Tuesday, August 13, 2002

CROSSGEN COMICS FOR NOVEMBER

Following are CrossGen Comics' solicitations for November, with information coming from the company.

CRUX #20

Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Steve Epting, inked by Rick Magyar, colored by Frank D'Armata.

Zephyre, Verityn and Geromi are in deep trouble as Ganish and Yala continue their deadly game. They must call on the other Atlanteans for help. But what nasty surprise is Aristophanes preparing for them on their return?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 20.

CRUX VOL. 2 TP: TEST OF TIME

Written by Mark Waid, penciled by Steve Epting, Jeff Johnson, inked by Rick Magyar, Mark Pennington, colored by Frank D'Armata, Jeromy Cox.

Six peaceful Atlanteans went into stasis when their fellow Atlanteans attempted Transition to a higher state of being. They slept for a hundred thousand years before being awakened to find their world overrun by aliens and the humans that they had pledged to mentor gone. Unwilling warriors, they have survived their first few battles against creatures from another universe, but now internal division threatens their harmony. Enter the Jakata, a ritual designed to unite them. When a mysterious sighting draws them halfway around the world, the Atlanteans leave as one group...but come back without one of their members.

160 pages, $15.95, in stores on Nov. 6.

EDGE #8

By various.

In the pages of Sigil, space is no longer the 'final frontier' - it's a dense battleground on which man and Saurian struggle for dominance. This month's Edge cover series features two installments (Chapters 27 & 28), in which hundreds of years of war boil down to a cosmically powered death match between Samandahl Rey and Khyradon. But will the survivor hold the key to ultimate victory for his race? On the world of Scion, war is no less complex for all its medieval trappings. This month (Chapter 28), Ethan and Ashleigh continue their scheme to turn Sanctuary Island into a true sanctuary for the Lesser Races, while Kort finally takes the Raven throne vacated when Ethan bested Bron in single battle. From medieval fantasy adventure we turn to the kung fu high jinx of Way of the Rat. In this installment (Chapter 5), Boon and Po Po are on the run from assassins, when Boon runs straight into the Khan! Of course he does. And what of Mystic, where every Guild has its own special brand of enchantment? This month (Chapter 26), Giselle's tour of the magical world of Ciress takes her to the land of the Shaman Guild, where she must face down here deepest, darkest fear… a giant bird? No birds but plenty of gargoyles in the Victorian-edged mystery series Ruse, where readers finally learn the untold story of Simon's years with Malcolm Lightborne: How they met, how they worked together, and how a strange and powerful artifact known as the Enigmatic Prism turned them into bitter enemies. Finally, a double shot of The First (Chapters 21 & 22), in which Pyrem flies off to rescue Ingra, the leader of House Sinister, and we learn the strange life story of the wicked Seahn.

192 pages, $11.95, in stores on Nov. 27.

FORGE #8

By various.

He is Charon, lord and master of all Negation Space. She is Memi, and she hasn't yet mastered the toilet. And yet this baby girl guards a mystery that could shake Charon's empire to its very foundations. forge #8 is proud to present "Baby Memi vs. The Negation," Chapter 10 in the Negation saga. Also this month, comics legend Rudy Nebres teams up with regular series writer Tony Bedard to bring us the self-contained story Negation: Lawbringer, which gives readers a rare glimpse of Charon before he conquered the cosmos and the story of his long-forgotten second in command. Next is Crux (Chapter 17), where the newly awakened Atlantean Aristophanes finds himself alone in the Negation Universe - and kicks major Negation butt. There's a double-shot of Sojourn (Chapters 13 & 14), in which Bohr the troll takes a star turn with murder on his mind, while Arwyn and Gareth take their quest to the catacombs of Ankhara. Meanwhile in Meridian (Chapter 28), Sephie's defeat of Uncle Ilahn leads not to joy but sadness and self-doubt; convinced she's done nothing right, Sephie finds solace in a message from her father, first captain of the sunship. As she reads through his logbook, her father's story gives Sephie hope that she can rise to the challenge of leadership as Minister of Meridian. This month's installment of Route 666 (Chapter 2) is far less hopeful for Cassie Starkweather, who just can't seem to convince anybody that there are spirits out to steal her soul. Escaping Dr. Melchior's spooky asylum is the easy part, but things only get worse when she hits the road… From ghouls and monsters we turn to samurai and warlords in The Path (Chapter 7). It's war as Shinacea invades, with only the remnants of Nayado's samurai to stop it. Will Obo-san step between the warring armies?

192 pages, $11.95, in stores on Nov. 13.

MERIDIAN #30

Written by Barbara Kesel, penciled by Steve McNiven, inked by Tom Simmons, colored by Morry Hollowell.

Sephie's been on the wrong side of the law. As a pirate, she used force to change the waves of trade. So what happens when she finds herself on the other side of the diplomatic equation when refugees from Torbel come to Cadador - armed and ready to take the island for their own. Since Ilahn of Cadador let Torbel fall, they feel it's only fair that they be given the island of Cadador in payment for their tragedy. Does Sephie side with the refugees, or the island she now governs?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 27.

