New Releases for Friday, January 2nd

Lots of cool stuff coming out this upcoming FRIDAY.

Yes.

I said Friday, and I won't feel bad for you if you come in Wednesday looking for new books.

Okay, maybe a little. BUT, its only because I want to read Wolverine #70 just as bad you do.

Also on Friday we get Captain America #45, Green Lantern#36, Ed Brubaker's newest book, Incognito #1, JSA #22 and JLA #28.

Also, prepare yourselves...

KICK-ASS #5
(You May Now Please Stop Bothering Me About This Book.)

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A WINTERMEN SPECIAL (Does Anyone Even Remember What Happened In This Series.)

Check It All Here.

Congratulations Image...

It took me awhile, but thanks to Ryan Ottley's amazing cover to Invincible #60 I now know something about Image Comics.

IMAGE HAS A SUPERHERO UNIVERSE

You remember having debates in your local comic book shop about if all the Image characters existed in one universe? I certainly do. If Image United wasn't a hint, this cover and this issue (which promises a universe encompassing one-shot story) is the Robert Kirkman, in the study, with the candelabra kind of proof you need to prove that all these characters hail from the same place.

Now you may be saying "JORDAN, of course they do! We've seen them interact before." But just LOOK at that picture. EVERYONE is there. Even Ultra, the Dynamo 5, and Madman. I recall Spawn in Youngblood and, I'm certain Dragon has been in Invincible, but it just puts my mind at ease that a cover like this has been made. In fact, I'm going to laminate just so when someone asks me, "Who's in the Image U?" I can say, "All these dudes. All these dudes right here."

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This got me thinking. I would love to see a monthly "Avengers/JLA" title from Image.

Now employee Nikolai said he's seen such a thing, but since Nikolai wasn't even alive when Image was made, I don't believe him. Wouldn't it be great to have Invincible (Young angsty Superman), Brit (Captain America/Wolverine), Ultra, Superpatriot, Savage Dragon, and like the Dynamo 5 on a team.

Man that would be sweet.

New Releases for Wednesday, December 17th

Before I get to this weeks new releases, I just wanted to update everyone on the Fantom Body Slam post prior to this one. After telling that story to my brother he went and saw the WWE perform in Baghdad a few weeks ago.

EXTREME!

On to the goods.

So cool stuff coming out this week. Fables #79, Invincible Iron Man #8, Mighty Avengers #20, Spider-Man Noir #1, Walking Dead #56, and the DCU Holiday Special.

Not a lot of graphic novels, but some cool stuff. Make sure to check out Superman Past & Future which contains the stellar, "Superman Under the Red Sun" story. Also take a look at the The Boys HC Definitive Edition especially if you've liked other Garth Ennis projects like The Pro or his Punisher stuff.

New Comics on sale: 12.17.08

(Click link above for this weeks new releases!)

Fantom Body Slam

Last week I was working at our store in NW DC (Tenleytown) when I received a phone call from a guy named Phil. Phil asked me if we had the last three volumes of the popular and best selling, Y: The Last Man series. I told him we did, and he said he would be in shortly to pick them up.

Pretty normal, people do it all the time right. I mean, why make the trip if we don't have the goods?

About 30 minutes later Phil came through the door. I recognized him instantly. He's been around before. About my height, looks a little heavier than me, mid length dark hair, with a goatee and a lip piercing. Has a few tats as well.

In fact he looks just like this...

Hey! We even have the same Avengers t-shirt!

So he makes his way over to the "New Graphic Novel" shelf and picks up a few books. Apparently he's a big fan of the old Valiant Comics brand. You remember Valiant. X-O Manowar? Archer Armstrong? Classic 90's stuff. Also picked up some Avengers and Captain America stuff.

We talk comics and about whats good, and I hand him the three Y:The Last Man's I've been holding for him.

I go into a story about my brother and how I just sent him comics to keep him entertained while he is stationed in Iraq. Phil says, "I'm going to Iraq tonight."

Assuming he's also a soldier (because really, with all the tattoos what else could he be?) I immediately extend him the offer to send him comics while he's over there. You know, combine the load when I ship stuff to my brother.

He says he will be coming back soon, but thanks me for the offer. I ask him why he's going there if he's not in the military.

"I'm a wrestler," he responds. "We're doing some shows for the troops there."

Really? A wrestler?!

"Who for," I ask. I used to love wrestling and I still check it out every now and then. Suddenly it begins to click.

He responds, "The WWE."And by the time he finishes he has his books, and is out the door with a "Thanks!"

My minds on fire! Who was that guy. I've met "Phil" before. But I never put it all together.

Phil is professional WWE wrestler CM Punk.

THIS CM PUNK

Yeah. AWESOME.

And We're Back...

I want to thank the awesome Jim Dougan for telling me he liked the Fantom Blog and hated to see it go.

To be honest. So did I.

Also employee CC made a post LONG after I had closed the site down, therefore making me look really bad. But I envyed her post and thought, "Hey, I used to do that."

Also, sooo much cool shit has happened lately its hard not sharing it with my random fans in Germany and South America (Yes, I have "Hoff" appeal). So sit back and check back in with the Fantom Blog frequently for reviews, store stories, new releases and banter.

Plenty of professional banter.