For those of you who want to be a part of the complete Major Spoilers Experience, and want to participate in the Major Spoilers Podcast, we’re giving you a heads up on the trade paperbacks we will be reviewing in the near future.
JUNE
June 21, 2011
Stan Lee’s The Traveler Volume 1
Written by Mark Waid
Drawn by Chad Hardin
STAN’S BACK! THE PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR! Stan Lee, the most colossal force in the history of comics, teams up with BOOM! Studios to deliver a brand new line of superhero comics! The great innovator of our industry brings his inimitable talents back to the direct market in an explosive line of comics that nobody is prepared for!
In the first volume of the critically acclaimed ongoing series, THE TRAVELER, Stan teams up with comic book luminary Mark Waid (IRREDEEMABLE, KINGDOM COME) and fan-favorite artist Chad Hardin (AGE OF HEROES, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) to bring you a man out of time!
The mysterious hero known only as the Traveler battles the forces of evil in a time-bending thriller that finds past, present, and future hanging in the balance! Rewrite history this summer with Stan Lee and BOOM! Studios. Featuring a cover by red hot artist Scott Clark!
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here The Traveler Vol. 1
June 28, 2011
Top Ten Volume One
Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Gene Ha, Zander Cannon
The story revolves around the day-to-day lives of the police officers at the 10th Precinct Police Station and is similar in tone to classic television police dramas like Hill Street Blues, which Moore has described as an influence. The book also addresses a wide range of prejudices and issues, but with a science-fiction twist; monsters, robots and fantasy creatures often face the bigotry and problems faced by real-world human minorities.
The series is noted for its comic-book references and visual “sight gags” relating to the genre. For example, a caped street-corner watch-vendor uses a cardboard sign advertising “signal watches”, and a hot-dog vendor cooks his wares with heat vision. One plotline involves a boy-band called Sidekix whose hit single was called “Holy Broken Hearts”. Likewise, most advertising, signage and graffiti in the Top 10 universe contains references to the world of comic books and super powers (e.g. a clothing store called “The Phonebooth”) and crowd scenes usually feature many characters from sci-fi and comic books.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here Top Ten (Book 1)
JULY
July 05, 2011
Captain America: Nomad
Writers: Steve Englehart/John Warner
Artists: Sal Buscema, Frank Robbins, Herb Trimpe
Disillusioned by government corruption, Steve Rogers lays down uniform and shield — but it’s not as easy to set aside half a lifetime of heroics, so a new legend is born: Nomad, the man without a country? But who will take up the forsaken red-white-and-blue, and what will it cost him to hold onto it? Boss Morgan, the Viper and the Red Skull are on hand with enough villainy for any hero, old or new! Plus: the origin of the Falcon! Guest-starring Nick Fury and the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.! Collects Captain America and the Falcon #177-186.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here Captain America and the Falcon Nomad 1st Graphic Novel (Captain America and the Falcon Nomad, Volume 1)
July 12, 2011
The Great Darkness Saga
Writer: Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen
Artist: Keith Giffen, Larry Mahlstedt
The godlike Darkseid emerges in the 30th century with an ingenious plot to finally conquer the universe in this Deluxe Edition hardcover of Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen’s timeless Legion of Super-Heroes epic! Not only is THE GREAT DARKNESS SAGA collected here for the first time in hardcover, this edition also includes several LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES issues written by Levitz that have never before been collected in any format!
Using his faithful minions to acquire all of the mystic artifacts of the time, Darkseid gains mental control over a race of three billion all-powerful beings. Now, as their universe teeters on the edge of Armageddon, the Legion of Super-Heroes amass their own army of every champion who ever held the status of Legionnaire to stand against the Dark Lord and his invincible soldiers. But as the Legion suffers defeat after defeat, they realize that salvation and victory rest in the hands of a mysterious baby that has aged into adulthood before their very eyes!
This is the perfect edition of the classic Levitz storyline that was decades ahead of its time and still stands as one of DC’s most enthralling superhero tales! Collects LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #284-296 and ANNUAL #1.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga
July 18, 2011
Queen and Country Volume 01
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Steve Rolston, Brian Hurtt, Leandro Fernandez
Queen & Country, the Eisner Award-winning and critically lauded espionage series from acclaimed novelist and comic book author Greg Rucka, is back in a new series of definitive editions collecting the entire classic series in just four affordable soft covers. In this first collection, readers are introduced to the thrilling and often-times devastating world of international espionage as SIS field agent Tara Chase is sent all over the world in service to her Queen & Country all the while Director of Operations Paul Crocker walks a narrow tightrope between his loyalty to his people and the political masters that must be served!
