DC Comics announced today their new DC Digital initiative, called DC2 and DC2 Multiverse, brand new methods of comic storytelling for the company.

DC2 layers images together to tell a more complex story in comic panels, but DC2 Multiverse is where the innovation really comes together for this new announcement. DC2 Multiverse adds in the element of participatory storytelling to comics, allowing readers to choose the path of the story and affect the outcome for the characters.

Jeff Parker’s Batman ’66 is the flagship launch title for DC2, and Arkham Origins is the subject of the first Multiverse book.

Here is a look at some of the different panel configurations from DC2 and DC2 Multiverse, then the interview with Jim Lee, below.

I had the chance to discuss these two books and the new digital push with Jim Lee, Co-Publisher of DC Comics.

Jim Lee: We started our digital publishing program, we explored a lot of different ways of telling stories with different technologies and formats, but at the end of the day, the technology overwhelmed the content itself. It wasn’t until we had the right pairing of content and technology that we decided to launch some of these initiatives, so if you look at the first one which is DC2, Batman ’66, it’s all about fulfilling that need, so if you look at Batman ’66 and that type of show with the metaphysical elements and the sound effects that burst off the screen, it really lent itself well to the DC2 technology, and it’s all about creating more interaction, more dynamic content, and having it all be user directed.

So when someone checks out Batman ’66, everything they’re seeing in front of them is controlled by their input to the interface and the technology really enhances and underscores the content that Batman ’66 is. So that was really one of our underlying desires and motivations in perusing that content.

Bryan Young: And what about DC2 Multiverse?

Jim Lee: DC2 Multiverse focuses on Batman: Arkham Origin, and that’s a very successful video games franchise and having the multiverse technology really allows us to payoff on that kind of interaction. If you look at gamers and the fact they explore this world in a sandbox environment, the DC2 Multiverse technology allows readers to make choices that dictate different outcomes and those outcomes give everyone different story paths. To us, that is something attractive to gamers and again, is all about pairing the right content with the right technology.

BY: Are we going to see any of these stories in print if the interactivity is so tied into how they’re built?

JL: We do build everything in mind to go forth in both channels, so even the digital first stuff that we do is designed to be viewed sideways on a media device, but also built to be stacked on top of each other for the traditional portrait dimensions that you see in a comic book. So everything you see will eventually make it into print. Something like Multiverse it becomes more complicated because you have all these different iterations of the story, but we are exploring ways of producing, essentially, different stories that start with the same beginnings in print format.

BY: Has it been challenging for you to get the writers and artists to think about stories in a totally different way or is this something they have jumped on board with?

JL: I think it’s a mix of both. I think there’s a lot of excitement to have new tools to redesign or bend the rules of traditional storytelling; it’s what gets us up in the morning. At the same time, you can’t underemphasize the kinds of challenges you face when you have these kinds of tools; it’s amazing the kinds of things that come up that you don’t really foresee when you sit down and create something like DC2 or DC2 Multiverse. For example, on Multiverse, imagine a story that bifurcates just once or twice, you’re getting possibly 2-4 or 8 different endings, so you have to be really measured with how much content you create for the platforms that you’re launching on and really maximizing the assets you create in anticipation of all these different versions of the story being generated. So it’s as much of a logistical challenge as a creative one.

BY: So it was a conscious thought to use the 60s Batman because it’s been out of play for such a long time?

JL: It’s a classic interpretation of Batman; it’s also a very fun and whimsical one, which we felt would be great for all ages and audiences. When you look towards doing these kinds of digital innovations and putting on devices that everyone carries, I think you’re looking to cast as wide a net as possible, so pairing the technology with well known franchises like Batman ’66 and Batman Arkham Origins was part of that plan. The big win for us is to bring the casual fans into our core business, and the interesting thing is, when you talk to our core audience, their complaints don’t focus on ‘where is the music, where’s the limited animation, where’s the interactivity’ they already love comic books. We already have a very devout and very loyal core fan base. The big win for us is to find and bring in the casual fans. There are tens of millions of casual fans that know of our characters through the games, cartoons and movies, and we now have access to them through these devices, so how do we tailor make experiences to them that show the fun and magic of comic books and bring them into our core business.

Here’s the official press release:

New York, NY – June 4, 2013 – DC Entertainment, the most prolific digital comic book publisher, unveiled two new digital innovations today that will take its comics to the next level of interactivity. DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson and Co-Publisher Jim Lee unveiled DC2 and DC2 Multiverse at the opening of Time Warner’s “The Future of Storytelling” exhibition at the Time Warner Medialab in New York.

