-Active teen team-supreme is back with new characters, new adversaries, new locales, new dangers, and new excitement! Brothers Dylan and Ethan York find their lives irrevocably, terribly changed, when a mysterious being known only as Herod gives one of the brothers powers. The two teens find themselves in a world filled with unknown dangers and mysterious enemies, and they know that in order to survive they must find the others Herod has changed before it is too late.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 11.

HIGH ROADS #6

Written by Scott Lobdell; art and cover by Leinil Yu and Gerry Alanguilan.

How could six issues have flown by so quickly? Don't ask Osha and Sir Arthur Bombridge - they're too busy crossing steel with a small army of sword-wielding Nazis. And forget about asking Sloan, who owes her "ex" another spanking for having booted her all those months ago. How about U.S. Army officer Nic Highroads? How can he talk when he has to plant the explosives that are the world's last chance against the man-made horror that is Morpheus' Necklace?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 4.

PLANETARY/JLA: TERRA OCCULTA

Written by Warren Ellis; art and cover by Jerry Ordway

Elseworlds. They are archeologists of the impossible - tracking down evidence of a vast array of super-human activity that the world never knew of. They are Planetary, better known to you as⤆Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince?!? The mystery team of the WildStorm Universe collides with the World's Greatest Heroes of the DC Universe in the most unexpected way.

48 pages, $5.95, in stores on Sept. 11.

POINT BLANK #2

Written by Ed Brubaker; art by Colin Wilson; painted covers by Simon Bisley.

The mature readers super-hero noir spectacular continues. It's a cold, bleak world that Cole Cash - a.k.a. Grifter of the Wildcats - finds himself wandering through. John Lynch, his old mentor/adversary from Team 7 days, lies in a hospital bed, near death. Now Grifter must sort out the facts in a giant web of deceit and betrayal.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 11.

THE RESISTANCE #1

Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Grey; art and cover by Juan Santacruz and Francis Portela.

A new WildStorm series debuts. The year is 2280 and things are not good. Brian Strum is a kid whose existence has been hidden from the government for his entire life - he and others like him are seen as a threat to the common good of humanity, a parasite on Earth's precious, dwindling resources. Now Brian has been exposed and he finds himself marked for death. His only salvation? A small band of resistance fighters called the Strayz, determined to fight for their right to live - even if it kills them.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 25.

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - THE GORN CRISIS SC

Written by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta; painted art and cover by Igor Kordey.

The softcover version of WildStorm's first Star Trek graphic novel explains where Captain Picard and the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E were during the Dominion War. Featuring the writing talents of sci-fi novelists Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta and the artistic brush of Igor Kordey,

96 pages, $17.95, in stores on Sept. 11.

STORMWATCH: TEAM ACHILLES #3

Written by Micah Ian Wright; art and cover by Whilce Portacio and Scott Williams.

The hard-hitting military action continues. The new StormWatch has engaged in battle with the super-powered extremists who have taken the United Nations hostage...but the arrival of an uninvited super-hero is making it hard for the team to do its job. Even worse is the deliberate interference of a shadowy quasi-governmental agency. What else can go wrong for StormWatch?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 11.

THUNDERCATS #2

Written by Ford Lytle Gilmore; art and cover by Ed McGuinness and Jason Martin; variant cover by Jim Lee.

To aid in his continuing quest to destroy the Thundercats once and for all, Mumm-ra solicits the help of past allies Slythe and the mutants - vowing that their stupidity will not interfere with his plans again. When the mutants attack Lion-O, Tygra and Hachiman while bringing down the Feliner ship, the stage is set for the battle royale every Thundercats fan has been waiting for! Note: This issue will ship with two covers. All orders will be filled with covers by Ed McGuinness and Jason Martin (50 percent) and Jim Lee (50 percent).

32 percent, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 18.

WILDCATS VERSION 3.0 #2

Written by Joe Casey; art by Dustin Nguyen and Richard Friend; cover by Nguyen and Rian Hughes

What does a post-Civil War legal decision have to do with Jack Marlowe's plans for the Halo Corporation - plans involving leveraged buyouts, efficiency experts and Chinese manufacturing plants? And what does this have to do with Grifter and Mister Wax in the bowels of Detroit? Sophisticated corporate intrigue mixes with edge-of-the-seat suspense.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 25.

AMERICA'S BEST COMICS TITLES

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN BOOK ONE TP

Written by Alan Moore; art and cover by Kevin O'Neill

The award-winning series by Moore and O'Neill is available in a softcover edition. Thrill to the immortal adventures of Mina Harker, Allan Quatermain, Captain Nemo, the Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll, and last but not least...Mr. Hyde. This marvelous band of adventurers is recruited by the Empire in her hour of need, to discover the secret of White Chapel...and the nefarious plans the sinister Doctor has for it.