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here Queen & Country, Volume 1 [QUEEN & COUNTRY V01]
July 21, 2011
The Other Book Club Presents – Illuminatus! Trilogy
Writers: Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson
Filled with sex and violence–in and out of time and space–the three books of The Illuminatus are only partly works of the imagination. They tackle all the coverups of our time–from who really shot the Kennedys to why there’s a pyramid on a one-dollar bill.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here The Illuminatus! Trilogy: The Eye in the Pyramid, The Golden Apple, Leviathan
July 26, 2011
30 Days of Night
Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Ben Templesmith
In a sleepy, secluded Alaska town called Barrow, the sun sets and doesn’t rise for over thirty consecutive days and nights. From the darkness, across the frozen wasteland, an evil will come that will bring the residents of Barrow to their knees. The only hope for the town is the Sheriff and Deputy, husband and wife who are torn between their own survival and saving the town they love.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here 30 Days of Night
AUGUST
August 02, 2011
Strangers in Paradise Volume One
Writer: Terry Moore
Artist: Terry Moore
Katchoo is a beautiful young woman living a quiet life with everything going for her. She’s smart, independent and very much in love with her best friend, Francine. Then Katchoo meets David, a gentle but persistent young man who is determined to win Katchoo’s heart. The resulting love triangle is a touching comedy of romantic errors until Katchoo’s former employer comes looking for her and $850,000 in missing mob money. As her idyllic life begins to fall apart, Katchoo discovers no one can be trusted and that the past she thought she left behind now threatens to destroy her and everything she loves, including Francine. This is the first edition in the series – don’t miss it!
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here The Collected Strangers in Paradise Volume One
August 09, 2011
Absolute Sandman Volume 03
Writer: Neil Gaiman
The third volume collecting Neil Gaiman’s seminal, award-winning series starring the Dream King in deluxe format.
ABSOLUTE SANDMAN VOL. 3 presents several key SANDMAN tales in a slipcased hardcover edition, including “Brief Lives,” in which the Sandman’s sister Delirium prevails upon her older brother to help her find their missing sibling, Destruction. But their journey through the Waking World has dramatic repercussions for their family and also for the relationship between the Sandman and his wayward son, Orpheus.
Also included is the spectacular short story “Ramadan,” a tale of a young king of ancient Baghdad and the deal he strikes with The Sandman to grant his city immortality, with spectacular illustrations by P. Craig Russell (Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, The Jungle Book).
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 3
August 16, 2011
Fables Volume 01: Legends in Exile
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artist: Lan Medina
When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile. Disguised among the normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters have created their own peaceful and secret society within an exclusive luxury apartment building called Fabletown. But when Snow White’s party-girl sister, Rose Red, is apparently murdered, it is up to Fabletown’s sheriff, a reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf, to determine if the killer is Bluebeard, Rose’s ex-lover and notorious wife killer, or Jack, her current live-in boyfriend and former beanstalk-climber.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
August 23, 2011
Y: The Last Man Volume 03
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Pia Guerra, Jose Marzan Jr.
Y: THE LAST MAN is the gripping saga of Yorick Brown, an unemployed and unmotivated slacker who discovers that he is the only male left in the world after a plague of unknown origin instantly kills every mammal with a Y chromosome. Accompanied by his mischievous monkey and the mysterious Agent 355, York embarks on a transcontinental journey to find his girlfriend and discover why he is the last man on Earth.
Now, the entire critically acclaimed Y: THE LAST MAN saga written by Brian K. Vaughan, one of the writers of LOST, is collected into a series of oversized, hardcover editions. In this third volume, Yorick’s unbalanced sister Hero tracks him to San Francisco, only to find him seemingly succumbing to the male-killing plague after losing his still-unused engagement ring to agents of the Setauket Ring. Plus, Yorick, Agent 355 and Dr. Mann ship out across the Pacific to Japan in pursuit of Yorick’s stolen monkey Ampersand, whose innards may hold the key to mankind’s future
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here Y: The Last Man, Vol. 3 (Deluxe Edition)
August 30, 2011
SEPTEMBER
September 06, 2011
POTTER’S FIELD TPB
Written by Mark Waid
Drawn by Paul Azaceta
First time in trade paperback and featuring the first collaboration between legendary comic writer Mark Waid and superstar artist Paul Azaceta, the red hot team behind AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! Outside New York City is Potter’s Field, where the unnamed dead are buried. Now, a mysterious man has taken it upon himself to name the unnamed in this cemetery! Using a network of underground operatives who don’t know each other, he fights to save the unsaved and solve the mysteries of the unjustly slain! Collecting the critically acclaimed three issue mini-series and the STONE COLD one-shot into one volume!