DC2 is a new initiative that layers dynamic artwork onto digital comic panels, adding a new level of dimension to digital storytelling. DC2 Multiverse technology allows readers to determine a specific story outcome by selecting individual characters, storylines and plot developments while reading the comic, meaning one chapter of a digital comic has dozens of possible story outcomes.

“Since we made the game changing decision to go Same-Day-Digital with the launch of DC COMICS – THE NEW 52, we very strategically built our digital business to have the broadest distribution and most extensive Digital-First content line-up, and now we’re at the forefront of innovation,” stated Nelson. “DC2 and DC2 Multiverse leverages technology to make iconic characters like Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Green Lantern even more relevant through highly interactive storytelling.”

DC2 will first appear in the highly-anticipated new Digital-First title BATMAN ’66, based on the popular 1960s television show, and the dynamic artwork features will bring the show’s action and retro attitude to life for comic readers. Readers will experience an expanded storytelling canvas as each comic panel tells a multi-dimensional story through layered artwork and sequences.

Digital-First title BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS, based on the upcoming video game from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, will be the first to showcase DC2 Multiverse. DC2 Multiverse features dynamic artwork, along with action sounds and the ability to integrate a soundtrack – all while allowing readers to determine the fate of each storyline and character, including Super Heroes and Super Villains, with multiple options and end results available in each comic chapter. Only with DC Comics’ compelling rogues gallery will fans be just as excited to see what happens to Black Mask as they are to follow Batman’s adventures.

“Digital comics have proven to be a driving force in attracting new readers, in fact, since the onset of Same-Day Digital our print and digital sales have both risen by double and triple digits, respectively,” stated Lee. “With Digital-First titles we’ve created a successful formula of pairing comics with other media forms like TV shows and video games. Today’s announcements demonstrate how we can tie innovations that organically fit and enhance comics – for example with BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS you can choose the destiny of your character by playing the game and reading the comic.”

In addition to offering its Same-Day-Digital print line-up, DC Entertainment’s unparalleled line-up of Digital-First titles includes INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, ARROW, LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT, SMALLVILLE: SEASON 11, the BEYOND series, BATMAN: LIL’ GOTHAM and upcoming titles BATMAN ’66 and BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS. Additionally, last year DC Entertainment secured the most expansive digital distribution of all comic publishers by forging new deals with Kindle Store, iBookstore and Nook Store, in addition to its previous distribution on all comiXology platforms.

Over the last week Marvel has released a bunch of teases that have had people speculating some out there theories. Talk of rebooting the Marvel Universe a la Flashpoint style seemed to be the most popular. Well on Sunday Marvel had their panel at SXSW and explained what those teases actually are. They have to do with a lot of things Marvel will be doing digitally. The first tease that came out last week was this:

And with that we get the announcement that Marvel is, for a limited time, offering 700 #1 issues and one shots for free on their digital site and app. This promotion will run until 11pm eastern time on Tuesday March 12th. This even includes the first issues of the recent Marvel Now titles. So if you’ve been wanting to check out some of the new series, but weren’t too sure, the first issues are all available. You may be waiting a bit though because comixology’s website crashed shortly after this announcement was made. I hope they have it fixed soon since this promotion is only running for 2 more days.

Let’s move on to the next tease:

The running joke on the internet was that this was going to be “The Now 52.” What could the 52 hashmarks be? Well there are 52 weeks in a year, and with that we’ll be getting 52 weekly digital infinite comics. We will see four seperate series with each one being 13 parts. The first is “Wolverine: Japan’s Most Wanted” written by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour and drawn by Paco Diaz. “What we’re doing with Infinite Comics is developing a new language for telling comic book stories” said Axel Alonso, Marvel’s Editor in Chief. The first issue comes out July 9th and is available for pre order right now on Marvel’s digital store.

&list=PLK5HARgNfgj8pKgwNqc7R-J8h4KlSZcs0

If you want a free taste of how the Infinte Comics work, Marvel released a free issue earlier this week spotlighting Drax the Destroyer from Guardians of the Galaxy written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by Michael Avon Oeming. For more preview pages check the gallery at the end of the article.

The last tease Marvel had posted was about somthing called Project Gamma:

Project Gamma actually sounds pretty cool to me, but won’t be launching until later this year. Project Gamma is an initiative to add music and sound effects to your digital comics. This is being worked on by the same companies that composed and produced music for the Looper, Drive, The King’s Speech, and the Harry Potter films.

