Best of
Comic-Book

2004

Absolute Planetary Book One


Warren Ellis - 2004
    Infatuated with tracking down evidence of super-human activity, these mystery archaeologists of the late 20th Century uncover unknown paranormal secrets and histories, such as a World War II supercomputer that can access other universes, a ghostly spirit of vengeance, and a lost island of dying monsters. Includes issues #1-12, Planetary Preview, and the full script from issue #1.

Astonishing X-Men: Ultimate Collection, Volume 1


Joss Whedon - 2004
    As demand for the mutant cure escalates, the X-Men go head-to-head with the enigmatic Ord. In 'Dangerous' a tragic death reveals a powerful enemy living among them that they could never have suspected.

Astonishing X-Men, Volume 1: Gifted


Joss Whedon - 2004
    But when breaking news regarding the mutant gene unexpectedly hits the airwaves, will it derail their new plans before they even get started?Collecting: Astonishing X-Men 1-6

A Lovely Love Story


Edward Monkton - 2004
    And that, my friends, is how it is with love." --Edward MonktonMr. Darcy and Miss Bennett. Ozzie and Harriet. Jay-Z and Beyonce. Great couples often find togetherness by embracing their individual differences. In this modern-day fable, Edward Monkton pens an irresistible love story about a fiercely funny but distant Dinosaur who falls in love with a forgetful but free-spirited (and shopping-savvy) Lovely Other Dinosaur.* Monkton, perhaps better known as the U.K.'s top-selling living poet Giles Andreae* This ode to love pairs Monkton's signature illustrations with simple yet profound prose.

Teen Titans, Vol. 1: A Kid's Game


Geoff Johns - 2004
    Plus, an introduction by Johns and Profile Pages from TEEN TITANS/OUTSIDERS SECRET FILES #1!

The Best of Wolverine, Vol. 1


Chris Claremont - 2004
    In Windsor-Smith's WEAPON X, Wolverine is subjected to a series of sadistic medical experiments designed to create the perfect soldier long before his days as an X-Man. Also collecting INCREDIBLE HULK #181, UNCANNY X-MEN #205 and CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #8!

The Ultimates


Mark Millar - 2004
    Mutants are attacking the White House. Nick Fury, head of the elite espionage agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., knows the only way to combat these strange new threats is with a team of his own superhumans. Backed by a billion-dollar budget, Fury recruits Giant Man, the Wasp, Iron Man, Captain America and Thor. And while the team is strong enough to engage in a ferocious battle with the Hulk, will they implode under the weight of their internal conflicts? Rising above their own agendas, the Ultimates forge ahead with the introduction of new allies and face a major global threat. Collects THE ULTIMATES VOL.1: SUPER-HUMAN and THE ULTIMATES VOL. 2: HOMELAND SECURITY. PLUS: A hefty helping of DVD-Style extras!

Identity Crisis


Brad Meltzer - 2004
    The most talked-about and successful miniseries of 2004 the story that has created ripple effects throughout the DC Universe for many years to come is now available in a stunning hardcover volume! New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer (GREEN ARROW) teams with artists Rags Morales & Michael Bair (WONDER WOMAN) and cover artist Michael Turner (SUPERMAN/BATMAN) to deliver an all-too-human look into the lives of super-heroes, and the terrible price they pay for doing good.When the spouse of a JLA member is brutally murdered, the entire super-hero community searches for the killer, fearing their own loved ones may be the next targets! But before the mystery is fully solved, a number of long-buried secrets rise to the surface, threatening to tear apart and divide the heroes before they can bring the mysterious killer to justice.Bonus features include extended commentary by Meltzer and Morales, the rest of the creative team talking about their favorite moments, a look at Morales's sketchbook and more!

Garfield's Guide to Everything


Jim Davis - 2004
    Sleep — “The best 18 hours of my day”Coffee — “Mother Nature’s Jumper Cables”Dogs — “They contain 90% of the world’s drool supply.”Love — “”…is splitting the last piece of pizza.”Exercise — “My favorite spectator sport.”Mondays — “The armpit of days.”Golf — “That’s Scottish for ‘AAARGH!’.”

