Michael ends a post partially in response  to my last post that nature isn’t terrifying. Many of my posts here would seem to assert exactly the opposite – that a darkly vitalistic nature is a horrible monstrousity – but this darkness is a darkness for us and not in itself. This was suggested in comments to two posts.

In the first post Alex suggested here some time ago, that Eliminativism, once taken to its full extent, effectively eliminates the horrific experience of nature. If we know that something merely is an epiphenomenon with ontological machinery beneath it (machinery that to some extent remains unthinkable/unknowable) then is the horror of life abnegated?

In the second post Anthony Paul Smith commented here that the unknowability of certain mechanisms and the certainty of threats (entropy)  does not impose a necessarily dark world view, or dark phenomenology.

The usefulness of the term vitalism here and of dark vitalism as an inorganic vitalism points to the problem of thinking life (life that thinks and trying to think life) in a nature which is a non-totalizable set of processes. Nature as an open system (seemingly boundless and inviting an attitude of cosmicism or indifference) yet phenomenon such as life shows us unbearable closeness or bottlenecking – where particular systems need to borrow from one another.

The eponymous creatures of Metroid are particularly interesting in that they are parasitic creatures which suck the life force (or elan vital) from other creatures – the counterpart to indifferent cosmicism is, as Lovecraft knew, proximal values – the fact that things in proximity affect one another and form ecologies. That is the deeper mechanics of nature can be severely mutated by spatial and temporal proximity. The very possibility of the parasitic thriving assumes spatial limitations.

The issue here is the ideality versus the reality of relations. As Levi has formulated in several posts most notably here, a significant issue in the various factions of SR is the status of relations and the status of difference. The difficulty lies in remaining steadfast on the highly processural nature of nature while being able to explain individuation.

Another connection to Levi’s flat ontology and what I am attempting to work out is the use of ecologies and localities in terms of process and individuation. To swing back to the metroidic – the discourse of sci-fi embodies the tension of the cosmic and the proximal – where despite the fact that space is vast horrors conglomerate. Life is essentially a form of nature which fights itself for vitalistic superiority over the contingencies of space/time. Nature is terrifying in its potentiality cross referenced with its proximity – this is the two darknesses – the ontological and the epistemological.

The fall Issue (#15) is done and it’s a H.P. Lovecraft special. Featuring HPL, Brian Lumley, H.R. Giger, Dan O’Bannon, S.T. Joshi, Wilum Pugmire, J.K. Potter, David A. Riley, Cody Goodfellow, Allen K and others.

Based on the shortstory “Jagd” by Martin Beckmann
Für Martin

Tagelang hatte es geschneit. Es schien fast, als ob der Gott der Winterstürme die Welt für Ewigkeiten unter einem weißen Leichentuch aus Schneekristallen verschwinden lassen wollte. Erst in der Dämmerung des 30. Sonnenlaufs hörte der Schneefall auf.
Doch das Land war erstarrt in den grimmigen Zangen des Frostes und soweit das Augen reichte, waren die Ebenen im Eis versunken.

