IMAGE COMICS FOR APRIL

Following are Image Comics' solicitation for April, with information coming from the publisher.

DEBUT TITLES

DEATH, JR. #1

Written by Gary Whitta, art by Ted Naifeh, cover by Sach Steffel.

Middle school is never easy, but it's even harder when you're dead. "DJ" tries to live the life of a typical teenager, but the fact that his dad is the Grim Reaper makes things tough. Luckily, he finds his niche with some of the weird kids: Pandora, a little goth girl, Smith & Weston, conjoined twins, Stigmartha, a girl who bleeds when she gets nervous, and The Seep, an armless, legless, foreign exchange student in a jar. So when a trip to the Museum of Supernatural History gives him an opportunity to impress his new friends, he unwittingly puts himself and the whole town in danger.

48 pages, $4.99, in stores on April 6.

INVINCIBLE #0

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

What are Mark Grayson's powers? What is his origin? Who is he? Where did he come from? This bargain-priced zero issue answers all those questions and more. An excellent jumping-on point for new readers, this primer issue brings new readers up to speed while laying down the groundwork for upcoming storylines.

16 pages, 50 cents, in stores on April 13.

IRON GHOST #1

Written by Chuck Dixon, art by Sergio Cariello, cover by Flint Henry and Cariello.

With the Third Reich on the brink of collapse, someone is killing German officers and foot soldiers guilty of crimes that would go unpunished. Inspectors Tannhauser and Volz are assigned to find and capture the mysterious vigilante known as the Iron Ghost. With no clues besides a tattered piece of paper with a single word, Tannhauser and Volz are forced to look at every possible suspect‹including one of their own.

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

NIGHT CLUB #1

Written by Mike Baron, art and cover by Mike Norton.

"The Bar." As Boston prepares for the 4th of July, crime is out of control. An eerie army of inhuman creatures threatens anyone who ventures away from well-lit streets. Two teen runaways escape to the only shelter they can find from the rain and danger of the streets: an old bar under the freeway. The preacher Walter knows this is no coincidence. Those who join together in its walls are the Night Club. Armed with the word of God, he draws the others to him to prepare for the apocalypse.

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

ZOMBIE KING #O

Written, art and cover by Frank Cho.

A new breakthrough in medicine is here. A new drug that can mend bones, reconnect nerves and even reanimate dead cells. Only one pharmaceutical company has it and only they know the drug's dark secrets and the price of immortality. How far will they go to keep it all? How far will others go to take it?

32 pages, black and white, $2.95, in stores on April 27.

TRADE PAPERBACKS

THE ART OF GREG HORN TP

Written, art and cover by Greg Horn.

Image Comics presents the very first art book by Greg Horn. From his outstanding illustrations for Marvel to his unforgettable artwork in the ultra-competitive gaming and advertising fields, this edition will collect many of Greg's most renowned pieces. Included here are commercial art projects for industry giants such as Nike, Bacardi, Sony, Ringling Bros., Universal Studios and Allstate Insurance, plus nearly 50 magazine covers painted for Wizard, The Official XBOX Magazine, 100% PSM (Playstation) and PCgamer magazines.

144 pages, $24.95, in stores on April 6.

THE GRAY AREA, VOL. 1: ALL OF THIS CAN BE YOURS TP

Written by Glen Brunswick, art and cover by John Romita Jr. 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 Gray Area. Here he is forced to combat evil for an afterlife police force in order to gain 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? Collects The Gray Area #1-3.

136 pages, $14.95, in stores on April 20.

ULTRA: SEVEN DAYS TP

Written by Joshua Luna and Jonathan Luna, art and cover by Jonathan Luna.

In Spring City, where superheroes blur the lines between law enforcement and celebrity, Pearl Penalosa, AKA Ultra, is a workaholic. At the prestigious agency, Heroine Inc., she has earned a legion of fans, a nomination for "Best Heroine of the Year" and a perfect life. Well, almost perfect. A chance encounter with a mysterious fortune teller prophesizes true love for Pearl within seven days. Collects Ultra #1-8.

232 pages, $17.95, in stores on April 27.

THE WALKING DEAD, VOL. 3: SAFETY BEHIND BARS TP

Written by Robert Kirkman, art by Charlie Adlard, cover by Tony Moore.

An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months, society has crumbled: There is no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally begin living. This volume follows our band of survivors as they set up a permanent camp inside a prison. Relationships change, characters die, and our team of survivors learn there's something far more deadly than zombies out there...each other. Collects The Walking Dead #13-18.

136 pages, black and white, $12.95, in stores on April 13.

IMAGE CENTRAL TITLES

ARMOR X #2

Written by Keith Champagne, art and cover by Andy Smith.