Captain America (2004-2011) #1


Ed Brubaker - 2004
    It's a new beginning as four time Eisner-nominated Best Writer Ed Brubaker makes his Marvel debut, joined by white-hot artist Steve Epting! As the new regular creative team, they will take Cap's life in directions fans will never see coming! In just this first issue, the Red Skull lays the groundwork for his most devastating attack ever on Captain America and the land he holds dear...and with the Cosmic Cube in his possession, how can Cap hope to stop him? Find out in the shocking twist-ending that will have everybody in the industry talking!

Batman: Harley and Ivy


Paul Dini - 2004
    But first, Harley has to convince Ivy that she has what it takes to be a villain in Gotham City! This volume features a fantastic 3-chapter story written by Paul Dini and illustrated by Bruce Timm, the award-winning producers of Batman: The Animated Series, plus a story by superstars talents Judd Winick and Joe Chiodo.Collects the miniseries Batman: Harley and Ivy #1-3; Harley and Ivy: Love on the Lam, and a story from Batman: Gotham Knights #14.

Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 1


Geoff JohnsDerec Donovan - 2004
    Now Deathstroke and Rose hunt for the Titans. Could things get any more explosive? They do, when Kid Flash learns to drive!

Teen Titans by Geoff Johns Book One


Geoff Johns - 2004
    After years of dormancy, original Titans Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven and Starfire aim to recreate that same premise for a new generation of heroes. Their first recruits? The greatest super-powered  adolescents around: Robin, Superboy, Kid Flash and Wonder Girl!Geoff Johns--the writer behind some of DC’s greatest titles, including DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH and INFINITE CRISIS--takes hold of the classic TEEN TITANS franchise in this epic run that helped launch him into comics superstardom alongside artist Mike McKone (JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED). Collects TEEN TITANS/OUTSIDERS SECRET FILES 2003, TEEN TITANS #1-12 and TEEN TITANS #1/2.

Artesia Volume 3: Afire - The Third Book Of Dooms


Mark Smylie - 2004
    The powers at play — the High King of Therapoli, his nobles and officers, the lurking Isliklid King, his warrior-servants, and the Sultan, commander of the Empire's armies — are all maneuvering for advantage, setting snares and traps for each other, with prisoners of war become hostages held in the balance. And through this den of vipers marches Artesia, self-proclaimed Queen of Dara Dess, with magic coursing through her veins, the whispers of ghosts in her ears, and an army at her back as she confronts the temptations, limits, and consequences of power.

Thrilling Tom the Dancing Bug Stories


Ruben Bolling - 2004
    Recognized the past two years by the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN) as Best Cartoon, Tom the Dancing Bug is consistently funny, pointed without being dogmatic, and takes on subjects that no one else does . . . an oasis of keen intelligence in the comics page, according to the 2003 AAN judges. Here are just a couple headlines from the quirky strip's News of the Times: o?= Computer Loses to Human Candy Land Champion: Despite progress made in developing a computer program that can defeat a human chess champion, computer scientists confess that they have been unable to launch a significant challenge to human supremacy in the game of Candy Land.o?= Scientists Discover Media Has Quantum Effect on Reality: A team of physicists discovers that an electron is in an uncertain state until the media report on it. For example, once an electron was measured and reported upon by Mary Hart on the Celebrity Corner segment of Entertainment Tonight, it instantly assumed its nature as a particle.Tom the Dancing Bug's client list is diverse, representing the breadth of contemporary journalism: alternative newspapers, such as Dallas Observer and the Village Voice; prestigious daily newspapers, including the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times; Salon.com, an acclaimed online magazine; and the New Yorker magazine.

Dogwitch: Direct to Video


Dan Schaffer - 2004
    But Violet is quickly learning that fame's not all it's cracked up to be!

The Beast Trilogy


Enki Bilal - 2004
    In the year 2023, the man called Nike is a memory expert who remembers his every experience with perfect clarity. For Nike, this is more of a curse than it is a blessing, because the pain of his past never fades. Follow Nike as he uses his gift to try to understand his link to two children, orphaned beside him in war-torn Yugoslavia, as well as his violent and chaotic present, where manipulation of the truth remains a powerful tool for governments worldwide. In this world, a man who can remember everything is invaluable to whoever controls him.