Marvel also announced that they are launching another weekly web series hosted by Blair Butler called “Marvel’s Earths Mightiest Show.” It will bring you news from Marvel, in addition to interviews and behind the scenes looks at their films.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CIMKWefySg&list=PLK5HARgNfgj8pKgwNqc7R-J8h4KlSZcs0

Marvel also pimped their AR app, which offers dvd like extras to comics.

how I learned to stop worrying and click ‘buy’
A comic book fan weighs a few of the the pros and cons of digital comic books.

It’s taken me a few months to get back into digital comics but I finally did it. Not only did I become lost in the wonderful world of Absolute and Omnibus editions I fell behind a few months and had to catch up. Well, sort of. I used to make a weekly trip to the local comic book store and if the previous issue was missing I had no choice but to skip it and trudge forward. With digital comics the choice is a little harder. Do I purchase the missed issues and spend a day reading old books or do I miss a part of the story? I still want to enjoy reading weekly comics so I decided on the latter. It turns out missing a few issues of Fantastic Four and Batman didn’t kill me!

My tastes have changed as an adult reader and I want to experience different kinds of stories but superheroes are such a big part of my reading habits I didn’t want to let go. After falling behind it took me a while to realize what I liked about these high octane tales. Current comic books can be read a lot faster than comic books of the past because the story telling method has been streamlined, dissected, and perfected making new comics seem a little thin. With fewer dialog boxes and what seems like entire issues of splash page art, current comics read better in the digital format than on paper.

Availability has become just as much a nuisance as a luxury to fans with the uncontrollable urge to read. As I scrolled through six pages of available comic books online I wondered if I’d ever read them again. I could just as easily wonder this about the cardboard boxes filled with past reads but they are nowhere near as accessible or easy to find. While digital comics may feel wasteful or gratuitous at times due to high prices and no resale value I am placing higher entertainment value on them now. Superhero stories are not always disposable but it’s okay if they are.

In the end it was a pretty easy decision to make I just had to bite the bullet and realize how unnecessary reading every issue is. I buy what I want to read each week digitally and if I miss a part of the story so be it. The paper books on the shelf are far from complete but the ‘Buy Digital Comic’ button will always be there if I can’t live with my decision to skip an issue or two.

In a strangely worded email the (number two?)  digital comic book distributor bowed out of the
comic realm for the foreseeable future.  It’s a bit shocking to me as I’ve monitored Graphicly
from the beginning. They seemed to make all the right moves getting involved
with the huge internet community iFanboy and having all books available on
multiple platforms.

An excerpt from the email detailing upcoming changes
pertaining to Comic book readers:

So what does this mean for you, the Graphicly user? Here’s a
list of the changes that will be occurring:

As of this week, we will be retiring the previously-released
Graphicly Comics marketplace applications.
Our iPhone, iPad and Android applications, as well as a our Adobe AIR
Desktop application will no longer be
available for download.

If you have purchased titles and use these apps, you will
still be able to read your titles via the apps, but you simply will not be able
to purchase titles through the apps anymore.

Your complete library of purchased titles will be still be,
and always be, available to be purchased and read via our website at
http://graphicly.com/store as well as through our Facebook Application
(http://apps.facebook.com/graphicly/).

Many companies make changes to their business model to increase profit but this seems like a step in the wrong direction. Also more conversations on the ‘Do I rent it or own it?’ debate are already flaring up. Can the digital platform only support one distributor?

Have you ever heard this silly shit: “Who would win in a fight, a Vampire or a Zombie?” (more…)

This originally appeared on The Huffington Post:

Archie Comics is unveiling today a major step in digital distribution. They’ve teamed up with Graphicly and will now be selling comics through their Facebook fanpage.

With close to 120,000 fans, they’re the largest publisher to add their Facebook fanbase to their digital sales strategy. Fans will be able to read comic book releases from Archie comics after buying them straight from their Facebook pages, but they’ll be synced to all of their devices with the Graphicly app.

This is a very bold move for a major comics distributor, but also seems like a pretty obvious move, especially for Archie. They’ve been ahead of the curve on digital, offering comics digitally on the same day and date of their release in print, and they’ve got the most palatable pricing structure for their digital books. In fact, some of their apps offer unlimited access to their back catalogue.

To talk about this move, I was able to chat with the co-CEO of Archie Comics, Jon Goldwater.

