IMAGE COMICS FOR MAY

Following are Image Comics' solicitations for May, with information coming from the company:

AGE OF BRONZE, VOL. 2: SACRIFICE HC

Written, illustrated and cover by Eric Shanower.

While Trojan prince Paris returns to Troy with Helen, the Achaean fleet mistakenly attacks Mysia, then is scattered by a storm. High King Agamemnon gathers the army again, but for the fleet to sail, the gods require the life of Agamemnon's eldest daughter, Iphigenia. Collects Age of Bronze #10-19.

224 pages, black and white, in stores on May 19.

ARIA, VOL. 3: THE USES OF ENCHANTMENT TP

Written by Brian Holguin, art by Lan Medina, Brian Haberlin and Jay Anacleto, cover by Anacleto.

The Kingdom of Enchantment, a roadside theme park that flourished in the 1950s, has sat abandoned for decades. When a mysterious invitation literally drops into Kildareıs lap, she is lead to a remarkable discovery ­ a genuine magical kingdom hidden away in the Catskill Mountains. But a dark and terrible secret lies buried at the heart of this fairytale land, a reminder of the dangers of getting what you wish for. The international award-winning story is finally brought to readers in a single, stunning collection featuring the two-part and hard-to-find Aria: Summer Spell and as a true bonus: a never seen before Aria prose story written by Brian Holguin and lushly illustrated by Brian Haberlin. Collects Aria: The Uses of Enchantment #1-4 and Aria: A Summer Spell #1-2.

144 pages, $14.95, in stores on May 5.

BAD IDEAS #2

Written by Wayne Chinsang, art and cover by Jim Mahfood and Dave Crosland.

With Jim Valentino on vacation, Jim Mahfood, Dave Crosland and Wayne Chinsang rush to get their idea -- Comic Kid & Hot Chick-- to print. And it works! Haw! Follow Comic Kid and Hot Chick on their first real crime-fighting adventure. What will Hot Chick wear? What won't Comic Kid eat? And who is this mysterious villain everyone is talking about... Pussy Voodoo? Find out in the final issue of Bad Ideas.

48 pages, black and white, $5.95, in stores on May 26.

BLOODSTREAM #4

Written by Adam Shaw and Penny Register, art and cover by Shaw.

Pleading for his life, Dr. Evers reveals the truth behind Amber's abduction and why her body accepted the synthetic blood. To prove his claims, he offers to take Amber to Primatech and show her who they're holding. But is this another trap?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on May 5.

CASEFILES: SAM & TWITCH #13

Written by Marc Andreyko, art by Andy Lee, cover by Geg Capullo.

"Ancient Chinese Secret, Huh?" part one of six. Sam and Twitch. Heroin. Gang Wars. Chinatown. Vampires? (Yep, you read that right.) How can you miss this one? New story arc, new artist, same olı Sam and Twitch. Good stuff.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on May 5.

A DISTANT SOIL #37

Written, illustrated and cover by Colleen Doran.

Unknown to the evil Hierarchy, a group of rebels have infiltrated a powerful warship, while thousands of enslaved rebels amass to overthrow their captors. A surprise attack in the middle of a state funeral is the last thing the Hierarchy expects.

32 pages, black and white, $3.95, in stores on May 12.

FEATHER #5

Written, illustrated and cover by Steve Uy.

Steve Uy presents the conclusion to one of the most critically acclaimed mini-series of the year in a special double-sized final issue. After the disastrous results of the dragon hunt chronicled last issue, Sehven and Leeka find themselves at each other's throats. Once the closest of friends, the two must now find a way to regain what was lost, or risk becoming the mortal enemies they were born to be.

48 pages, $5.95, in stores on May 12.

FREAK GN

Written, illustrated and cover by Lee Ferguson.

We are blind. The things we see and feel are only a fraction of the reality in which we live. Humanity is just a small part of a world filled with forces beyond our comprehension, a supernatural domain most of us will never experience... But Alex isn't like most of us. Heıs cursed with an unimaginable power that has taken everything from him and driven him to the brink of madness. And without everything youıve take for granted, who would you become? Are you defined by what you have? By what you've done? Is it really that simple..? What if you could take a long, hard look at the real you? Would you like what you see? Would you be able to face yourself? Sometimes you don't have a choice.

64 pages, $6.95, in stores on May 19.

GHOST SPY #1

Written by Steve Albertson, art and cover by Jacob Elijiah.