September 13, 2011
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight: Venom (16-20)
By Dennis O’Neil, Russell Braun, Trevor Von Eeden, and José Luis García-López
When Batman fails to save the life of a young girl held for ransom, he decides to try a new experimental drug designed by her father called Venom.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here
September 20, 2011
Age of Apocalypse (BOOK 1)
Writers: Many
Artists: Even More
Legion (David Haller), a powerful psionic mutant on Earth and son of Professor Charles Xavier, travels back in time with the intention of killing Magneto, believing that Magneto’s death will allow Xavier to achieve his dream of human/mutant equality. However, Legion traveled to a time when Magneto and Xavier were still friends. As Xavier dies trying to protect Magneto, Legion vanishes, and a new time-line is created. The only person aware of how history has changed is Bishop, a time traveling mutant who followed Legion.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 1
September 27, 2011
The Major Spoilers Crew will be joined by the Super Future Friends to discuss the two new Legion of Superheroes titles from DC Comics.
OCTOBER
October 04, 2011
We’re doing a live show, and we’re giving stuff away. A LOT of stuff! But you’re going to need to bring your A-game if you want to win something cool.
October 11, 2011
Old Boy
Twenty-five-year-old Shinichi Gotō was kidnapped one fateful night and locked up in a private jail for unknown reasons. After ten years of solitary confinement, with only a television set for company, he was suddenly released. The story follows his quest to hunt down the identities of his captors and uncover the reason behind his imprisonment.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here
October 18, 2011
IMMORTALS: GODS AND HEROES
Written by Brian Clevinger, F.J. DeSanto, David Gallaher, Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, Jock, Ron Marz, Jim McCann, Ben McCool, Jeff Parker and Paul Tobin
Illustrated by Dennis Calero, Kevin Colden, Steve Ellis, Trevor Hairsine, Scott Hampton, Phil Hester, Jock, Rafael Kayanan, Patrick Scherberger and Ben Templesmith
Cover by David Mack
Spinning from the upcoming epic 3-D film Immortals from visionary director Tarsem Singh (The Fall, The Cell) and starring Mickey Rourke and Henry Cavill comes Immortals: Gods and Heroes, a stunning hardcover featuring ALL-NEW tales of Greek myths as you’ve never seen them before! Featuring incredible untold tales by Brian Clevinger (Atomic Robo), Dennis Calero (X-Men Noir), Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex), Jock (Detective Comics, The Losers), Ben McCool (Captain America, Memoir), Ron Marz (Witchblade, Green Lantern), Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night) and more!
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here
October 25, 2011
The Crow
Creator: James O’Barr
The story revolves around an unfortunate young man named Eric. He and his fiancée, Shelly, are assaulted by a gang of street thugs after their car breaks down. Eric is shot in the head and is paralyzed, and can only watch as Shelly is savagely beaten and raped. They are then left for dead on the side of the road.
He is resurrected by a crow and seeks vengeance on the murderers, methodically stalking and killing them. When not on the hunt, Eric stays in the house he shared with Shelly, spending most of his time there lost in memories of her. Her absence is torture for him; he is in emotional pain, even engaging in self-mutilation by cutting himself.
The Crow acts as both guide and goad for Eric, giving him information that helps him in his quest but also chastising him for dwelling on Shelly’s death, seeing his pining as useless self-indulgence that distracts him from his purpose.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here.
NOVEMBER
November 01, 2011
Valve Presents: The Sacrifice and other steam-powered Stories
For fifteen years, Valve has defined the cutting edge of video games. Now, Valve joins with Dark Horse to bring three critically acclaimed, fan-favorite series to print, with a hardcover collection of comics from the worlds of Left 4 Dead,Team Fortress, and Portal. With over two hundred pages of story, Valve Presents: The sacrifice and other Steam-Powered Stories is a must-read for fans looking to further explore the games they love or comics readers interested in dipping their toes into new mythos!
• Features comics from the bestselling series Left 4 Dead,Portal, and Team Fortress!
November 08, 2011
November 15, 2011
November 22, 2011
Bone: The Complete Volume
Art and Words by Jeff Smith
The series centers around the Bone cousins, white, bald cartoon caricatures. In the opening pages of Bone: Out from Boneville the three Bone cousins—avaricious Phoncible P. “Phoney” Bone, goofy cigar-smoking Smiley Bone, and everyman character Fone Bone—are run out of their hometown of Boneville after Phoney decides to run for mayor and built a balloon on top the head of a statue of Boneville’s founder. A strong wind made the balloon break the head off of the statue and all the townspeople ran Vincible, Smiley, and Fone out of town. After crossing a desert, the cousins are separated by a sea of locusts and individually ending up in the mysterious Valley and must make their way across the fantasy landscape pursued by rat creatures. They joyously reunite at a local village called Barrelhaven, where they are taken in by a mysterious girl named Thorn and her even more enigmatic grandmother. Fone Bone instantly develops a crush on Thorn when he meets her, and repeatedly attempts to prove his love through poetry. As they stay longer in the valley, they encounter humans and other creatures who are threatened by a dark entity, the Lord of the Locusts. The Bones are quickly drawn into the events around them, compelling them on a hero’s journey to help save the world.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here Bone: The Complete Cartoon Epic in One Volume (Vol 1)
November 29, 2011
KILL SHAKESPEARE
An epic adventure that will change the way you look at Shakespeare forever.