MERIDIAN VOL. 4 TP: COMING HOME

Written by Barbara Kesel, penciled by Steve McNiven, Andy Smith, inked by Tom Simmons, Mark Farmer, colored by Morry Hollowell, Jeromy Cox.

On a fantasy world of floating islands and flying ships, 16-year-old Sephie faces the cost of rebellion-her pirate forces find themselves facing off against an explosive projectile weapon of a kind never before known on Demetria. It's only the first of many trials the young Sigil-Bearer faces as she returns home to Meridian to face the changes that occupation by Cadadorian soldiers have forced on her beloved home. Sephie's Uncle Ilahn, her only living relative and deadliest enemy, lies in wait. The inevitable clash between them will cost Sephie more than she could ever dream...

160 pages, $15.95, in stores on Nov. 6.

MYSTIC #30

Written by Tony Bedard, penciled by Al Rio, inked by Roland Paris, colored by Matt Milla.

Taking a break from her magic lessons in far off lands, Giselle returns home to Nouveau City for a visit with her sister, Gen. Little does she know that her greatest admirer awaits her - Domo, a masterless demon who's convinced that Giselle is the dark mistress he's waited all eternity for. You always hurt the one you love…and Domo's sure got a thing for Giselle.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 6.

NEGATION #12

Written by Tony Bedard, penciled by Paul Pelletier, inked by Dave Meikis, colored by James Rochelle.

Obregon Kaine and his band of fugitives have joined forces with an army of powerful berserkers, and between them they have cornered the fiercest General in the Negation's imperial fleet. Boy, are they in trouble! The mayhem continues as our heroes fight for their lives - and for the key to invading the Negation Throneworld itself.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 13.

ROUTE 666 #6

Written by Tony Bedard, penciled by Karl Moline, inked by John Dell, colored by Nick Bell.

Cassie and her new ally Berkely confront Gunnar Melchior, the son of the ghastly psychiatrist who Cassie slew in self-defense. Driven by a single-minded need for vengeance, Gunnar brings the power of the National Bureau of Investigation to bear against our fugitive heroes. But a warning from her grandfather's ghost leads Cassie to question this new turn in her struggle…and uncover a truth even worse than she feared.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 13.

RUSE #14

Written by Scott Beatty, penciled by Butch Guice, inked by Mike Perkins, colored by Laura DePuy.

Simon's ruse is discovered-Emma rises from the dead, and the Wreckers are revealed to be hiding more secrets than bounty within their lair, a treasure trove leading to something much more insidious...the return of a formidable foe.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 20.

SCION #30

Written by Ron Marz, penciled by Jim Fern, inked by Roland Paris.

Ethan and Ashleigh return to the Sanctuary Isle to find it the target of an attack by freebooters who see the island as easy prey now that the Raven and Heron Kingdoms no longer protect it. Will the dream of a free land for the Lesser Races end in blood and flames?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 20.

SIGIL #30

Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Scot Eaton, inked by Andrew Hennessey, colored by Wil Quintana.

Sam must find how way home from the remotest part of known space. The crew of the Bitterluck must deal with the mysterious return of Roiya as well as a Saurian weapon that may destroy their ship. And Tchlusarud battles for supremacy over his homeworld on Tcharun.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 6.

SOJOURN #17

Written by Ron Marz, penciled by Cliff Richards, inked by John Dell.

As the Ankharan rebels agree to a desperate plan to rid their land of the troll occupiers, Arwyn and Gareth are captured. But the sadistic troll governor has more than a simple execution planned for his prisoners. Will the quest end in an inescapable deathtrap? All this, and the location of the Second Fragment is revealed.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 13.

THE FIRST #25

Written by Barbara Kesel, penciled by Andy Smith, inked by Rob Hunter.

Seahn has always believed that Trenin fathered him. That fantasy crumbles when the truth is revealed, severing Seahn's last tie to House Dexter. Now he has no one to answer to but himself...

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 6.

THE PATH #9

Written by Ron Marz, penciled by Matthew Smith, inked by Mark Pennington, colored by Michael Atiyeh.

The vast Shinacean army has been turned back with Obo-san's help, but now he faces a decision that will chart the course of a nation. Does he dare plot a rebellion to remove a mad emperor from the throne? Meanwhile, the Emperor Mitsumune is less than pleased with General Ryuichi's failure to obtain the Weapon of Heaven, and comes up with a devious plot of his own.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 27.

WAY OF THE RAT #7

Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Rod Whigam, inked by Drew Geraci, colored by Chris Garcia. Boon is the hero of Zhumar but pride comes before a fall and Judge Xain is ready to take all the advantage he can. Will Boon be able to hold onto his newfound magic before the Judge takes it away.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on Nov. 6.