AOM 02-2016

AVENGERS 2020 #20

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Plot by SHAGGYDOO

Art by JIM LEE

"Panic in the Skies"

It was a clash of titans, a war of the gods and once it was over..was truly a new world order. It began years ago as Odin's Avengers took over the world and the king of gods deemed the "mutant problem" must have a final resolution. What happened next was a turning point in history. The utter destruction of powerful nation Atlantis home one of the first and most dangerous mutants Namor. Next came the the annihilation of the mutant haven Genosha. Finally, there was the unleashing of the most deadly aggressive form of the mutant-killing Legacy virus. The Earth braced for payback of the surviving mutants. While most were driven underground just to survive in a world that's air is poison to them, Magneto ascended. Magneto wanted Odin's home and formed an uneasy alliance with the Judas Loki to take it. In a month-long epic battle the Master of Magnetism, his family and his Acolytes succeeded in the ultimate coup of conquering Asgard. Magneto immediately betrayed Loki, before the trickster god could do the same to him and removed him from the region. Now he controls a realm once ruled by gods and all the enchanted metals are under his complete control. With his uber powerful spawns Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and Polaris by his side the new royal family of Asgard reigns supreme. Now Asgard is under full-scale attack led by it's former rulers. Odin's Avengers are here, but so are his prodigal sons Loki and Thor and they've brought an army of Angels. It's winner takes all and the stakes have never been higher! The Avengers strike first with sacrificial, shackled living weapons of mass destruction Goku and Kurse. However, Magneto unleashes the powerful first mutant Asgardian and he's waited years to get his pound of flesh from Odin...meet BLASPHEMY!! CONTINUED!!!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

THE MIGHTY THOR 2020 #7

Written by BRIAN Q. MILLER

Plot by MCGAFFER

Art by DALE EAGLESHAM

The Fallen King is back, Thor has returned! And at his side his brother, the Riddle King, Loki! He ruled the world for all of twenty minutes before his father and the Avengers cast him down from his throne. But Loki has set things up beautifully for his return. With an army of Angels at his command he will retake what is his. First he must take back the Arc that is Asgard before he can take on his Father! The shards of Mjolnir are brought together to create a hundred weapons for the Angels, a hundred extra fists for the Thunder Lord! The true Lord of Asgard is here and he's bringing the lightning with him! Meanwhile Loki revels in his new power as the Sinister Supreme, who could possibly challenge him now with all of this power at his command?32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

BLACK PANTHER: KING OF THE DEAD #20

Plot BY MARVELL2100

Written By CHRISTOPHER PRIEST

Art By ADI GRANOV

NuNation: Acts of Vengeance!

"Zulu Dawn" Part 4: The King Is Dead!

This is it! With attacks from both the NuHuman nation of Niganda led by Markus Zulu and the Serpent Cult led by Serpentor, Wakanda stands on the brink of destruction! Now T'Challa will put his KotD powers to the ultimate test as he summons the dead warriors of Wakanda to rise and take on the Nigandans! He commands Shuri to lead the undead to drive out the NuHumans while the rest of the Wakandan army deals with the Serpent Cult! That leaves the Black Panther one-on-one against Serpentor! As the two battle, Serpentor's form begins to change to that of a python! It is a battle waged across all planes that lasts forever! Serpentor wraps his python coils around the body of the Panther, squeezing the life out of him! T'Challa, calling upon the last of his KotD abilities, summons the power of Bast! He immediately transforms into a large black panther and devours the body of Serpentor! Suddenly there is flash of light followed by an explosion! Shuri and the Wakandan warriors, having just defeated the NuHumans and the Serpent Cult rush to their king! Once there, they find the lifeless body of Serpentor and next to him T'Challa, whose broken mangled body barely hangs onto to life! Next Issue: Black Panther 2020!

48 PGS./Rated M: Mature Readers Only...$3.99

THE FALCON & NOMAD #20 \*Final Issue\*

Written By NICK SPENCER

Art By MARCO CHECCETO

Plot BY MARVELL2100

NuNation: Acts of Vengeance!

"The Killing Fields" Finale: The Last Days Of...! Guest Starring Agents of ATLAS!

The casualties continue to mount in Roswell NM as the war between Khan and John Apostle rages on! ATLAS has lost two agents at the hands of Apostle. Seeing his teammates fall, Jason Strongbow goes toe-to-toe against Apostle! This is the perfect opportunity for Khan to grab Scourge and the Crying Man! He manages to teleport the two to Genosha and prepares his own escape! Sam, Nomad and John Wraith have other ideas as they attempt to capture Khan and bring him to justice! The trio are beginning to get the upper hand but tragedy strikes again as Nomad steps in front of blast mean for Sam! Holding the dying Rikki in his arms, Sam listens as she tells him that being his partner meant he world to her! Looking at Khan, Sam strikes at him with the speed of a bullet! Taking the NuHuman down, Sam rips into Khan pummeling him with fist after flying fist not noticing the transformation that is occurring with him! As Sam steps back, realizing what's happening to him, a smiling, beaten and bloodied Khan whispers, "I didn't know that you were one of us." He then teleports away, leaving a Sam to deal with a dead Nomad and to wonder what he will become! Next: Falcon 2020 to be continued in the pages of Avengers 2020!

48 PGS./Rated T+...$3.99

Captain America #18

Plotted by BANEOFKINGS

Written by JAMES ROBINSON

Art by ETHAN VAN SCIVER

“BIDDING STARTS AT” Part Four of Four “THE ANTI-AMERICA PROTOCOL” - Guest Starring Harold Finch

Theme Song: David Bowie – I’m Afraid of Americans

What happens when Captain America goes rogue? The US Army have unlocked a contingency protocol if that was ever to be the case and now they have him responsible. As Colonel Glenn Talbot tries to mobilise his forces to track down the Captain and stop him with the new Protocol designed to shut him down, Captain America and Falcon turn to Luke Cage who knows a certain Harold Finch that might have the recourses needed to expose the US Army’s involvement in the Auction House once and for all. However, is Captain America about to go from the world’s most respected superhero to public enemy number one in the course of a single night? Or will the country put their faith in Steve Rogers over the US Military?

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

SHE-HULK, ATTORNEY AT LAW #14

Written by CHARLES SOULE

Plot by EXCITER

Art by JOE MADUIERA

“OFFICER POUNDCAKES AND THE EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE”

While She-Hulk has been busy trying to expose the illegal business practices of Power Broker, Inc. and it's COO Professor Urkel, the streets of NYC have been been consumed by protests. The aptly-named NYPD Officer Poundcakes is at the center of the controversy, having used her enhanced strength to beat an alleged petty criminal to death - all of which was recorded and uploaded to the Internet before the phone-based amateur photographer himself was pulverized. Poundcakes was not immediately criminally charged or fired, instead being placed on two weeks paid administrative leave. To his credit, and in response to the public outcry against excessive use of superpowers, the mayor realized that the DA's office was too close to the cops and that an independent special prosecutor was needed for this case. At this point you can probably guess who that special prosecutor is, right? Only one lawyer has the Superhuman Law experience needed - and though she's usually loathe to work for the government, her history with Poundcakes is all the incentive Shulkie needs to do everything she can to see Poundcakes shipped off to the Vault! When Shulkie throws the book at you, it's gonna hurt - but certain empowered individuals in the DA's office and the NYPD aren't happy with She-Hulk's decision to take the case - and they're secretly about to make their displeasure known - violently!

Meanwhile, a mysterious appellate brief shows up in She-Hulk's legal mail. Who sent it? And how could it possibly have been written by the greatest lawyer in history, Perry Mason? Isn't he dead?

32 PGs./Rated T+...$2.99

ALL-NEW WINTER GUARD #2 \*\*\*Limited Series\*\*\*

Written by DENNIS HOPELESS

Plot by EXCITER

Art by SEAN MURPHY

“WE WILL BURY YOU”

Piotr "Colossus" Rasputin, Omega Red, Black Widow, and the other members of the All-New Winter Guard were successful. A.I.M. and their influence have been ousted from Crimea, but now the Crimson Dynamo mech-suits A.I.M. was supplying to the rebels are being confiscated by Vladimir Putin! Colossus wants them destroyed - he didn't remove those weapons from the hands of one killer just to deliver them to another. Putin, however, makes it clear that's not going to happen. This creates a conflict, and as the man of organic steel takes on his homeland's leader, Putin's top-scientists roll out "upgrades." It's Colossus versus the Ultimate Crimson Dynamo - Putin with hyper-advanced combat armor - and the fate of Russia hangs in the balance!