While a police detective with a hidden agenda starts piecing together the story of what happened at the senior prom, Carson Deeds begins to explore the capabilities of his new suit of armor. In the meantime, the armor begins testing Carson, pushing him towards achieving his basest desires. Is an innocent blind girl the only person who can stop Carson before he goes too far?

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

THE ATHEIST #2

Written by Phil Hester, art by John McCrea, cover by Ken Meyer Jr.

"Incarnate," Part Two: "The Tumor." The bodies of the living are being hijacked by the restless spirits of the dead and the government has called in Antoine Sharpe to investigate. Driven by rational principles, Sharpe sets out to prove the cases of possession are merely a new disease. He consults the only man smarter than himself, a brilliant doctor whose entire body has been consumed by an aggressive, seemingly sentient form of cancer. But will Sharpe live long enough to learn the truth?

32 pages, black and white, $3.50, in stores on April 20.

BATTLE HYMN #5

Written by B. Clay Moore, art by Jeremy Haun and Dave Bryant, cover by Brian Frey.

With the team in disarray, the Artificial Man has gone off to kill Hitler and end the war. At the prodding of the government, it's up to the Proud American to stop him by any means necessary. The remaining heroes converge in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and the resulting chaos marks the end of the Golden Age. When all is said and done, we might not make it to the Silver Age.

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

BEYOND AVALON #2

Written by Joe Pruett, art and cover by Goran Sudzuka.

"Wanderlust," Part Two. Having left the relative safety of the her homeland‹the mythical island of Avalon‹in search of her father, King Arthur, Megan finds herself in a land unlike anything she ever imagined. Now, accompanied by her new dwarf companion, Jerome, she will traverse cities that float upon the air, meet magical creatures and face fire-breathing dragons.

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 6.

CHOLLY & FLYTRAP: THE ORIGINAL ADVENTURES #1

Written, art and cover by Arthur Suydam.

"A Little Love, A Little Hate." Finally, the inspiration for the new animation pilot from Paranoid Delusions Productions! These original, riveting tales of Suydam's ultimate anti-heroes, Cholly and Flytrap, open as the team becomes embroiled in a vicious battle on a stark alien landscape. Complete with action-packed art and familiar yet surreal storytelling, "A Little Love, a Little Hate," provides what it promises as only Suydam can do it. Don't miss these terrifying, funny tales of action and adventure from a master craftsman with a startlingly unique point of view.

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 27.

THE EXPATRIATE #3

Written by B. Clay Moore, art and cover by Jason Latour.

After working so hard to escape from CIA agents Murphy and Conrad, Jack learns that stopping to catch his breath was a bad idea. A really, really bad idea. Everything he thought he knew about reality is shattered as Jack learns why he was running and why being caught is the worst thing that could happen to him. Everything changes here.

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

FREEDOM FORCE #4

Written by Eric Dieter, art and cover by Tom Scioli.

"Mechanical Mayhem." It's all-out heroic action as the headquarters of Earth's greatest heroes becomes the target of Mr. Mechanical's marauding Mech-Men. But even as Freedom Force tries to repel the robotic rampage, Mentor's worst fears may be realized when a fleet of Domain warships is detected in high orbit above the Earth. Has the end come at last?

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

THE GIFT #11

Written by Raven Gregory, art and cover by Richard Bonk, Rick Basaldua and Sonia Oback.

"Betrayal." A brand-new story arc that will reveal answers behind the Ancient One's motives starts here. When Matthew Lang returns home from work early one day, he finds his wife in bed with another man. Consumed by rage and bearing a newly acquired "gift," he takes his revenge on those who have wronged him. Now, years later, Matthew finds himself released from prison with only one thought on his mind: Find the thing that destroyed his life. Kill the Ancient One.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on April 20.

THE IMAGINARIES #2

Written by Ben Avery, art by Mike S. Miller and Gregory Titus, covers by Miller and Titus.

Meet the malignant dictator of the nation: THE ICE QUEEN! Superhero G faces his first battle against a swarm of nasty bears in this action packed issue of The Imaginaries!

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

JACK STAFF #9

Written, art and cover by Paul Grist.

Titanic team-up action as Britain¹s Greatest Hero, Jack Staff, and Castletown¹s Cast Iron Champrion, Tom Tom the Robot Man, join forces in the hunt for superhero-hating Detective Inspector Maveryk. Also learn the full details of the Freedom Fighters¹ battle to halt the Nazi invasion of Castletown in 1942. The issue also contains the final eight cards in the collectible Jack Staff Card game, ³Beats!²

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 27.

LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS #4

Written by Mike Bullock, art and cover by Jack Lawrence.

"Fear And Pride," Part Four. The Night Pride has been captured by the Beasties, Ares has been left for dead, and Joey is all alone in the Haunted Forest. Will Joey be able to summon the courage to save Courtney and the Pride? Will his imagination come to the rescue in time, or will the Beasties succeed in their evil plot to rid the world's children of their protectors once and for all?