Seit nunmehr drei Wochen war der nagende Hunger ihr ständiger Weggefährte. Trotz strenger Rationierung hatte man die Vorräte schnell aufgebraucht und manch einer unter ihnen glaubten schon, dass dieser Winter nie mehr enden wolle. Die Ältesten hatten schon in den vorangegangenen Jahreszyklen bemerkt, dass diese Zeit des Jahres zusehends härter und länger wurde, aber niemand, nicht einmal die höchsten Patriarchen, konnten sich an einen so strengen Winter wie diesen erinnern.
Die Jüngsten waren bereits dem Frost zum Opfer gefallen und es war Gewissheit, dass auch sie dieses Schicksal teilen würden, sollte in absehbarer Zeit keine Jagdbeute gemacht werden.
Dieses Unterfangen wurde jedoch zusehends schwieriger, denn zum einen waren sie vom langen Hunger und den beschwerlichen Märschen bereits geschwächt und zum anderen war das meiste Wild in den tosenden Schneestürmen der letzen Wochen zu Grunde gegangen. Selbst die Kadaver dieser Tiere waren von den eisigen Winden fein säuberlich zersetzt worden, so das  meist nur noch die blanken Gerippe der verendeten Wesen aufzufinden waren.
Doch es gab keine Alternative. Wollte ihre Kolonie das nächste Frühjahr erleben, so mussten sie jeden Sonnenlauf nutzen um etwas zu erlegen. Mit diesem Vorhaben hatte der kleine Trupp Jäger vor drei Wochen die wärmenden Feuer der Berghöhlen verlassen, in die sie sich einst zurückgezogen hatten. Schweigend hatten sie ihre ausgestorben daliegende Siedlung im Tal durchquert. Nur noch wenig zeugte hier von der alten Pracht der Kolonie und die früher hoch aufragenden Paläste und Türme waren zerfallen oder im ewigen Eis verschwunden. Verkrüppelte Zwergbirken hatten das Pflaster der ehemaligen Straße aufgebrochen, über die sie marschiert waren. Am nördlichen Ende des Weges hatte früher ein Observatorium gelegen, ein heiliger Ort, an dem die Ältesten die Gestirne beobachteten und aus ihnen das Schicksal des Stammes zu deuten vermochten. Doch die Zeit des ewigen Eises hatten sie nicht kommen sehen und die einst so große Kuppel der Sternwarte lag seit Jahren in Trümmern.
Es war ein schmerzender, hoffnungsnehmender Anblick und jeder von ihnen hatte Eile an den Tag gelegt um diese tote Stätte schnell hinter sich zu lassen.
Man erreichte den Waldsaum des K’ynagh-Forstes. Am Horizont zeichneten sich scharf die schwarzen Spitzen der Bergkämme ab, deren Gipfel sich erhaben und bedrohlich gegen das Himmelszelt erhoben. Unbeeindruckt von diesem lang bekannten Anblick war man tief in die schier endlosen Wälder vorgestoßen. Auch hier hatte der Gott der Winterstürme unbarmherzig seine Macht demonstriert. Einst war der K’ynagh-Forst reich an Beute. Die Bäume trugen die besten Früchte und auf den Lichtungen verströmten heiße Quellen eine tropische Wärme und ihr Volk hatte zu Ehren der Quellengeister heilige Haine an ihren Rändern errichten lassen. Doch jetzt standen die Bäume wie ungezählte Reihen stummer, spitzer Säulen um sie herum, ächzend und stöhnend unter der Last des Schnees. Viele Äste waren gebrochen und hingen nun schwarz und verödet hinab, wie die Flügel eines fremdartigen Vogels.

Nur schwerlich war man vorangekommen, denn im meterhohen Schnee sackten sie bei jedem Schritt bis zur Hüfte ein und jeder weitere Schritt schien mühsamer als der vorige zu sein. Die Kälte kroch beißend und nagend in ihre Körper. Ihre Finger, im klammernden Griff um ihre Speere gelegt, waren längst schon steifgefroren.
Die Monotonie der sie umgebenden Landschaft, aus der sich nur die Gebirgszüge am Himmel und vereinzelt aus dem weißen Meer aufragende Menhire herauslösten, gab dem in ihnen aufkeimenden Gefühl der Hoffnungslosigkeit neue Nahrung. Die einzige Nahrung, die es hier wohl zu finden gab…

Kein Laut verriet die Anwesenheit eines anderen lebenden Wesens. Über dem ganzen Wald, in dessen Zentrum sie inzwischen angekommen waren, lag eine gespenstische Stille. Vor ihnen lagen die umgestürzten Reste einer Statue, die ihre Ahnen hier einst zu Ehren eines vergessenen Gottes errichtet hatten. In den Köpfen der Jäger gewann die Vorstellung Gestalt, dass sie und ihre Siedlung womöglich das letzte waren,was dieser Winter noch nicht verschlungen hatte. Weiter, immer weiter. Der erfahrenste der Jäger leitete den Trupp an, getrieben von der langsam schwindenden Hoffnung auf Beute. Bald konnte niemand mehr sagen, ob man hundert oder tausend Schritte gegangen war.
Ihre Glieder wurden schwerer, immer unbeweglicher und eine todesgleiche Müdigkeit schlich sich in ihren Geist. Ein ausgewachsenes Ur hätte vor ihnen aus dem Dickicht traben können, die Jäger hätten es wohl kaum noch rechtzeitig bemerkt um überhaupt ihre vereisten Speere zu heben.
Die Anstrengung des Marsches und die Aussichtslosigkeit ihres Unterfangens wuchs zu erdrückenden Größe. Immer langsamer stapfte der Trupp durch das unter Eis begrabene Tal. Ein geisterhaft bizarres Abbild dessen, was sie aus besseren Tagen kannten.