Bryan Young: Archie has pursued an aggressive, successful digital distribution strategy in the last few years. Can you give me the highlights of that and tell me why you think it’s been important?

Jon Goldwater: I saw firsthand what happened to the music industry when they didn’t embrace digital, and I wanted to make sure that didn’t happen to Archie. Unlike most direct market-centric comic companies, Archie has always been about being available. On the newsstand. In comic shops. In bookstores. So it made sense to translate that philosophy to digital, both in availability in timing. Despite what some other companies may claim, we were the first to go day-and-date digital, which means our titles are available to digital consumers the same day they hit stores. We also believe in a different pricing model for digital than print.

We were one of the first companies to aggressively put out collections and expanded product out there digitally. Our Archie Comics app, which is powered by the team at iVerse, has been downloaded close to 4 million times, and our comics are routinely among the most downloaded titles. Just last year in San Diego, we announced plans to launch the first-ever digital superhero universe with our Red Circle Comics app. The app will be a newsstand app via Apple. The shorthand we use is “Netflix for comics.” Each week, a subscriber will get six pages of our flagship title, NEW CRUSADERS, plus access to our continually-growing archive of Crusaders comics dating back to the Golden Age of comics.

In addition to that, we were the first company to make Spanish-language editions of our titles available to our Spanish-speaking readers, and we’ve just launched a Facebook app – in partnership with our friends at Graphicly – to sell Archie comics to our Facebook fans. Currently, we have over 116,000 fans on our main Archie page, growing significantly each day.

Digital is important for a number of reasons. Mainly, we’re always looking for ways to expand and grow the business. Archie is a global icon and one of the most recognizable brands anywhere. It’d be foolish to just limit ourselves to our existing distribution channels. We want Archie to be available to everyone everywhere. We want to create a one-stop shop – an Archie “superstore” that’ll serve everyone’s needs. That’s the goal. Digital is part of that over-arching plan.

BY: Can you explain the significance of this digital launch and why it could be seen as revolutionary?

JG: Facebook has been a huge source of fan interaction, feedback and energy. The ability to merge that with our significant digital output is really a no-brainer. No company with our level of reach on Facebook has done this. It’s in the numbers. Having the chance to make our Facebook page a place for fans to not only learn about the company’s news and initiatives but also to sample our titles and build a collection right on Facebook. It’s really a major move toward connecting the potential reader to the product. We make it easy and hopefully create a new, lasting part of our fanbase.

BY: So how exactly will this work? You post a link to your Facebook followers and they can buy the comic and read it right then and there? Or will it open a new window into Graphicly?

JG: It’s totally embedded with Facebook. You head to the Archie Comics Facebook page, “Like” the page if you haven’t already, and click on “Comics.” From there, the app launches within the confines of the page and you’re off! We wanted to make sure the process was simple and fast, and the Graphicly team has put together a very user-friendly experience. You can sample the first few pages of a title, and if you’re interested, you’re given the option to buy.

BY: Comics bought through facebook, will they be available for users in your app in perpetuity?

JG: The purchase will sync with Graphicly, so on the site and through the Graphicly apps on iOS and Android, your collection stays together.

BY: Tell me about the partnership with Graphicly, how did that come about?

JG: While we’re not the first company to launch this app, we’re the first comic company with a significant Facebook presence to step into this realm, and really, that’s a testament to the great team at Graphicly. Our team got in touch with Graphicly about expanding our relationship and Facebook was one of their top pitches to us, in addition to a few other things we’re still ironing out. It kind of hit us like a bolt of lightning.

Being able to connect directly with our immense Facebook community seemed like a great, untapped opportunity.

BY: What comics are going to be available through Facebook like this at launch?

JG: We’re going all out on this. The Facebook widget will be as up-to-date as we can make it, with many if not all the titles you’d find via the Archie app and our other digital outlets. We want this to be a regular stop for fans and a way for potential new readers to sample the latest and greatest Archie has to offer.

BY: Some people might say Archie comics are old fashioned or outdated, but they’ve been going strong almost as long as the major DC characters and longer than the brunt of the Marvel Universe. In your words, why do you think the Archie gang has continuing appeal?

JG: Well, the fact is Archie is the most progressive comic book publisher out there. Our record speaks for itself.