Keico Loc is a young bounty hunter, psychologically torn apart by a hyper-violent future. After being infected with the biological toxin Adrenafin, and constant embattlement, Keico decides, for the first time, to take control of her own life. Keico Loc thwarts a diabolical plot to launch the experimental chemical Adrenafin into the city. Keico is entrusted with delivering the Adrenafin to an underground Bio-warfare complex. With the help of the ambitiously violent Rame and Griggs, Keico lays waste to thugs and tanks alike on their battle through the forgotten blocks of Chi-Nova.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on May 26.

INVINCIBLE #13

Written by Robert Kirkman, art and cover by Ryan Ottley.

"Perfect Strangers," epilogue. There is nothing below him. There is nothing above him. For as far as Mark can see, there is nothing all around him. What happened to Mark last issue to put him in this place? What is this place? And what does it have to do with his future as a superhero?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on May 19.

JACK STAFF #7

Written, illustrated and cover by Paul Grist.

He's called the Shadow and he's an ambiguous, amoral enigma. But when Becky Burdock finds herself at the mercy of a group of monster hunters, the Shadow is the only one who can help her.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on May 26.

LIBERTY MEADOWS SOURCE BOOK

Written, illustrated and cover by Frank Cho.

It's a Liberty Meadows encyclopedia: Everything you wanted to know about Liberty Meadows but were afraid to ask. Character sheets, fun facts, trivia, behind the scene commentary and unpublished art.

48 pages, black and white, $4.95, in stores on May 12.

NYC MECH #2

Written by Miles Gunter and Ivan Brandon, art by Andy MacDonald, cover by Kelsey Shannon.

She sits alone at the bar because everyone's as scared of her as you are. She looks coy, but there's a gun in her purse that fits her hand like a diamond ring. Nika lives a disposable life at full speed; she wants more than you do and always something new. When her expectations grow faster than her means, she points a gun and quietly gets her way. But sometimes when you point a gun, another gun points back.

32 pages, $2.95, in stors on May 12.

PATIENT ZERO #3

Written by John McLean-Foreman, art by Brent White.

"Eternity's Past," part three of four. As the AI's forces near victory, Ioway lies dying, and Samuel Deighton is tortured to reveal the location of his genetic research. Alex and Laura must overcome their differences in order to unite the facility's splintered survivors and launch a counter attack in a desperate attempt to save them all.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on May 19.

PHANTOM JACK #3

Written by Mike Sangiacomo, art and cover by Mitchell Breitweiser.

"Among the Enemy."Last issue, Jack learned his Army reservist brother, Cassidy, got drunk and wandered across enemy lines into Iraq and was captured. In the weeks before the start of the 2003 ground war, the invisible man is forced to return to Baghdad, the site of his biggest failure, and find his brother. But he's not alone; he has help from Madison Blue, agent of Miscellaneous.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on May 12.

POWERS, VOLUME 2 #3

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, art and cover by Michael Avon Oeming.

"Legends," part three. A hero has returned. But is it enough to keep the city safe from the crossfire as the city's most powerful villains gun for each other in a massive turf war? And how far will Detective Deena Pilgrim go to prove she still has what it takes?

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on May 19.

PVP #8

Written and illustrated by Scott Kurtz.

Not a dream! Not a hoax! In this issue Brent Sienna dies! How will the staff of PvP magazine go on? What meaning does the afterlife hold for Brent? Pick up this issue to find out.

32 pages, black and white, $2.95, in stores on May 26.

REX MUNDI #12

Written by Arvid Nelson, art and cover by Eric J.

"The Swan Knight." The Duke of Lorraine consolidates his expanding power in a meeting with a famous British statesman. Julien discovers a tenuous link between a group of medieval heretics and the anathematized Knights Templar. Genevive witnesses a violent confrontation between Lorraine and his daughter. Finally, a vital clue to the meaning of the stolen scrolls is revealed...

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on May 19.

SAMMY: A VERY SAMMY DAY

Written, illustrated and cover by Azad.

The origin of the world's unluckiest cat burglar is finally set to paper. Samuel Little has been sleeping with one eye open with good reason: Heıs a snitch, and everyone knows it. After ratting out his old crew to the cops, heıs finding it difficult to adjust to normal life in his old neighborhood. But a cranky landlord, fumigators and an overly friendly stray cat arenıt all he has to worry about. Associates of his former crew are dead set on making this not just the worst day of Sammyıs life, but the last.

48 pages, black and white, $5.95, in stores on May 26.

SPAWN #146

Written by Brian Holguin and Todd McFarlane, art by Angel Medina, cover by Greg Capullo and McFarlane.

"Errant," part four. An ancient curse has reached across the centuries and now stands poised to sweep history aside and usher in a new Dark Age on Earth. Standing at the edge of chaos, with one last chance to stave off global destruction, Spawn now must fulfill a blood oath made centuries ago by Lord Covenant, the Dark Ages Hellspawn. But Covenant sees a chance to save his own damned soul, even if it costs the world.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on May 26.