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

LULLABY: WISDOM SEEKER #3

Written by Mike S. Miller and Ben Avery, art and cover by Hector Sevilla.

"Wisdom Seeker," Part Three. All roads lead to Oz, but no one ever said it would be easy getting there. Jim Hawkins fights to rescue his friend Pinocchio from the denizens of the World Tree, but he may not like what he finds. Meanwhile, while searching for Red Riding Hood's grandmother Alice, Red and the Pied Pier find their way blocked by three hell-bent Billy goats. Granny's secret is revealed, but will it matter by the time they find what's left of her?

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

MORA #2

Written, art and cover by Paul Harmon.

"In The Gloaming." The witching hour is upon us. Just below the surface of a city where "dangerous" is putting it very mildly and "dark forces" would only hint at the truth, something very bad is happening. Is it witch's work or other? If Mora can survive her encounter with the cursed Owlen-man, she may live long enough to see something truly sinister.

32 pages, black and white, $2.95, in stores on April 6.

NOBLE CAUSES #10

Written by Jay Faerber, art and cover by Fran Bueno.

For weeks now, Doc's mind has been trapped in the body of Steven Dockerty, a dangerous mental patient. After a daring escape from a psychiatric hospital, Doc has made his way to Noble Manor, where he intends to defeat Steven Dockerty and reclaim his body. But what if no one believes him? And even if they do, what if those closest to him actually prefer the "new" Doc?

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 13.

PVP #17

Written, art and cover by Scott Kurtz.

Cole and Brent are trapped inside a comic book shop after hours. Little do they know that the shop has been targeted by cat burglars. This issue features Scott's entry for 24-Hour Comic Book Day 2004. The challenge was to draw 24 strips within a 24-hour time period with no stopping or sleeping...and he pulled it off!

32 pages, black and white, $2.95.

SAVAGE DRAGON #124

Written, art and cove by Erik Larsen.

"Falling Apart," Part One: "Damage." Touched by the notorious Negate, Dragon's powers are slowly diminishing. Him immune system in chaos, Dragon faces his toughest opponent and the result is anything but pretty! Meanwhile, at home, Mister Glum prepares to make his move at long last.

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

SEA OF RED #2

Story and script by Rick Remender, story and breakdowns by Kieron Dwyer, finishes, color washes and cover by Salgood Sam.

Marco's 500-year confinement at the bottom of the sea ends as he is discovered by film director Joel Cameron's submarine on a scouting expedition for his next film. To their horror, Joel and his crew soon learn it is more than a relic they've snared: They've brought up a starving and delusional vampire.

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

SMALL GODS #9

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

"Dead Man's Hand," conclusion. The showdown! Bobby Pope, Lucy "The Nail" Naylor and Melissa "The Bitch" Hayes vs. Theodore "Teddy" Irvine and a pack of armed and pissed-off cops! Who'll win? Who'll lose? Who'll walk away...and who won't?

32 pages, black and white, $2.95, in stores on April 13.

THE WALKING DEAD #19

Written by Robert Kirkman, art by Charlie Adlard, cover by Tony Moore. The group has a visitor, but is she friend, foe or worse? Where did she come from? How did she survive? Can she be trusted? This is the beginning of a new story arc, an excellent jumping-on point for new readers. The quest to rebuild civilization starts here.

32 pages, black and white, $2.95, in stores on April 13.

RAYMOND E. FEIST'S THE WOOD BOY #2

Written by Raymond E. Feist, adapted by Sean J. Jordan, art and cover by Mat Broome.

As the youngest servant boy on Lord Paul's manor, Dirk has endured horrible treatment from both the other servants and the Tsurani invaders who are occupying the land. But his hard life turns into a nightmare as he wakes up one morning and finds everyone around him dead. The killer has looted the manor and kidnapped Lord Paul's daughter, and the Tsurani will likely kill any survivors. Dirk is forced to discover a special form of courage within himself that will take him through a breathtaking escape from his masters and pit him against a foe he once considered a friend.

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

TODD MCFARLANE PRODUCTIONS TITLES

SPAWN #145

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

"Destination Anywhere," Part One. Having had his memories toyed with and an unspeakable secret hidden away in the depths of his mind, Al Simmons sets off on a cross-country trek in search of something he can't even name. The first stop on his journey brings him to an idyllic town that holds a dark secret of its own. Everyone there seems to be good, honest and kind -- and unnaturally obsessed with the Devil. How will they react when they learn they have a genuine Hellspawn in their midst?

32 pages, $2.50, in stores on April 27.

CASE FILES: SAM & TWITCH #19

Written by Marc Andreyko, art by EJ Su, cover by Greg Capullo.

"Ancient Chinese Secret, Huh?" conclusion. Sam and Twitch are floored by the true identity of Chinese crime mistress Chu Lai!! The final battle with the vampire gangs! And more heroin than you can shake a needle at! What are you waiting for -- an engraved invitation?

