CROSSGEN COMICS FOR APRIL

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

THE CROSSOVERS #4

Written by Robert Rodi, penciled by Mauricet, inked by Ernie Colon, colored by Mark McNabb.

In Part 4 of the 6-part "Cross Currents," the war between the Bellekosin and Imperatrix Tyranna heats up… but Eradika has her hands full in Crosstown. Calista meets her first super-hero…and it's not who you think. Cliff discovers romance in a very unlikely setting. And Archetype unveils his surprising secret weapon.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 23.

DEMONWARS: TRIAL BY FIRE #5

Story by R.A. Salvatore and Scott Ciencin, scripted by Ciencin, art by Ron Wagner, colored by Caesar Rodriguez.

The demon-wolf Managarm is made flesh by the vengeance-driven frost giants of Alpinador. Can the Ranger Andacanavar, the magic-wielder Moira and the bloody red-cap dwarf Grave Mungo stand against this horrifying fiend, or will the world of Corona be put to the torch by Managarm's fiery touch? One will fall in this exciting conclusion to the first DemonWars arc.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 9.

LADY DEATH #3

Written by Brian Pulido, penciled by Ivan Reis, inked by Marc Campos, colored by Chris Blythe.

The "re-birth" of Lady Death attracts attention far and wide. In the Eldritch realm, news of Lady Death reaches her step mother Obsidia, who secretly vows to destroy her, while her father Tvarus plans to aid her. On earth, the Pope dispatches Warrior Priests to force Lady Death to submit to an inquisition. But none of them is prepared for Lady Death's next move as she is presented Blackheart - a unique magical sword made from metals of both worlds.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 16.

BRATH #3

Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Andrea Divito, inked by Brad Vancata, colored by Rob Schwager.

Brath is tormented by visions of the God of Stags. What do these dreams mean and how will they aid him in the coming war with the numberless legions of a pitiless empire? Drusus is visited by his brother in a horrifying vision. The armies of the Outlanders march in force on Ureland. Brath struggles to bring the clans under one banner to face them.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 9.

CHIMERA #3

Co-plotted and illustrated by Brandon Peterson, co-plotted and scripted by Ron Marz.

Sara pieces together her past and begins to understand the true nature of the power she's carrying. But the realization may well come too late as the Progeny - the super-evolved children of the Emperor - descend upon the ice world in order to capture Sara. The star-spanning sci-fi series by Peterson and Marz nears its climax!

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 9.

CRUX #25

Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Steve Epting, inked by Roland Paris, colored by Frank D'Armata .

Verityn and Geromi go for a ride in a vintage 20th Century fighter plane. But what starts as a joyride turns to terror as an airborne menace from the Negation threatens to hunt them down and kill them. At the same time a vast Negation force marches on Atlantis. Will Thraxis survive long enough to warn the Atlanteans?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 9.

EDGE #13

By various.

Strange attackers lurk on the event horizon of a systems-wide black hole, as Sam and the crew of the BitterLuck wander into an interstellar junkyard in Sigil (Chapter 33). There's the rest of the regular lineup - Way of the Rat (Chapter 10), The First (Chapter 28), Mystic (Chapter 33), Ruse (Chapter 17), Scion (Chapter 33) - plus the classic first volume of CrossGen Chronicles, where it all began. Also look for special previews of the new series Solus and Brath, coming to CrossGen's Compendia in May.

192 pages, $7.95, in stores on April 30.

THE FIRST #30

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

Persha and Ingra have different plans. One wants to unite the First, and the other won't reveal her true intentions. As the passionate natures of mother and daughter collide, the world of Elysia will tremble.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 2.

FORGE #13

By various.

Alone. Stranded in hostile territory. Wearing a prehensile tail around his neck. He's Kaine, leader of an unlikely band of heroes and the star of Chapter 15 in the Negation saga. Meanwhile, there's also Crux (Chapter 25), The Path (Chapter 12), Meridian (Chapter 33), Sojourn (Chapter 20) and Route 666 (Chapter 9). But that's not all! As a bonus, re-presenting the very first CrossGen Chronicles and throwing in special previews of Solus and Brath.

192 pages, $7.95, in stores on April 16.

MARK OF CHARON #2

Written by Tony Bedard, penciled by Joe Bennet, inked by Johnathan Glapion, colored by Dave Stewart.

Javi leads Charon's new team of Negation Sigil-Bearers against a rebel uprising on a Negation world. What they encounter on this war-torn world will set them on a road that will ultimately turn them against their glowing blue master, Charon himself. Discover how Good and Evil get twisted inside out in the dark universe known as The Negation.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 23.

MERIDIAN #35

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

Ilahn of Cadador, the greatest businessman his world has ever known, has put aside the ruling of his island in order to prepare his revenge against his errant niece. How much is he willing to destroy just to cause Sephie pain?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 23.

MYSTIC #35

Written by Tony Bedard, art by Paul Ryan, colored by Wil Quintana.

As Giselle seeks to respond to the global chaos sweeping the magical world of Ciress, her enemies are busy plotting her ultimate downfall. When the Master of the Dark Magi Guild is reunited with the eternal spirit of his evil guild, he once again has the power necessary to take on Giselle one on one. But the Magus now has even bigger plans than Giselle's death - and his powerful new allies may soon regret ever making a pawn of the darkest wizard on Ciress.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 9.