Meanwhile, the Russian super soldier once known as Arkady Rossovich exploits the conflict and appeals to members of the proletariat who favor neither Putin nor Rasputin yet long for the bygone days of their nation's glory. He's starting a new revolution. Get ready, because the Soviet Union is back... and Omega Red is its Premier!

Don't miss this sure to be controversial issue, featuring a cover homage to Captain America #1 (1941) with Colossus punching Putin!

32 PGs./Rated T+...$2.99

DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON #14 \*Final Issue\*

Written By CULLEN BUNN

Plot By MARVELL2100

Art By EMMA VICELLI & NICK DRAGOTTA

NuNation: Acts Of Vengeace!

"THE LONG DARK ROAD!" Conclusion "END OF THE ROAD!"

On the NuHuman island nation of Genosha, Misty Knight, White Fox and Lotus make a startling discovery! Delroy Garrett is alive! The ATLAS agent once believed to be dead is alive and saved their lives from ending at the hands of Sarah Manning, wife of the NuHuman leader Khan! Garret was undercover, infiltrating the ranks of the NuHumans as part of a plan put together by the late director of ATLAS Peter Gyrich to bring them down! All of this is happening as Nimrod, the sentinel created by Roxxon, arrived and began mass executing NuHumans! Sarah Manning and a team of NuHumans have managed to escape and are headed towards Attilan. They will be a part of the final assault that will destroy the Inhuman royal family forever!

Meanwhile, Colleen Wing, Leiko Wu and the mercenary Paladin have made it on to the island and have found their Misty and the others! But their reunion could be short-lived if they don't stop Nimrod before he kills every living thing on Genosha! Assassin's Creed member Lotus has a device that could put down Nimrod, but they have to get close enough to use it. Despite the mounting bodies and the chaos around them, the Daughters of the Dragon and the others battle Nimrod, keeping him off balance long enough for Lotus to deliver the blow that finally shuts him down. But they aren't safe yet as the remaining NuHumans are out for blood! As they escape the burning island, thankful to be alive, Garret receives a message: Come home! ATLAS has been destroyed! He then turns to the Dragons and makes them an offer!

48 PGS./Rated M: Mature Readers Only...$3.99 (Learn more about the fate of the Daughters coming soon!)

SNAKE EYES: REAL AMERICAN HERO #12

Written by CHUCK DIXON

Plot by EXCITER

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

“SCARS AND STRIPES” Part Three “A GATHERING OF FURIES”

Jake Fury is dead and the entire Fury family are targets! Bad news for the murderous anti-American Liberators - these targets fire back! Jake's friends and family have rallied to avenge him and protect themselves. Brother Nick, nephew Mikel, and ex-sister-in-law Monica Chang join Jake's former squadmates Snake Eyes and Scarlett to bring the fight to the Liberators! Their first target: Perun, either the Russian God of Thunder or a very well-equipped wannabe. Can Snake Eyes take down a deity? Can Nick and Monica work together for the sake of their son, Julius? Or was Jake just the first Fury to fall...

Meanwhile, Storm Shadow has provided Tony Stark with the secrets of Arashikage ninjutsu. This was not done on a whim. He used Iron Man to provide him with the tools that he needed. Now equipped with a suit of armor designed to enhance his already considerable skills and counter those of his enemy, Storm Shadow is finally prepared to claim his destiny - by slaying the Gorgon and assuming leadership of the Hand!

32 PGs./Rated T+...$2.99

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. #9

Written by MATT FRACTION

Art by OLIVIER COIPEL

“LONDON’S BURNING” Part One of Four “SIX MONTHS LATER...”

Theme Song: Alice Cooper – School’s Out

Something’s gone horribly wrong within the Black Archives and the survivors, FitzSimmons, Daisy Johnson, Grant Ward, Robert Gonzalez and Kate Lethbridge-Stewart among them (PLOTTER'S NOTES: For May’s whereabouts, check out this month’s Mission Impossible: The Janus Imperative) emerge from beneath London to find that they have fallen into a parallel universe where six months has passed since the release of the Hecate Virus, and everyone over the age of 21, apart from them, has succumbed, leaving only young adults in their wake as the new survivors in a country gone mad, with no outside call, and not even the Doctor’s phone-number seems to be working. Ward is promptly locked up and Gonzalez agrees to work with the SHIELD team so they can escape the city and find out the situation of the rest of the world, without being spotted by the tribes that now haunt London. However, when a trio of young teenagers, Ace Hooper, Harper Davanu & Jonah Cave, find themselves in trouble during what should have been a routine supply mission for their tribe, the SHIELD team questions whether they want to intervene or not. If they do they risk revealing their existence - but if they fail to intervene then they will have the blood of innocent teenagers on their hands.

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

ALPHA FLIGHT #17

Written by TY TEMPLETON

Plot by SUPERCOOPER

Art by BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY

“THE B TEAM”

When the first line of defense for the nation is gone…With more than one distress call coming from her fellow Alphans, to save Switzerland, to save the future, to save Department H, Northern goddess SNOWBIRD will have no choice but to send Puck away from this fray and into another! And with the threat of the frantic android DELPHINE COURTNEY, powered by Plodex technologies and Great Beast mystical energies alike, still looming, shell have to rally the rookies: cybernetic soldier STRONGARM, the repowered WILD CHILD, and Deadly Ernest’s pyrokinetic and cryokinetic powerhouses AURIC and SILVER! But as the team begins to struggle against Courtney’s overwhelming might, and her spirit tied to the land, Snowbird will send her Beta Flight away to assist Puck and the others…and drag Delphine Courtney with her into the spirit world to end this fight, no matter the cost!

32 PGS./Rated T+...$2.99

INVADERS INITIATIVE #17

Written by FRED VAN LENTE

Plot by SUPERCOOPER

Art by JEFTE PALO

“RIGHTS FROM WRONGS”

It’s espionage at its worst…as BARON ZEMO, possessing the body of ancient god SET, begins his interrogation of Invader BLACK TARANTULA! With his super strength and the strength of former Invader and disciple of Set SCARAB at his disposal, and the irradiating abilities of Soviet soldier the PRESENCE filling the room, he should crack at any moment. But Black Tarantula, Invader, leader, soldier, has never been broken…as he reveals the gift bestowed on him by Invader co-leader SABRA, in the form of explosive eye beams, which decimate his kidnappers! And, in the wreckage of Geneva, Switzerland, with the Human Torch, Shocker, and Nuwa collecting the fleeing ULTIMATUM agents, Sabra, OMEGA SENTINEL, and the GREY GARGOYLE will begin an interrogation of their own! With the original Baron Zemo secured, they’ll begin digging into his plans for world domination…one broken bone at a time.

32 PGS./Rated T+...$2.99

NEW AGENTS OF ATLAS #20

Written by DAVID LISS

Plot by MARVELL2100

Art by STEFANO CASELLI

NuNation: Acts Of Vengeance!

"ATLAS DOWN!": "SIGNED IN BLOOD!" Conclusion

The fall of ATLAS continues here! Jason Strongbow has finally captured John Apostle but it comes at a high price! Agents Ana Kraven and Romany Wisdom are dead, both killed by Apostle while The Crying Man and Scourge escaped with the NuHuman leader Khan! Feeling the loss of his friends, Jason heads back to ATLAS headquarters with his greatest enemy finally captured. In London, Marcus Fury and his team with the help of Spitfire, battle the super soldier Nuke and the Blood Squad! They are an elite team of killers enhanced with the DNA of one of HYDRA's most dangerous leaders, Baron Blood! The Baron was behind the death of ATLAS Director Peter Gyrich and is about to end the lives of three more agents! However, at the last minute, he pulls his team and heads off into the night! He has one more surprise waiting for ATLAS and he wouldn't want them to miss it!

