IMAGE COMICS FOR JUNE

Following are Image Comics' solicitations for June, with information coming from the company.

ALTERNATION #4

Written by F.G. Haghenbeck, art by Carlo Barberi, covers by Barberi and Ale Garza.

The conclusion to the mini-series. Sam has been eliminated by Rasputin. Annie Oakley will lead her Rebel group, guided by the trapper Teddy Roosevelt and his giant bear, into a great sky battle against the German Empire's Zeppelin Army. The mystery of the Alternation Universe is at the threshold of discovery.

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

BUT...BUT...BARBARIANS?: AN ILSDALE ADVENTURE

Written by Brian Haberlin and James Haberlin, art and cover by Brian Haberlin.

Okay: You're Bob and you just got fired from your job. You're taking a ride on Cal, your vintage Harley Davidson Sportster, to clear your head. Things look a little better through the speed and the haze of engine oil, when all of a sudden you fishtail through a dimensional portal and wind up in another world. Isn't that just always the way?

You find yourself in a world where magic exists side by side with atomic weapons. It's a world where elves, dwarves, vampires, Nazis and oversized barbarians (the type that would make Conan himself blush with envy) live, work and play.

And the only hope for the survival of that world and our own is... What's that you ask? Of course the world needs saving! Every novel needs some sort of jeopardy, and two worlds on the brink of destruction, well, that's a whole lot of jeopardy! The only hope is you, Bob, and your now living motorcycle Cal. Oh yeah, and two big ol' nasty barbarians (hence the title).

240 pages, black-and-white chapter illustrations, $6.95, in stores on June 2.

CASEFILES: SAM & TWITCH #14

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

"Ancient Chinese Secret, Huh?," part 2 of 6. As the vampiric murders continue and the turf wars over the Chinatown heroin trade escalate, Sam and Twitch not only must dodge a hail of gunfire, but unravel the ways to deal with Chinese undead! (No, seriously, what's the Chinese equivalent of a crucifix? Anybody?)

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on June 9.

CITY OF SILENCE

Written by Warren Ellis, art and cover by Gary Erksine.

The future is bad for you. In a place where everyone has the technology to create brand-new, weird sciences ten times a day, there are policemen who will hunt you down for having a bad idea. They are the Silencers. And the investigation of a dead kid with a silicon pentagram on his neck opens up a whole box of bad ideas upon a city that only survives through silence...

Issues #1-3 of the mini-series are collected into this trade paperback. Originally created and produced in the mid-Nineties and prefiguring his Transmetropolitan in its approach and themes, City of Silence is among Warren Ellis' first work for American publishers with artwork by Gary Erksine. Never before collected into one volume, this tech-noir masterpiece has waited patiently for the times to catch up with it. Now, it's finally run out of patience.

104 pages, $9.95.

CLOUDBURST

Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, art by Christopher Shy and Eliseu Gouveia, cover by Amanda Conner and Palmiotti.

An experimental weather machine, a transport ship filled with hundreds of families and a troop of hired killers converge on a derelict colony world only to discover it's not abandoned.

Lauren Moore is a brilliant young scientist and the creator of Cloudburst: a massive satellite designed to control rainfall on dry planets. Onboard a new colony ship carrying several hundred families, soldiers and cryogenically stored animal embryos, Lauren has been commissioned to use Cloudburst to terraform the planet. What Lauren doesn't know is the soldiers escorting the ship have been sent to remove the existing colonists to make room for the new ones. The corporate term is eviction. The human term is mass murder. The only man who can help her is a mysterious drifter who some say is only a myth, an invention of desert nomads and lunatics.

64 pages, $7.95, in stores on June 16.

DOCTOR CYBORG: OUTPATIENT

Written by Allan Gross, art by Mike Oeming, with Adrian Salmon, Neil Vokes and John Staton, cover by Oeming.

Malcolm Syberg has created powerful devices that could be used as weapons of mass destruction. If Malcolm lets himself be used by the government, they will grant his every wish. But his inventions would be pushing the world closer to the brink of disaster. What would you do?

Has Doctor Cyborg been released from the sanitarium prematurely? He is set loose in a world run by a shadow government and has become the prey of an assassin known as Genocide Jane. But his greatest danger could come from the woman he is falling in love with.

96 pages, $9.95, in stores on June 23.

FRANKENSTEIN MOBSTER #4

Written and illustrated by Mark Wheatley, covers by Wheatley and Scott Morse.

It's a shootout between the Frankenstein Mobster and the police, and his daughter is one of them. He'd rather die than hurt her, and this time, he just might get the chance.

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

GHOST SPY #2

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

In an underground bio-weapons research lab, illegal human experiments are being performed. Keico Loc awakens in her cell, weak and helpless. A renegade revolutionary group raids the complex and escapes with Keico. She is brought back to their compound, where the revelations begin.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on June 30.

THE GREY AREA #1

Written by John Romita Jr. and Glen Brunswic, art and cover by Romita and Klaus Janson.