32 pages, black and white, $2.50, in stores on April 13.

TOP COW PRODUCTIONS TITLES

RISING STARS: VOICES OF THE DEAD #1

Written by Fiona Avery, penciled by Staz Johnson, inked by Wayne Faucher.

Lionel Zerb can see dead people. Always considered the freak in the Rising Stars universe, Zerb's story has largely gone overlookedŠuntil now. As a direct conduit to the dead, Zerb opens an agency as a Ghost Interpreter, helping people deal with hauntings and other "spirit" cases. But one day, Zerb stumbles upon a force greater than he ever imagined. Lionel must confront an ancient spiritual power that brings him near death, but closer to an understanding about the mysteries of the universe.

32 pages, $2.99.

WITCHBLADE #85

Written by Ron Marz, penciled by Michael Choi, inked by Sal Regla, colored by Brian Buccellato, cover by Greg Land.

"Witch Hunt," part 6 of 6. The stunning first arc by the new superstar creative team of Ron Marz and Michael Choi roars to its apocalyptic conclusion! The fate of mankind very literally rests in the right hand of Sara Pezzini as she confronts an ancient power that has been summoned from a hellish realm beyond time and space. No wielder of the Witchblade has ever faced so deadly a test, and if Sara fails...it's the end of the world as we know it.

32 pages, $2.99.

WITCHBLADE, VOL. 4 PAPERBACK: LOVE TRIANGLE

Written by Christina Z. and David Wohl, penciled and cover by Randy Green.

The Witchblade saga continues with the stunning artistry of Randy Green! Love Triangle collects Witchblade #26-#39, featuring the torrid triangle between Witchblade-wielder Sara Pezzini, assassin Ian Nottingham, and supernatural mobster Jackie Estacado‹including the riveting second Witchblade/Darkness crossover.

336 pages, $24.99.

DARKNESS/VAMPIRELLA

Written by Terry Moore, penciled by Eric Basaldua, inked by Jay Leisten, covers by Basaldua and Moore.

Terry Moore, master of intrigue and drama from Strangers in Paradise, brings a razor-sharp edge to supernatural mobster Jackie Estacado and sultry vampire Vampirella! Jackie and Vampi both stalk the streets of New York, but when their goals run at cross purposes, two tough customers are set at each other's throats.

32 pages, $2.99.

TOP COW FINE ART LITHOGRAPHS: KEU CHA PIRATE DARKNESS

By Keu Cha.

The high seas have never looked more frightening than in this stunning painted lithograph featuring 16th century pirate Miguel Estacado by artist Keu Cha. This Top Cow Fine Art Lithograph is a limited edition of 250 pieces.

12 inches by 18 inches, $19.99.

MARK WAID'S HUNTER-KILLER #1 SCRIPTBOOK

Written by Mark Waid, art and cover by Marc Silvestri.

Wanna really turn that one-sentence high concept into a first full issue script? Writer Mark Waid takes you behind the curtain with his original script to the red-hot Hunter-Killer #1! See the words as they landed on the page and how it lined up with Marc Silvestri's art, with Waid's own notes on what did and didn't make the story! It's fun! It's educational! It's sugar-free! It's Comics 101, start to finish.

40 pages, $4.99.

TOP COW FINE ART LITHOGRAPHS: MICHAEL TURNER WITCHBLADE #4

By Michael Turner.

Über artist Michael Turner reveals Sara Pezzini and the Witchblade in all their glory in this great lithograph featuring the cover art from the classic Witchblade #4! This Top Cow Fine Art Lithograph is a limited edition of 250 pieces.

12 inches by 18 inches, $19.99.

MAGDALENA VS. DRACULA: MONSTER WAR #1

Written by Chris Golden and Tom Sniegoski, art by Joyce Chin, colored by Scott Kester, covers by Chin, Marc Silvestri, Eric Basaldua and Joseph Michael Linsner.

Ultimate evil is coming to the Top Cow universe, and ALL of the Cow's stars must unite to stave off an apocalypse! The seeds are sown when Dracula invades London, and only the Magdalena can stop him! But can Drac turn Maggy into a vampireŠor will the Tomb Raider be able to stop him? Find out here, and be on the lookout for next month's chapter: Tomb Raider vs. the Wolf-Men!

32 pages, $2.99.

RISING STARS HARDCOVER

Written by J. Michael Straczynski, art by Keu Cha and Brent Anderson, colored by John Starr and Brian Buccellato

Writer J. Michael Straczynski's superhero tour-de-force is collected, beginning to end, in one massive bookshelf volume. Follow the 113 superpowered "Pederson Specials" as they grow up, live, love, die, and ultimately try to save the world. Collecting Rising Stars #1-24.

624 pages, $69.99.