Thousands of miles away in the streets of Singapore, Jimmy Woo and Jason's brother Ward take on Afro Samurai, the man who killed Gyrich! However, the two are no match for the highly-skilled assassin who is mere moments away from killing them both! Suddenly a shot rings out in the night's air as Afro Samurai falls to the ground just barely alive! Woo is surprised when he turns to see who saved their lives, former agent Cloud-9 who's been MIA for over a year!

Back in NY, Jason arrives at HQ with Apostle in custody! But before he can approach, they are both knocked off their feet by a powerful blast! As he shields his eyes, Jason can see their building crumbling down, raining fire and debris! This is Baron Blood's final gift to ATLAS!

Next Issue: Crawling From The Wreckage!

48 PGS./Rated M: Mature Readers Only...$3.99

SECRET AVENGERS #7

Written by MATT FRACTION

Plot by EXCITER

Art by DANIEL ACUNA

“IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES” Part Three “IT'S HOW YOU RAISE THEM”

The People's Republic of Hydra is a true nation of immigrants. As an artificial island, there are no natives. The sprawling metropolis quickly became the fastest growing city-state in the world and already has more residents than New York City... and that so many people would voluntarily become HYDRA citizens makes Hawkeye sick! One of the new residents is his wife, Laura, who for their whole marriage was secretly a deep cover HYDRA agent known as the Purple Widow. She betrayed him and stole away their children to the new nation - but Clint and his brother Barney snuck in to get them back! They are too late for Clint's oldest son, Callum - he's twelve years old, already indoctrinated, and hailing HYDRA! But it's not too late for Callum's younger siblings, Lewis and Nicole. Now the master marksman Barton Brothers must escape a city of snakes with two children in tow while being hunted by the malevolent Crossbones, Sin, and the kid's own mother and brother! Did you think your family was screwed up?

Back-up story!

“HYDRA-CITY ONE” Part Two “HE IS NOT THE LAW”

Judge Dredd got his perp, as always, but the elderly woman once known as the Black Widow presented an impressive justification defense: the Chief Judge of Mega City One that she attempted to assassinate is secretly Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker, a murderous terrorist guilty of countless capital offenses committed over the course of 200 years! Judges are the law, and Dredd will not allow the law to be perverted by the one time leader of HYDRA - but with corruption so endemic, it's clear that he can't trust anyone in the judiciary. Where can he request backup? The elderly spy might know. The Cursed Earth is where the mutants dwell, and their leader was once a friend... but will Rogue, who permanently absorbed the powers and temperament of the Wolverine, ever work with a "fascist" street judge like Dredd?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

S.H.I.E.L.D. '60 #7

Written by ED BRUBAKER

Plot by GLOBAL HONORED

Art by J.H. WILLIAMS III

Variant Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ

"So You Say You Want a Revolution?"

Bavaria, Castle Zemo: Nick Fury and Dum Dum Duggan infiltrated Zemo's Eagle Nest (last issue) to discover their warbuddy Aldo "The Apache" Raine transformed into the one thing he despises most...a certifiable Nazi! Fury's rescue mission has led to their own capture at the hands of Evil Aldo, the traitor Alexander Pierce, as well as Zemo and his Storm Troopers. Now Fury and Dum Dum will undergo the same brainwashing experiment that led Aldo to Heil....

Escape from Monte Carlo: Peggy Carter and Howard Stark shoot more than craps as they battle their way out of a Secret Empire funded casino, but even if they make it out alive, they may have lost Agent Bond to the cold embrace of Natasha Romanova and her SMERSH accomplices. That is until Peggy has a little girl talk with the Black Widow herself. This is not a man's world afterall.

Uncharted Pacific Islands: The Contessa, Gabe Jones and Namor are forced to battle one another for survival, gladiator style in Krang's blood stained arena, a testing ground used to turn the victors i.e. survivors into Krang's own ultimate army. Resistance is futile, Krang's Serpent Crown orders our heroes to battle to the death inside the Cobra Cage!

New York City: People are fed up, want change and to take down the system. They are searching for a cause. Enter The Secret Empire's latest recruitment surge, feeding off the angry and oppressed. It also raises the attention of the city's most badass Private Detective. When several members of the Black Panther party hire him to find their missing friends, the trail leads to a military style training center in an abandoned West Side Project building and a bunch of brothers wearing green hoods with snake insignia on them, messing around with flamethrowers. What has John Shaft gotten himself into this time?

Continued next month in "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Fascism"

32 PGs./Rated T...$2.99

TAKE A.I.M. #20

Written by DENNIS HOPELESS

Plot by EXCITER

Art by SEAN MURPHY

“A BUCKET LIST DESIGNED ONLY FOR KILLING” Part Two “HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD”

M.O.D.O.K. has been afflicted with a virus that is slowly turning him human and altruistic. He's only got two months to kill! Can he possibly fit a lifetime of murder into only 60 days? He's certainly going to try! But as he's bumping off old enemies left and right, two names show up on the hit list that make him pause: Eerie Pennsylvania's own Luigi and Virginia Tarleton - his parents! But why did he pause just then? Is the altruism already affecting him?!?!? Unacceptable! He's got to act now if he has any hope of committing combo pat/matricide without feeling really, really bad about it. But news of his kill-spree has gotten out, and his parents were identified as possible targets. If he wants to kill them now, he'll have to go through the man assigned to protect them - U.S. Agent! As it happens, M.O.D.O.K. thinks that's just great... because U.S. Agent's on his hit list too!

Back up story!

“SPOT REMOVER”

Another great advantage to joining A.I.M. is the elimination of those troublesome, time-consuming commutes. Thanks to the Spot and his transdimensional portals, "beekeepers" can go from their homes to their work stations in the blink of an eye. But when S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists perfect technology that will effectively embargo travel through the "spotted dimension," the Spot has to take action!

32 PGs./Rated T+...$2.99

DEADPOOL & THE THUNDERBOLTS #7

Written by MATT FRACTION

Plot by EXCITER

Art by DANIEL ACUNA

“ITS ALWAYS BLOODY IN SAN DIABLO” Part One “MAYBE YOU SHOULD FEAR THE REAPER(S)”

If you're looking for that perfect tropical getaway, San Diablo is probably not it (no matter what that Travelocity gnome tells you). This little slice of South America used to be a colony of Latveria - though that crusty European nation abandoned it after WWII. Problem is, not everyone forgot. HYDRA's current recipe for world domination involves healthy portions of puppet nations, and HYDRA High Council member Madame Masque believes she's found a suitable Pinocchio with a legitimate claim to rule San Diablo - Kristoff Vernard, the (disappointing) son of Dr. Doom! Vernard himself has no ambitions to power (millennials, amirite?), but HYDRA has armed and trained local rebels to wage a proxy revolution in his name (Ronald Reagan style!). Bad idea. Unbeknownst to HYDRA, San Diablo holds a spooooky secret. It's been the preeminent home for experiments in vampirism for some time, and HYDRA's thuggery inadvertently frees a prisoner/experiment by the name of Jared Nomack - patient zero for the Reaper Strain of alpha vamps that eat everyone, even other vamps! (Definitely not Adkins friendly). So now there's a three-way bloodbath going on between the independent government, the HYDRA-backed rebels, and the Reapers - and it needs to be stopped in the name of world peace. Sounds like a job for the Thunderbolts! Yours truly (Deadpool, Merc with a mouth) leads Juggernaut, Moonstone, Ghost, Zarda, and the rest into action! But is "Detroit Steel" Sasha Hammer due for some maternity leave? She can't hide that Decepticon-sized baby bump anymore, and sorry Starscream, a battlefield is the last place you want to find out you're gonna be a daddy!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

THE PROWLER #18

Plot by SUPERCOOPER

Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI

Art by KERON GRANT

“BUILD”

With his former mentor, the PROWLER, imprisoned, his best friend, ROCKET RACER, pursued by the authorities, and his new employer, the PUMA, growing increasingly erratic, Eugene Patillo, the frequently frenetic FROG-MAN, finds his whole world turned upside down. And with no one and nowhere to turn to, Eugene will have to keep moving forward, one leap at a time. That means turning himself in to heroic friend-of-a-friend and police consultant JOSIAH X…to join forces and siege the Puma’s prison, freeing former Lady Stilt-Man LOOKOUT from the feral vigilante’s clutches! And as Team Prowler begins to reassemble and begin their search for the AWOL Rocket Racer, they’ll instead come face to face with newly instated NYPD Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson…who intends to finally close the case on Hobie Brown!