192 pages, $14.95, in stores on Sept. 4.

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN VOL. II #3

Written by Alan Moore; art and cover by Kevin O'Neill

A traitor in their midst! Oh, most foul of fates. Can one of our champions truly be so black of heart? Hurry, dear reader, before our most talented illustrator's hand freezes from the horror of it all! And, lest you forget, our fantastic almanac continues.

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on Sept. 25.

TOM STRONG #18

Written by Alan Moore; art and cover by Chris Sprouse and Karl Story.

It's the startling conclusion to our 3-part epic adventure! Tom Strong, along with the Weird Rider and the Family Strong, fight a raging battle against a fearsome and brutal invasion force. Guest-starring many of Tom's allies from the past. This is not an issue to be missed.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 18.

VERTIGO TITLES

100% #4

Written and illustrated by Paul Pope; cover by Pope.

The steamy affair between busboy John and gastro stripper Daisy hits the skids as the former cassanova chokes and a pair of girl's underwear finds a new home. Futuristic boxing pro Haitous finds out the painful truth about why the girl of his dreams - and her child - would prefer if he dropped off the face of the earth and onto a passing planet.

48 pages, black and white, $5.95, in stores on Sept. 11.

100 BULLETS #39

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

"Ambition's Audition." The third in a series of six stand-alone stories pulls back the curtain and sheds some light on Benito Medici, the unwilling heir to a seat on The Trust. Benito's ruthless father Augustus seems to have cemented The Trust's agenda. But is it really a self-serving one that drives him? And is Benito's blasé attitude simply a mask for his own agenda - one that may compromise all that Augustus has worked for?

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 25.

AMERICAN CENTURY #19

Written by Howard Chaykin and David Tischman; art by Luke Ross and John Stokes; painted cover by Jim Silke.

Part 3 of the 5-part "Coming Home." Harry Kraft's honeymoon in Chicago is cut short, as he's forced to say "I do" to his wife's proposal. But can he divorce himself from Beth's deadly plan in time to save his own skin? Artie has a heart-to-heart with his parole officer; the crooked cops engage in brutal honesty; and Ethlie falls in love with chicken chow mein.

32 pages, $2.75, in stores on Sept. 18.

CODENAME: KNOCKOUT #17

Written by Robert Rodi; art by Ed Benes and Alex Lei; painted cover by J.G. Jones.

"Amok in America" Part 2 of 3. Angela forces a stunning revelation from her mother that has dire consequences for her immediate future. Meanwhile, Damon makes a fateful decision. And Go-Go finally gets out of the pool.

32 pages, $2.75, in stores on Sept. 25.

THE CRUSADES #19

Written by Steven T. Seagle; art by Kelley Jones and Ron Randall; painted cover by Aron Wiesenfeld.

Venus Kostopikas finds herself thrust back to Medieval times, and she's not alone. What phenomenon is causing residents of San Francisco to drink mead, don armor, and joust one another in what's supposed to be the most civilized city in North America? Venus comes closer to the inner circle of the new Round Table that's indoctrinating knights into the ancient codes of combat and chivalry and thrusting them into the modern world. But will Venus break the story or become just a bloody footnote?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 4.

FABLES #5

Written by Bill Willingham; art by Lan Medina and Steve Leialoha; painted cover by James Jean.

The conclusion to the 5-part "Legends in Exile," where ancient pacts, old grudges and clever ruses are brought to light. Rose Red's body has been found, and the identity of her murderer, or murderers, has been revealed. Now Bigby Wolf, Fabletown's sheriff, shows us how he put the clues together to solve the foul crime. Also, Prince Charming has auctioned off his royal titles and gets his first taste of his life to come⤆as a penniless nobody.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 11.

FIGHT FOR TOMORROW #1

Written by Brian Wood; art by Denys Cowan and Kent Williams; cover by Jim Lee.

Vertigo presents a new miniseries that draws on the best elements of kung fu fighting, Hong Kong action, and Fight Club-style intensity! Kidnapped as a small boy, Cedric Zhang was bought and raised to fight in competitions, but managed to escape to New York City. Now Cedric's life again is thrust into chaos and pain when he immerses himself in the violent and corrupt NYC underworld in an effort to locate a missing friend - finding himself back in the same horrible world he spent his lifetime trying to escape.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 25.

THE FILTH #4

Written by Grant Morrison; art by Chris Weston and Gary Erskine; cover by Carlos Segura.