In this dark tale, the Bard’s most famous heroes embark upon a journey to discover a long-lost soul. Hamlet, Juliet, Othello, Falstaff, Romeo and Puck search for a reclusive wizard who may have the ability to assist them in their battle against the evil forces led by the villains Richard III, Lady Macbeth and Iago. That reclusive wizard? William Shakespeare.
A combination of “Fables”, “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” and “Lord of the Rings”, Kill Shakespeare offers a remixed re-envisioning of the greatest characters of all-time, featuring action, romance, comedy, lust, drama and bloody violence. It is an adventure of Shakespearean proportions.
DECEMBER
December 06, 2011
Milk and Cheese: Dairy Products Gone Bad Hardcover
A carton of hate. A wedge of spite. A comic book of idiotic genius. The Eisner Award-winning dairy duo returns in this deluxe hardcover collecting every single stupid Milk and Cheese comic ever made from 1989 to 2010, along with a sh*t-ton of supplemental awesomeness. This has everything you need! Don’t judge it–love it! Or else!
December 13, 2011
Top Cow’s Pilot Season 2011
The Test – Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov, Artist: Rahsan Ekedal
A group of eight people wake up in an strange enclosed area, not knowing who they are or how they got there. What they do know, however, is from a mysterious voice that tells them they must repopulate and save the world after an apocalypse. But is what they voice is telling them true?
The Beauty – Writers: Jeremy Haun & Jason A. Hurley, Artist: Jeremy Haun
A new STD spreads across the world, but this disease you want to catch. It makes all infected people unspeakably attractive, but after the world’s face lift, two detectives discover some nasty, undesirable side effects. Will the world decide to stay beautiful and die young, or life a sub-beautiful life?
Fleshdigger – Writers: Shannon Eric Denton & Brad Keene, Artist: Alex Sanchez
A good samaritan gets killed protecting a woman from muggers, only to be raised from the dead by the woman he saved. A classic monster story with some fresh new twists. Can the good zombie samaritan exact revenge on his killers?
City of Refuge – Writer: Morgan Davis Foehl, Artist: Dennis Calero
San Francisco becomes paradise after all its residents have a chip planted in them that removes all their violent tendencies. However, a drug is created that inhibits the effects of the chip, which cops and criminals alike use. Will these drug users settle their differences and create a real utopia?
Misdirection – Writer: Filip Sablik, Artist: Chris DiBari
A fallen NASCAR star gets out of prison has a friend hook him up with a job driving some people around. What he doesn’t know is his passengers are criminals, and he’s become their get-away driver. When the job goes wrong, will the former NASCAR hero be able to drive fast enough to save his life?
Theory of Everything – Writer: Dan Casey, Artist: Thomas Nachlik
A down-on-his-luck scientist develops technology that allows people to travel to other dimensions, but no one believes it works. At least, not until a bank in Switzerland is robbed by criminals in another reality with better technology. Can our world’s technology combat robbers from another dimension?
Seraph – Writers: Lance Briggs & Phil Hester, Artist: Jose Luis
A selfish young man kills himself, but gets saved from eternal damnation to do heaven’s dirty work. If having a tough human life was hard, then being an angel trying to regain faith in God and fight demons with no rules is even worse. Is it possible to win God’s grace fighting demons?
Anonymous – Writer: Alan McElroy, Artist: unannounced
A former covert soldier fakes his own death to escape his handlers, but instead of letting his family know he’s still alive, he creates a new identity to atone from his past sins. Can looking over his family as a stranger and doing good deeds really make up for a life time of bad choices?
December 20, 2011
Starman Omnibus Volume 04
Writer: James Robinson
Artist: Tony Harris
The acclaimed series STARMAN, starring a Gen-X super hero from the 1990s, is re-presented in high quality format, featuring spectacular art by Eisner Award winner Tony Harris.
In this volume, Starman stands shoulder to shoulder with heroes including DC’s Captain Marvel, Batman and many others.
First, in a story set in the 1940s, Ted Knight, the original Starman, works with Captain Marvel and Bulletman to clear himself of espionage charges.
Then, back in the 1990s, young Jack Knight, the new Starman, must capture the deadly Doctor Phosphorous before embarking on a mission into space to find lost hero Will Payton. And in a never-before-collected story, Starman teams up with Batman and Hellboy to rescue his father, Ted Knight, from neo-Nazis who have tapped into a mystical power source.
Join in on the discussion by ordering the book here Starman Omnibus Vol. 4
December 27, 2011
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