32 PGS/Rated T+...$2.99

MS. AMERICA #12

Written by KATHRYN IMMONEN

Plot by SUPERCOOPER

Art by DUNCAN FEGREDO

“SHIPWRECKED”

No portals to jump through, no Utopian Parallel to turn to…as Ms. America Chavez finds herself stranded on Earth-616, her reality hopping powers gone after confronting the threat of the Multiversal Demon! And in a world filled with flying bricks and powered brawlers, Ms. America will have to carve out a place for herself in this world, whether she likes it or not! And she can start at home, as her friend Sylvie Lushton, the ENCHANTRESS, recovers from her possession by the Demon. But when Sylvie’s magical abilities begin behaving erratically, they’ll pull another former victim of the Demon across time and space…as the Sorcerer Supreme STRANGE from 2099 finds herself standing in San Francisco, eighty-three years ago (today)! And when America and Strange begin treating Sylvie and searching for pathways across the multiverse, they’ll find themselves in bad company, when former Decima agent MISTER MAGENTA comes a-knocking!

32 PGS/Rated T...$2.99

LI'L FRANK #14

Written by JOE CASEY

Plot by MARVELL2100

Art by SKOTTIE YOUNG

"DISNEY WORLD IS A JOKE!!!!!" Conclusion!

Last of the Hard Men!

Disney World is ruins and chaos reigns supreme! Thousands of visitors are scrambling for safety as pretty little Princess castles are destroyed! Is it a tornado? A powerful thunderstorm? No, it's another force of nature! Li'l Frank Castle and his crew are on a rampage through this commercialized, corporate, kiddie-land! There's no fun in this sanitized land of the walking dead so Frank and crew are going to bring down the House that the Mouse built! But Mickey's not going down with a fight and he's brought a few friends along! Donald, Goofy, Minnie, Daisy and Pluto, the Original Gangsters! It's crew vs crew in a battle that will determine the fate of Disney World! No quarter is asked and none given as innocent bystanders look on! Now the battle is over and a victor has emerged! When the dust has settled, a flag is raised in victory, a flag with the emblazoned image of a skull! And a punisher has been born!

32 PGS./Rated A: All Ages...$2.99

MILES MORALES: THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #5

Written By G. WILLOW WILSON

Plot By MARVELL2100

Art By SARA PICHELLI

"Night of the Jackal!"

Miles and Rachel's date ends on a high note after being interrupted by a group of Goblin Nation members. But Miles is more concerned about the abilities she displayed when taking down their attackers, powers very much like his own! Was she also a victim of the experimental spider that gave him his powers? That's what he, Ganke and Judge are about to find out! And why would she be apart of a group like Goblin Nation? Meanwhile, the would be attackers return to their hang-out where they receive an unexpected visit from their mysterious benefactor. He warns them to stick to their petty crimes and to leave Rachel Carpenter alone, she is not to be harmed! Back at Brooklyn Visions Academy, Prof Miles Warren works in the late hours of the night. He's very close to a breakthrough with his project and finally has the one piece to make it complete! Next Issue: Red Venom!

32 PGS./Rated T...$2.99

DAREDEVIL: GUARDIAN DEVILS #17

Plotted by BANEOFKINGS

Written by GREG RUCKA

Art by BILLY TAN

“HANNIBAL RISING” Part One of Seven “L’APERITIF” - NEW JUMPING ON POINT! START READING HERE

Hannibal Lecter is behind bars following Foggy Nelson’s defence of his best friend and now Matt Murdock is in Frank Underwood’s Good books as he turns his attention to the Iowa Caucus where he looks set to hold a debate with other Democratic Candidates including the likes of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile Matt gets a visit from Harold Finch who tells him that a new number has just appeared in the Machine – Hannibal’s Will Graham! Will Graham is retired from service at the FBI and now teaching forensics to his students, but must now rely on Daredevil’s help to fend off an attack from a sinister new evil that is out to usurp Hannibal Lecter. He goes by the name of Francis Dolahyde. But others call him The Tooth Fairy.

Continued in this month's Cage & Finch: Northern Lights!

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

CAGE & FINCH: NORTHERN LIGHTS #11

Plotted by BANEOFKINGS

Written by GENEVIVE VALENTINE

Art by SARA PICHELLI

"HANNIBAL RISING" Part Two of Seven "L'ENTREE"

Jessica Jones is currently working as a hired bodyguard to Frank Underwood's wife, Claire - during an interview on The Daily Show, when her number comes up in the Machine and Cage & Finch, fresh from warning Daredevil about Will Graham, are forced to protect the one woman who doesn't need protecting. But Jessica may be in more danger than she first thinks and thanks to intelligence gained from FBI Agent Mark Malone about Northern Lights, wants to expose it at all costs, not knowing that her husband is working for its creator! She plans to accomplish this by using Claire as a decoy in order to hope that Finch comes to her rescue when she gets into trouble, but when Luke comes to the rescue she realises she's made a big mistake as Malone and his fellow FBI Agents burst in and arrest them both for charges of conspiracy! Meanwhile, Anya Corazon runs into trouble when she finds herself investigating the house that used to belong to Hannibal Lecter, and stumbles across one of his victims. Anya has to get the woman, who has lost her right arm, to safety - through Hell's Kitchen, without protection of the absent Daredevil as a group of members of the Russian Mob decide that now would be the best opportunity to take down someone who's been a thorn in her side for so long.

And finally, Olivia Pope lets curiosity about Hannibal Lecter get the better of her and pays the imprisoned serial killer a visit on the eve of his trial.

Continued in Next Month's Daredevil: Guardian Devils

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

THE PUNISHER: WAR JOURNAL #17

Plotted by BANEOFKINGS

Written by DAN ABNETT

Art by STEVE EPTING

Artwork in the 31st Millennium by MARCO RUDY

“THE EIGHTFOLD PATH” Part Two of Eight – "ENTER LUPERCAL"

The fight between The Punisher, Hank Voight, Raylan Givens, Beatrice Kiddo and Electro and The Howling Commandos is interrupted when the building next door explodes and a portal through time and space is opened in front of them thanks to the actions of a time-displaced Chaos Sorcerer, sucking them back into the 31st Millennium, where the Primarch of the Space Marines, Horus Lupercal is leading a traitorous war against his father, The Emperor of Man. Having wound up right in the heart of the traitors' fleet, the group are forced to battle their worst nightmares if they want to escape in one piece. Luckily there are those who remain loyal to the Emperor in the heart of the enemy's midist and are planning an escape themselves, on a certain spaceship known as the Eisenstein, bound for Terra. However, Horus senses the location of a new portal back to the 21st Century, and decides that if he takes control of Earth before the Emperor even appears, he can mould humanity in his own visage. Can the Punisher-led group that also includes the reluctant Electro & The Howling Commandos, who are putting aside their differences for the common good of survival - make it back to the 21st Century alive and not bring an army of super soldiers ten times stronger than that of any normal man with them?

“OLD FRIENDS” Part Two of Three

Hank Voight arrests Frank Castle but is trapped in a Chicago School during the middle of Summer when they find themselves under attack from Castle's enemies. If Voight wants to get Castle to Chicago PD's Intelligence Division in one piece then he has to put aside any problems that he has with the vigilante's attitude towards crime and the law enforcement system as Voight is about to have his beliefs and ideals changed forever.

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #19

Plotted by BANEOFKINGS

Written by JOSS WHEDON

Art by GREG CAPULLO

“THE TRAFALGAR QUARTET (NO.63)” Part Two of Four “REVENGE IS A DISH..."

