CROSSGEN FOR AUGUST

Following are CrossGen Entertainment's solicitations for August, with information coming from the company.

BRATH #7

Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Andrea DiVito, inked by Roland Paris, colored by Rob Schwager.

Brath in chains! He was betrayed on the battlefield, his wife has been kidnapped, and his son is missing. Now, his life in shambles, the Man-Killer is summoned by the Emperor himself. But will the barbarian leader's arrival in the capital city spell victory for the Empire…or its utter defeat? Find out as a new story begins.

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

CRUX #29

Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Sergio Cariello, inked by Rob Hunter, colored by Laura Villari.

Status quo-changing issue! With his city facing annihilation both from human and Negation invaders, Tug makes a decision that will rock Atlantis-and the entire CrossGen Universe-to its core.

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

THE FIRST #34

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

The secret of the First: revealed. When Andra-straight from the pages of Solus #5-exposes the origin of the First to Pyrem, even a god can break. And the Houses aren't going to like the results. Be there as the seeds of destruction finally explode.

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

MERIDIAN #39

Written by Barbara Kesel, penciled by Vincenzo Cucca, inked by Don Hillsman II, colored by Sumi Pak.

Jad searches for Sephie, but finds something deadly instead! Meanwhile, Sephie's in danger, too…but she may not want to be rescued.

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

MYSTIC #39

Written by Tony Bedard, penciled by Aaron Lopresti, inked by Matt Ryan, colored by Wil Quintana.

The culmination of a yearlong saga. Battered and bruised, Giselle must use every magical lesson she's learned to escape her imprisonment and bring down the evil Geometer Guild.

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

MYSTIC GRAPHIC NOVEL VOL. 5: MASTER CLASS

Written by Tony Bedard, penciled by Fabrizio Fiorentino and Aaron Lopresti, inked by Matt Ryan and colored by Wil Quintana.

A new volume collecting MYSTIC #29-32. On a world where society is based upon magic, ultimate power rests in the hands of the last person who wants it: Giselle Villard, professional party girl! Now attempting to embrace her new responsibilities, Giselle visits each Guild Land to learn their magic…but trouble awaits!

160 pages, $15.95, in stores on Aug. 20.

NEGATION #21

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

A turning point in the cosmic conflict. Deep within the bowels of a Negation prison, the fugitives take on their greatest challenge-and pay the price! They can free the leader of the Resistance…but is it worth the sacrifice?

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

THE PATH #18

Written by Ron Marz, penciled by Ron Wagner, inked by Armando Durruthy, colored by Frank D'Armata.

While the monk-turned-warrior Obo-san gathers his troops for revolt, the mad Emperor Mitsumune rebuilds his own samurai army, spelling certain doom for Obo-san's rebellion.

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

ROUTE 666 #15

Written by Tony Bedard, art by John McCrea, colored by Justin Ponsor.

Featuring the guest-art of John McCrea - and the introduction of a major new character. Meet Brion, the toughest, cruelest, most unpredictable foe yet to set his eyes on Cassie Starkweather! Who is this wandering demon, and how will he change both Cassie's life and her struggle against the forces of darkness?

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

RUSE #23

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

Simon Archard returns to his alma mater-for a very final exam. To rebuild his shattered reputation, our daring detective returns to Partington University! But can he solve the riddle of his premature graduation…not to mention the mystery of the stealthy sniper stalking his school?

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

SCION #39

Written by Ron Marz , penciled by Jim Cheung, colored by Jason Keith.

A special stand-alone, all double-page spread issue. Told in the tradition of Hal Foster's legendary Prince Valiant Sunday pages, this issue's amazingly detailed double-page spreads will bring to breathtaking life the story of Prince Ethan and the techno-medieval world of Avalon.

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

SIGIL #39

Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Ron Wagner, inked by Armando Durruthy, colored by Andrew Crossley.

It's the Saurians vs. the Negation in the most intense space battle yet. The universe you love to hate has engulfed a Saurian outworld, and now it's up to Tchlusarud and his most wicked warriors to save the planet.

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

SILKEN GHOST #4

Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Will Rosado, inked by James Hodgkins, colored by Michael Atiyeh.

As the Silken Ghost and her comrades near their goal, the stakes rise and the true nature of the Laughing Ghost-and Tei Su herself-is revealed.

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

SOLUS #6

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

Andra Radiant thinks she has control of Elysia…but power is a deceptive commodity in the land of the First.

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

WAY OF THE RAT #16

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

Someone dies this issue…but who? The spirit of Judge X'ain now inhabits the body of the deadliest assassin in the empire! Will he use this newfound host to bring peace to Zhumar or to settle old scores? What do you think? Be there as another cast member falls beneath the blade of an assassin.

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

WAY OF THE RAT GRAPHIC NOVEL VOL. 2: THE DRAGON'S WAKE

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

A new volume collecting Way of the Rat #7-12. Boon Sai Hong, a.k.a. "The Jade Rat", never aspired to be more than a thief…but that was before the wisecracking monkey known as Po Po dragged him kicking and screaming towards his destiny! Now Boon is after the infamous Book of Hells…but the horror he unleashes may engulf the city of Zhumar in a sea of flames.

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

THE CROSSOVERS #8

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

Will the Crossovers get divorced? The Greek goddess of discord spreads more romantic havoc in Crosstown, deepening the rift between Carter and Calista! Plus: Eradika's tribe rebels, and Archetype's young partner swoops in. All this and Cubby, too.

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

R.A. SALVATORE'S DEMONWARS: EYE FOR AN EYE #4

Written by R.A. Salvatore & Scott Ciencin, penciled by, Greg Tocchini, inked by Jon Holdredge, colored by Tad Ehrlich.

Continuing the DemonWars tale that reveals what happened before the novels. The barbarian ranger Andacanavar is tempted by what he wants most in life-but at what cost? Meanwhile, can Grave Mungo, Sagara, and Ketsuo defeat an army backed by the otherworldly power of a demon djinn?

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

BRIAN PULIDO'S LADY DEATH: A MEDIEVAL TALE #7

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

Jump on here as a new story begins. In the aftermath of the devastating battle of Novgorod, Hope's Eldritch half-sister delivers horrifying news! Now, against Wolfram von Bach's demands, Lady Death embarks on a quest into the dangerous Borderlands - and into the mysterious Eldritch realm of Aglarond itself! Does treachery lie in wait? Count on it as a new epic begins.

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

JOHN CARPENTER'S SNAKE PLISSKEN CHRONICLES #2

Written by William O'Neill, penciled by Tone Rodriguez, inked by Digital Chameleon, colored by Chris Blythe, covers by Rodriguez and Travis Smith.

Will Plissken role snake eyes in Atlantic City? Double-crossed and left for dead, Snake is driven by one sole purpose: revenge! But first he's got one small obstacle to overcome: he's locked in a steel cage thrown into the Atlantic Ocean! People say that Snake can escape from anything, and now he'll prove it…or die trying!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Aug. 6.

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE - ICONS OF EVIL: TRAPJAW #1

Written by Robert Kirkman, art by Carlo Pagulayan, colored by Mike Pedro, cover by E.J. Su and Val Staples

Continuing the Icons of Evil one-shots, revealing key chapters in the lives of He-Man's most fearsome foes. Who is Kronis? How did this once-proud warrior become the mechanized minion known as Trapjaw? Find out as Kronis, at odds with the newly disfigured Skeletor, sets out on his own path, which will lead him to oblivion.

48 pages, $4.95, in stores on Aug. 13.