Archie is for everyone. Riverdale presents an idealized but honest version of our world, and it’s a warm, welcoming place that embraces everyone. When you read Archie, you want to spend more time with him, Betty and Veronica, Jughead, Kevin, etc. You can tell any kind of story – from the introduction of Kevin, to Betty and Veronica fairy tale adventures to KISS showing up in Riverdale. It’s a landscape of unlimited potential and it’s really the only place where anyone can come in and be welcome. Archie Comics are truly all-ages, for all fans, from kids to grandparents.

BY: Archie has also been very bold, rightly so, I think, in addressing social issues. I’m thinking directly about bi-partisanship with your Obama/Palin crossover, or LGBT issues with your Kevin Keller books… Why is that important to you and what else can we expect out of the Archie gang in the future on this front?

JG: I’ve said this before, but Riverdale needs to reflect today and now. The days of Riverdale being retro and stuck in the past are gone. Archie and his friends will remain the same, but they have to interact with the modern world, otherwise we risk becoming a nostalgia publisher. We still retain our family, all-ages and clean image while dealing with today’s world in an honest, funny and genuine way.

Who better to discuss what’s going on in the world than Archie?

I think this sort of sales mechanism is going to have to catch on with other publishers, not just of comics, but of novels as well. Giving people the ability to buy right off the fan page is going to be a valuable step in sales.

I would love to be able to access this sort of model as an indie publisher myself.

Bryan Young is the editor of the geek news and review site Big Shiny Robot! and the author of God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut.

A few quick picks for today. Remember you can download from Comixology and/or Graphicly on your phone/computer and get paid to read comics at work!

Marvel Comics

Jump back onboard The Amazing Spiderman with issue 679.1. You can’t go wrong with Dan Slott on Spiderman so try this out. Despite the goofy ‘point one’ numbering system this Spiderman title is definitely worth reading.

Image Comics

Mondo #1 has a Mondo price tag (4.99) but it’s 37 pages of ALL Ted McKeever. Head over to Comixology and read the synopsis before adding this to your cart. It’s only a 3 issue series so chances are the whole thing will be available for a dollar cheaper with a few extra pages on completion.

Dynamite Entertainment

Army Of Darkness Ongoing #1. A new AOD series? Ongoing? Looks like we’re getting a female version of Ash named…Ash! This could go either way but if you’re a Horror fan give it a look.

IDW Publishing

Two new Infestation titles this week and neither look incredibly interesting but I took a solemn oath to read the entire crossover for no good reason whatsoever. Infestation 2 Transformers #2 and (cringe) Infestation 2 Dungeons and Dragons #1.

DC Comics

Oooh DC gets the bump to the bottom of the pack today! I go through cycles and while the ‘New 52’ titles started off interesting, stagnation is kicking in. With a new start across the entire line I expected a few draws from the old well but rehashing the Multiverse already? Batman #6 is my single DC title this week.

Press Release:

February 6, 2012

VIZ MEDIA EXPANDS DIGITAL MANGA TITLES AVAILABLE FOR BARNES & NOBLE’S NOOK TABLET™ AND

NOOK COLOR™

15 New Shonen Jump Series Now Available For Barnes & Noble’s 7-Inch NOOK^© Devices, Including BAKUMAN｡, BLEACH, DEATH NOTE, NARUTO, ONE PIECE And More!

The digital manga convergence continues across North America as VIZ Media, LLC, largest distributor and publisher of anime and manga in North America, announces the launch of 15 additional manga (graphic novel) series for the Barnes & Noble NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color. Beginning today, the company expands its library of digital manga titles offered in the NOOK Store™ to include a variety of popular manga series published under the Shonen Jump and Shonen Jump Advanced imprints.

Volumes are presented in their original Japanese Right-to-Left reading format and are available for purchase and fast download in the U.S. and Canada for $4.99 -$9.99 (U.S. / CAN) each. Over 35 series and 400+ volumes are now available, and new digital manga volumes, including previews, are added weekly.

Viewing manga on NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color is authentic thanks to Barnes & Noble’s newlyimplemented technology that formats manga in its original right-to-left reading order. Fans can read favorite graphic novels on the award-winning NOOK 7-inch devices, which feature a full-color VividView™ touchscreen. NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color also give users access to the world’s largest digital bookstore, popular movies, TV shows, music and more through the top entertainment services, as well as a collection of high-quality apps, fast Web browsing and email.