In this issue, it really hits the fan as Slade meets the decidedly odd Otto Von Vermun and they attempt to survive crossing a literal wasteland.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 18.

HELLBLAZER #177

Written by Mike Carey; art by Marcelo Frusin; painted cover by Tim Bradstreet.

"Red Sepulchre," Part 1 of 4. Back in the Smoke for the first time in two years, John has walked into the middle of an ugly range war between rival groups of magicians. Like it or not, he's going to have to choose a side; and it would help if he knew which faction wants him dead.

32 pages, $2.75, in stores on Sept. 25.

HUNTER: THE AGE OF MAGIC #15

Written by Dylan Horrocks; art by Richard Case and Steve Bird; painted cover by Jon Foster.

Lily continues to mess with Eden's head, the Walkers get aid just when they really need it, and Tim receives a timely warning as his showdown with deadly necromancer Arawn Kruder draws near.

32 pages, $2.75, in stores on Sept. 11.

IN THE SHADOW OF EDGAR ALLAN POE HC

Written by Jonathan Scott Fuqua; art and cover by Stephen John Phillips and Steven Parke.

When a journal purported to be written by Edgar Allan Poe falls into the hands of Poe scholar Sterling Tuttle, the voice of the long-dead author reaches out from beyond the grave to give a chilling account of his tortured life. Haunted by the ghosts of his tragic past and the burden of relentless alcoholism, Poe soon finds that his creativity may depend on actual demons who have an unsavory agenda of their own.

96 pages, $24.95, in stores on Sept. 25.

LUCIFER #30

Written by Mike Carey; art by Peter Gross and Craig Hamilton; painted cover by Christopher Moeller.

"Inferno," Part 2 of 4. Lucifer arrives in Hell for his duel with Amenadiel only to find an unholy alliance of angels and demons forming against him. But his most dangerous enemy may be closer at hand, and the rekindling of an old relationship brings dangers of its own. If Mazikeen's and the Lilim's quest fails, the Morningstar may not even live to enter the arena.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 18.

MIDNIGHT, MASS #6

Written by John Rozum; art by Jesus SaÃ-z and Jimmy Palmiotti; painted cover by Tomer Hanuka.

"The Four Sisters," Part 3 of 3. Julia and Adam Kadmon are up to their necks in it again as they track down the thief who has stolen some of their most dangerous artifacts. As they unravel the secrets of the Four Sisters, they end up in a Mexican stand-off with St. Elmo's Hound, a bloated ancient Egyptian spirit and a possessed housekeeper. This issue the Kadmons must sink or swim!

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 18.

SKREEMER TP

Written by Peter Milligan; art and cover by Brett Ewins and Steve Dillon.

The cult pre-Vertigo classic miniseries featuring work by Peter Milligan and Steve Dillon is finally collected. In a land descended into anarchy and warlord rule, where gangster "presidents" vie for territory and control of resources - a boy named Veto rises to become the greatest "skreemer" assassin the presidents have ever seen⤆and the greatest threat to their stranglehold on power they have ever known. This is the story of what happens when Veto decides to fight against destiny, to fight against the future he can see all too clearly.

176 pages, $19.95, in stores on Sept. 4.

TRANSMETROPOLITAN #60

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

Warren Ellis' and Darick Robertson's Vertigo series comes to an end. This is it. It's all over. This is the final episode; in which Mitchell Royce takes a trip to Spider Jerusalem's final resting place. Transmetropolitan ends as you might expect - and how you wouldn't possibly expect.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on Sept. 18.

VERTIGO POP: TOKYO! #3

Written by Jonathan Vankin; art and cover by Seth Fisher.

Anarchy in Tokyo! Maki brings a Japanese fast-food joint to its knees in a hail of flying seaweed burgers, then kidnaps Hike from his own kidnappers while the ketchup is still dripping from the walls. Steve and the young yakuza Ryuji must somehow work together across their mutual language barrier to find Hike before the gang boss Igarashi gets to him -- unless Ryuji kills Steve first. Meanwhile, Maki merrily leads Hike to meet the one group of people he doesn't exactly want to see right now - his adoring Japanese fan club.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 4.

Y - THE LAST MAN #3

Written by Brian K. Vaughan; art by Pia Guerra and José Marzan, Jr.; painted cover by J.G. Jones.

Vertigo's new monthly sci-fi thriller continues! Trapped inside an impenetrable bunker, Yorick Brown - the last man on Earth - struggles to escape and rescue his Congresswoman mother from a posse of ticked-off, arms-bearing wives. Meanwhile, Culper Ring operative Agent 355 risks her life to protect the first female President of the United States, and the news that a lone male has survived the mysterious plague begins to leak out.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Sept. 18.