Der letzte Sommer, ja selbst schon der Herbst, in denen sie hier noch ohne große Mühe reichlich Wild hatten erlegen können, schien ihnen nun so unglaublich fern, schien schon Äonen von Jahreszyklen zurück zu liegen.
Längst hatten sie indes jegliches Zeitgefühl verloren, als sie an den gefrorenen Bachlauf kamen, welcher sich in der wärmeren Hälfte des Jahres aus den großen Bergen ergoss und am nördlichen Ende des Tals in einen großen, unendlich tiefen See mündete. Dorthin lenkte der Anführer nun ihre Schritte. Und noch immer hatten sie nicht einmal Spuren im Schnee gefunden, von lebendem Wild ganz abgesehen.

Der schwarze Forst wurde lichter und nach einer kurzen Wegstrecke tauchte zwischen den Bäumen eine hügelige Landzunge auf, um die der Bach einen Bogen beschrieb und auf welche die Jäger nun geradewegs zueilten. Die gebrochene Einförmigkeit der Landschaft machte ihren Geist wieder lebendiger und beschleunigte ihre Schritte.
Sie erstürmten die die kahlen Hügel geradezu, doch oben angekommen erstarrte ihr Lauf schlagartig. Ausgehungert, frierend und erschöpft standen sie auf der höchsten Hügelkuppe und starrten fassungslos auf das sich ihnen bietende Bild.
Gerippe stachen da aus der weißen Decke; zerfallene Hütten und die skelettierten Körper ihrer einstigen Bewohner. Sie mussten sich wohl im Sommer hier angesiedelt haben und waren dann in einem der zahllosen Schneestürme der letzten Wochen gestorben.
Am äußersten Rand der Hoffnungslosigkeit treibend, wankten die Jäger benommen durch die Hinterlassenschaften ihrer unbekannten Nachbarn und waren schmerzlich an den Anblick ihrer eigenen Siedlung erinnert, welche sie Wochen zuvor in ähnlichem Zustand passiert hatten.
Die Felle, welche einst die Hütten abdeckten, waren von den feinen Eiskristallen im Wind zerschlissen. Vergeblich suchten die Jäger zwischen den Resten des Dorfes, ob sie nicht etwas essbares oder anderes nützliches finden könnten. Aber der Frost hatte alles verdorben.
Es schien, als ob jedes Leben aus dem Tal gewichen sei und ein Gefühl der Beklemmung überkam die Jäger. Doch da war noch etwas. Etwas Fremdes.
Den sterblichen Überresten der Dorfbewohner haftete etwas an, das nicht so recht zum Aussehen ihrer eigenen Art passen wollte. Als sie sich dessen gewahr wurden, hegten sie alle den Wunsch, rasch ihren Weg fort zu setzen.

So folgten sie eilig dem Lauf des erstarrten Baches weiter. Mit der Kraft der Verzweiflung trieben sich die Jäger an und schöpften aus ihren letzten Reserven. Vor ihnen floh der Wald vor dem langen Delta des sich zum Fluss verbreitenden Baches. Die Sonnenscheibe hatte inzwischen ihren höchsten Stand am Himmelszelt erreicht, wollte aber keine Wärme spenden. Die Jäger teilten sich auf und schlichen nun in Paaren um die baumlosen Hügel. Nervös spielten ihre steifen Finger an den Speeren. Knorrige, kleine Sträucher ragten wiederspenstig aus der weißen Decke heraus. Am Ende ihres Blickfeldes konnten die Jäger zwischen den Hügel die weite Fläche des zugefrorenen Sees ausmachen. Das Ende einer anstrengenden Wanderung und erfolglosen Jagd lag dort am Horizont vor ihnen. Denn der See war seit jeher ein Ort, den man besser meidete. Schon die ältesten Mythen ihres Stammes kannten die Gefahren des Sees, von dem man sich erzählte, er habe keinen Boden. Legenden berichteten von uralten Wesen aus grauer Vorzeit, die in den immerdunklen Tiefen des Gewässers schlafend umhertrieben. Wesen, die man besser nicht in ihrem Schlaf störte. Ihre Namen waren St’ybbd, Glaaki, Hwesthur und Plahg und ihre schreckliche Gestalt war von den Ahnen in primitiver Weise in die Felswände des Gebirges geschlagen worden, als mahnende Warnung für die nachkommende Brut.