After his execution for double-crossing a drug cartel, Rudy Chance, a brutal, corrupt cop and womanizer expects he'll wind up in Hell. Instead, he finds himself in the Grey Area. Here he is forced to combat evil for an afterlife police force and a shot at redemption. Given extraordinary powers, Chance hunts down the wicked to condemn and the worthy to heal. But can he control his own dark side or will it lead him to eternal damnation?

Demanding more cash for his dirty work, Detective Chance angers a drug cartel. Drug lord Karl Bruter decides to put the freeze on him by kidnapping his son. When Chance's family is murdered before his eyes, he tracks Karl down. But Karl cleverly sets a trap that has fatal consequences. Is this the end or a new beginning?

48 pages, $5.95, in stores on June 23.

INVINCIBLE #14

Written by Robert Kirkman, art by Ryan Ottley, cover by Frank Cho.

They're back! The dreaded alien invaders from another dimension have returned seeking revenge. Invincible and Atom Eve are the front line against an all-out invasion of epic proportions. The end of the world is at hand, and our best defense is a couple of 18-year old superheroes. Let's hope they've got their hormones in check.

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

LIBERTY MEADOWS #37

Written, illustrated and cover by Frank Cho.

Frictions arise as Brandy's mother takes charge of the plans for Brandy's wedding. Testosterone and estrogen run high as Ralph and Leslie star in a new public access channel show with Jen. All-new strips. No reprints.

32 pages, black and white, $2.95, in stores on June 9.

NOBLE CAUSES: EXTENDED FAMILY #2

Written and art by various.

Jay Faerber and Fran Bueno present a full-length story featuring the entire Noble family, which sets the stage for next month's all-new Noble Causes ongoing series. B. Clay Moore and Ian Richardson reveal a defining moment in Doc's history. Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker show Krennick's rite of passage. Devin Grayson and Roger Robinson put Frost in a delicate situation when Zephyr runs away from home...and wants to stay with him. Brian Jones and Jamal Igle give us a tragic glimpse of Icarus' inner demons. Antony Johnston and Mike Norton take us behind the scenes of the Noble Causes TV series. Tom Peyer and Kelly Yates present a day in the life of the Noble family's demonic housekeeping staff. Fabian Nicieza and Valentine De Landro show us a sordid tale from Zephyr's past.

80 pages, $7.95, in stores on June 16.

NYC MECH #3

Written by Miles Gunter nad Ivan Brandon, art by Andy MacDonald, cover by Alex Maleev.

New sotry. Runway models and runaway lies: Enter two worlds, one of high-fashion glamour and one of low-down guns and grit. Both are built on upholding appearances, but who's fooling whom?

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

PATIENT ZERO #4

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

"Eternity's Past," art 4. When Laura threatens to kill them all with a live grenade, Deighton is clamped to a torturer's chair, Ioway lies dying and Alex's hands are literally tied. The survivors must resolve their past mistakes and find a way to band together as the embodiment of Deighton's nightmare--a human overrun by a computer--is unleashed upon them.

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

PHANTOM JACK #4

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

"Madison Blue, Who Are You?" Previously, Jack mustered up his courage and returned to Baghdad to rescue his errant brother, Cassidy, captured by Iraqi forces in the days before the 2003 ground war. On the way, Jack's inaction caused yet another death, leaving him alone and distraught. The time for fear and misgivings is over, as the mysterious Madison Blue, agent of MISCELLANEOUS, leads him on a rescue mission to save his brother.

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

PVP ARCHIVES, VOL. 1

Written, illustrated and cover by Scott Kurtz.

Office hijinks, role-playing games, teenage geeks in love, old high-school rivals, and a Troll who's run away from home: It's just another average day at PvP Magazine. Collects the first six issues of the new hit comic strips series. Includes sketches, cover gallery and a look behind the scenes of creating a daily comic strip.

128 pages, black and white, $11.95.

THE RIDE #1

Written by Doug Wagner, art by Cully Hamner and Brian Stelfreeze, cover by Adam Hughes.

Hop in the passenger seat and buckle up for a new series about a 1968 Camaro and the people who come in contact with it. Each story arc focuses on a character whose life is dramatically affected by a situation involving the vehicle. Is it stolen? Is it cursed? Is it simply a car, or something much more? A diverse body of creators will showcase their unique talents and show you The Ride of your life.

"Wheels of Change," part 1. Meet Samantha Vega, a rookie detective with the Atlanta P.D. During a drug stakeout with her grizzled veteran partner, Frank Simms, she learns of her brother's brutal murder in a small college town. Now, the two cops must survive a fiery road trip in order to find her brother's killer.

32 pages, black and white, $2.95, in stores June 2.

SAVAGE DRAGON #117

Written, illustrated and cover by Erik Larsen.