The following VIZ Media manga titles are now available, with more to be announced soon:

BAKUMAN｡ Vols. 1-8 · Rated “T” for Teens

BLEACH Vols. 1-37; Vols. 49-50 · Rated “T” for Teens

BLUE EXORCIST Vols. 1-6 · Rated “T+” for Older Teens

CLAYMORE Vols. 1-19 · Rated “T+” for Older Teens

D.GRAY-MAN Vols. 1-21 · Rated “T+” for Older Teens

DEATH NOTE Vols. 1-12 (Full Series!) · Rated “T+” for Older Teens

DRAGON BALL Vols. 1-16 (Full Series!) · Rated “A” for All Ages

DRAGON BALL Z Vols. 1-26 (Full Series!) · Rated “T” for Teens

NARUTO Vols. 1-57 · Rated “T” for Teens

NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN Vols. 1-6 · Rated “T” for Teens

ONE PIECE Vols. 1-58 · Rated “T” for Teens

ROSARIO + VAMIPRE Vols. 1-10 (Full Series!) · Rated “T+” for Older Teens

ROSARIO + VAMPIRE  SEASON 2 Vols. 1-6 · Rated “T+” for Older Teens

RUROUNI KENSHIN Vols. 1-28 (Full Series!) · Rated “T+” for Older Teens

TORIKO Vols. 1-7 · Rated “T” for Teens

For more information on VIZ Media manga titles, please visit www.VIZ.com.

For more information on NOOK devices, please visit www.nook.com.

To purchase VIZ Media manga titles for the NOOK Tablet and NOOK Color, please visit the NOOK Book Store at www.barnesandnoble.com/s?view=grid&store=EBOOK&sort=DD&PN=viz&FMT=KA.

Over at the DC blog today Smallville Season 11 was announced. I’m not quite sure how this is going to work but I’ll give the first installment a try. As the Smallville TV series wrapped up, Clark finally ended the decade long costume tease and became Superman. I know there is a history of continuing movies and television in comic books but this just feels like ANOTHER Superman family title. The show ran its course and came to an ending that pleased many vocal internet fans.

I must ask the questions everyone always asks: Will this bring in new readers and will the people that watched the show hear about this new incarnation? The new readers have unfortunately been minimal as far as we know with most comics but with a few well-placed ads in Entertainment Weekly this might take off like the hugely successful Buffy series did for Darkhorse Comics a few years back.

The decision to release this digitally before print just solidifies DC’s commitment to the digital medium. Having former Smallville show writer Bryan Q. Miller on the project along with 11 other creators including Gary Frank can’t hurt. You’ll be able to read the first chapter April 13, 2012, with new digital chapters released weekly after that via COMIXOLOGY.

Rejoice! Adventure Time #1 from Boom Studios is being released digitally today on Comixology. This is such a wonderful cartoon there is no other book I’ve been this excited about in quite some time.

If the world’s current finest cartoon isn’t your thing DC Comics is rolling out a handful of sixes. We are now a half a year into DC Comics ‘the New 52’ and things are rolling along better than I’d expected. With a few story arcs wrapping up and a few just starting NOW is the time to check out a few new titles. I’m going to give Mister Terrific, Suicide Squad, Huntress, and Resurrection Man another chance this week. At $2.99 a piece it’s not too big of a risk.
Check some previews HERE.

IDW has done a disservice to their awesome Lovecraft infused crossover event by not releasing a title this week. G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes Ongoing #10 will fill the crossover void with part 5 of the title spanning Cobra Command story.

I know I’m missing the boat on a few great IMAGE titles so drop me a line and clue me in. I’ve been suffering from Kirkman fatigue as of late but Thief of Thieves #1 with Nick Spencer looks promising.

From Image:

Conrad Paulson lives a secret double life as master thief Redmond. There is nothing he can’t steal, nothing he can’t have… except for the life he left behind. Now, with a grown son he hardly knows, and an ex-wife he never stopped loving, Conrad must try to piece together what’s left of his life, before the FBI finally catch up to him… but it appears they are the least of his worries.

Sound interesting? 2.99 is the magic number!

The preview to Marvel Comics Fantastic Four Season One looked good to me but I’m always ready for a new take on the FF. With a free digital copy accompanying the hardcover book you might as well get both!

And last but most certainly not least Zenoscope has the super goofy Spike TV’s 1000 Ways to Die. Based on an absurd cable TV show about (mostly) morons accidently ending their lives in ways that seem so ridiculous they’ve got to be scripted. I know if I turn this on I won’t be able to change the channel.

That’s it this week. If you’ve got any tips about sales or just want to rant about my picks feel free to drop me a line: ken at bigshinyrobot dot com