Der Anführer zögerte. Doch dann gab er ein Zeichen und langsam zogen sich die Jäger wieder zu einem Pulk zusammen und tauchten in die Schatten eines der Hügel ein. Da vernahmen sie plötzlich von der anderen Seite der Erhebung ein Knirschen im Schnee. Sie mussten sich bemühen ihre Aufregung zu bremsen, um nicht durch eine zu hastige Bewegung das Wild aufzuschrecken. Gebückt stießen sie zur abfallenden Seite des Gipfels vor. Inmitten der kargen Sträucher sahen sie die gebeugte Gestalt eines pelzigen Tieres. Ihr Anführer, der zuvorderst des Trupps stand, streckte den schuppigen Arm zu einem kräftigen Stoß aus. Er atmete tief ein. Hielt die Luft. Dann ließ er den schlichten Speer kraftvoll durch die Luft fahren.

Es war ein guter Wurf. Der Speer durchstieß die Brust des seltsamen Wesens. Das Tier sackte ruckartig in sich zusammen,  Blut rann wie ein roter Fluß durch den Schnee. Langsam traten sie näher und scharten sich neugierig um das tote Wesen.
Eine merkwürdige neue Rasse war das, die sie da erlegt hatten. In Felle gehüllt und auf zwei Beinen gehend. Er erinnerte sie entfernt an ein Säugetier, wenngleich es dafür recht wenig Behaarung aufwies. Seine Haut trug eine ekelhaft blässliche Färbung.
Wie dem auch sein mochte, diese Beute war ein großes Glück für die Jäger. Mit dem kleinen Schlitten, den das Wesen hinter sich hergezogen hatte, würde es ein Leichtes werden, es zurück zu den Höhlen zu schaffen.
Gotn-ah, ihr Anführer, lobte mit zischend-kehliger Stimme in den Worten einer Sprache, die älter als Menschengedenken war, ihren Fang. Sie banden den leblosen Körper auf den Schlitten und machten sich zufrieden und unter lauten Gesängen auf den Rückweg.

Sie ahnten nicht, dass ihre Höhlen, die letzten kleinen Insel des Schlangenvolkes auf dem jungen Kontinent, schon bald verschwunden sein würden, denn dies war der Anbruch des Zeitalters einer neuen Rasse. Einer Rasse, die der Kälte besser wiederstand.
Sie waren kaum ein paar Schritte gegangen, da fingen wieder feine Flocken an hernieder zu fallen…

Tindalos, 2009

Fineliner auf Foto . Felt-tip Pen on photo

Kolik Förlag meddelar att de i januari ger ut fantasy-serieromanen Mara från Ulthar av Karl Johansson, “en mustig fantasyberättelse med högt tempo och stort hjärta som passar så väl ungdomar som vuxna med smak för äventyr”.

De har även skapat en Facebook-grupp för den som vill följa boken fram till publiceringen. Staden Ulthar och dess katter är välbekanta för alla kännare av H. P. Lovecrafts alster. Det lovar gott!

When it comes to music i am pretty much open for all kinds of different styles, even if i started my musical love on the “harder” side. I dont listen to that much metal anymore since it have somehow just lost the soul of itself, with bands trying to sound as the last “successful” band. If i listen to it i always tend to listen to the records that are close to my heart, and more or less have been there since they first time i heard them.

Often see myself as pretty much up-to-date when it comes to the different genres of music which i enjoy. But every now and then you stumble upon something that has been around for quite some time and somehow you still never heard about it. It may have been that I dismissed a band/artist just when you heard/read the name for some weird reason like:

- With a name like that it must be crap! This is a negative thing which i myself possess as do many other people.

Well, with luck you can make up for your mistakes later when you actually sit down and listen to the artist and can say:

-Oh my god, this is really good! And suddenly you have a bunch of records on your hands which you have never heard and can just sit and enjoy some “new” good music.

And today…France seems to have another good band which i will add to my list.

Yyrkoon

This is GOOD Death Metal indeed, which seems to have a Lovecraft theme written all over it. Can’t really give any full review yet, but so far i haven’t heard a bad song from the 2 albums i have heard.
So if you are in any way into Death Metal do check them out.

If not…Well you wouldn’t like it!

Today we’ll have Bruce Brown on the show, author of the graphic novel, Howard Lovecraft & the Frozen Kingdom. This book is a real treat for both seasoned Lovecraft fans and newcomers alike. It sports gorgeous artwork by Renzo Podesta.