Lost Buildings


Ira Glass - 2004
    Ira does the sound. Chris does hundreds of drawings. The result is a 22-minute story, with sound and images, now on DVD for the first time. The story's about a little boy who's obsessed with old buildings that are being demolished. It's packaged as this gorgeous little book, with 96 pages of never-before-published photographs of Louis Sullivan buildings, with the DVD tucked inside. Also, there are DVD Extras: audio outtakes, a look at Chris's pencil sketches, a high-resolution version of the movie that'll play on home computers.

DC: The New Frontier #1


Darwyn Cooke - 2004
    Plus, a brave young test pilot named Hal Jordan proves his mettle in the Korean War. They were heroes even before they put on costumes.

Cable & Deadpool, Volume 1: If Looks Could Kill


Fabian Nicieza - 2004
    Can two grown men armed to the teeth with deadly genetic weaponry live together without driving each other crazy? Action, adventure, black humor, black-ops, face-changing viruses, gratuitous France-bashing and lots of gunfire mark the return of two of Marvel's fan-favorite anti-heroes.Collecting: Cable/Deadpool 1-6

The Shaolin Cowboy #1


Geof Darrow - 2004
    

Astonishing X-Men #1


Joss Whedon - 2004
    Dream-team creators Joss Whedon (creator of TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly and fan-favorite film Serenity) and John Cassaday (Planetary, Captain America) bring you the explosive #1 issue of the all-new flagship X-Men series! As part of X-men: Reload, this issue marks a return to classic greatness and the beginning of a brand-new era for the X-Men.

Iron Man #1


Warren Ellis - 2004
    It's the beginning of a new era for Iron Man as renowned scribe Warren Ellis joins forces with digital painter Adi Granov to redefine the armored avenger's world for the 21st century-a landscape of terrifying new technologies that threaten to overwhelm fragile mankind! What is Extremis, who has unleashed it, and what does its emergence portend for the world?

Tales from the Bully Pulpit


Benito Cereno - 2004
    But unknown to the public at large, one rough-riding president took it upon himself to protect the whole known universe -- for the entire expanse of time. What do a man who was formerly president and an inventor who was formerly alive get up to when they otain a stolen time machine? Science, that's what. Teddy Roosevelt and the ghost of Thomas Edison travel to the far-flung future on a wager, only to discover the terrible secret of space! It's a rough and tumble tale of science with both fists as our two heroes race through time to liberate the Red Planet from it foreign invaders.

Jack Staff Volume 1: Everything Used to Be Black and White


Paul Grist - 2004
    20 years ago he disappeared, and everyone forgot about him - almost. This text collects all the original black and white issues of the award-winning superhero comic.

Simpsons Comics Belly Buster


Matt Groening - 2004
    This big, bulky, boffo book will have you bemused, boggled, and beside yourself with belly laughs. Join 'Our Favourite Family' as: Lisa joins a babysitter's union only to uncover an insidious plot against the youth of Springfield; Homer 'steals' Ned Flanders's swimming pool, leading to a full–scale siege on Evergreen Terrace; the whole family's Thanksgiving is threatened by Bart's greed, Lisa's protests and Homer's run–in with crazed, butter–fed turkeys; Lisa explores the subterranean catacombs under Springfield Elementary School; Grampa's ownership of a WWII tank hurtles Springfield towards the brink of destruction; Homer and Moe's other regular customers open a rival bar; Maggie gets a bedroom remodel Homer–style; and Mr Burns's loyal lackey, Waylon Smithers, turns out to be the royal ruler . of Sweden.You will be rolling in the aisles with this side–splitting, knee–slapping, stand–up comic collection.

Crossfire Volume 1: Hollywood Hero


Mark Evanier - 2004
    And yet, that darker side is there, with sleazy producers, organized crime financiers, and performers who will do literally anything to make it big. And when these sorts of people need a little breaking-and-entering done and secrets stolen, they know they can trust the high-priced talent of the mysterious masked man known only as Crossfire. At least, they think they can trust him. What they don't know, what nobody knows, is that the Crossfire costume and contact phone number have fallen into the hands of Jay Endicott, handsome bail bondsman and all-around good guy. "Crossfire" still takes their business, but he works from the inside to protect the innocent. Whether on a brightly-lit movie set or in the dim back alleys of Los Angeles, Crossfire gets caught up in the action, the intrigue, and the underhanded dealings in the TV and movie world.