Theme Song: The Neighbourhood – Everybody’s Watching Me (Uh Oh)

The Trafalgar Quartet have claimed their first victim – the low rent superhero known as Captain Diceman who failed to do what they commanded and was blown up when trying to save a rival corporate businessman from an attack. However as more and more children are being kidnapped across the streets of New York Peter receives a new ally in the form of an English teacher named Charlie Burton whose school has been hit hard by the Quartet and is determined to find out the truth behind those responsible as Reddington conducts a private mission of revenge against a Quartet mole within the FBI, Jamie Barnfield. Meanwhile Miguel O’Hara and Liv Moore, still on the brains of a dead superhero giving her his powers, head on their road-trip back to New York having stopped the zombie outbreak but come under attack on the plane when renegade time-travelling assassins from the year 2099 come back to stop Miguel. And Gwen Stacy continues her working partnership and growing friendship with Sherlock, MJ and runaway hacker Ocean in a bid to break the Trafalgar Quartet’s firewall in order to find out what the seedy corporation is up to, unaware that their every move is being watched.

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE JANUS IMPERATIVE #4 (of 4)

Plotted by BANEOFKINGS

Written by MATT KINDT

Art by LEONARD KIRK

"COMMAND AND CONQUER" MINI-SERIES FINALE!

Featuring The Knight's Templar of Assassin's Creed! Ethan Hunt watches on in horror as the doomsday clock counts down inside SHIELD's Triskelion HQ, unable to do anything and alert anyone as if he moves, a Helicarrier will blow him sky high. His best hope remains in Melinda May who is buried underneath rubble on the bottom floor and has to make her way up a hostile building filled with agents who believe she is a traitor in just under half an hour before the Templars blow it to hell. Luckily though, The Calvary is about to get some support in the form of two Avengers - The Falcon, on a stealth mission for Captain America to aide his events in the struggle against the US Army, and Hawkeye, whose revelation as Clint Barton and not William Brandt comes as a shock to Ethan - who's about to learn that SHIELD had a deep cover agent operating inside IMF this whole time! However, none of that will matter unless they can stop The Templars from crippling SHIELD's base of operations for good! Can Ethan and May stop and expose the Templars or will they just be able to get away with another cover up act this time if they fail?

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

FANTASTIC FOUR #21

Written By JONATHAN HICKMAN

Plot By MARVELL2100

Art By NICOLA SCOTT

Man Out of Time! Part 4

NuNation: Acts of Vengeance Tie-In!

The Future Foundation continues their exploration of the Negative Zone as they learn more about the god Blastaar who rules this region! Most of the worlds they've visited seem very happy and peaceful. But Reed and Sue get the feeling that something is not quite right with many of the people they've encountered. Everything seems just a little too perfect, as if all this happiness was just a façade! Meanwhile, Johnny, Ben and Spock arrive to the Blue Area of the Moon in time to see Attilan being attacked by the fugitive Khan and the NuHumans! As the city is being overrun by Khan's forces, the team jumps in to help Medusa and the Royal Family fight off their attackers. But even with Spock and the FF's help the city of Attilan is on the brink of falling! Suddenly, the fighting comes to a halt as a figure begins to descend from the skies, his gaze firmly focused on Khan! Black Bolt has arrived and he is very, very angry! Next Issue: Return of the FF! (Which One?)

32 PGS/Rated T+...$2.99

NOVA CORPS #20

Written By CARLOS PACHECO

Plot By MARVELL2100

Art By MIKE MCKONE

Badoon Rising Part 2!

The Corps uncovers more evidence of Badoon incursions into the Andromeda Galaxy! Mari, Samaya and the newest Nova, Rachel Rider along with other Novas are tracking Badoon raiding parties in the Karsten Android Belt. There, they come across an inhabited planetoid that was attacked by the hostile race. The survivors said that they came looking for a particular object and when they couldn't find it, they nearly destroyed everything! So is it really a Badoon invasion or is it one specific thing they're looking for? On the other side of the galaxy, Robbie and Pyo arrive on the planet Mahret, a world that has fallen under the influence of the Universal Church of Truth. They're looking for answers about the Church and quickly find that they are unwanted guests. The Church is well loved and they don't tolerate outsiders here! But Robbie isn't going to give up so easily and continues to push for information. At that moment, another enters the scene and demands that the Corp removes it's presence or be physically removed! This world is now under the protection of Lord Darkhawk and the Fraternal Order of Raptors! Next Issue: Robbie vs Darkhawk!

32 PGS./Rated T+...$2.99

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #20

Written By MALCOLM JONES

Plot By MARVELL2100

Art By AARON LOPRESTI

"Guardians of Nothing"

The Guardians with the help of their friends and their new ship the Millenium Falcon have escaped E.D.N IV and have returned to normal space. But everything is far from normal since they were here last. The threat of the Infinity Effect is over and Lord Mar-Vell is defeated. The Spartax have been unseated as rulers of the Shi'ar Empire and scattered throughout the region. Lilandra's brother and sister, the mad D'Ken and Deathbird are in control of the Shi'ar! However, the biggest change is the loss of their leader Star-Lord who went missing along with Nova Prime Richard Rider. Now, with new threats facing the galaxy like the Badoon and the Universal Church of Truth, which Guardians will remain with the team? More importantly, who will become the new leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy? Next Issue: Return to Shi'ar!

32 PGS./Rated T+...$2.99

H.E.R.B.I.E. FOR HIRE #15

Written by CHRIS ELIOPOLOUS

Plot by SUPERCOOPER

Art by STUART IMMONEN

“H.E.A.R.T. (HEDONISTIC ENTREPRENUERS ATTACKING RANDOM TRUANTS)”

They’ve got money! They’ve got renown! They…are not the HERBIES! But when the entrepreneurial businessmen…er…business reptiles of Aloxius VX discover our favourite helper robots floating near their planet, they’ll put a plan into motion, to capture the HERBIES and connect them to the great mechanical heart of their corporate secretarial assistant creation machine! And with giant lizards in suits and ties attacking the Good Ship Franklin, the HERBIES will find themselves on the offensive, as they journey to the center of the machine to reveal an army’s worth of robots fuelling the assembly line! It’s robots versus reptiles versus some very irate secretarial assistants! And with the love of his electric life, HERBIE 29, missing, HERBIE 14 will lead the charge to scour Aloxius VX for the missing droid!

32 PGS./Rated A....$2.99

QUASAR & THE INFINITY WATCH#14

Written by ROGER STERN

Plot by MCGAFFER & MARVELL2100

Art by KAARE ANDREWS

The new Quasar faces a battle of insurmountable odds that even with the Power Gem she cannot hope to overcome. The Builders have come! In fact they have been here for a while, doing the bidding of those who dwell in the shadows, and they have been busy! A new gargantuan galaxy waiting to be populated by the deserving, the rewarded! And Quasar is not on that list. The Doctor is tasked with finding out which mysterious being is behind the efforts of the Builders while Quasar must gather the new Infinity watch so that they can contain the Builders until the mystery is solved.

Black Swan finds herself before Sonath and the Council. The Watch is a dangerous group, their failure to stop Lord Mar-Vell from amassing power and bringing misery to the universe must be brought to account. They cannot call themselves guardians of infinite power when it is so obvious they cannot protect it. For the sake of the universe Black Swan must betray the Infinity Watch to the Council, for the universe's own good.

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

HIGH EVOLUTIONARY#14

Written By DOUG MOENCH

Plot By MCGAFFER

Art By PAUL GULACY

The thing about the void is that it surrounds reality, but what is on the other side of the void? Access finds himself in the middle of a raging battle between the Brood and the Phalanx and he has no idea how he got there! Luckily Rom the Space Knight is there to help him along with the Knights of Wundagore and the Fulcrum! They really aren't helping him get his head around this strange situation he finds himself in especially as they introduce him to his abductor, the Child Evolutionary! Access is destined for great things, granted these things weren't supposed to be in this reality but the Child Evolutionary needs to tweak destiny a little. Especially as his forebears lead the Phalanx and the Brood in an all consuming war, devastating world's for resources to throw at each other. How can the least evolved Evolutionary stop the two most evolved Evolutionaries? Fulcrum, a drink of your finest inspiration please!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

SILVER SURFER #20

Written By CHRISTOS GAGE

Plot By MARVELL2100

Art By DUSTIN WEAVER

Love, Death and the Power Cosmic! Part 3

To save the lives of the three billion souls on the planet Vargos-27, the Surfer along with fellow heralds Firelord and Frankie Raye must protect it from the Truth! Baron Karza and the Inquisitors of the Universal Church of Truth have judged this world to be non believers and they must be cleansed from the galaxy! Are Norrin and the other heralds enough save this world from judgment day? On the planet Solus, Shalla Bal and the Magus continue their discussion about the state of universe and what needs to be done to save it! She admits to herself that he is an intriguing figure and he has many valid points. But does he truly believe that billions upon billions must die in order to save the universe from itself? Elsewhere, a veil is opened and three figures step into our dimension. Something was stolen from them and they will do what ever is necessary get it back!