And it’s totally kid-friendly so it’s a great introduction for the young Lovecraftians.

If only old HP had this search engine to help him plot his tales of Cthulhuic horror, perhaps he would have been much more successful.

Found well away from here, from a hint on the raincoaster blog, at the artist’s blog.

Visit, if you dare, the Unspeakable Vault of Doom.

There are many gauges I can use to measure my progress with writing recently. As I encouraged everyone to participate in NaNoWriMo 2009, I myself went in expecting to lose. There is just too much to do in November to dedicate any real time to writing. I have two thesis in progress, an intensive Japanese exam from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other tidbits that come with graduation.

Unfortunately, my time has also been split with family. My grandfather is in poor health and that’s lead to many days being around. At any given time, I have to be accessible as a sort of family watchdog.

November doesn’t blend into writing very well in general, but that is especially true this year. How do I measure progress? By word count, I am at about 50% of where I should be for NaNoWriMo, but the stories (4 intertwining serials) are coming into their own as individual and set pieces. I’ve come to the impasse where I need to think, not write. I’ve got to get into the clay and do some cosmogony before I can push these pieces further.

My goal remains to release something in November. It will likely be one of the shorter, more specific serials. It will have lots of confusing points, strange references, and other such hooks into the larger picture that will come with successive serials. Writing serials has been helpful in reducing the stress of writing, something I hadn’t really anticipated. Here’s hoping that progress, in some measure, will be made over the next few weeks both in life and ink!

Further to my ‘The Hidden’ entry last week (as there’s reality in there between the gung-ho dramaticisms ), I’m making this place a tad less… personally identifiable and purging away the pictures of myself. So they don’t know I’m here…

Heh, sounds like the beginning of a contemporary Lovecraft story, but to-

Gah!! Admirable enthusiasm, Mr. Cthulhu, but it’s still not your time. The stars are all unaligned and messy and the end of days is a long way off, so back to bed with you. Go on, off you go…

As I’ve said before, they’re like over-zealous puppies, those Great Old Ones. Anyway, I do actually have a semi-finished modern-day Lovecraft-style story hanging about somewhere. However, as you’ll have noticed from my not crowing from the rooftops and dancing merrily in text form, every single one of my writing deadlines has slunk ashamedly past me and are now long gone; on their way, I hope, to fresher pastures than these. The state of my WIPs is pitifully mirrored by the state of our house’s single plant, which is now nothing but three dried claws sticking out of a pot.

‘This is a hardy plant’, the description sticker boldly claimed…

I am now using it as a hat stand.

Issue #15 of Dark Discoveries is at the printer now. It’s a special Lovecraft issue featuring HPL, Brian Lumley, H.R. Giger, Dan O’Bannon, Wilum Pugmire, S.T. Joshi, Kris Kuksi, David A. Riley, J.K. Potter, Cody Goodfellow, Allen Koszowski and more! I should have a proof back in a couple of days and if all goes well it will be done before Thanksgiving.

- James R. Beach
Publisher/Editor-in-chief

You might ask yourself, “How far would Stephen King’s fans go to read his latest book before the publication date?” Well, his UK publisher asked themselves the same thing. Then they broke down his latest tome into 5000 pieces and seeded it across various fansites, inviting readers to a game of literary hide and seek. Some people took it to extreme lengths, even hiding snippets of the manuscript by hanging it from bridges and scribbling it on public walls, to hiding it in code online. It is predicted that while Under the Dome is no Lost Symbol, it will certainly hit the bestseller lists, and fast!

King is a self-described voracious reader, and his influences span a number of genres and literary periods. Perhaps the most obvious is H.P. Lovecraft, who is even referred to blatantly in some of King’s works. From Bram Stoker, to William Golding and Tolkien, and the list goes on, there is no doubt that King is one to creatively use inspiration to create highly memorable stories. More notably, it is nice to see a writer of his stature keeping up to date with modern literature, even straying into realms outside of his expertise. While discussing the Harry Potter series, King said “The miracle of the Harry Potter series is that it keeps getting better. The genius of Ms. Rowling was her decision (probably never even seriously considered at the time) to follow Harry through his schooling. As a result, Harry’s fans have never left him behind. The question is whether Ms. Rowling will be bound to him for life, as Arthur Conan Doyle was bound to Sherlock Holmes.”

Have you read Under the Dome yet, or are you planning to purchase it soon? A note to the tech-savvy: the digital e-book retails at $35 and will be available on Dec 24th.