Spider-Man: The 10 Greatest Spider-Man Stories Ever


Peter David - 2004
    Return to the magic of these timeless tales starring Spider-Man: NOTHING STOPS THE JUGGERNAUT from Amazing Spider-Man #229-#230 by Roger Stern and John Romita, Jr. sees Spider-Man take on one of the X-Men's greatest rogues and refuse to give up against a foe he can't possibly beat. HYDE IN PLAIN SIGHT from Amazing Spider-Man #231-#232, also by Stern and Romita Jr., features a wounded Spider-Man, stuck protecting Cobra from the vengeance of super-strong Hyde across the rooftops of Manhattan. THE KID WHO COLLECTS SPIDER-MAN from Amazing Spider-Man #248 by Stern and Ron Frenz. THE DEATH OF JEAN DeWOLFF from Spectacular Spider-Man #107-#110 by Peter David and Rich Buckler features a guest appearance by Daredevil and clarifies the differences between the two heroes. And VENOM STRIKES BACK from Amazing Spider-Man #315-317 by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. Introduction by Brian Michael Bendis.

The Art of Greg Horn


Greg Horn - 2004
    From his outstanding illustrations for Marvel to his unforgettable work in the ultra-competitive gaming and advertising fields, this edition will collect many of Greg's most renowned pieces. Included in this book are his commercial art projects for industry giants such as Nike, Bacardi, Sony, Ringling Bros., Universal Studios, and Allstate Insurance. Also featured in this publication are nearly 50 magazine covers painted for Wizard, The Official XBOX Magazine, 100% PSM (Playstation) and PCGamer magazines.

You Damn Kid Fun at A.A. Meetings: The Comic Strip for Grownups About Being a Kid (You Damn Kid Series, 1)


Owen Dunne - 2004
    Meetings is both a humorous and outrageous look at the adult world as seen through the eyes of a child. Join the Kid, his little sister Dot, and all their strange friends and oddball relatives for a trip back in time, and maybe re-live a few of your own memories!

Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A.D., Vol. 1


Russ Manning - 2004
    While the original comic series lasted only twenty-one issues, Manning's creation has survived generations, influencing countless science fiction artists and writers to this day. Fans of Alex Raymond, Mac Raboy, or Wally Wood should not miss this beautifully bound hardcover, the latest addition to Dark Horse's line of science fiction comics classics.

Garfield as Himself


Jim Davis - 2004
    Now in this special collection, the funniest, feistiest, coolest cat of all time gets his own musical, spends a night with the toughest cat gang around, and sets out to add a little spice to Jon’s boring life. When Garfield finds adventure, you’ve just got to go along for the ride!

Skywald!: The Complete Illustrated History of the Horror-Mood


Alan Hewetson - 2004
    Long overdue, this book is the first to chronicle the amazing publishing house, its influence, and its top writers and artists. Told by Archaic Al himself and other Horror-Mood bullpenners, with plenty of anecdotes and features, "Skywald!" also reproduces in their entirety some of the best stories.

The Batman Adventures, Volume 1: Rogues' Gallery


Dan Slott - 2004
    These two volumes, inspired by the hit "Batman Adventures TV show, feature Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Catwoman, and a host of the most famous villains ever to permeate pop culture

The Simpsons Holiday Humdinger


Matt Groening - 2004
    What winter holiday celebration would be complete without: sleigh rides, jingle bells, reindeer games, happy little elves, fruit cakes, radioactive Christmas trees, snow mums, defective toys, grimacing Grinches, secretive Santas, miserly Scrooges, and New Year's resolutions you will never keep? So, deck the halls with The Simpsons and be of good cheer with glad tidings of joy that will last through the year!

Lady Death: The Wild Hunt #1


Brian Pulido - 2004
    

Robotech: Invasion #1


Tommy Yune - 2004
    First comic book issue in the miniseries of "Robotech: Invasion"