NEGATION #17

Written by Tony Bedard, penciled by Luke Ross, inked by Drew Geraci, colored by Dean White.

Gammid's tale unfolds as the Negation team's newest member reveals many secrets, both about his own origins, and about the origins of the CrossGen Universe! The balance of power in Negation Space radically shifts in this revealing look at the roots of a war between two universes.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 9.

NEGATION VOL. 2: BAPTISM OF FIRE

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

The rebellion against the Negation's emperor takes its first bold step in "Baptism of Fire." When one of their own is abducted and held prisoner by Emperor Charon, Kaine's fugitives must attempt a rescue against all odds. New enemies, unexpected allies, and epic battles highlight the most explosive Negation adventure yet.

160 pages, $15.95, in stores on April 16.

THE PATH #14

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

As Obo-san prepares for war, he is confronted by literally the last person he ever expected as his brother Todosi seemingly returns from the grave. Will Obo-san surrender the Weapon of Heaven to his brother, or is there something far more sinister at work here?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 23.

THE PATH VOL. 2: BLOOD ON SNOW

Written by Ron Marz, penciled by Bart Sears, inked by Mark Pennington, colored by Michael Atiyeh.

A monk now stripped of his faith possesses the most powerful weapon in an exotic land of samurai warriors. As merciless invaders advance across the countryside, Obo-san must decide where his true loyalty lies.

160 pages, $15.95, in stores on April 23.

ROUTE 666 #11

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

"You can't go home"…but that isn't stopping Cassie from trying as our heroine returns to her hometown to put her life back together. Unfortunately, something is very, VERY wrong with her folks, her friends, and her old haunts. Can Cassie notice the danger all around her before it's too late? Or will her desperate denial only speed her doom?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 23.

ROUTE 666 VOL. 1: HIGHWAY OF HORROR

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

Take a cruel cruise down the "Highway of Horror" with Cassie Starkweather, a young psychic girl who discovers a supernatural invasion is taking place, but only she can see the enemy hidden among us! Branded as a lunatic, Cassie embarks on a lonely one-woman war against the creatures who stole her best friend's soul!

160 pages, $15.95, in stores on April 2.

160 pages, $15.95, in stores on April 23.

RUSE #19

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

After just barely surviving a deflating dirigible, giant Gargoyles, and a marauding Miranda Cross, Simon Archard and Emma Bishop make their long-awaited homecoming to more friendly environs. But a divided city greets Partington's once favorite son and his intrepid partner. Simon's celebrity may be his undoing as a sly new sleuth steals the spotlight to extricate one of our cast from a potentially deadly romantic triangle.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 23.

SCION #35

Written by Ron Marz, penciled by Jim Cheung, inked by Don Hillsman II, colored by Jason Keith.

Can it truly be? Are Ethan's sister Ylena and his most hated enemy Bron truly in love? And can Ethan do anything to stop it? Events on Avalon take a shocking turn, with a surprise ending that will leave everyone stunned.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 23.

SCION TRAVELER VOL. 1 CONFLICT OF CONSCIENCE

Written by Ron Marz, penciled by Jim Cheung, inked by Don Hillsman II, colored by Caesar Rodriguez.

In an age in which ritual combat has taken the place of real war, Ethan prepares to mark his passage into manhood by participating in his first tournament. Then an incident occurs which changes his life forever - and leads to the first open warfare in generations.

192 pages, $9.95, in stores on April 9.

SIGIL #35

Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Scot Eaton, inked by Andrew Hennessey and colored by Andrew Crossley.

Key Issue. Sam, Zanni and the survivors of the Bitterluck are re-united, but their happiness lasts only nanoseconds as an unimaginably huge armada from the Negation universe threatens every living thing in the galaxy. And the secret of Roiya's resurrection is finally revealed in a horrifying climax that will leave you shaken.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 23.

SOJOURN #22

Written by Ron Marz, penciled by Greg Land, inked by Jay Leisten, colored by Justin Ponsor.

The quest continues as Arwyn ventures deep into the desert wastes of Oudubai, but her deadliest enemy may not be the sand, the heat or the troll pursuers dogging her every step. The greatest danger may well come from one of her own companions - a thief who has designs on the very Fragments Arwyn carries.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 16.

SOLUS #2

Written by Barbara Kesel, penciled by George Pérez, inked by Rick Magyar, colored by Larry Molinar.

Something has been hidden on the world of Quin for centuries, waiting for the day when Solusandra would return to claim it. But Andra cannot remember what to do with what she's given, and may not have time to remember with the Hound on her trail…

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 23.

WAY OF THE RAT #12

Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Jeff Johnson, inked by Tom Ryder, colored by Chris Garcia.

The stunning, destructive and earthshaking conclusion to the Emperor Dragon arc as the secret to destroying the dragon proves more deadly than the curse. This spectacular climax to this epic tale will have sweeping implications for the life of Boon and Po Po as someone close to them dies and another reveals a long-hidden truth. To save the city an ally must die as Boon and Po Po battle the mother of all dragons.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on April 9.