Watch this video to hear Stephen King talk about Under the Dome:

“YOU FOOL, WARREN IS DEAD!” (e deve ter morrido de uma maneira bem desagradavel) #lovecraft

For the complete list of this week’s new releases, please visit ComicList.com.

As you have no doubt realized, I am a Marvel Zombie and currently collect nearly all of their monthly comics… ambitious as that may sound. As such I have a unique insight to many of the monthly releases that I attempt to convey upon you, the reader. For that reason I spotlight the Marvel Comics portion of the new release list… with one exception this week.

Absolute Justice HC

Absolute Justice HC
By: Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, Doug Braithwaite

This blockbuster 12 part series was released in a bi-monthly format initially. I want you to try and wrap your head around a comic book that opens with Superman curled in a fetal position while the planet Earth explodes around him coming out once every 60 days. Anxious anticipation does not begin to cover it. Even with a script by Earth X scribe Jim Krueger and layouts provided by Alex Ross, it is the full artwork by Doug Braithwaite that is the real star here. Challenged with depicting every major and minor superhero in the DC Universe as well as the villains… Braithwaite makes them all shine.

This series does not receive enough attention. The fact that it is set in a much simpler DC Universe that is far more in tune with what most comic book fans conceive when they think of the DCU, this series had it all. When the supervillains of the DCU have a collective dream depicting the destruction of the planet that the JLA fails to stop, they get organized to take matters into their own hands. Thrilling, exciting and compelling, this is everything that a superhero comic book should be.

Just in time for the holidays, this over-sized book is packaged in a hardcase slipcover and contains all of the issues, variant covers and a sketchbook a section with previously unseen artwork.

Dark Avengers Uncanny X-Men Utopia

Dark Avengers Uncanny X-Men Utopia
By: Matt Fraction, Paul Cornell, James Asmus, Jason Aaron, Mike Carey, Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost, Marc Silvestri, Terry Dodson, Mike Deodato, Luke Ross, Humberto Ramos, Dustin Weaver
The crossover event of 2009 between the Avengers and X-Men proved to be rather surprising. As Norman Osborn sets up the mutant population of San Francisco into an uprising, Cyclops plays his most daring move. Pinning the future of the ever-dwindling number of mutants on a rather bold gambit, the X-Men and Dark Avengers wage war through the streets of San Francisco while the world watches.

Not as strong an event as many had hoped, it did manage to use the event status of an Avengers/X-Men fight in order to further the plot of at least one book, X-Men. If you missed out and are eager to catch up on all things mutant-related, this is the place to do it. Featuring some great art by Terry Dodson and yes, Mark Silvestri, this is exactly the kind of story I remembered enjoying as a teenager.

Daredevil #502

Daredevil #502
By: Andy Diggle, Roberto De La Torre, Esad Ribic
Matt Murdock has left his old life behind him and is now the leader of the Hand, the most ruthless organization of assassins in the world. Incoming writer Andy Diggle has a high bar to meet with his run on this title and his work on Daredevil to date has shown he has just what it takes.

Deadpool #17

Deadpool #17
By: Daniel Way, Paco Medina, Jason Pearson
Deadpool joins the X-Men.

… no kidding.

Essential Moon Knight TPB Vol. 03

Essential Moon Knight TPB Vol. 03
By: DOUG MOENCH, STEVE RINGGENBERG, ALAN ZELENETZ, TONY ISABELLA, CHRIS WARNER, MARY JO DUFFY, JIM OWLSLEY, ANN NOCENTI, MICHAEL CARLIN, ROGER STERN, ROBERT INGERSOLL, CHUCK DIXON, KEVIN NOWLAN, TERRY AUSTIN, MICHAEL HERNANDEZ, MARC SILVESTRI, BO HAMPTON, RICHARD HOWELL
The two-fisted vigilante of the Marvel Universe wasn’t always as nutty as he is today, but he did certainly attract some of the top talent in the comic book industry. Just look at that list of creators above and you’ll see what I mean!

This collection finishes off what the first two essential collections started and even delves into the 1985 mini-series and Marvel Fanfare issues. A must for you moon-eyes fans.

Punishermax #1

Punishermax #1
By: Jason Aaron, Steve Dillon, Dave Johnson
It begins here, the successor to the popular Punisher MAX series by Garth Ennis is written by Jason Aaron of Weapon X and Ghost Rider fame. For those unfamiliar with this second Punisher title, the MAX series does not play around. In this series a grizzled and battle-worn Frank Castle wages a one-man war against crime. Since his family was viciously gunned down before him in 1976, Frank has made himself the number one threat to the mob.