32 PGS./Rated M: Mature Readers Only...$2.99

FUTURE IMPERFECT #13

Written By DAN ABNETT

Plot By MARVELL2100

Art By KHARI EVANS

NuNation: Acts of Vengeance!

"All My Futures Destroyed!" Conclusion: No Hope Lies In Doom!

The dream is shattered! The hope is gone! Here lies Doom 2099, broken and beaten by the combined forces of his enemies who both come from future times. Doom's Black Cabinet has been defeated with help from the betrayal of one of their own, the Atlantean war-lord Attuma, who now allies himself with Khan! The Human/Cylon hybrid Number Six and Khan both saw Doom as a threat to their timelines and that his elimination was necessary! Now, a dying Doom laughs at his enemies. They have won nothing and have sealed their miserable fates! He was the only one who could have prevented what is coming. "You fools!", he tells them with his dying breathe."Only I could have stopped them, only I could have kept them in check! Now, with my death you have destroyed all hope! You have ushered in... The Age of Avengers!!!

32 PGS./Rated M: Mature Readers Only...2.99

THE INHUMANS #20

Written By ROBERT VENDETTI

Plot By MARVELL2100

Art By MARK BROOKS

NuNation: Acts of Vengeance!

Last of the Inhumans! Conclusion! Guest Starring The Fantastic Four!

This is it, the final battle! On the Blue Area of the Moon, Attilan is under assault! Medusa and Black Bolt versus Khan for the fate of Inhuman and NuHuman alike! Khan seeks to destroy Attilan as he blames Black Bolt for unleashing the Terrigen Mists that led to the creation of the NuHumans. After the Mists were released, the gov't and other organizations soon began hunting them down and performing horrendous experiments! In the future Khan was one of those experiments. But he found a way to return to the past and now he will make the Inhumans pay! With the help of the FF, the rest of the Royal Family deal with the NuHuman forces leaving Medusa and Black Bolt deal with Khan. As the battle intensifies, Black Bolt realizes that they cannot stop Khan without destroying everything around them. He looks at Medusa and gives her a strange device. He then grabs Khan and motion for her to use the device. At first she hesitates, knowing what will happen but then she looks at his face and knows what must be done. She closes her eyes and presses the button. Suddenly, there is brilliant flash of light followed by an explosion! When it all becomes clear, both Black Bolt and Khan are gone! The rest of the NuHuman forces have been beaten and Attilan has been saved. Little consolation to Medusa who has lost her husband again, maybe for the final time.

32 PGS./Rated M: Mature Readers Only...$2.99

DOOM #20 \*\*\*2020 TIE-IN\*\*\*

Written by NEIL GAIMAN

Art by CLAYTON CRAIN

Plot by MCGAFFER

The Earth is off limits, the Avengers rule and the Dread Lord Nightcrawler rules the magical realms with an iron claw! The House of Doom though is not one to be content with mere crumbs from the plate. The deadliest minds on Earth scheme within these walls and there is collateral damage on an scale as yet unfathomed coming from these machiavellian plots! Mother plots against son, daughter against father, brother against sister and below in the darkness the one true Doom plots against all. The House of Doom is built upon the shoulders of the chained Victor von Doom much like how Atlas held the world aloft. This though is all Doom's plan, to escape the Cabal and the Avengers as they took down his empire. His family brought him low so that they could survive, so that his name could grow strong and trusted within this world. No avenging angel could match the coming wrath though as Doom's influence spreads over all. Eve is even bringing the hapless Talis Clan to Earth to do his unknown bidding. The shadow of Doom will fall upon this world once more, and it will be praised!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

CABAL #20\*\*\*2020 TIE-IN\*\*\*

Written by DANIEL WAY

Art by FRANK CHO

Plot by MCGAFFER

World War Hydra! The monstrous Red Planet comes into orbit around Earth causing massive destruction with it's mere arrival, and then the invasion begins. Owen Reece raises his hand at the Red Skull's command and billions of Hydra soldiers make their way to earth in an overwhelming and crushing invasion. This world will ever be the Skull's! But the Skull has not figured on an old enemy, Doom! Doom long foresaw the Cabal's intentions and prepared for it years ago. He needed an army powerful enough to stop them and easily manipulated, and so Doom's mother Cynthia whispered into Hades' ear and the curse of the undead Olympic Gods came to be. Hydra and the Cabal vs the House of Doom and the zombie Gods with the Dead-Father Zeus taking on the Molecule Man. And stepping back into the light of day, the real Victor von Doom returns from the dead to take on Captain Skull! To the winner comes the Avengers!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

THE WATCH #18

Written by JAMES O'BARR

Plot by MCGAFFER

Art by ESAD RIBIC

Mephisto and Gabriel hunt the Holy Grail and will kill everyone in their path! The most demonic Grail Quest in the history of mankind is on, to the devil that drinks from the cup goes the souls of every damned being that ever existed! Ian McNee and the Watch cannot allow this and know they must find the Grail first. As a descendant of Arthur, Roland Deschain and his team is tasked with finding the Grail. Ian's team will try and slow the devil's down and Casey Kinmont...well she might just be humanity's last hope! If the worst should happen how do you feel about becoming the all powerful vessel for all of damnation? Of course it isn't Ian asking her this, but the mysterious voice in her ear has a good point, better her then the devil right?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

GOD SQUAD #20 \*\*\*2020 TIE-IN\*\*\*

Written by KURT BUSIEK

Plot by MCGAFFER

Art by STEVE DILLON

Hercules rides Shou-Lou against the tide of uncountable Hydra soldiers! At his side is his undead mother and brother as they blindly follow his new commander, Doom! Hercules is incensed to see what Doom has done to his family but before he can exact revenge he must actually fight Doom's battle and stop this evil from flowing over the Earth. Bast though recognises this control that Doom is exercising, how did he become King of the dead? How could he have made Bast bestow this honour upon him? He must find out so that sometime in the past he can avoid granting Doom such power. And Venus finally see's an opportunity for a kingdom of her own, the abandoned realm of Hades with all of those trapped souls, trapped soul's who would have no choice but to listen to her voice for eternity and adore her!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

GUNSLINGER #20 \*\*\*2020 TIE-IN\*\*\*

Written by STEPHEN KING

Art by LEINAL FRANCIS YU

Plot by MCGAFFER

Roland Deschain and the Winchester brothers have the soul of Doom! And Doom's darlin' little girl wants it back! Gunshots echo through the streets of Washington D.C. as Roland tries to find his way to the one place he will be safe, the House of Doom! Eve though knows exactly what her adoptive father is planning though has set a few traps along the way. Thanks to her mother's passed mimicry abilities she has a penchant for collecting things. And one of her favourite collections is assassins! The nastier and more despicable the better! She keeps them all together in a deadly little group called the Watch Tower! And now the Watch Tower roam the streets looking for the three fellas in Eve's life that most badly need a whuppin'.