SPAWN: SIMONY

Written by Alex Nikolavtich and Jeff Porcherot, art by Nikolavtich, cover by Aleksi Briclot.

Spawn: Simony is the French Spawn Project initially published in 2003 by Semic in France. This book is one of the rare instances in which Todd McFarlane has allowed an outside vendor to create an entirely new piece of Spawn comic history. After seeing its popularity in France, Spawn: Simony has been translated into English and will now be available in the United States for the first time. This 68-page book features a double-length story as well as added editorial content and pinup art.

68 pages, $7.95, in stores on May 12.

SWORD OF DRACULA #4

Written by Jason Henderson, art by William Belk, cover by Tony Harris.

"The Elders," part three. The moment weıve been waiting for: Ronnie Van Helsing has Dracula in captivity--but a man who can boil the blood in your head is a hard man to interrogate. And what if the only way to save the world is to set the Polidorium's most dangerous enemy free?

32 pages, black and white, $2.95, in stores on May 12.

THE WALKING DEAD #8

Written by Robert Kirkman, art and cover by Tony Moore.

The search for suitable shelter continues. Rick and crew find themselves at the mercy of a harsh winter that makes their arduous journey that much more difficult. For months theyıve looked for something to take their minds OFF the zombie threat at hand... and now that theyıve got it; theyıre in more danger than ever before.

32 pages, black and white, $2.95, in stores on May 26.

TOP COW TITLES

COMMON GROUNDS #5

Written by Troy Hickman, penciled by Dan Jurgens and Angel Medina, cover by Rodolfo Migliari.

Superhero tales in the donut shop of life continue with two stories every issue. Artist Dan Jurgens illustrates the tale of a love-lost immortal, while penciler Angel Medina shows what happens ... Where Monsters Dwell.

32 pages, $2.99.

DARKNESS #11

Written by Ron Marz, penciled by Martin Montiel, colored by Matt Milla.

Ron Marz, continues his exciting run on the Darkness. Jackie is getting the family under control but now has a run-in with Chinese gangsters sends him to Hong Kong where he finds that he is not the only one involved with a little supernatural help. When dragons and darklings do battle...who will prevail?

32 pages, $2.99.

STRYKEFORCE #2

Written by Jay Faerber, penciled by Tyler Kirkham, inked by Mario Alquiza, colored by Brian Buccellato.

Jay Faerber and Tyler Kirkham continue to deliver super-team action, Top Cow style, with their hit new series. Stryker's search for little Tommy Jenkins leads him straight into an ambush. Meanwhile, when the Strykeforce find someone who may know Tommy's whereabouts, the team is divided over just how far they're willing to go to get answers.

32 pages, $2.99.

TOMB RAIDER #42

Written by James Bonny, penciled by Wilson Tortosa, colored by Tyson Wengler, cover by Adam Hughes.

"Spirit Walker," part 2 of 2. Double-crossed by the head of a multi-national corporation, Lara Croft travels to Australia to stop him from using the powers of the Spirit Walker, an ancient, mystical charm stolen from the Aborigines in the Eighteenth Century. If she fails, an innocent young man will die. And an evil man will become more powerful than ever.

32 pages, $2.99.

WANTED #5

Written by Mark Millar, art by J.G. Jones, colored by Paul Mounts, cover by Jones.

The ultimate evil known as Mister Rictus has made his move to take over the supervillain FraternityŠand the world. Only Wesley Gibson, newly anointed as The Killer, stands in his way. Superheroes as youıve never seen them before are brought to you by writer Mark Millar, with astonishing pencils and inks by JG Jones. You know you want it.

32 pages, $2.99.

WITCHBLADE #76

Written by Troy Hickman, penciled by David Nakayama.

Troy Hickman, of Common Grounds fame, and David Nakayama, the winner of the Wizard/Top Cow intern contest, join forces in this bi-polar Witchblade tale. New bad girl, Celestine, is a torn soul. She has the potential for great good and great evil. Sara must stop her trail of carnage while at the same time keeping the Witchblade from choosing Celestine as its new bearer -- a love triangle of epic proportions.

32 pages, $2.99.

WITCHBLADE/WOLVERINE

Written by Chris Claremont, penciled by Eric Basaldua.

Father of the X-Men, Chris Claremont, writes this special tale that starts out with Wolverine and Witchblade-wielder Sara Pezzini getting married...and then gets crazier from there! Hi-octane action and a dangerous new mutant are brought to life by Eric Basaldua (The Magdalena).

32 pages, $2.99.