The first issue of Punisher MAX introduces the Kingpin, the mob’s solution to the Punisher problem.

Also available…

Wolverine Weapon X Adamantium Men

Wolverine Weapon X Adamantium Men
By: Jason Aaron, Ron Garney & Adam Kubert
In the jungles of Colombia, people are turning up dead, whole villages brutally slaughtered by a team of soldiers who move through the shadows like ghosts. On the streets of San Francisco, Logan learns that the files from the old Weapon X program, the blueprints for building Adamantium-laced super soldiers like himself, have fallen into the hands of the evil corporation, Roxxon.

Once again, it seems, someone is looking to build the perfect killing machine. That means it’s time for Wolverine to step in, and remind them that someone already did.

S.W.O.R.D. #1

S.W.O.R.D. #1
By: Kieron Gillen, Steven Sanders
Spinning out of ASTONISHING X-MEN comes a series that will take you places you’ve never been! After Secret Invasion, Agent Brand is no longer the top dog at S.W.O.R.D. Forced to share her leadership post with former Avengers-liaison Henry Gyrich, Brand is less than pleased.

Will the arrival of her boyfriend, X-Man Beast, help her out? Not when she discovers Gyrich’s plan for fixing S.W.O.R.D. is to rid Earth of ALL ALIENS! Brought to you by Kieron Gillen (DARK AVENGERS: ARES), Steven Sanders (Five Fists of Science) and topped off with covers by ASTONISHING X-MEN artist JOHN CASSADAY!

X-Men Wolverine Gambit Prem HC

Wolverine/Gambit
By: Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

The feral X-Man and the ragin’ Cajun–as interpreted by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, the award-winning creators of Daredevil: Yellow, Superman: For All Seasons and Batman: Dark Victory!

Warrior. Ronin. Soldier. Mutant. Logan knows little of his past, save that it was fraught with pain and loss. Long ago, he was trained as a samurai in Japan; later, he became Weapon X, a covert operative for the Canadian government. Today, Wolverine is an X-Man–using his animal-keen senses, accelerated healing factor and razor-sharp claws to help protect a world that fears and hates mutants!

Always an outsider, Gambit was shunned as a youth because of his strange, burning-red eyes. Eventually, Remy LeBeau realized he was a mutant, possessed of the ability to charge inanimate objects with explosively released biokinetic energy. A reformed thief and charming scoundrel, the ragin’ Cajun always has a card up his sleeve! Now, these two outlaw heroes have been drawn together by a string of brutal slayings that may mark the return of the 19th-century serial killer called Jack the Ripper! Is it merely coincidence that finds Remy and Logan in London, or does one of these enigmatic outsiders have an ulterior motive? Collecting WOLVERINE/GAMBIT: VICTIMS #1-4.

Voltron Lion Force Gift Set

Voltron 25th Anniversary Metallic Lion Gift Set
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Voltron, the 2009 San Diego Comic Convention SDCC exclusive set from Toynami, Metallic version of the Voltron Lion Force giftset.

This is a limited edition of 1000 units previously only available at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con.

Munchkin Mini Chibithulhu

Munchkin Mini Chibithulhu

Cute! Cuddly! Sanity-blasting! Because the world needs more cute, this diminutive version of the Chibithulhu plush figure features huge, adorable eyes, a loving heart on the chest, and Cthulhu’s trademark tentacles!

supermen!

Supermen!: The First Wave Of Comic Book Heroes 1936-1941
By: Greg Sadowski (introduction by Jonathan Lethem)
Superheroes have been the dominant comic-book genre ever since Superman transformed the industry in 1938. Other than a handful of hardy survivors, the hundreds of costumed crime fighters that sprang up in comics’ early era are long forgotten. Supermen! consists of vintage stories featuring a representative handful of those heroes. The earliest, some actually precursors of the Man of Steel, are Mandrake-inspired magicians (Yarko the Great), masked detectives (the Clock), space explorers (Cosmic Carson), and, occasionally, hybrids (Fero, Planet Detective). Later come cape-and-tights-clad stalwarts Skyman, Silver Streak, Daredevil, and Blue Bolt. Their primordial exploits may be crude, primitive even, but also quaintly entertaining and possessed of a brash, undeniable vitality. Often their naïveté is unintentionally hilarious, as in two stories by Fletcher Hanks, the Ed Wood of comics. But there’s also incipient artistry in the early work of Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Basil Wolverton, and Jack Cole, who developed into leading talents. These early examples of a genre still finding its way display conventions recognizable in their superpowered successors. –Gordon Flagg