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

MIDNIGHT SONS #20

Written by MIKE RAICHT

Plot by MCGAFFER

Art by CLAY MANN

Ghost Rider vs Asgardian Mountain Trolls! Sounded easy on paper, until we remember that the forces of magic have never been stronger nor more corrupted! And now an insane Rider zooms across the night sky killing all in his path! Which is why Gandalf the Grey and Buffy the Vampire Slayer find themselves teamed with the powerless Midnight Sons as they try and talk Ghost Rider down off his evil high! Well almost powerless! No one quite knows where Man-Thing got it from but he's not bad at wielding the Extremis Virus. Of course it's not the Extremis Virus, this is Man-Thing and the Nexus we're talking about here but being able to control any and all fairytale creatures isn't bad when you have a couple of giants handy...unless it's Man-Thing controlling them of course!+ …$2.99

Magik #20

Written by KIERON GILLEN

Plot by SUNOFDARKCHILD

Art by BILL SIENKIEWICZ

"S'ym's Best Day Ever"

As a reward for his loyalty during the battle against Witchfire, Illyana has allowed S'ym to spend a day on earth. S'ym has only only one thing on his mind, and that is acquiring a large supply of Cuban cigars. But when he is mistaken for a popular children's mascot S'ym is roped into entertaining at a state fair. Can S'ym keep his calm in the face of dozens of annoying children, or will his newfound celebrity be good for the two ton demon from hell?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

THE DEFENDERS #20

Written by MIKE MIGNOLA

Plot by EXCITER

Art by SALVADOR LARROCA

“THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE OF SECRETS” Part Three “THE OLD SWITCHEROO”

* + - Age of Avengers Tie-In\*\*\*

5 years later...

Norrin Radd, with the help of his wife Cheetara's sixth sense, discovered that the Dredd Dormammu secretly possessed the body of Dr. Strange almost four years ago at the end of the Dark Dimension War. Since then the Earth has become a horrible place, with Dormammu's insidiously patient form of evil slowly corrupting and perverting everything that was once beautiful. Norrin believes the switch means Dr. Strange's spirit is now inhabiting the body of Dormammu - which was supposedly banished forever to the 6th Dimension. Wong, Strange's former assistant, knows that the only way to access the 6th Dimension is, of course, to use the mystical "Screaming Idol." Problem is, the Screaming Idol was hidden by "Strange" after the war specifically to prevent such access. Can these “Defenders” follow the few clues they have to the Idol's location? It's a treasure hunt/rescue mission of universal proportions and the fate of the multiverse hangs in the balance!

Meanwhile, with the help of the Orange and Blue Hulks and the Mothra Larvae, Namor has defended his new principality in the Dark Dimension from the forces of the Maestro. But the conflict unearthed and cracked open an otherwise well-hidden vault. Amongst the apparently magical artifacts inside is some kind of idol that just won't stop screaming... How can Namor make it shut up?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS/NEXTWAVE: THE FILM OF THE CROSSOVER THAT NEVER HAPPENED

Written By JIM STERANKO

Plot By MCGAFFER

Art By HERB TRIMPE

The Unholy Legion of Beggars have done it! Thay have used their secret knowledge of rotten food out of dumpsters and the Spear of Destiny to create true abominations. Giant killer tomato's!!! The propaganda team are already saying they could make a film out of this! But first, they must subdue the Nazi's enemies. And so we find Giant Rotten Nazi Killer Tomato's raining down on New York City! With the Howling Commando's and the Invaders in mainland Europe who could possibly save the day?.....yeah, alright we'll call them. The carnage throughout New York City will go down in black tape history as the event that absolutely, definitely, did not, could not, possibly of happened, at all, ever! When the Captain emerged from under the sea with the Little Mernazi (and her friend) and shouting out for the largest bag of chips this side of England things got....messy! And the swinging pig and gun toting swearing raccoon informing the bystanders that they were the Men in Black and that they hadn't seen anything (accompanied by a very steady cannon pointed between the eyes) wasn't helping.

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

BOW STREET RUNNERS: BLACK-EYED HELL\*\*\*mini-series\*\*\* Issue #2 of 4

Written By NEIL GAIMAN

Plot By MCGAFFER

Art By CLAYTON CRAIN

Whispers in the freezing smog of Victorian London, children calling out to people, asking them for help, to come with them into the shadows. Blood running down the streets and the Black Eyed Children standing smiling, shrouded in mist, on the grimy corners watching their next victims! Unaware of course that two of these would be victims are the Runners! The Victorian mystic police division of London must solve the mystery of the Black Eyed Children before too many people disappear. Matt Pendragon knows they need help, they need to understand what they are hunting and so he reluctantly reaches out to the deadliest force on these streets, Jack the Ripper! Evil hunting evil! And what price does the Ripper demand of the Runners?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS #20

Plotted by BANEOFKINGS

Written by JUSTIN JORDAN

Art by CHRIS SAMNEE

“REIGNING PAIN IN NEW ORLEANS” Part Two of Four “KANSAS SENDS HER REGARDS”

Theme Song: Fats Domino – Kansas City

Charles Xavier finds himself working in the heart of the Vampire Stronghold in New Orleans, assigned to a personal mission with the enigmatic Klaus, as rival Vampire Marcel finds himself adjusting to life as a pretend mutant inside Xavier’s school, led by Erik Lensherr in Charles’ absence. However, New Orleans is about to get a rude awakening when the Kansas City mob come to town tracing a fugitive who has made off with all their money – and it’s time for Fargo’s Mike Milligan to make a bloody, brutal entrance. Neither the Mutants nor the Mikaelsons were ready for the arrival of the enigmatic, cold-hearted, philosophical hired gun. Can Xavier protect the young runaway, who also just so happens to be a mutant - Danielle O'Connell from Mike's wrath, or will the Kansas City mob get their prize?

Xavier may have to put his trust in Klaus if they want to keep Danielle alive, but Klaus has ulterior motives for the young O'Connell and Xavier cannot afford to let him find out about her mutant powers. Luckily for him the rest of the Original Family seem to be distracted by these bizarre, UFO sightings that are happening throughout town. And that isn't the weirdest thing of all - because every New Orleans child under the age of 15 stopped in their tracks at 9:30am on a Tuesday Morning, and started counting down from a hundred. But what happens when they reach zero?

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

BROTHERHOOD OF MUTANTS #20

Plotted by BANEOFKINGS

Written by MATT KINDT

Art by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

“THE CITY RUNS RED” ACT II Part One of Two “HAYLEY, YOU IN DANGER, GIRL!”

Continued from X-Factor #17!

Theme Song: Radiohead - A Wolf At The Door

Mutants and vampires alike are forced to defend themselves when Seth Gecko unleashes a one man war against the vampires stationed in the Mikaelsons' stronghold. He seems determined to think that if Werewolf Hybrid Hayley Marshall dies then the Originals will fall, and given the fact that she’s just been linked to their bloodlines meaning that if she dies, they die, he’s not wrong. So It’s Hayley’s turn to seek protection as she has just become public enemy number one for anybody with a grudge against vampires. And now, the X-Men are the only people who can get her from one side of New Orleans to the other, where the X-Factor are waiting to extract her to safety. However, nothing is as easy as it seems, and Hayley isn’t as content to leave New Orleans as she first appears, preferring to hide out on the Bayou! The race is on to find her first – but it’s not just Vampires, Hunters and Mutants looking for her – Witches have thrown their lot into the battle as well!

To Be Continued in X-Factor #18!

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

X-FACTOR #18

Plotted by BANEOFKINGS

Written by PETER DAVID

Art by MITCH GERADS

“THE CITY RUNS RED” ACT II Part Two of Two “IT’S HARD OUT HERE FOR A GENERAL.”

Continued from Brotherhood of Mutants #20!

Theme Song: Little Scream - The Lamb

The X-Factor arrive in the nick of time to find out that Hayley Marshall is more capable of defending herself from enemies than previously thought, and she now has Seth Gecko captured. After all – why let the enemy who is trying to kill you go when you can keep an eye on him at all times! However, cut off from the support of the Brotherhood in the Bayou, The X-Factor soon learn that their employers have betrayed them, and have sold their location to the mysterious Tristan De Martel, who will stop at nothing to ensure that his bloodline is kept safe and the secrets of Zero Day are not distrusted around the world. However, as always – Gambit has one last card up his sleeve, and provided he can breach the network that has been jammed by Seth Gecko - Nick Fury Jr, who has as much personal investment in making the events of Zero Day public as the X-Factor themselves. However, they will have to hold out until dawn for SHIELD to arrive - which is going to be harder than anticipated as all hell is descending on the small cabin that they are defending with their lives.

Luckily though, it appears that they're about to get one more ally - Seth Gecko may have had a change of heart when he learns that for as deadly as they are - killing the Mikaelsons' and wiping out every Vampire in existence may lead to the creation of an even greater enemy, and keeping them alive may be in his best interests.