"Powerless!" With Savage Dragon's heartbroken lovely wife stripped of her superhuman power, Dragon recruits a familiar friend to help him wage his war on crime. Plus a new Mighty Man feature by Erik Larsen and Mark Englert.

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

SMALL GOODS #1

Written by Jason Rand, art and cover by Juan E. Ferreyra.

In 1991, after decades of skepticism and disbelief, the existence of psychic powers was finally, definitively proven. Today, an estimated 1% of the world's population possess psychic abilities. These people are not superheroes. In most ways, they're just ordinary people, living ordinary lives. They have families, careers and dreams; they eat, sleep, live - and die.

"Killing Grin," part 1. For precognitive detective Owen Young, life is...well, life. His routine has become a rut in his work, in his friendships, and in his relationship with his beautiful girlfriend. However, all that is about to change when a vision puts him on the trail of a bank robber who is more than he seems.

32 pages, $2.95, in stores on June 30.

SPAWN #147

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

"Scrawled," Part One. A half-century ago, inside the wards of a now-abandoned asylum, a madman scrawled a bizarre manifesto on the walls of his cell, a prophecy writ in blood. And now, decades later, that prophecy is given form and life as a being of shadow and blood is set loose on the world. Spawn tracks the unstoppable hunter as it leaves a trail of corpses in its wake. But the creature's true goal, for now, remains a mystery.

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on June 30.

THE WALKING DEAD #9

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

With a roof over their heads and food in their bellies, Rick and crew seem to have finally gotten the opportunity to relax in this apocalyptic zombie hell-hole they call home. But now that their guard is down, disaster strikes, and Rick finds himself in a position no father or husband should be.

32 pages, black and white, $2.95, in stores on June 30.

TOP COW TITLES

THE DARKNESS #12

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

Hitman Jackie Estacado is on the run in the neon-drenched streets of Hong Kong. Normally the army of assassins on his heels wouldn't be a big deal, but they're led by a merciless killer who controls the dragons of ancient Chinese myth! Green Lantern writer Ron Marz sinks his teeth into The Darkness!

32 pages, $2.99.

TOMB RAIDER #43

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

Lara Croft travels to the Irish countryside to search for a legendary talisman buried beneath a medieval castle where centuries ago, unspeakable tortures took place. What happens when Lara finds the castle remains a place of eternal torment for the wretched spirits imprisoned within? Join us for Part one of a blood-chilling two-part story arc to find out.

32 pages, $2.99.

STRYKEFORCE #3

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

Little Tommy Jenkins is being held in a secret government outpost in Idaho, and it falls to the Strykeforce team to get inside the heavily guarded fortress to bust him out. Part 3 of a 5-part story arc.

32 pages, $2.99.

WANTED #2 DEATH ROW EDITION

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

Wanted #2 sold out in less than 48 hours, but you're not shut out! The entire story from Wanted #2 is re-presented here, with a special bonus section of NEW "Behind the Scenes" material found nowhere else. Sex. Money. Super-powers. Costume. You know you want it. Still.

32 pages, $2.99.

COMMMON GROUNDS #6

Written by Troy Hickman, penciled by Dan Jurgens and Sam Kieth, cover by Rodolfo Migliari.

The new take on new superheroes continues with two tales! Penciler Dan Jurgens illustrates the superhero talk show, while artist Sam Kieth introduces the newest sensation, American Pi.

32 pages, $2.99.

TOP COW CONVENTION SKETCHBOOK 2004

Art by Marc Silvestri, Tony Daniel, Angel Medina, Dave Johnson, Francis Manapul, Tyler Kirkham, Eric Basaldua and more, wraparound cover by Eric Basaldua.

If you canšt milk the Cow in person at 2004's conventions, experience the con excitement here! Take a look behind the curtain for a sneak peek at all of Top Cow's newest projects and hottest artists here, including your first-ever look at many new titles.

24 pages.

APHRODITE IX TRADE PAPERBACK

Written by David Wohl, art by David Finch and Clarence Lansang, colored by Steve Firchow, cover by David Finch.

The beautiful cyborg Aphrodite IX is the perfect assassin. She does her job, then retains no memory of her past. But when she seeks out clues to her true identity, the blood flows faster than ever. Collecting issues #1-#4 of the original series, along with the rare Wizard #0 issue and bonus art by Marc Silvestri, Joe Benitez, and Michael Turner.

142 pages, $14.99.

PROXIMITY EFFECT GRAPHIC NOVEL

Written by Scott Tucker, penciled by David Nakayama, colored by Beth Sotelo, cover by Marc Silvestri.

Throughout history, beings of great power have walked the earth, for the most part unknown and detected. Some have become historic figures, but few knew where their power came from. This is the story of one such being, Lisa. But her power only works when she's near Caleb, who is her "Source." Caleb has the ability to give superhuman powers to those who are compatible and standing within 30 feet of him--The "Proximity Effect." Separated, Lisa and Caleb are merely human. But together, they can change the world.

96 pages, $9.99.