Black Terror (Collection One)

Project Superpowers Black Terror TPB Vol. 01
By: Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, Mike Lilly
Spinning out of Alex Ross’ Project Superpowers comes, THE BLACK TERROR! Co-plotted by Alex Ross, scripted by Jim Krueger and drawn by Dynamite Exclusive artist Mike (Batman/Nightwing) Lilly! The Terror is on a mission and God help whoever gets in his way, be they fellow super powers or the President of the United States himself… Includes a complete cover gallery by Alex Ross, John Romita Sr., Mike Lilly, and George Tuska — and all four issues of the all-new BLACK TERROR series! Who are the Super-Patriots? Who is really behind the power of the US Presidency…

Zombie Carols

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies Xmas Carols
By: Michael P Spradlin, Jeff Weigel
Forget chestnuts roasting over an open fire. Try fresh brains instead. That’s what you get when zombies write your Christmas carols!

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies takes over two dozen of our most beloved Christmas carols and shreds them limb from limb, rewriting them from a zombie’s point-of-view. Mommy’s not kissing Santa under the mistletoe–she’s chewing his face.

With a foreword by Christopher Moore and jaw-dropping sketches accompanying each carol, this book will be the perfect holiday gift for the undead!

Comic Book Comics

Comic Book Comics #4
By: Fred Van Lente, Ryan Dunlavey
Our fantastic fourth issue! Featuring: Stan Lee! Steve Ditko! R. Crumb! Hergé! Together for the first time in one mighty magazine! (A special Evil Twin Not-Prize for everyone who gets that reference…) The incredible saga of the comic book industry continues, as Fred & Ryan tackle the rise of Marvel Comics, the underground comix revolution, and the story behind Tintin.

Doctor Who Classics TPB Vol. 04

Doctor Who Classics TPB Vol. 04
By: Steve Parkhouse, Dave Gibbons
Presenting the fourth collection featuring adventures of the Fourth and Fifth Doctors by superstar Dave Gibbons (Watchmen). Originally published in the U.K., these stories are making their first appearance in the States, and in color! Follow the Doctor and his TARDIS as they travel through time and space, solving problems, righting wrongs, and meeting strange new creatures and people along the way.

Strange Adventures Of HP Lovecraft #4 (of 4)

Strange Adventures Of HP Lovecraft #4 (of 4)
By: Mac Carter, Tony Salmons, Adam Byrne
The nightmares of H.P. Lovecraft have leaked from his brain into the world. All that he loves, all of Providence, is at risk. His mother has emerged from her catatonic state to take charge: with the police hot on his trail, her son must flee.

But the detectives are the least of his worries. While in the asylum, Lovecraft unwittingly created a hellish creature that now, beyond his control, has set its sights on Sylvia! Lovecraft won’t leave town and save himself without making a stand for the only woman he’s ever loved. But can he get there in time? And what will happen to him? It’s the final horrific chapter!

WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

Peanuts 60th Anniversary Book

Peanuts 60th Anniversary Book
By: Charles Schulz
Sixty years of cartoons, generations of fans, a gang of beloved characters, but only one creator: the legend, Charles M. Schulz.

This special 60th anniversary tribute to The Peanuts is arranged by characters so each of Schulz’s creations comes to life by focusing on their individual quirks, personalities, and interactions. Packed with commentary from throughout Schulz’s career, complete with special memorabilia from the Schulz Museum, The Peanuts 60th Anniversary Book is not only a heartwarming tribute, but also a true collector’s item.

WARNING: SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

Doctor Who Ongoing #5

Doctor Who Ongoing #5
By: Tony Lee, Matthew Smith, Paul Grist
Tony Lee (w) o Matthew Dow Smith (a) o Paul Grist, Smith (c) In Part 3 of the four-part ‘Fugitive’ story arc, the Doctor has been trapped on an alien world with his old enemies now his allies-and his old allies now trying to kill him! He has only one chance to save his life… and possibly an entire galaxy!

This week’s releases are available online, at specialty shops and at your local comic book retailer. Don’t know where a comic shop is located near you?

Just visit ComicShopLocator.com.