Continued next month in Brotherhood of Mutants #21 as Act III Begins!

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

THE UNCANNY X-MEN #20

Written by RICK REMENDER

Plot by EXCITER

Art by CHRIS BACHALO

“SWEET CHIN MUSIK”

The Krakoan refugee crisis continues to escalate. Rampant violence is being spread by the Mutant Unified State in Krakoa ("MUSIK"), an extremist group dedicated to spreading worldwide mutant governance and secretly instigated by Wolverine's son, the manipulative Daken. Whether Daken even believes in MUSIK's ideology or has a greater political objective is unclear. Regardless, U.S. Secretary of Mutant Affairs and presidential hopeful, Henry "Beast" McCoy, faces a conundrum. The official elected leader of Krakoa just happens to be McCoy's (generally considered) evil doppelgänger from another dimension, Dark Beast. Previously, the U.S. endorsed and supported efforts to force a regime change. Did those policies actually help create MUSIK? There is pressure to oppose the extremists, but any strike against MUSIK would only solidify Dark Beast's hold on power - and vice versa. Storm, Wolverine, and the other X-Men are standing by to get involved - but who is the real enemy? And might the best course of action... be to do nothing?

32 PGs./Rated T+...$2.99

LEGENDARY WOLVERINE #20

Written by JEFF LEMIRE

Plot by EXCITER

Art by DECLAN SHALVEY

“ONCE BITTEN”

The South American Nation of San Diablo has seemingly always had a vampire problem (see THUNDERBOLTS #7, on sale now!), but this is where it all began! In 1945 Benito Mussolini was shot and his body was hung on meathooks for public display in Milan, where citizens spat upon and threw stones at him. Unbeknownst to the Italian Partisans who believed they had executed the fascist, Mussolini had already been transformed into a creature of the night by Nazi bloodsucker Baron Blood (see LEGENDARY WOLVERINE #14). He survived, and like many Axis commanders, fled to South America. He brought his curse with him. But before Benito can fill the jungles with undead, Victor "Captain Canada" Creed and his trusty sidekick James "Runt" Howlett look to bring him to justice! When that mission goes FUBAR, will the bloody consequences caused by Creed's ultra-violent tendencies ensure that he's never fit to wear the Maple Leaf again?

32 PGs./Rated T+...$2.99

ASTONISHING X-MEN #20

'The Odyssey' part 6/finale 'Man Is Something That Shall Be Overcome'

Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO

Plot by NX01A

Art by JASON FABOK (Space) & MIKEL JANIN (Utopia)

Phoenix Variant Cover by ADAM HUGHES

Theme Song: Thus Spake Zarathustra

•It took the ice to bring the flame! Pushing herself harder than ever before, JEAN GREY used her telepathy, telekinesis, and newly developed pyrokinesis in unison to incinerate ICEMAN's frozen body and keep his consciousness intact while exorcising and scattering MALICE's mutant psionic essence! She's not quite ready to call herself PHOENIX again, though, but Jean IS on fire!

•Those ACOLYTES now loyal to the SCARLET WITCH help the X-Men flee Asteroid M aboard E.V.A. as the war rages on between ASTRA's violent sect and VOGHT's more peaceful one!

•HUMUS SAPIEN reconnects with the Earth... with possibly disastrous consequences!

•Two powerful beings follow E.V.A. back to the Earth as the first ASTONISHING/IMMORTAL X-MEN crossover begins! Pick up this month's IMMORTAL X-MEN #11 for part one of 'INTELLIGENT DESIGN' and join us here next issue for part two!

•Meanwhile, at the Savage Land Utopia... MOON BOY & DEVIL DINOSAUR and their PSI-COPS have ensured the safety of the United Nations observers sent to examine the humanitarian situation with the Utopians and the Tian refugees. The UN starts sending aide to the refugees but it keeps getting intercepted by ape-like creatures. Moon Boy goes to have a talk with his people about their piracy!

•LEGION uses Russia's own TETRIS teleportation tech to bring VLADIMIR PUTIN to Utopia for a quick chat about his country's attacks on the mutant nation as well as the barbaric situation faced by mutants in Russia. Mutants being unable to get health care, schools actively teaching that mutation is a genetic disease, no laws prohibiting genetic discrimination, unchecked anti-mutant vigilantism... A word to the wise from an omega level mutant should be enough, shouldn't it?

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

IMMORTAL X-MEN #11

'Intelligent Design' part 1/4 'Of Flesh And Blood I'm Made'

Written by KIERON GILLEN

Plot by NX01A

Art by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN

Theme Song: The Human League - Human

•Part One of the Astonishing/Immortal X-Men crossover! The rise of the EXHUMANS begins here!

•The hyper-evolved FUTURIST and ALPHA the ULTIMATE MUTANT (as they call themselves) return to Earth and send out a telepathic invitation across the planet: unlock your cosmic potential! Humans, mutants, mutates, Atlanteans, Deviants, Inhumans, Moloids... All the many and varied children of Earth descend upon the Awash Valley in Ethiopia via teleportation doorways to receive Protoculture and be uplifted to almost Eternal levels of power, intellect, and beauty while receiving instant knowledge of the inner workings of the universe!

•ELIXIR, having not yet come to terms with his post-Resident Evil almost non-existant biokinesis, sees this as an opportunity to become a golden-skinned god again. ARCHANGEL, CANDY 'SERAPH' SOUTHERN, DR. CECILIA REYES, and fan-favourite DORIAN GRAY rush to stop him. Warren knows what it feels like to be powerless and desperate for peace despite the inevitable disastrous outcome. Unfortunately, they're too late!

•The story continues in next month's Astonishing X-Men #21!

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

GENERATION X: EXECUTIONERS' SONGS #1 of 3

'Last Day Of The Rest Of My Life'

Written by DAVID F. WALKER

Plot by NX01A

Art & Cover by JASON PEARSON

Theme Song: P.O.D. - Youth of The Nation

•A few days after the Cassidy Keep and Great Pacific Garbage Patch incidents, BANSHEE and M are at Logan International Airport to welcome NAMAKAEHA TU'U'U MOMOA to Boston. The Samoan matter-merging mutant (whose code name might be easier for some to pronounce: MONDO) made a friend on the flight from Los Angeles: mutant youth counselor ANGELO ESPINOZA aka SKIN, founder of the GENERATION X global movement that helps at risk young mutants.

•Arriving from New York is FBI Special Agent CHARLOTTE JONES who is tracking down a lethal anti-mutant paramilitary force even though her superiors don't seem too interested in whether or not the killers are brought to justice. She's also looking forward to seeing her son at the private school for the gifted he attends nearby.

•In the airport parking lot, #mutantlivesmatter originator and mutant rights activist DENNIS HOGAN is late and rushing to meet Angelo. Traffic becomes the least of his worries when he is attacked by the EXECUTIONERS: enhanced human mercenaries with a smorgasbord of alien technology who 'neutralize' 'dangerous' mutants. While his lizard form might be a bit scary, Dennis isn't very dangerous. Good thing for him there are \*real\* dangerous mutants nearby in Monet's SUV watching NatGeo on a tablet. While twins CLAUDETTE & YVETTE ST.CROIX appear cute yet creepy, they merge to form the diamond-hard and razor-sharp PENANCE!

•Sean Cassidy has been increasingly angry and violent recently, resulting in him putting his cousin, BLACK TOM CASSIDY, in the hospital on life support. Will the Executioners survive Banshee's sonic assault?

32pgs/Rated T.../$2.99

AGENTS OF FUTURE PAST #17

Written by JEFFREY DEAVER

Plot by MCGAFFER

Art by NEAL ADAMS

The future is no longer blind! Blindfold directs the Winter Soldier through a nightmarish landscape set thirty years in the future! How did the world end up in this state? Once he knows then he can return to the present and ensure this never comes to pass. But what happens when he finds out that Blindfold herself is directly responsible for the end of the world? It seems she told someone the wrong thing, let someone have a glimpse of the future that she really shouldn't have. But this knowledge comes at a price. The Maestro didn't destroy this world just to let Bucky take it from him and his beautiful bride, Blindfold!

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99