In the late Sixties a fireball struck the town of Pederson, Illnois granting fantastic powers to the 113 children who were in utero at the time of impact. They grew up as the world watched. Labeled the Specials by the Media, their powers were monitored and catalogued by the United States Government. Public perception of them changed often. Were they the future of mankind? A scourge? A random occurrence? Heroes? Villains? Role models or simply caricatures? What would be their impact on culture and society? They were a waried as kids and adults ever are; some were more powerful, some less. As adults they became many things: a policeman, a corporate symbol, a singer, an assassin, a writer, a painter, a thief, a preacher. Some found celebrity, some notoriety, while others simply went to work and raised families like everyone else. But they all carried inside them a seed of something great. Something special. Something that made them stars. As their epic stories unfolded, there were other stories as well...of their lives and the lives of those around them. This book is about those stories. Collected here are the short stories about the Specials, a bit about their beginnings, a bit about their middles and just a little bit about their end.

    We flashback to a pair of butchers who arrive at work one morning to find not only that there is no meat in their shop but also that they have forgotten completely how to do their job. As customers arrive, they are too fearful for their livelihood to admit their dilemma, leading to increasingly disastrous events. But what has caused their strange amnesia? This often hilarious, enigmatic and uncomfortable book will establish Stechschulte as an exciting new talent."

    In 2002, Fantagraphics embarked on a publishing plan to reintroduce the greatest strip of the first-half of the 20th Century (the Peanuts of its era) to a public that has largely never seen it: this volume is the fourth in a long-term plan to chronologically reprint strips from the prime of Herriman's career, most of which have not seen print since originally running in newspapers 75 years ago. Each volume is edited by the San Francisco Cartoon Art Museum's Bill Blackbeard, the world's foremost authority on early 20th Century American comic strips, and designed by Jimmy Corrigan author Chris Ware, who may well go down as the best cartoonist of the 21st Century. Krazy & Ignatz 1931-1932 is a hot-baked brickbat of a volume, a dance with nearly two full years of the Sunday Krazy Kat (Herriman did not use color until 1935), snug between multiple pages of Herriman extras, including an extensive essay by series editor Bill Blackbeard on pre-Kat Herriman work (with reproductions from rare "Baron Mooch" and "Gooseberry Sprig" strips, and a rarely-seen 1923 full-page drawing of the Kat done for Circulation magazine), and, best of all, a 30-page sequence of over two straight months' worth of 1931 dailies! Plus a new "Debaffler" page decoding Krazy arcana, and a stunning layout front and back and throughout by the inimitable Chris Ware! Krazy Kat is a love story, focusing on the relationships of its three main characters. Krazy Kat adored Ignatz Mouse. Ignatz Mouse just tolerated Krazy Kat, except for recurrent onsets of targeting tumescence, which found expression in the fast delivery of bricks to Krazy's cranium. Offisa Pup loved Krazy and sought to protect "her" (Herriman always maintained that Krazy was gender-less) by throwing Ignatz in jail. Each of the characters was ignorant of the others' true motivations, and this simple structure allowed Herriman to build entire worlds of meaning into the actions, building thematic depth and sweeping his readers up by the looping verbal rhythms of Krazy & Co.'s unique dialogue.

    The rulers of Krakoa have been playing a dangerous game with a dangerous woman, and they are about to see how badly that can burn them. Mastermind of the X-Men JONATHAN HICKMAN brings his plans to a head, joined by an incredible lineup of artists beginning with VALERIO SCHITI… as one woman follows through on her promise to burn the nation of Krakoa to the ground.

    It's a world of questionable morals. For instance, is it better to assassinate a general in the Russian mafia rather than allow him to peddle more guns and drugs in underprivileged countries? Tara's bosses seem to think so. But the Russian mafia ask their own question -- once someone has taken the life of one of their officers, can they continue to let that person live? Greg Rucka peels back the lid on the traditional espionage story to see the nastiness inside, and Steve Rolston brings it to life with stunning clarity.

    Collecting issues 1-6 of The Tick in one volume, with a few supplemental materials.

    but before long, other monsters start appearing all over the world. Can humanity survive this mysterious onslaught of giant beasts? Writers Eric Powell (The Goon) and Tracy Marsh bring the mayhem a-plenty, and artist Phil Hester (Green Arrow, Swamp Thing) brings the massive monsters to life!

    In Crossbones, a virus is unleashed on an isolated island and the skull-faced psychopath is dispatched to rescue the one person who may hold the cure. Then watch as Sharon Carter and the Black Widow join forces to take down an under-aged assassin. Then the Falcon must confront his if he wants to save a young man from fallinto into gang violence. Also, it's the moment Batroc has been waiting for as an opportunity to take down Cap presents itself but now that he has the chance to take down is nemesis...will he take it?

    The origin of The Flash! The loss of his mother put Barry Allen on the road to becoming a hero, but only when he gains his powers will he understand the most important lesson his must learn.

    Strange as you've never seen him before: as an eye-patch-wearing wielder of black magic! See him take on the deadliest foes in any dimension: Khat, Erlik Khan, Shuma-Gorath, Enitharmon the Weaver and more! Guest-starring the Defenders, Valkyrie, Cloak and Dagger, and some of Strange's closest friends - including Rintrah, Topaz, Clea and Wong! Collecting the Dr. Strange stories from STRANGE TALES (1987) #1-19 and the Cloak & Dagger story from #7.

    Written by Michael Avon Oeming (Thor, Powers) & Mike Carey (Hellblazer, Elektra, Neverwhere) and illustrated by Mel Rubi (X-Men), Caesar Roderiquez (Sojourn) and Richard Isanove (1602). Inspired by the works of Sonja and Conan creator Robert E. Howard!

    In the world of The Marquis, faith and religion are the strict laws of life and death. It is into this world that the souls of hell have escaped to sin, murder, and be free by taking possession of the living. During this time, a man of the Inquisition finds himself blessed with the ability to see into the very souls of the damned and fight the demons within. But as The Marquis begins his holy crusade to send back the escapees of hell, the battle between good and evil starts to blur into a struggle between faith and sanity.

    One mad monk seeks to wake the beast...and all of ape society is at risk. It’s a race against time as Doctor Zaius struggles to find an end to the madness that has engulfed all that he knows! This first volume collects the first four issues of the Apes series that will appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers, featuring art by Damian Couceiro (INCORRUPTIBLE).

    until they turn on each other! Pop's Chocklit Shoppe is being taken over by a huge coffee company. When Betty and Veronica go head-to-head over the issue, all bets are off! Friendships will shatter. Cities will burn. Nails will be broken. Betty and Veronica are back in this all-new #1 from comics legend Adam Hughes!

    An unmissable must for Tank Girl fans of all hairstyles Dark and nasty, We Hate Tank Girl is a bonanza of stories, posters, prose, and extras, featuring tales from Tank Girl's past, present, and future, including the long-awaited Cut 'n' Dress Booga, and the never-before-seen bonus story, "Small Unit." Collects Tank Girl One-Shots: Dark Nuggets, Dirty Helmets, and Hairy Heroes.